'65 Jazz Bass vs. '72 Jazz Bass: Hear the Difference

[s_wood]

Every now and then some of us will go down the pre-CBS vs post-CBS Jazz Bass rat hole. Do they sound the same, which sounds better...

This video is a really excellent comparison of a '65 vs '72 Jazz Bass. (I know that as a matter of corporate structure CBS ownership of Fender began in '65, but I also know that nothing changed about how they were building basses until late '65 and this one was made before those changes... no binding, clover shape tuners... so it will sound like a '64).

Listen with headphones or IEMS. You will hear a real difference between the two.



Fire away!

 

[electracoyote]

So many variables to consider, not just PU placement but how the electronics were done or the PU's wound, different hunks of wood (for those who believe that could be a factor), and on and on.

On this particular '72, the neck PU seemed to be the main contributor to a slightly more subdued tone (both PU's up) with fingerstyle. The bridge PU's were very similar when solo'd, very burpy. The overall differences in the two instruments were much less pronounced when slapping.

I stop just short of saying so much for the PU placement theory. '65 slaps just as nicely to my ears.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Every now and then some of us will go down the pre-CBS vs post-CBS Jazz Bass rat hole. Do they sound the same, which sounds better...

This video is a really excellent comparison of a '65 vs '72 Jazz Bass. (I know that as a matter of corporate structure CBS ownership of Fender began in '65, but I also know that nothing changed about how they were building basses until late '65 and this one lwas made before those changes... no binding, clover shape tuners... so it will sound like a '64).

Listen with headphones or IEMS. You will hear a real difference between the two.



Fire away!

Thanks for sharing! I am on the Seventies side of the fence, but that Sixties Jazz was awesome for some of the fingerstyle playing.
For slap, the Seventies Jazz has the tone I love. I would happily take them both!

 

[Bassclef46]

To me the 72 has more growl and the 65 is a bit warmer. Both sound outstanding though. Personally I would choose the 72 for the growl and inlays

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

A good 70’s style Jazz is it for me. But honestly that 65 seemed to outshine that 74. . Goes to show that it’s a bass by bass analysis that really must happen. Especially when considering vintage Fender basses.
Also could have been the player. Some necks just feel better in the hand and allow the player to bring the best out of that bass.

 

[mikeswals]

Exactly the same as my last two vintage Jazzes. The 65 is way fatter and has fuller ring on the top end.

I have a 65, yup sounds just like that, absolutely love it!

My previous vintage Jazz was a Dec 69 and had that same pickup setup as that 72 and sounded exactly like his video, and after years of trying to convince myself, it drove me nuts on how thin it sounded, that top end is anemic. Sold it and got the 65 and never looked back.

 

[Mastermold]

Two flavors of fun IMO. Great playing by the way OP.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

To flavors of fun IMO. Great playing by the way OP.

The OP was smoking!

 

[s_wood]

Funny that some describe the '72 as thin. To my ears, it's got a lot more lower mids. I am listening with pretty good Sennheiser headphones. Not saying it's better...just that it has more lower mids, which is kind of the opposite of "thin".

 

[Ace Of Bass]

I noticed a bit of a fuller sounding bottom on the ‘65 as well..but I do like the more slightly treble-y response from the ‘72...the pickups spacing should be exactly the same...it seems like the culprit in the noticeable sound differences between the two might be the pickups..? Now it’s got me to thinking how much more important the pickups were in the ‘70s to contributing to that sound...perhaps just as much as the heavy northern ash used on the ash bodied models..

 

[s_wood]

I noticed a bit of a fuller sounding bottom on the ‘65 as well..but I do like the more slightly treble-y response from the ‘72...the pickups spacing should be exactly the same.

Fender changed the pickup spacing from 3.6" to 4" beginning in late '70. Most (but not all '71s) are 4" spacing, and I am pretty sure all '72's are 4" spacing. At least, I have never seen a '72 that wasn't 4" spacing.

Besides the difference in pickup spacing between the '65 and '72, there is possibly a body wood difference. Nearly all J's from '60 to '66 had alder bodies. By '72, they were starting to use ash more and more. Also, the '65's were finished in nitro. By the late 60's they were using poly.

 

[John Webb]

sheesh...they both sound great...because of the player! But the '65 sounds fuller/better to me.

 

[Pings Bass]

I probably have some confirmation bias, but I like the sound and looks of the 72 better.

Honestly the tonal differences are so minor they would be lost on most players and listeners, but I feel that way about most BGs. The playing is what counts, in any scenario.

 

[red_rhino]

I would happily take them both!

This. Absolutely this.

Between the two, I have a slight preference for the '65, mostly based on the finger style playing. The slap tones on both are close enough that I would be happy with either one for that application.

 

[Raw N Low]

I could be wrong but, I feel like these kinds of tests (especially Fender's) need multiple examples to show the differences and changes in consistency. That's '65 (pre-CBS?) is right at the maturity point of a 60's Jazz and the '72 (post-CBS) is just getting its attitude in check.

I prefer a mid 70's style for its distinctive growl and mids. I find most of the verses video's to be anecdotal for products that had so many small but, significant design changes.

 

[Jackcrow]

I prefer the 65 for everything except the slap tone.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

65 all the way for me.

 

[REV]

Great playing. I feel like this video validates what I feel about Fender products which is their inconsistency. Both basses sound great but there are differences. Another '65 and another 72 might sound a little different from the first two. It's not that this is necessarily a bad thing it just says to me that among all of the subtle variations in the Fender sound we each have to determine what we like best.

 

[Guido Fawkes]

Interesting comparison, but it's one random example of a bass from each year. To draw any generalised conclusion you'd have to sample a double figure number of examples of each year

I'd take both of course. "Choosing between basses" is a false and unnecessary dilemma.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I noticed a bit of a fuller sounding bottom on the ‘65 as well..but I do like the more slightly treble-y response from the ‘72...the pickups spacing should be exactly the same...it seems like the culprit in the noticeable sound differences between the two might be the pickups..? Now it’s got me to thinking how much more important the pickups were in the ‘70s to contributing to that sound...perhaps just as much as the heavy northern ash used on the ash bodied models..

The pickup spacing made the biggest difference. Pickup location is always the most important factor in whether a bass or guitar sounds deep or punchy.