I was told that certain year Fender's have some issues/problems. Does anyone know if this is true and if so what are the "bad" years?
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Issues with Fender basses of certain years
- Thread starter walknbluez
- Start date
Bad years? That is hard to say . Some say the 70's and 90's. But even if some feel Fender had some bad years this doesnt mean every bass made those years was bad. I know of a local blues cat that has a early 70's P bass that just kills.
You need to go out, find one and see for yourself ..forget the year.
You need to go out, find one and see for yourself ..forget the year.
The 70's were notoriously bad for quality control. Honestly, the new Fenders are the best they've put out in a long time.
The 70's weren't that great. Fender employeed the "micro tilt" neck adjustment, which in theroy isn't a totally bad idea, bt in my opinion, because you have that screw thru the back of the neck, and it rests "between the body and neck, you don't have that contact between the two and I think it does something undisirable to the sound. I've seen mods to the 70's microtilts where a good luthier will cut shims or wedges to tilt the neck just right and also give better contact between the neck and body. In my opinion this improves the sound of the ax.
Thanks guys. The ones I have been looking at were made in the 90's so it sounds like its not a problem.
That's way too general a conclusion. You'll have to check any instrument from any period. There are bad ones and good ones from any given year. Buying a new one with guarantee from a dealer is the safest bet unless you really know your stuff about basses.
90's Fenders were sweet. It really pained me to sell my 98 Jazz. It was just too heavy for me, so I sold it and went back to Precisions.
There are great and not so great Fenders from every era. However, the pre-CBS years, the late 90's, and last year have been exceptionally good times for Fender. The late 70's to mid 80's and the years recently where they used the S1 switch were not my favorite years. The build quality was good on the recent ones but I hated the S1.
There are great and not so great Fenders from every era. However, the pre-CBS years, the late 90's, and last year have been exceptionally good times for Fender. The late 70's to mid 80's and the years recently where they used the S1 switch were not my favorite years. The build quality was good on the recent ones but I hated the S1.
I've got a 77 Jazz, and i love it, ive never played a better bass.
It all depends on the bass man
It all depends on the bass man
JimmyM, I agree. You are more likely to find a great mid-90s or a 2008 at an affordable price. Although, I can't accept to sell my MIA 98 J.bass. This bass sings on every note and chord. The tone is marvelous and it hasn't required a set-up after 5+ yrs.
Get out A/B as many Fenders as possible till you find a great one.
Get out A/B as many Fenders as possible till you find a great one.
Interesting...you're in Colorado and my Jazz came from a pawn shop in Longmont. Ugly color (sage green metallic) but man, what a bass! It currently resides in Italy as far as I know. I literally couldn't play it anymore. My shoulder hurt bad after 10 minutes and I'd get headaches after gigs. Using a P Lyte now but I'd love a new Precision. I like them better than the old ones, and they're light enough for me to take.
My rule of thumb nowadays is not to purchase any Fender made between '76 and '82 without first playing it. Some of the wood used at that time was not very good quality, and could be extremely heavy. I had a '78 P that was so heavy that I could barely use it to do scales in my living room. My '77 P, on the other hand, is just a little heavier than my other instruments but sounds and plays great. That was not Fender's best time, a lot of inconsistancies. If you're left handed as I am, you're used to buying instruments without first playing them, but I've learned my lesson with regards to Fenders of this era.
Bart
Bart
I have heard that the finishes on the 70s Fenders are prone to checking (cracks) and crazing ("fogginess" that cannot be removed), owing to the type of paint used and/or method of application. I have definitely found that to be the case with my 78 P. Have never weighed my 78 but it does feel to be on the hefty side, as well.
Would definitely concur with the previous poster... do not rule out mid 70s to mid 80s Fenders but don't buy one without playing it, either.
Would definitely concur with the previous poster... do not rule out mid 70s to mid 80s Fenders but don't buy one without playing it, either.
+1.
Most Fender basses from the 70's and 80's were brutal for QC. The new stuff is light years ahead of what was being made 20-30+ years ago IMO.
