Do older basses sound significantly better?

[Peter - Oregon]

I am wondering if the aging of the wood on solid body bass guitars over decades makes.them sound noticeably better than new ones. For example a new Fender P vs one that is 20 or 40 years old?

 

[Bevan777]

Old dry wood (seems to me) slightly more resonant than young wood. But you can replicate this with roasting or just using old wood.

The old basses that have survived this long are probably the good sounding ones of the batch, the bad sounding ones would have been weeded out, trashed, modded etc... So the old ones that exist now probably do have a higher than average sound quality.

 

[5StringBlues]

naw

 

[jd56hawk]

Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.

 

[Micha84]

Depending on your definition of "better" and the vast amount of existing instruments out there, both old and new, I'd refer to the short but usually correct answer to questions in the form of "Are all X Y?": No.

 

[pepj]

Old dry wood (seems to me) slightly more resonant than young wood. But you can replicate this with roasting or just using old wood.

The old basses that have survived this long are probably the good sounding ones of the batch, the bad sounding ones would have been weeded out, trashed, modded etc... So the old ones that exist now probably do have a higher than average sound quality.

Yep, the good ones survived...once they got past the 70's modding craze.

I find I like basses better once they've matured.
Now, they may be using a very good wood supply..and this isn't cheap..but I still like to groove a bass in.
All my bass acquisitions recently were good enough out the box but are now far far better once I've put time on them.
Funnily enough, my newest build is the hardest work and because i have options, it hasn't had me work at it enough.
So, a yes, for seasoned settled build for me..

 

[chris_b]

Old versus new wood might be a thing if the bass is being used in a studio, where small differences can matter.

IMO there are different variables at play on a gig.

 

[Heiwa]

I find I like basses better once they've matured.

I think mature bassists are better lol

 

[Bass Motifs]

In many types of instrument making supplies of the best wood have diminished over the years. One advantage to older instruments can be the quality of wood. If you think wood doesn't affect the tone of amplified instruments then that won't concern you beyond the cosmetic.

OTOH manufacturing standards have generally improved and what you can get for relatively little money is quite amazing.

I think it's nice to start with a new instrument and make it your own story

 

[Minimalist]

The short answer is "No." The long answer is "no, not really."

 

[Rib 13]

Basses are case specific and should be judged individually, even if they rolled off the assembly line one after another......I've played great old basses. I've handled lousy old basses. I've played great new basses. I've handled lousy new basses......as previously stated above: if you happen to handle a bunch of great basses that are old, that's because they are great basses and the reason they've survived all these years

 

[Mark 63]

Old versus new wood might be a thing if the bass is being used in a studio, where small differences can matter.

IMO there are different variables at play on a gig.

Agree. The aural nuances of a vintage instrument are mostly gone as soon as the drummer kicks in.

 

[ThomasTronics]

I have 1952 precision bass and a couple other old basses from the 70s, 90s and early 2000s.
That 52 the wood is basically petrified and it is certifiably the most resonant bass i own. When you hit a note you can really feel it and hear it.
I think it comes down to good wood that's aged well and PLAYED. I think instruments that have been vibrating for decades develop that wonderful tone

 

[Minimalist]

This is an interesting read:
What Really Happened in that Double-Blind Violin Sound Test

Conclusion is, old and new can sound equally as good. what matters is quality of build, quality of materials, and quality of set up. You can make a great instrument sound poor with a bad set up.

 

[Trailertrash74]

If it was a POS back in the 60's/70's, it's a POS today!

 

[ctmullins]

No.

 

[Low Commotion]

Not in my opinion. I’ve seen old basses in mint shape, but they sounded just OK. They’re probably in mint condition because they just sound OK.

 

[Kevin Wolfe]

I’m of the school that feels the sound is in the pickups.
The playability is in the neck. Old necks can range from super sweet to a complete, cantankerous POS.

 

[2saddleslab]

Depends on the bass. This one is over 70 and sounds amazing.

This one just turned 10 and while modded all to hell it sounds great as well.

I have 1952 precision bass and a couple other old basses from the 70s, 90s and early 2000s.
That 52 the wood is basically petrified and it is certifiably the most resonant bass i own. When you hit a note you can really feel it and hear it.
I think it comes down to good wood that's aged well and PLAYED. I think instruments that have been vibrating for decades develop that wonderful tone

I've always wondered if the vibrations from being played over decades could alter or enhance the wood. Probably just wishful thinking. These survivors probably lasted the test of time because they sound good from the get go.

 

[groooooove]

YOU: can you create a carrot cake recipe i can bake to keep my mind off of redundant topics related to bass guitars and whether or not the age of the wood is noticeable changing the tone?

ChatGPT
Certainly! Baking can be a wonderful way to take a break from repetitive thoughts. Here's a delicious carrot cake recipe for you:

Carrot Cake Recipe
Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated carrots (about 4 medium carrots)
• 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
   
   
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
   
   
3. In a separate bowl, beat together the oil, eggs, and vanilla until well combined.
   
   
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
   
   
5. Fold in the grated carrots, crushed pineapple, shredded coconut, and chopped nuts (if using).
   
   
6. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and smooth the tops.
   
   
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
   
   
8. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
   
   
9. For the cream cheese frosting, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
   
   
10. Once the cakes are completely cooled, spread a layer of cream cheese frosting on top of one cake layer. Place the second layer on top and frost the entire cake.
    
    
11. Optional: Garnish with additional chopped nuts or shredded coconut.
    

Enjoy your homemade carrot cake and take some time to savor the delicious flavors while taking a break from those repetitive thoughts!