Vintage electric bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a dark background
Vintage bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a dark background
Close up of bridge and tailpiece on a bass guitar
Vintage electric bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a dark background
Close-up of a bass' control knobo on a sunburst finish.
bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a dark background
Close up of thumb rest on an electric bass guitar
Close-up of a bass guitar body with a dark brown and black finish on a dark background
Vintage electric bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a dark background, close up of back
Back view of a bass guitar with a dark finish on a black background
Close-up of a bass guitar headstock with 'Airline' branding on a dark background
Close-up of a bass guitar headstock with tuning pegs on a dark background
Electric bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a stand against a dark background
Electric bass guitar on a stand against a dark background
Vintage electric bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a dark background
Vintage bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a dark background
Close up of bridge and tailpiece on a bass guitar
Vintage electric bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a dark background
Close-up of a bass' control knobo on a sunburst finish.
bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a dark background
Close up of thumb rest on an electric bass guitar
Close-up of a bass guitar body with a dark brown and black finish on a dark background
Vintage electric bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a dark background, close up of back
Back view of a bass guitar with a dark finish on a black background
Close-up of a bass guitar headstock with 'Airline' branding on a dark background
Close-up of a bass guitar headstock with tuning pegs on a dark background
Electric bass guitar with a sunburst finish on a stand against a dark background
Electric bass guitar on a stand against a dark background

Airline

Airline Pocket Bass, Sunburst (1965)

$0.00 Sold out

Pickup currently unavailable at 165 Showroom

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Product information

The ultra short scale and unique electronics of the Pocket Bass make for one of the friendliest playing and downright funky vintage electric basses out there.

1965 Airline Pocket Bass in Sunburst finish made by the Montgomery-Ward company.

The Pocket Bass has held down the position as most compact vintage electric bass for decades now, and it still serves as a go-to option for studio owners who want an instantly recognizable tone that is unlike any of the typical Fender, Gibson, or Rickenbacker options you'll find out there.

While technically a solidbody, the Pocket Bass has some crafty weight relief via a series of 2" holesaw cutouts on the back of the body that are concealed with a large plastic cover. The short double cutaway body combined with the 25.8" scale length neck keeps the instrument tucked in like no other, and nicely balanced to boot.

The electronics are comprised of a single coil neck pickup and a saddle pickup wired to master volume and blend controls, respectively. Manipulating the blend control affords some interesting tones that go from full and round to woody and slightly percussive.

This is a very nice playing example that is largely original save for a replaced blend pot. The volume pot is the original Stackpole dating to the 45th week of 1964, so we assume the bass was completed either right at the end of the year or in early '65. It's currently set up with LaBella short scale flatwounds which feel fantastic on this bass.

If you're a guitarist looking for an easy-to-play bass for writing and recording, or a bassist who wants to add a unique vintage model to your stable, few approach the level of cool and fun than the Pocket Bass.

Priced with aftermarket hardshell case.

Body
Style
Solidbody
Body
Poplar
Finish
Nitrocellulose
Color
Sunburst

Hardware
Pickups
Original
Electronics
Original volume pot | replaced blend pot
Controls
Volume / Blend
Bridge
Original
Tuners
Kluson
Pickguard
Original

Neck
Neck
Poplar
Binding
None
Fingerboard
Rosewood
Inlays
Dots
Nut
Synthetic
Scale Length
25.8"

Other
Serial #
I-26611
Weight
7lb
Case
Hardshell

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