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Post subject: What is an "Ashtray"?
Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:04 am
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This seems trivial, but it's been bugging me for a couple of days.
It was always my understanding that the "ashtray" was the bridge cover, not the pickup cover, but I've been rebuked by a self appointed "Fender expert" on another forum who swears it's any chrome cover on the instrument.
I'm certainly not the Fender slang authority, but I always thought the bridge cover was the "ashtray", and the pickup cover was the "pickup cover".
I thought it was because upside down the bridge covers actually resemble a 50's-60's "googie era" chrome ashtray, and also because they were used on more than a few occasions as ashtrays when removing them from the basses became in vogue.

Pickup covers don't look like an ashtray, and I would imagine wouldn't work too well as one either.

I'm sure someone here has the answer!


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:31 am
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Hi There.

The original "Ash tray cover" was the bridge cover that came on the Telecaster.
It was a horse shoe shaped cover that went over the bridge and bridge pick up.
It needed to be removed every time the strings were changed, many players elected to leave it off the guitar feeling it played and sounded better without it.
It was quickly found if you turned it over it made a good ash tray for those who smoke.

As time went by and new models came out with there covers (Either bridge or pick up) they all got the nick name ash tray.

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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 5:13 pm
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Your "self appointed" Fender expert is right, as is Jefffytune, the term originally applied to the Tele bridge/pickup cover, but eventually became a generic term for both bridge and pup covers for guitars AND basses. And it's been that way as long as I can remember, at least 40 years. Despite what some other "self-appointed" experts might say. As far as the pickup covers not looking like they would be good ashtrays, so what? The bridge covers aren't real ashtrays to begin with, either.

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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:45 pm
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Bathead wrote:
Your "self appointed" Fender expert is right, as is Jefffytune, the term originally applied to the Tele bridge/pickup cover, but eventually became a generic term for both bridge and pup covers for guitars AND basses. And it's been that way as long as I can remember, at least 40 years. Despite what some other "self-appointed" experts might say.


Wow! What a coincidence! You have the same exact Fender/Squier basses as one of the "self appointed experts" on the other forum!

The same person posting the same theory on two different forums doesn't make it a fact.
I'm not convinced, and your 40 year memory doesn't mean squat if it's simply your opinion and not "fact". My first paid gig as a bass player was in 1971, and I've always referred to the bridge cover as the ashtray, so what's your point?

Bathead wrote:
As far as the pickup covers not looking like they would be good ashtrays, so what? The bridge covers aren't real ashtrays to begin with, either.


Well, if you have seen a bridge cover turned upside down, you will notice that even if not always larger, they are usually closed on three sides and therefore will actually hold ashes and butts, unlike the pickup cover which is just a strip of metal.
I'm suprised that with your long, long history as a player you have never seen a Fender "ashtray" actually used as an ashtray. :o

I'd still like to hear from someone who actually knows; I don't claim to be, or frankly feel any need to try to convince others on an internet forum that I'm an "expert", but the fact that this very site refers only to the bridge covers as "ashtrays" leads me to think my recollections are correct; http://www.fender.com/products/search.p ... 0032979000

I can't find any reference on this site that refers to pickup covers as "ashtrays".


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:54 pm
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EdBass wrote:
Well, if you have seen a bridge cover turned upside down, you will notice that even if not always larger, they are usually closed on three sides and therefore will actually hold ashes and butts, unlike the pickup cover which is just a strip of metal.


So what colloquial term would you apply to a pre-57 Precision Bass bridge cover?

Arjay

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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 6:22 am
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Chiming in here. The BRIDGE cover on the JAZZ bass made a MUCH better ashtray than any first or second generation P-Bass pickup or bridge cover..as they were flat and the ashes from your tailor made or hand rolled smoke would blow in any direction the wind blew prior to the Jazz bridge cover.

HOWEVER due the excellent ash retention properties of the Jazz bass bridge cover the term "ashtray" came to be applied to any pickup or bridge cover from any Fender bass.

HOWEVER, the ash retention properties of the Jazz Bass bridge cover is unequaled before or since. So if you are looking for a chic ashtray, but a Jazz bridge cover.

