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Fender P, new or vintage?

G

Gilman

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Sep 14, 2015
9
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#1
I was wondering what the major differences between new and old are. I am interested in buying a fender PBase and I have a couple choices available. I'm not sure whether I need to buy a new one or whether I should be looking more for an older vintage model. I'm looking at an American-made P. What are the major differences and why should I go one way or the other.

I am currently playing a music man stingray and have been for sometime now. Looking for a different tone but wondering am I really going to notice a huge difference with a vintage Fender P Base or will a new one give me the same quality.
 
#3
SirMjac28 said:
The best advice is to play as many as you can I have a 78' P that I love but I also wouldn't mind having a new one especially the Fender Road Worn P. It's very difficult to screw up a P bass regardless who makes it.
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Unfortunately that is easier said than done. I am a left-handed player and there are few and far between available to play in stores. I would end up having to order a new one in to try and as far as a vintage I found plenty of places to find used ones but again I would still have to order it.
 
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#5
Gilman said:
... am I really going to notice a huge difference with a vintage Fender P Base or will a new one give me the same quality.
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Personally, I think the new USA made Fenders are built really well. Can't comment on those made elsewhere, as I stick to USA made. I own an all-original '74 P, which is fantastic in all ways that appeal to me. I just recently purchased a brand new Geddy Jazz that ranks with any other Jazz I've ever owned/played. Try a bunch, vintage or new, and choose what feels and sounds right for you.
 
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#7
Check out the Fender American Design Experience web site. There you can specify a lefty and pick from available options.

It costs a couple-few hundred more but you may be able to get a color and so forth you like that is not available "off the rack".

It may work for you, it may not.

I know I've posted this a few times but you can blame a proud father now can you?

I looked high and low of a Lake Placid Blue P and couldn't find a decent one until a fellow TBer told me about the ADE web site.

I ordered this from ADE and 38 days later it was at my door- I couldn't be happier with it! The build quality is fantastic- if that is the worry about having to order one.

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#9
When it comes to Fender P's, I'd choose based primarily on feel, looks, and type of finish (poly vs nitro), all factors that cannot be easily changed. Tone is certainly important, but can be fairly easily manipulated with a simple swap of pickups and/or strings.
 
#10
This is where I'm trying to find out exactly what to do. If I was able to plan it then I wouldn't be asking this question. Because it would be untouched before I bought it then I would prefer to have a better direction.
JMacBass65 said:
Wondering why the choice is new or vintage, when you could simply go used.

When you say vintage, what do you mean? Pre-CBS? Late 60s? 70s?

Opinions will vary depending on your answer.
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When I say vintage I mean eight used 70s PBase or early 80s. I can't seem to find any used left-handed that are newer. So my options are brand-new or an older 70s style.
 
#11
For me having owned both it comes down to feel and tone first... looks last. I just feel the vibe of a vintage or older P better than over a new one.
I have had great newer models but the older early to late 70's were my favorite P basses beside my MIJ models from the 80's.
 
#12
Well, in that case, since you cannot try a bunch, I would skip the 70s. Those were hit and miss quality wise. I scored a great 78, at a great price too, but that was luck - I was not even shopping for a bass at the time.

The early 80s "E series" MIA Fenders are very very nice. I think realistic prices on those are in the $1000-$1200 range.

If you have the money, for a few dollars more (under $2K), you might just want to go new with the ADE as someone else pointed out. A cool, semi custom option.
 
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#13
JMacBass65 said:
Well, in that case, since you cannot try a bunch, I would skip the 70s. Those were hit and miss quality wise. I scored a great 78, at a great price too, but that was luck - I was not even shopping for a bass at the time.

The early 80s "E series" MIA Fenders are very very nice. I think realistic prices on those are in the $1000-$1200 range.

If you have the money, for a few dollars more (under $2K), you might just want to go new with the ADE as someone else pointed out. A cool, semi custom option.
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Yup- I came in way under 2Gs.
 
#15
If you can order a new one from a seller with a good return policy, why not? Try it, and find out whether it works, and if it doesn't, send it back. The current American Standards are generally excellent, and I wouldn't be afraid to order one without playing it first. (In fact, I have, with a 2008 Jazz V. It was great.)

The ADE is a good idea, but you probably can't return it. Ditto for a custom ordered G&L LB-100, which would by my choice, and has loads of options for finish, neck, fretwire, etc. I'm fairly sure it's available lefty, as most G&L's are. IMO they are a step up from American Standard Fenders, and you could probably order one with a few upgrades for less than the price of an ADE Fender. (I recently bought a G&L Comanche guitar with upgraded body wood and painted headstock for LESS than the typical street price of a new American Standard Strat, and the quality is off the charts. Incredible deal.)
 
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#18
Nedmundo said:
If you can order a new one from a seller with a good return policy, why not? Try it, and find out whether it works, and if it doesn't, send it back. The current American Standards are generally excellent, and I wouldn't be afraid to order one without playing it first. (In fact, I have, with a 2008 Jazz V. It was great.)

The ADE is a good idea, but you probably can't return it. Ditto for a custom ordered G&L LB-100, which would by my choice, and has loads of options for finish, neck, fretwire, etc. I'm fairly sure it's available lefty, as most G&L's are. IMO they are a step up from American Standard Fenders, and you could probably order one with a few upgrades for less than the price of an ADE Fender. (I recently bought a G&L Comanche guitar with upgraded body wood and painted headstock for LESS than the typical street price of a new American Standard Strat, and the quality is off the charts. Incredible deal.)
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You CAN return them if not satisfied.
 
#19
I've worked in four different music stores and two different instrument makers and hopefully that perspective is going to help out here.

I'd normally say "well, just try a bunch out", but you're a lefty and that's not going to be possible. You're probably going to have to spend a fair amount of money on shipping trying stuff out; you need to make sure everyone you deal with - new or vintage - offers no-hassle returns. There's just not a lot of left handed instruments out there and you'd understand why when you see what they have to do to make them, basically you're talking about shutting down a factory, flipping around most of the jigs, and doing everything backwards for two weeks out of the year. That's what we used to do at the boutique acoustic company I used to work for, anyway, because we did offer the lefty option.

That's the factual part of my post.

The opinion part is this: most of the old Fenders are atrocious. Not just bad but awful bad. They were designed as throwaways, Leo never had any intention of his instruments being kept for a half-century or longer. And most of the old stuff sounds and/or plays like it. Of course, some of them are fantastic and that's what everyone's looking for. But in general the old Fender stuff is not that great, whereas a lot of the new instruments are simply fantastic. If I were in your place I'd be looking at nothing but new.

Good luck!
 
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