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Post subject: Vintage vs modern P-Basses
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 4:28 pm
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Hi

I am keen to get some experienced opinions on vintage vs modern P-Basses.

I played a 1972 or 1974 P-Bass the other day - it was interesting though I am not rushing out to trade my 2013 P-Bass Am Deluxe. In fact, the experience made me love my 2013 P-Bass Am Dlx even more.

What am I missing to not want to pay thousands of $$$ for the vintage bass?

Cheers


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Post subject: Re: Vintage vs modern P-Basses
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 5:44 pm
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Just an opinion here...but...as guys get older generally we accumulate more money than we had as punk kids. We then spend that money trying to buy back bits of our youth and this drives up demand for old (vintage) things while the supply of those relics decreases each year (fires, floods,locust...) Or maybe people took more pride in what they built back in the day.


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Post subject: Re: Vintage vs modern P-Basses
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 9:47 pm
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If you ever played an old---let's say 64 Fender Precision that sounded so good that you just felt bad putting it down wishing it was yours.....then you would have no question. Some of those old basses (not every single one) just sound so much noticeably better than the new ones. I played a 56 that had that sound and the 64. My 72 and 74 sound pretty good but those old pre CBS ones have a certain ringing tone that only comes in those vintages. I bet Affprod has at least one of those. He can back me up on this. I think maybe the one you played was not what I described here otherwise your post may have been different. :)

Stings bass has that sound and so does the guy who plays for Heart- there are a few other examples - maybe Roger Waters old bass. Glenn Hughes has a nice old one. Those old basses are out there but the cost is way up.


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Post subject: Re: Vintage vs modern P-Basses
Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 3:25 am
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I have found myself visiting this subject so many times over the years that I have lost count!

I have a number of what would be called "vintage" P & J basses, dating from 1964 to 1971, & my gigging bass for more years than I care to admit has been a 1968 P. This guitar is now VERY battered, & has been used not only in my feeble attempts to make music, but also in self defence (at which it is very very effective I must say!) However, I keep reading / hearing that modern Fenders are so much better than these old examples, & I keep thinking that all these good folks can't be wrong, so off I trot, & something new & shiny arrives back at home with me (obviously I always try them out first)

The new acquisition then gets played at length, both at home & at gigs, & I start to question just how good it actually is? Invariably it is heavier than my 68 P. Invariably it doesn't seem to quite hit the spot soundwise ..... no matter how much I fiddle with the controls & my Mark Bass amp. Invariably, when I ask the other guys in the band what do they think ..... they ask me to "haul the 68 P out again please".

The result? The new acquisition gets sold on or traded in for something else & the 68 P gets out & about, with more scars resulting!

Now ..... I may just be very lucky to have found a great playing / sounding "vintage" P Bass (also I don't see the strictly pre-CBS date to be critical - it was the same guys & girls making the Fenders in exactly the same way for some years after CBS bought in - be prepared to push the date to perhaps 1971 i.e. before the CBS bean counters really got to work - but there are some great guitars out there from even after this) but in my actual experience I've yet to find a "new" Fender bass that matches my 68 P.

Just my thoughts ..... feel free to comment.


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Post subject: Re: Vintage vs modern P-Basses
Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 6:42 am
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I prefer vintage specs, but I have to be honest most modern Fender offerings are well made. Or at least very consistent. However, they don't much sound or play like Fenders.

That being said. I wouldn't trade either my American Vintage 57 Precision Reissue or my Custom Shop 55 Precision Reissue for my old 78 Precision. Because they are quality recreations of their namesake and my 78 Precision was pretty damn heavy. However, I'd take that boat anchor over and American Special, Standard or Deluxe any day of the week. As a passive bass it had more power, and the neck was superior.

Now would I trade them for the real deal? Hmmm... if they were in dependable gigging shape? Yes. If they would just be hung on a wall? No. I see no point in owning something I can't use to work. I just don't have the extra cash to collect high dollar conversation pieces, and honestly? I think the point of these basses are to play them. Not to be hung up on a wall like a museum.

The only place a modern spec American production bass can best my 78 it was in weight. Which in comparison to tone and playability is a fairly small concern.

Personally? I'd trade your Deluxe for that 74 in a heartbeat. Not because of value, but because a 74 Precision sounds and plays like a Precision is supposed to sound and play to me. Well, the poly aside, but the modern basses outside the vintage series are poly too, so that's a wash.

In the end, you should play what makes you happy. If that's the Deluxe then that's what you should play and that's the right answer for you.

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Post subject: Re: Vintage vs modern P-Basses
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 6:46 am
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I always trust my ears and overall feel more than a label. Where I am more than happy with my Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass, I opted to buy a 1972 Fender P-Bass.

For starters, it felt right. 2nd, the tone was incredible! I picked up every 2014/2013 American P-Bass in the shop in comparison as well as the custom shop relics. This one just felt right.

At $1400, there was no cost differential between new and old, and the relec cost more than 2 times as much... no brainer.

Trust your ears!


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Post subject: Re: Vintage vs modern P-Basses
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 8:47 am
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Quote:
I am keen to get some experienced opinions on vintage vs modern P-Basses.

I played a 1972 or 1974 P-Bass the other day - it was interesting though I am not rushing out to trade my 2013 P-Bass Am Deluxe. In fact, the experience made me love my 2013 P-Bass Am Dlx even more.

What am I missing to not want to pay thousands of $$$ for the vintage bass?


You are not missing anything. If your ears are telling you that the 2013 Fender is the one for you than be happy to save that dough!

Old Fender basses are different. They either hit a chord with you or they don't.
There is also a wide variation among old instruments , so some may sound and feel great and others sound terrible. There is no way to predict what you will find attractive.

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