best year for fender?

[youngmanhood]

What do you guys consider cream of the crop year wise for the fender jazz and precision?

 

[bubinga5]

What do you guys consider cream of the crop year wise for the fender jazz and precision?

60's and now

 

[Christian Waiau]

now.... everyone i know or even have read that owns a "vintage" fender that they rave about.. always say how its "this specific bass" ...the QC was NOT very good. US Made ones now are built better and play better(arguably)

 

[BassBen]

my year for jazz would be 73
(I think its 69 to 70 something are pretty much the same basses)
I don't the bridge pickup position in the 60' jazz basses.

Although for fretless J I would say 60 (Jaco - Enough said)

Don't know much about P basses

 

[bassbully]

Toss up. I think every year Fender has made basses 51' to present has had great and not so great models. Allot of folks say pre CBS 60's and that the 70's suck but there are allot of great basses from the 70's and many pro players have their sweetheart basses from the 70's. I say dont worry about year play the bass and then decide.

 

[lomo]

I don't believe that older is better for bass guitars. IMO 2008-present Fenders are the best they've ever built and I love them (and some older ones as well).

 

[BassAgent]

Coolness: 1966 for Jazz, 1963 for P
Quality: 2008 and up for both

 

[Din Of Win]

Yeah, as a whole, the last 2 or 3 years have been the best.

I just wish there were more aesthetic options...

 

[80'sRocker]

I have played both vintage and new Fenders and I have to say that most new Fender P's or J's are really built well. I have run into a few poor vintage Fenders so....

 

[hdracer]

'08 & up.

 

[Baird6869]

my year for jazz would be 73

I would agree with this only as I have a '73 and that I played numerous '60's and '70's before settling on mine. Also, the '70's PU placement works better for me also.

RE: P basses... pre-CBS obviously can be amazing and I am lucky that my '74 P is really light and sounds killer... but I really think 2008+ American Standards are as good an instrument that Fender has ever made.

Just IMO...

 

[bmc]

Definitely the 60's, and the fairly recent crop of basses.

I remember very well in the 70's, when the plastic feel and inconsistencies of Fenders from that era were not impressive. If you wanted a Jazz or a Precision, you had to try everyone in the store to find one that felt right. They still don't do anything for me.

 

[Pilgrim]

I have a '63 P and it's a good bass, but that's it - it's a good bass. I don't think I've heard reports of the late 50's or early 60's basses being dogs...but I have heard that of basses starting in the 70's. Maybe those who have the 50's and 60's basses simply have them sorted out.

If something happened to my '63, I'd be unhappy but I darn sure wouldn't pay to get another. Their value as an instrument is TOTALLY unrelated to their retail/resale value. I'd just replace it with a good current model.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

I'd say 66 for both P & J - my buddy has both (matching sunburst) and they KILL.

I have a 62 and it plays amazing too - so those get my vote. I've heard GREAT things about the 08's and up, but I haven't played any yet