I would love if you added one of those 20$ cheapo bases but used the exact same strings for all three demos.
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'62 Precision vs '72 Precision: can you hear the difference?
- Thread starter bassfiddlesteve
- Start date
My thoughts exactly!!
Either way, great playing and sound on both tracks!
Did you set both pickups to the same distance from the strings? If not, that’s a pretty influential variable that’s just left flappin’ in the breeze. It could easily make the ‘70s P sound hotter than the ‘60s one, even if the pickup is not hotter (which it typically is not on a ‘70s P).
I will listen through headphones later, just for fun, but without equal pickup height measurements, I wouldn’t make a call one way or the other.
I will listen through headphones later, just for fun, but without equal pickup height measurements, I wouldn’t make a call one way or the other.
Awesome playing, magnificent instruments, cast my vote, looking forward to the reveal.
I think the '62 wins in the feel category, especially since the finish is worn off the back of the neck. It's a very enjoyable bass to play. The '72 has a very different neck: round and chunky with larger frets and a narrower B-width nut, and the glossy poly finish is intact. I like the neck on this bass too, but I could see why a lot of people would prefer the feel of the '62 neck. Outside of that there's not a huge difference other than age and wear. Both basses weigh 8.5 lbs as well.
- Steve
Thanks Jimmy. I mixed the bass hot so the differences would be apparent. I tried to set the levels for both basses the same, but I didn't use any compression. There wasn't a noticeable difference in output between these two basses to my ears.
- Steve
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I did measure this and found that both pickups were set about the same distance from the strings with the same angle to account for fingerboard radius. Me and Bob, the owner of the '62, have pretty similar tastes in terms of basses, strings, and string height and we both do our own setups. Neither bass seemed inherently "hotter" in terms of output and I decided not to use compression, using my ear and the level meter to achieve what I hope is a fairly consistent volume between the two tracks.
- Steve
I am sure I wasn’t the only one bobbing my head to those cover. Really enjoyed your playing. Since I don’t own a vintage fender my only reference is Jamerson’s sound/tone and in my humble opinion the second one sounded like the 62’.
Dunno, but I thought track 2 sounded better, according to my cheap iPad speakers
I like B better. I think B has more character, more drive,attack. A is rounder and thicker. Both are good. (I have a '65 P and some newer Ps , and have La Bellas.) I can't tell which is which.
I believe B is '62.
I believe B is '62.
A = '62.
I think B has stronger, clearer lows, so I think B has either more windings on the pickups or stronger magnets and I think that was the historical trend, so I think it's the '72.
(Feel a little sad to vote this way. Happy to be wrong.)
I think B has stronger, clearer lows, so I think B has either more windings on the pickups or stronger magnets and I think that was the historical trend, so I think it's the '72.
(Feel a little sad to vote this way. Happy to be wrong.)
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Hmmm.... I listened over high quality headphones and was surprised by how different they sounded. To my ears, A had a fatter low end, and generally a warmer overall sound, while B, as has been mentioned, seemed to have a bit more mid range growl. They both sounded good, but my preference would be for A, and I'm going to guess that's the '62 model.
What body material was used on the ‘62 and ‘72. Was the manufacturing technique of the pickups changed at the factory between ‘62 vs ‘72? What do you measure in k-ohms on both pickups?
I have 72 P and mine sounds closer to A track so my guess is A= 72 , B=62.
Boy, they both sound good.
B seems to have a little more output so I’m going to say A = 62 and B = 72. Steve - if you have an American Standard or American Professional it would be fun to add it as a third option. I wonder if a modern P would stick out or sound similar? Just a thought. Kudos to you for the fun thread.
B seems to have a little more output so I’m going to say A = 62 and B = 72. Steve - if you have an American Standard or American Professional it would be fun to add it as a third option. I wonder if a modern P would stick out or sound similar? Just a thought. Kudos to you for the fun thread.
Great idea, but owing to different pieces of body, neck and fretboard timbers, production tolerances of just about every component part including the strings you would most likely hear similar differences between two 62s or two 72s in this type of comparison. The same might also be said of their playing feel.
