[quote name='Stacker' post='917595' date='Aug 7 2010, 12:33 AM']There can only be [i]one[/i] prototype. A [i]prototype[/i] is the first and original design of what all other designs follow on from. There cannot possibly be two.[/quote]
Well, Fender themselves would seem to disagree with you there... photo caption from their [url="http://www.fender.com/news/index.php?display_article=503"]website[/url]:
[i]"Close-up of [b]a[/b] 1959 Jazz Bass prototype shows the soon-discarded soapbar pickup."[/i]
So if Fender reckon there was more than one prototype of their own product, that's good enough for me. And if Herbie Flowers says he bought his bass in 1959, that's also good enough for me.
When comes down do it, what the f*** does it really matter? It's still the bass (and the bassist) on Space Oddity, Walk on the Wild Side, War Of The Worlds, Diamond Dogs...