HELP! I am afraid of older basses

[SacRush]

I am having a GAS problem. I have been looking for a HH, modern sounding bass for a little bit and the two I have found have got me in a little bit of a corner. First, I found here on TB and the other I found on FBM: both with similar builds. My problem with them both is that they are older than my kids.

Vintage has always meant "easier to break and harder/more expensive to fix" to me. Help talk me outta that mindset.

BTW: if any of the NorCal TBer know a good luthier, I'd appreciate the hook up.

TL: DR - talk me out of being afraid to buy a older bass.

 

[B-Mac]

I am having a GAS problem. I have been looking for a HH, modern sounding bass for a little bit and the two I have found have got me in a little bit of a corner. First, I found here on TB and the other I found on FBM: both with similar builds. My problem with them both is that they are older than my kids.

Vintage has always meant "easier to break and harder/more expensive to fix" to me. Help talk me outta that mindset.

BTW: if any of the NorCal TBer know a good luthier, I'd appreciate the hook up.

TL: DR - talk me out of being afraid to buy a older bass.

I have 6 basses from the early 80's approaching 40 years.
not a single issue.

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

My two best basses are 39 and 37 years old respectively, both Yamahas: '82 BB2000 / '84 BB3000

Meet the fear head-on, embrace it and *overcome*

 

[UncleBalsamic]

Maybe a bass that's made it so many years in good condition is more likely to be problem free going forwards?

 

[chadds]

Older basses. They’ve done all the settling they are going to do. If the neck was going to twist it did very early. Electronics don’t deteriorate. If pickups lose magnetism unlikely it makes for a softening.

Have no fear. You’ll know if it’s been cared for. I have a first gen G&L L-1000. It was abused. I had it restored and neck left original. A truly amazing and stable bass.
Have no fear.

Also some know that the more vibrations put through it, the making of music, the break in happens and it becomes a better instrument. If it was played a lot it may have been a good one day one. The minty one that’s quite old may not have been so good and spent it’s life under a bed in a case not getting played.

Have no fear. Let the one that’s for you speak to you the way a dog picks you at the pound.

 

[AGCurry]

Vintage has always meant "easier to break and harder/more expensive to fix" to me.

Cars, yes. Electric guitars and basses, no.

 

[DanDBassist]

I was going to say most of what has already been said, so.... if it has been played a lot then it could show fret wear. If not worn really bad then it is nothing that a little fretwork (by that service tech you are looking for) could easily do.