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LowEndWonder
January 14th, 2008, 02:30 PM
Here is a picture of Led Zeppelin approx. 1973-74.
Look closely at JPJ's bass, it's a five string! There were no fivers in productiopn back then. It looks like a Modified Mustang. I thought I was seeing things at first but count the tuners, there's five of them. That had to be the first five string.
It was probably tuned E-A-D-G-B. Here's a pic below.....
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh292/soli1969/lzep1.jpg

WackyT
January 14th, 2008, 04:41 PM
Looks like a Fender Bass V (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Bass_V), produced between 1965 and 1970.

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/930/689274.JPG

just strum
January 14th, 2008, 05:56 PM
Wack, I believe you nailed that one.

mrmudcat
January 14th, 2008, 06:02 PM
Big zepp fan and yes thats the bass brother!:bravo:

sunvalleylaw
January 14th, 2008, 06:16 PM
Cool! So anyone know if it was the first production five string bass?

mrmudcat
January 14th, 2008, 06:31 PM
Sun check the wikipedia link above.Indeed it was the first 5 stringer....Leo was from the damn future brother dont ya know!!:master:

sunvalleylaw
January 14th, 2008, 06:36 PM
Oh, ok. I didn't know it was a wiki link. I thought maybe it was a Fender or vendor one. I continue to be impressed with Leo. I would like it if PBS would do an American Master series spot on him like they did on Les Paul. Les is more of a player, but Leo sure did a lot with his knowledge.

wingsdad
January 14th, 2008, 10:05 PM
Sun check the wikipedia link above.Indeed it was the first 5 stringer....Leo was from the damn future brother dont ya know!!:master:
You got that right, 'cat;)

And launching production in '65, this was one of Leo's 'swan songs' as the CBS purchase of his mother lode was imminent.

The 5th string on the Bass V was a C, not seeking more bottom end, but seeking more low-mid tones. And that makes sense, given that shorter scale basses are sometimes known as 'piccolo' basses.

(DOH...redundancy there...I should've read the wiki article first.)

LowEndWonder
January 15th, 2008, 06:00 AM
You learn something new everyday!
So Fender originated the Five String! :master: