Stan Kesler-Owned and Signed 1956 Fender Precision Electric Bass Guitar, Serial #13241. ...

Description

Stan Kesler-Owned and Signed 1956 Fender Precision Electric Bass Guitar, Serial #13241. In sunburst finish, this double cutaway solid body has a white pickguard, a single pickup, thumbrest, and two rotary controls. It is signed "Stan Kesler/ 1957" on the front, and "I Forgot To Remember to Forget/ 1955/ Stan Kesler" on the back of the body, both in silver ink. The instrument is well-worn through years of stage and studio use. Included in the vintage hardshell case (with numerous stickers attached) is a group of photos of Mr. Kesler with this P-Bass including ones of him signing it at his home. Also, several very cool set lists that include some very familiar Rock and Rockabilly songs.

Kesler was a key player in the history of Sun Records and Elvis Presley; he was known not only for his bass guitar skills but also as a steel guitar player and songwriter. An engineer, staff songwriter, and studio musician for Sam Phillips, he played steel or bass on numerous early Sun sessions supporting artists such as Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Jerry Lee Lewis. He wrote five songs that Elvis recorded, including: "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone," "Playing for Keeps," "Thrill of Your Love", "If I'm a Fool," and "I Forgot To Remember To Forget." The last one mentioned was a major hit for Presley, recorded at and released by Sun in August 1955, then re-released by RCA Victor in December. It shot up the Country charts in 1956 and was what made Elvis nationally known in that field. Kesler stayed at Sun for a number of years and engineered "Woolly Bully," a major hit for a Texas act, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, in 1965.
COA from Heritage Auctions.

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