Finding a vintage bass....

[JIO]

I found my birth year bass 7-8 years ago but didn't buy it.

A local vintage store had a killer 1969 Precision that was fairly priced. I liked it, but absolutely fell in love with a 1974 that was hanging beside it. Even though it was poo brown and had major wear, it was about 8lbs and sounded better than the 1969 and even a 1964 and a 1966 that she shop also had for sale.

Still have the bass and will likely never sell it.

exactly - just goes to show you have to listen to your ears for the final call…

I agree w/Kmonk - never considered this particular correlation and for me the overinflated price that would come w/it

 

[P. Aaron]

I just buy new. A1960 Precision would blow the Christmas bonus...plus trying to find one, establish pedigree, playability & all that. Fender's makin' 'em nice enough these days at 10"% of the price of a '60, I'm just gonna play it.

 

[Pilgrim]

Not an issue for me. I was born in 1950 before Leo made basses. "There ain't no sich animal."

 

[ToP fan]

Just an FYI...The neck stamp back then wasn't the exact date of manufacture. The "5" in the neck stamp is the model code for a P bass neck, not the date. It means the neck was stamped in November 1963 but it doesn't really indicate the date the bass was actually assembled. It's possible they are right and the bass was assembled in '64.

Talk about a BuzzKill !!!! Man you smart guys are nasty sometimes !!

Regardless it still says 5NOV63 and I choose to believe it was manufactured the moment I was born by Leo himself, shipped to Motown studios, played by Jamerson, then eventually found its way to Oakland and was Rocco's first (and still favorite !) bass


Please leave me my dreams..........

 

[mongo2]

The neck stamp back then wasn't the exact date of manufacture. The "5" in the stamp is the model code for a P bass, not the date.

Talk about a BuzzKill !!!! Man you smart guys are nasty sometimes !!

Regardless it still says 5NOV63 and I choose to believe it was manufactured the moment I was born by Leo himself, shipped to Motown studios, played by Jamerson, then eventually found its way to Oakland and was Rocco's first (and still favorite !) bass


Please leave me my dreams..........

Sorry, but facts are facts. There's enough BS floating around regarding vintage instruments, no need to perpetrate any more.

 

[Gaolee]

Even if I could find one built on the day I was born, it would be too expensive for me to even think about buying. And, as has been pointed out, what part of it would count toward its birthday? I doubt it was assembled the same day all the parts were made. There's a 1960 Ric floating around eBay, and they only want something like $35K for it. Maybe I should look for two of 'em at that price! A 1960 Gibson bass is probably the most affordable, but those are still good and expensive. So, I'll have to pass.

 

[JIO]

Talk about a BuzzKill !!!! Man you smart guys are nasty sometimes !!

Regardless it still says 5NOV63 and I choose to believe it was manufactured the moment I was born by Leo himself, shipped to Motown studios, played by Jamerson, then eventually found its way to Oakland and was Rocco's first (and still favorite !) bass


Please leave me my dreams..........

Unfortunately I do not think "nasty" was the correct word to use in this case (even followed by a winking icon) - "frank" would have been more suitable. TB is if anything where hairs are split on an hourly basis and many people are looking to define lineage of instruments as amatur archeologists. (I mean that in the best of ways and to each their own in that regard) You also are free to enjoy your "dreams" just as they are free to post their frank observations/opinions.

 

[bluesdogblues]

Ok I admit that as happy as I am to contribute in this thread, I was just kinda kidding & have fun about the topic,. In reality, there's no way I'll ever buy the my birthday vintage basses, I see no point in it.

 

[FFTT]

You have to find a bass that is cosmically aligned to your spark of life.

iD Bass

 

[ToP fan]

Unfortunately I do not think "nasty" was the correct word to use in this case (even followed by a winking icon) - "frank" would have been more suitable. TB is if anything where hairs are split on an hourly basis and many people are looking to define lineage of instruments as amatur archeologists. (I mean that in the best of ways and to each their own in that regard) You also are free to enjoy your "dreams" just as they are free to post their frank observations/opinions.

My tongue was firmly planted within my cheek with the "frank" comment! Hence the silly emoticon.

Gentlemen I agree with all that has been said in this interesting thread and am constantly learning from this great website. Let's maintain a strong BS filter but not loose our sense of levity.

 

[GIBrat51]

Honestly, I've never looked for one. I imagine that lefty basses made in 1951 are too scarce
(and way too expensive) to bother with, anyway.