Comments on: 1960’s Supro Airline Pocket Bass Guitar

By: John Smithman

John Smithman — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 14:46:58 +0000

I bought my Supro Pocket Bass in 1965. It was pretty beat up, black body paint chipped. So I refinished the body: sanded off the chipped black paint and varathaned it. It still has the original black head stock. If you want it, make me an offer. I’m in Vancouver, Canada smithman@champions.ca. I can email you a photo of my ‘cool’ bass.

By: Jason Loma

Jason Loma — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 15:32:57 +0000

I just bought mine at Paramount (Watertown WI) for 750. 725 after playing it. 🙂 so what i got was a bad E tunin mosheen. Anybody got any of these sittin around?

By: michael lindner

michael lindner — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 04:29:07 +0000

edwin, correct not a piezo pickup.

actually two round perpendicular coils in the bridge body, with two corresponding magnets that fit into the coils in the bridge saddle
quite a different sounding pickup configuration.

By: Matthew Newman

Matthew Newman — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 22:19:09 +0000

I bought one of these, but couldn’t get it to intonate right. My solution was a set of 5 string flats without the G string. Had to do a little bit of drilling, but it works.

By: michael lindner

michael lindner — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 02:41:26 +0000

ok an update. re: sept 5 2017
the o fret eliminated. moved nut toward bridge 1/8 ” or so… all is well.flat wounds intonate. yay
playing out with this bass…
get an lr baggs para di and pre. you won’t believe the tone available.
that is all.
m)

By: Theron Wardle

Theron Wardle — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 19:26:50 +0000

started playing in Bands with Standup bass in 1962 when I was 14… when Beatles Hit in early 64, I found out about electric bass guitars… ran down to Monkey Wards and laid down $60 for a new Supro Bass like this one… I had a hard time selling it two years later when I switched to six string and bought a Guild Starfire II guitar. I think I sold it for under $50…

By: michael lindner

michael lindner — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 03:56:31 +0000

hello,
i have a supro pocket bass with the zero fret and pin stripe head stock. transitional i presume.
the bass has intonation problems at the first 5 frets.
it intonates at the 12th fret; harmonic and and fretted note the same.
short scale 90-40 flat wounds.
the zero fret lowered to give the string it’s correct height.
i believe this may be a neck that was originally a non zero fretted neck that was converted or changed to the next generation.
quite a weird anomaly
any feed back?
thank you,
m)

By: Edwin

Edwin — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 15:56:43 +0000

The bridge pickup is not a piezo. Super called it a “silver sound” pickup.

By: stan schnier

stan schnier — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 00:57:25 +0000

Hi-I just picked up a semi beat up Supro with white headstock….it works but the wiring is not right. Does anyone have a schematic for this? I believe someone pulled out the original pots and rewired incorrectly because the piezo sounds terrible and shorts out the bass pickup. Would love to get this back correctly. Any help appreciated…even a few snaps of the pots with a smartphone would be great and zap to my email: stan.photos@gmail.com
In advance, thank you! I love this instrument…what a great design….love the way they drilled out the body!

By: Richo

Richo — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 21:29:23 +0000

It would be nice an improved reissue with 30″ chambered body and better piezo for nylon tapewounds….i agree, the Airline sunburst is a winner!

By: Marcus

Marcus — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 02:38:56 +0000

I’ve had my Supro for 16 years. Bought it at a vintage music store for $275. “Coolest bass ever” was written on the price tag. A very diverse sounding instrument that covers a lot of stylistic ground (country, rockabilly, pop, soul, early funk). I know it’s worth more than what I paid for it but I could never bring myself to sell it. Supro bass + STA compressor = butter.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 20:20:10 +0000

Or really…just make a 27 or 28″ scale version of the Warren Ellis Tenor 2P and I’d be all over that…

By: Kyle

Kyle — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 20:14:43 +0000

I would totally dig a pocket bass, my preference would be around a 27 to 28″ scale though…I am primarily interested in tuning maybe a fourth higher.

By: accountants in London

accountants in London — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 02:37:31 +0000

Having read this I believed it was really enlightening.
I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this article together.
I once again find myself spending a lot of time both reading and leaving comments.

But so what, it was still worthwhile!

By: Bruce Robertson

Bruce Robertson — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 22:08:18 +0000

That Black Supro Bass was my first and true love Bass in 1964. A fantastic starter bass for a 16 yr. old. That bass took alot of abuse and I traded her off for the 1965 Precision. Wish I’d kept the Supro. Am looking for one now.

