Is there anything else like a 60s pbass?

[Ricky Caboverde]

I have a early 80"s "was told when I bought here" maple f/board, three burst and a black p/guard like yours. I had my luthier shim the neck, which was needed to get lower action. When I picked it up he told me this bass was better than a Fender custom he just worked on.
These are great basses IMO.

Nice!

I played mine in a live setting for the first time, this morning. It's such a great bass! Resonant, lightweight, easy to play (especially nice in the upper register), fantastic sustain, and it has such a great tone! I've put some GHS flats on that suit it very well. Sadly, I've never played an FCS bass, but it's cool to hear that your tech thought your bass could hang with one of those (or even surpass it!).

 

[DJ Bebop]

Thanks for the reply. I'll look into the Hurley P.

To clarify, what stood out to me was not the tone, it was the neck that floored me. Something about the solidity, thickness, feel of the profile, smaller frets, etc. Furthermore, the neck was wonky and had odd buzzing here and there, but it still left an impression

I have a 62 P bass and for me it's all in that neck feel. I am looking at the American Vintage II and the Vintera II P bass as they, to me, have the closest neck feel to my 62 bass. The Hurley P bass would be a premium piece or any of the other Custom Shop 62 branded P basses. But the AV II is the closest outside of the Custom Shop, again to me.

 

[Gervais Cote]

I have a 62 P bass and for me it's all in that neck feel. I am looking at the American Vintage II and the Vintera II P bass as they, to me, have the closest neck feel to my 62 bass. The Hurley P bass would be a premium piece or any of the other Custom Shop 62 branded P basses. But the AV II is the closest outside of the Custom Shop, again to me.

(I don't need a Hurley p bass, I don't need a Hurley p bass, I don't need a Hurley p bass………….………….honey, couldn't we sell your car ?!)

 

[bassdude51]

Is there anything else like a 60s pbass?​

Yeah, probably Fender Custom Shop 60s Ps.

But, there is a special feeling with holding "60s history" in your arms.

My son found this 1966 being sold by "a friend of a friend". A grandfather's "give" to his grandson. The grandson was getting married, needed money, I bought his '66 Candy Apple Red. 1966 was the last year P Basses were made like the pre-CBS ones.

I consider myself lucky and blessed to have it!

60s P Basses? Yeah!

 

[Pier_]

To clarify, what stood out to me was not the tone, it was the neck that floored me. Something about the solidity, thickness, feel of the profile, smaller frets, etc. Furthermore, the neck was wonky and had odd buzzing here and there, but it still left an impression

you should check the exact age, because a 66, 67, 68 and 69 had different shape in the profile

however, an American Vintage 60's model (AV62, AV63, AVII60) should work for nut, radius and frets, the profile might differ in some ways model per model, so try them out and don't go blind.

 

[Ricky Caboverde]

you should check the exact age, because a 66, 67, 68 and 69 had different shape in the profile

however, an American Vintage 60's model (AV62, AV63, AVII60) should work for nut, radius and frets, the profile might differ in some ways model per model, so try them out and don't go blind.

I was able to find out that it's from 1969, but he hasn't given me the neck measurements. I'll be going to see him later this week; so hopefully I'll get it then.

Did most 1969 Pbasses have similar neck profiles and widths?

 

[Pier_]

Did most 1969 Pbasses have similar neck profiles and widths?

no, there were, if I recall correctly, already three neck options:

A, B and C, where the A neck was the "Jazz" nut, the B was the modern Precision nut, and the C was the then standard neck (wide nut).

the profile can change from model to model, due to the sanding process that wasn't a precise CNC.

 

[brianrost]

Will the answers be different when someone else asks this same question again?

 

[DJ Bebop]

(I don't need a Hurley p bass, I don't need a Hurley p bass, I don't need a Hurley p bass………….………….honey, couldn't we sell your car ?!)

Oddly enough, I was just in conversation with him last week about an amp we shared and some P bass talk

Great guy, musician, and family man

 

[Ricky Caboverde]

View attachment 7154341

Will the answers be different when someone else asks this same question again?

 

[Gervais Cote]

Oddly enough, I was just in conversation with him last week about an amp we shared and some P bass talk

Great guy, musician, and family man

He's great in every way indeed, and so humble despite his tremendous talent.

 

[Ricky Caboverde]

I finally got the measurements from the 1969 (maybe 1966) Pbass' neck:

Nut width: 1.61" (aka B neck)
Depth @1st fret: .86"

Such a great bass!

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

I finally got the measurements from the 1969 (maybe 1966) Pbass' neck:

Nut width: 1.61" (aka B neck)
Depth @1st fret: .86"

Such a great bass!

That sounds more like a 1969 neck. There should be a big difference in the necks between these two years including the nut width, type of finish, presence of a strap button on the back of the headstock, and most obviously, the type of headstock decal. A 1969 P-Bass will have the same "TV logo" decal that was used though early 1976:



- Steve

 

[Ricky Caboverde]

That sounds more like a 1969 neck. There should be a big difference in the necks between these two years including the nut width, type of finish, presence of a strap button on the back of the headstock, and most obviously, the type of headstock decal. A 1969 P-Bass will have the same "TV logo" decal that was used though early 1976:

View attachment 7161656

- Steve

Ah! Then it was a '69 neck, indeed. Thanks!