'62 Precision vs '72 Precision: can you hear the difference?

[lestratele]

It was the low note growl on track B that grabbed me. My guess was wrong, but that's a good thing. There may be hope for me and my 73.

 

[Bass V]

I rolled snake eyes too...
the neck and overall build between the two are crucial factors, but what circuitry differences are there?
if you swapped the guts how would each bass respond then?

 

[retslock]

I think this proves that CBS still turned out some really good Fender Precision Basses into the 1970s.
- Steve

I still have one that I bought in 1973. It has been recorded many times and gave me a living for decades. I won’t sell it even though I only play 5 strings on gigs now. I had so many good comments from engineers over the years who loved how good it sounded and how easy it was to record.

 

[_Obra_]

Hi Steve and thanks for a great Thread

I have a 1968 which is somewhere in between the two You compared, but sound more like 1970. I especially chose it because of the neck shape I like.

Can You tell me what is the string action high on Your 1970 (from the top of the fret to the bottom of the strings) at 15 fret? It seems that my bass have a very small ski jump from the 14 fret to the end of the neck, so it's a little bit complicated to lower the action as much as I want.

By the way, I answered the A-B question correctly

 

[mongo2]

I didn't see it before listening but since the reveal happened before I could find my earphones to listen on my laptop this morning I can only say that I found A to be smoother sounding than the slight harshness of B. I prefer track A.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

I have no idea, they both sound great to me and nice playing by the way.

 

[Robert Strickland]

Fascinating! I guessed wrong -- boominess of B made me think slab board/ early 60's. Love the study. Thanks for posting!

This also made me wonder what the within group differences would be. So like run the same test with two 62's for example. I have a couple pre-CBS but they're different years so not quite right but they're worlddds apart.

Anyone have two same year slabs/ pre-CBSs that can weigh in?

Interested in your comment that they are “worlds apart”. I wonder, have you ever compared them like this, with identical strings of the same age? Side by side in the same room, sitting in the same place, same amp, same EQ, etc?

 

[Acoop]

I thought the biggest difference would come from the Brazilian rosewood fretboard. ... I have a 64 parts P-bass with 63-pickups and a 73 parts P-bass with Lollars in it. ... The Lollars are much more focused than the org. 63's.

 

[bobyoung53]

I do have to say that this was one of the most interesting poll threads I've ever taken part in here. The last one that was as good was the poll about Fender P bass pickups vs P/J P pickups soloed (or something like that). You should have ignored us and let it run for a week with the reveal.

 

[Muziekschuur]

I was under the impression 1960’s Fenders had an Ash body?

 

[Muziekschuur]

I looked it up. I found this: In the fifties ash was used, in '56 they used alder for the sunburst bodies, whilst ash remained for the blonde variants. Around 1959/1960 all the bodies were made from alder (sunburst, white, black,...), except for the by than very rare blonde finish, which remained ash.

 

[InnerBass]

First of all thanks for the compliments on the playing. I was just trying to do justice to James Jamerson’s work as he is my all-time favorite electric bass player whose influence on other bassists and music in general cannot be overstated.

Here's the big reveal: Track A features the 1962 Precision and Track B features the 1972 Precision.

As of right now 96 people guessed correctly, 106 guessed wrong, and carrots receive an honorable mention with 41 votes.

It's hard to describe subtle differences in tone, but to my ears the '62 had a "drier" sound that offered more clarity. By comparison, the '72 was fatter and had a growl on the low notes that's audible on the recording. The differences were more apparent through an amplifier than on the recording. The big difference in playing these basses was the neck. The '62 has a C width neck (1.75" at the nut) that is thinner from front to back. The frets are smaller and most of the lacquer is worn from the back of the neck which gives it that appealing "broken in" feel. The '72 has a round, chunky B width neck (1.625"at the nut) with larger frets and a glossy finish. I'm sure the neck contributes to the sound difference as do numerous other factors including the wood selection, finish type (nitro vs. poly), pickups and other electronic components. The '62 Precision is a great instrument that's really fun to play. It's worth about three times what the '72 Precision is worth, but it's not three times the bass. I think this proves that CBS still turned out some really good Fender Precision Basses into the 1970s.

- Steve

'69 wasn't a bad year either : )
Great thread Steve!

 

[Barton Lee]

I've played a 66 P and a 72 P, both with original pickups, for many years. Based on that experience, I was immediately convinced that track A was the 62 (though I did second guess myself), which sounds to my ears much like my 66. I preferred the tone on track A just as I prefer my 66 to my 72, which has a bit more of everything tonally and works better with a pick and for hard(er) rock.

Fun poll and nice playing on both tracks.

 

[mikeswals]

I was under the impression 1960’s Fenders had an Ash body?

Nope. Ash was standard form 51-56, then alder became the standard from 57 til 70 when they started doing natural gloss finish. (save for a couple odd runs like the blonde where the grain needed to show through)
The early 70's sunburst and trans-walnut P's were still lightweight alder, til about 73/74 changeover, then the regular wood became ash.

 

[InnerBass]

Nope. Ash was standard form 51-56, then alder became the standard from 57 til 70 when they started doing natural gloss finish. (save for a couple odd runs like the blonde where the grain needed to show through)
The early 70's sunburst and trans-walnut P's were still lightweight alder, til about 73/74 changeover, then the regular wood became ash.

My '69 is like 7 3/4 lbs - and that's with a Badass.
Mighty lightweight alder : )

 

[Barton Lee]

My 66 weighs 7.6 lbs without the covers. Another reason it's always been my favorite. The 72 weighs in at a portly 10.4 lbs, and I'm not fond of the maple B neck. Even though I love and own Jazz basses.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

...what circuitry differences are there?
if you swapped the guts how would each bass respond then?

Both basses used in the recordings have their original pickups and electronics. I don't know enough about aftermarket pickups to answer your second question. All of the Fender basses I currently own and have owned in the past have been stock except for one that had a Nordstrand pickup that I didn't care for.

- Steve

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

You should have ignored us and let it run for a week with the reveal.

Now you tell me?

- Steve

 

[Bass V]

Both basses used in the recordings have their original pickups and electronics. I don't know enough about aftermarket pickups to answer your second question. All of the Fender basses I currently own and have owned in the past have been stock except for one that had a Nordstrand pickup that I didn't care for.

- Steve

to clarify my question, if you put the '72s pax in the '62 and vice versa do you think there'd be any differences?

 

[Snakeman1066]

go figure... i guessed right...