By: Robert Cline

Robert Cline — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 03:33:07 +0000

Have friend who started with one of these. Left it with nephew that did what nephews sometimes do. Trying to restore it for my friend. Only need to find top of bridge pickup assembly and tail section for strings. Any help in any direction would be great. Looking forward to bringing back to life.

By: Don D

Don D — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 18:51:03 +0000

Does anyone have an original set of supro pocket bass strings for sale? Or can anyone me tell who made them for supro?

By: VortexComplex

VortexComplex — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:26:33 +0000

I have one of the Supro Pocket Basess. It sounds incredable as long as you play in the first position. It plays sharp from the 5th fret on. Since I’m more interested in playing it than looking at it, I’m installing a Tune-a-Matic style bridge on top of the original wooden bridge. The top of the bridge will need to be sanded (the action was high even with the original bridge lowered al the way)and the screws will have to be removed since they don’t line up with the bridge. The string spacing is a bit wide for the neck but looks workable. When done, it should go from wall hanger to travel bass for my upcoming trip to Europe. Don’t worry, I’m keeping all the parts and not drilling into the original bridge.

By: Chris Fleming

Chris Fleming — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:28:18 +0000

Still have the pocket bass?

By: Sidney G

Sidney G — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 22:24:50 +0000

We recently found a 1960’s Supro pocket bass in hard case, with original strings still in package dated 1961. Right out of the woodwork. Like guitars but not my hobby. Anyone out there interested in buying? How much? fair price. Thanks Sidney G 715-341-6763 WI

By: Andrew D.

Andrew D. — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 01:24:50 +0000

Hi there,

I have one of these I just rescued from the island of Maui! It’s a bit of a beater but I’m hoping to get ‘er fixed up. Any chance someone out there could send me a photo or diagram of the correct wiring for this bass? Mine has been messed with but both pickups are working. Pot values would be useful too…Also, any chance of finding a pickup cover? Just the silver part is missing on mine, not sure if anyone is making those.Thanks!

By: 1960s Supro Pocket Bass / Lost Ark Studio

1960s Supro Pocket Bass / Lost Ark Studio — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:20:45 +0000

[…] We've been scouting around for a Supro Pocket Bass for some time, finally found a clean one worth picking up – and it is indeed a beauty! More about this fine instrument from MyRareGuitars.com: […]

By: Charlie

Charlie — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:03:15 +0000

I think a re-issue of this cool little bass would be a great idea. Perhaps if the neck were a little longer say 28”…….it would work out better. Either as an Airline or a Supro, I’ll be the first to buy one.

By: Chris 5

Chris 5 — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 05:38:10 +0000

Hi there i have a supro pocket bass with black head stock with white outline? is this more valued then the white head stock
thanks for all the information .

By: Symon

Symon — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 23:55:50 +0000

I have a Supro Pocket Bass with the White Head Stock and Original Case I Purchased from My Aunt back in the early 80’s!

She had Purchased it in the 60’s from a Public TV Station Auction Fund Raiser here in Detroit.

She Thought it was a 6 String Guitar when purchased and put it back in it’s case until I purchased it.

My Bass is in Mint Condition with the Origilal Flat Wound Strings Still on it.

It hasn’t been Played too many times and is an incredible sounding Bass.

I might sell it one Day, but not for only $800. The Quality of Sound, of this Bass, is UnMatched, I think they are worth Much More.

Thank You for Your Information and Post on this Great and Rare Instrument.

By: rob roberge

rob roberge — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 03:20:50 +0000

Jon-

Yours is the same bass–just the “Airline” brabded version. The only difference is the cool sunburst and the neat pick-guard “wings” on it…and the fact that the headstock has the gumby side toward the flood rather than the ceiling. Still a “Pocket Bass”. There’s no major difference, other than cosmetic..except that the Supro has a better angle on the headstock, which holds the strings in the nut better.

By: jon

jon — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 23:13:44 +0000

I have this one, but mine is a little different. Its the exact same as this one but mine has Airline Sunburst style pick guards. If possible could someone tell me what version mine is?

By: jeff farias

jeff farias — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:31:54 +0000

I have one of these little gems. Don’t play it much as I’m mostly an upright player and my hands are a little too big for the instrument. Feel free to contact me.

By: John Llewellyn

John Llewellyn — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:57:13 +0000

dang! I had one of the Airline sunburst models of these back in ’82. It was my first bass- I bought it for $99.50. Too bad I only held onto it for a couple of years!