AND I thought I was the only smoker here!


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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 7:17 am
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brotherdave wrote:
Chiming in here. The BRIDGE cover on the JAZZ bass made a MUCH better ashtray than any first or second generation P-Bass pickup or bridge cover..as they were flat and the ashes from your tailor made or hand rolled smoke would blow in any direction the wind blew prior to the Jazz bridge cover.

HOWEVER due the excellent ash retention properties of the Jazz bass bridge cover the term "ashtray" came to be applied to any pickup or bridge cover from any Fender bass.

HOWEVER, the ash retention properties of the Jazz Bass bridge cover is unequaled before or since. So if you are looking for a chic ashtray, but a Jazz bridge cover.

AND I thought I was the only smoker here!

Ya see, Ed, I'm not the only one, here or on any other forum. and I'd put more stock in brotherdave's"opinion" and my memory than your "understanding".

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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 4:52 pm
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LOL I LOVE IT!!!! :lol: :lol:
Ok so I HAVE to chime in......( i just HAVE to).
First---I'm no "Self-described" expert or even a plain ol expert on this "lore".
When i started at Fender (CBS Fender to be exact), smoking was still allowed in the offices.
Now, being a "worker" in Manufacturing, I didnt have that many occasions to see what the front office folks were using, but I CAN tell you that the ashtrays I saw being used in the Mfg. offices were bridge covers. Brotherdave is right that by far the best ashtrays were/are the Jazz bass bridge covers. Strat bridge covers were used but they filled up kind of fast so.....not optimum. P Bass bidge covers were also ok...but all 2nd best to the J-Bass covers.

Whether in some places that "slang" grew to mean both bridge and/or pickup colors, i couldn't tell you......but if you called me today and asked me for an ahstray for a J Bass...you wouldn't receive a pickup cover from me. You would receive a 62 J Bass bridge cover. If ya wanted the pickup cover......you better ask for a pickup cover.....

Fun stuff LOL.

Best regards,
rob


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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 5:10 pm
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Hey Rob,

Good to see you active on the Forum. I need an ashtray, I have a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz.

When would be the best time to call?


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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 6:55 am
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OxyRon,
Just go to ANGELA.COM and buy one.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 7:01 am
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Or Basspartsresource.com or Musician's Friend, or even Allparts.com.
They're not hard to find.

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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 8:30 am
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Rob Schwarz-Fender wrote:
Brotherdave is right that by far the best ashtrays were/are the Jazz bass bridge covers. Strat bridge covers were used but they filled up kind of fast so.....not optimum. P Bass bidge covers were also ok...but all 2nd best to the J-Bass covers.


Gee Rob, what about the Telecaster bridge cover?

After all, it was the original ashtray.

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 2:27 pm
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Hey, Rob said to ask for one and I did.

Seriously, I kind of doubt that I'll get one, they're really big (unless Rob wants to send me one, he did ask). The main thing in the back of my mind is the Fender logo on it.

As much as I like my Squier, I don't want post started about how I'm one of those people trying to pass it off as a Fender.

I haven't looked yet but there's probably a post on there talking about how cheap I am. (he did ask)

Go ahead yuk it up, you wouldn't be if Zod were here.


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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 3:17 pm
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oxfan wrote:
Hey, Rob said to ask for one and I did.

Seriously, I kind of doubt that I'll get one, they're really big (unless Rob wants to send me one, he did ask). The main thing in the back of my mind is the Fender logo on it.

As much as I like my Squier, I don't want post started about how I'm one of those people trying to pass it off as a Fender.

I haven't looked yet but there's probably a post on there talking about how cheap I am. (he did ask)

Go ahead yuk it up, you wouldn't be if Zod were here.


I believe Allparts has a non-Fender logo version for $18 that is otherwise pretty close. Looks like this:

Image

While of course the Fender logo makes it look like this:

Image

The Fender logo version is just under $16 at Angela.com. I think Angela has the best prices on vintage style covers, which is why they are the source I listed.


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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 3:45 pm
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Thanks Brother Dave, I'll definitely consider that one, if Rob doesn't send me one first. (he did ask) lol


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