Are there any "timeless" basses?

[hasbeen]

I get what you are saying . U was thinking about adding Sadowsky to the list . When people want a good 5 string Jazz bass, Sadowsky is what immediately comes to my mind .

In fact , I think there is an entire different list that doesn’t include Fender when it comes to timeless 5 string basses.
I’m going to mention the top ones that come to my mind .

Yamaha BB
StingRay5
Sadowsky Jazz 5
Ken Smith 5

For 5 strings , I’m thinking these have been on many more stages and recordings and weekend gigs than most other offerings .

Well said

 

[hasbeen]

For a select few, being that they are extraordinarily expensive.

A timeless instrument would seem to be one that all can have access to, like a P bass….

Respectively, I disagree. Timeless simply means it passes the test of time. An Omega Seamaster is a timeless watch although man won't pay the price.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

I've been debating with a friend about whether any basses can truly be considered "timeless." He argues that the Fender Precision and Jazz fit the bill, but I disagree for several reasons.

To me, "timeless" suggests consistent dominance, but while the Precision and Jazz have always been in use, they haven’t always been the go-to choices. In the '80s, bassists gravitated toward StingRays, Steinbergers and Spectors. The '90s saw Warwicks take centre stage. These shifts suggest that bass trends come and go. The Precision with flatwound strings defined the '60s, but by the '70s and '80s, it had largely faded. It has made a resurgence, but will it still be everywhere in 2035? I have my doubts.

Another factor is how much the Precision and Jazz have evolved over the years. Yes, the core designs remain similar, but countless changes have been made—pickups, neck profiles, fretboard radius, tuners, bridges, preamps and more. My friend noted that David Gilmour primarily played Strats throughout his career, but even he made significant modifications—like switching to EMG pickups in the '80s—which drastically changed the instrument's character. A heavily modified Strat is hardly the same as a '60s model with single-coil pickups.

In that sense, I struggle to call anything physical "timeless." Stories, art, and music? Maybe. But basses? I’m not so sure.

What do you think?

If there ever were "timeless" basses, the Fender Precision Bass and the Fender Jazz Bass are IT. I agree with your friend. A person who played one of these in the 1960s would be completely at home with the most current of these instruments in 2025 as if they unwittingly took a trip in a time machine. If that's not timeless, I don't know what is. I agree with your friend.

 

[fhm555]

I've been debating with a friend about whether any basses can truly be considered "timeless." He argues that the Fender Precision and Jazz fit the bill, but I disagree for several reasons.

To me, "timeless" suggests consistent dominance, but while the Precision and Jazz have always been in use, they haven’t always been the go-to choices. In the '80s, bassists gravitated toward StingRays, Steinbergers and Spectors. The '90s saw Warwicks take centre stage. These shifts suggest that bass trends come and go. The Precision with flatwound strings defined the '60s, but by the '70s and '80s, it had largely faded. It has made a resurgence, but will it still be everywhere in 2035? I have my doubts.

Another factor is how much the Precision and Jazz have evolved over the years. Yes, the core designs remain similar, but countless changes have been made—pickups, neck profiles, fretboard radius, tuners, bridges, preamps and more. My friend noted that David Gilmour primarily played Strats throughout his career, but even he made significant modifications—like switching to EMG pickups in the '80s—which drastically changed the instrument's character. A heavily modified Strat is hardly the same as a '60s model with single-coil pickups.

In that sense, I struggle to call anything physical "timeless." Stories, art, and music? Maybe. But basses? I’m not so sure.

What do you think?

Here's the thing so many people miss on this point. A crap ton of those who strayed went back to their P and J basses. I started on Peavey, but by the time I was playing out on the regular I was on a Fender and have been since. I've had a few others but nothing that comes close to the time I've put in on Fenders.
That said, if Peavey was still being made next door, and were as good as they were then, I'd still be playing them.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Timeless…

 

[pgpete]

 

[fhm555]

YOU (OP) have never played a bass that was not a direct linear copy or modified tribute to a Fender. And you never will. Unless it's a keytar. That's as close to timeless as I can find.

Much as it pains me to say this, I started being partial to Fender standard J basses because the aftermarket was bottomless, and for one suffering from terminal tinkeritus...
But to my pleasant surprise, of the basses I've had personal experience with, Fender use the best screws in the mass produced market. One of my big turnoffs with a lot of PacRim products is the abysmal quality of fasteners they use. Even with the right tools it does not take long to have wallowed out screw heads and rounded bolt heads and nuts. I know not many people take stuff apart as much as I do, but it's like a lot of makers don't want you to. Fender at least accepts the fact people like me exist and build accordingly, Simple, durable where it counts, and sooooooo many choices when it comes to ruining a perfectly good stock bass.

 

[pfschim]

I get what you are saying . U was thinking about adding Sadowsky to the list . When people want a good 5 string Jazz bass, Sadowsky is what immediately comes to my mind .

In fact , I think there is an entire different list that doesn’t include Fender when it comes to timeless 5 string basses.
I’m going to mention the top ones that come to my mind .

Yamaha BB
StingRay5
Sadowsky Jazz 5
Ken Smith 5

For 5 strings , I’m thinking these have been on many more stages and recordings and weekend gigs than most other offerings .

Sadowsky is just a Fender with a slightly altered headstock. Very nice copy of a Fender, but a Fender none the less.

and gosh, 8 pages on this topic .... geez TB

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Sadowsky is just a Fender with a slightly altered headstock. Very nice copy of a Fender, but a Fender none the less.

and gosh, 8 pages on this topic .... geez TB

I disagree. The body size is smaller , the neck shape and profile are nothing alike, and the Sadowsky is not trying to immolate vintage Jazz bass tones.

Sure we can all agree that it is a Fender inspired instrument, but to say it is a Fender copy is not correct.

 

[DJ Bebop]

and gosh, 8 pages on this topic .... geez TB

What else do we have to do?

 

[pepj]

You get P's and J's in every genre. You might find Fodera, F bass crop up but they aren't doing anything a Fender never did before.

Smiths, MM and Ric's have their distinct sound, for sure, but duck in and out of fashion more so, imv.

 

[pepj]

Sadowsky literally made his name modding Fenders for studio guys. He did it very well.
AC are modern vintage Fender takes imv.
And very very good at that too.

 

[DWA2469]

The earth is around 4.5 Billion years old. The P bass was introduced in 1951. I think maybe the Jury is out on which basses are "timeless". For all we know, Fenders are less than a blip on the 'timeless" radar. A little perspective goes a long way, don't you think?

Timeless is not historic!