No doubt about it, older basses sound better! My '59 P-bass just turned 50 and it has the sweetest sound you have ever heard! I have two more pre-CBS P's ('59 and '62)
EDIT (Mark) : Not allowed.
I have always played old P-basses and they sure do sound better than the new ones! Much better quality wood and construction too! I am playing a blond maple neck '59 now so it just turned 50! I have two other slab P-Basses.