O/T...."Natural" finsh ever available on T-45?

Hi all-

I'm excited to be a new T-40 owner.  I just got an "8M"-prefix early '78 T-40 last week, and am so impressed with the quality of construction and tone that I also pulled the trigger on a T-20 over the weekend.  I'm not done yet, though!

Next, I'd like to acquire a T-45 so I can "have the whole set", so to speak,  of the conventional "T"-series.  I know there are very rare fretless versions, but I'm more enthused about comparing the tonal varieties of the three different models that were widely available.

Anyway, since both the T-40 and the T-20 I have are both "natural" finished, I would really like to acquire a T-45 in the same finish.  So far I have read different opinions on the finishes offered on this model.

Does anyone know with certainty if the T-45 was available with a "natural" finish?  And if so, are there certain year models where it was and was not?

TIA for any information.


Mike in Texas

From Deep Behind the Pine Curtain of East Texas

From what I've gathered over the years it looks like the T-45 was only available in black, red, royal burgundy, sunburst and white.

Tony-

Thanks for the information. I guess that the 'burst pattern would be closest choice to a "natural" finish, as the wood grain would still be highly evident. Of course, if I ultimately find a T-45 in truly poor cosmetic condition, I could always strip it all the way down and then refinish it in a clear matte poly and then all three of my "T"s would match!

Thanks again.


Mike in Texas

'78 T-40. '82 T-20.
Looking for any T-45

You could do what a few of us set out to do a few years ago. Acquire as many examples in as many finish options as you can.  

Looking at the prices going down these days, I think it would "break the bank" for me to try to acquire one of every color in all the "T"-series basses today!~  Since I've got less than $500.00 in both my T-40 and T-20 right now, I'm thinking I may have gotten the last two "reasonably-priced" T-series basses left on the planet!

I won't stop until I get that final piece...a T-45.

However, I got stuck with a B/W checkerboard pattern pickguard for a T-40.  I thought I'd try it on my "natural"-finish T-40, but it just didn't look right.  I'm going back with the 3-ply B/W/B pickguard on it. 

If I could find a BLACK T-40, though.......I think it would look KILLER!  Especially compared to the original Black/Black configuration.  Which some people find exciting (especially on Fenders!).  I think it's boring.  A B/W checkerboard pickguard would REALLY set off a black body, IMHO!

So...if any of you are sitting on a rough BLACK T-40....why not send me a PM or email and let me know what you want for it?

Thx!

Mike in Texas
eldoryder@yahoo.com

I started on my quest of one in every color when prices were a tad bit cheaper several years back.