Having said that, my 74 P is amazing and IMO sounds/plays better than most pre CBS P basses. Just lucky I got a good one, I guess.
Got a '96 P that is a great great bass. My theory is that was when Fender US started to wake up to what was happening over in Japan. Early to mid 90's.
I have seen a few from the 70s that had giant neck pockets. One had a neck so crooked that the g string was actually hanging off the neck on the last fret. IMO the neck tilt was a good idea but it can't work without a tight neck pocket. I have three basses from another manufacturer with micro tilt and it works great. No issues with adverse affects on tone and I don't use shims.
Of course like others have said there are good and bad ones from all eras. Personally I would go after a new one.
If I were to rate the Fender basses I've owned, it'd go like this:
'70's Precision ('72, '76 & '78): A - most playable necks, best tone.
'80's Precision (two '83's): D - excellent build quality, and lighter than the '70's ones, but the tone was not there at all, and the necks were too wide for me to get comfortable with.
'90's Precision ('96 USA Standard): C - better tone than the '80's ones, neck ok, but not really great.
'70's Jazz ('72, '78): A - killer tone, nice necks, maybe a touch too round, but very comfortable. Heavy, tho.
'80's-'90's Jazz ('88 & '94 MIJ): A - tone almost as good as the '70's, neck a little better, lighter. I think these 2 basses were the best built Fenders I ever owned.
2000 Jazz Deluxe (didn't own it; borrowed it from a friend to see if I wanted to buy one): B - Neck a bit thick for a Jazz; wonderful build, tone ok, but I really expected more than I got.
'78 Musicmaster: B - Cool as hell.
'70's Precision ('72, '76 & '78): A - most playable necks, best tone.
'80's Precision (two '83's): D - excellent build quality, and lighter than the '70's ones, but the tone was not there at all, and the necks were too wide for me to get comfortable with.
'90's Precision ('96 USA Standard): C - better tone than the '80's ones, neck ok, but not really great.
'70's Jazz ('72, '78): A - killer tone, nice necks, maybe a touch too round, but very comfortable. Heavy, tho.
'80's-'90's Jazz ('88 & '94 MIJ): A - tone almost as good as the '70's, neck a little better, lighter. I think these 2 basses were the best built Fenders I ever owned.
2000 Jazz Deluxe (didn't own it; borrowed it from a friend to see if I wanted to buy one): B - Neck a bit thick for a Jazz; wonderful build, tone ok, but I really expected more than I got.
'78 Musicmaster: B - Cool as hell.
The neck pocket on my 73 jazz is so big you could drive a Mac truck around in it. But it plays and sounds great,and I'll never part with it.
The only two really bad Fenders I've ever owned were a '78 Jazz and a '80 Precision Special, both purchased new. Most late '70 Fenders I've played have been very heavy, so that is my least favorite era. This goes for the guitars as well as the basses.
My '78 Jazz sounded like crap, the P-special weighed a ton and its onboard preamp crapped out during a gig. It sure was a pretty bass, though!
I'm not usually a big fan of the MIJ stuff, but I replaced the '78 Jazz back in the mid-90's with a Japanese Fender "60's" Jazz, and it was a far better bass than the '78. I wish I had kept it.
Fender's current stuff is as good as anything they've ever made, IMO. Even the MIM Classic Series basses are surprisingly good instruments.
My '78 Jazz sounded like crap, the P-special weighed a ton and its onboard preamp crapped out during a gig. It sure was a pretty bass, though!
I'm not usually a big fan of the MIJ stuff, but I replaced the '78 Jazz back in the mid-90's with a Japanese Fender "60's" Jazz, and it was a far better bass than the '78. I wish I had kept it.
Fender's current stuff is as good as anything they've ever made, IMO. Even the MIM Classic Series basses are surprisingly good instruments.
Of all the 70's basses that I own/owned ( 72,74,76 and 77 ) the 77 was the one that had issues,especially neck issues but for all of there socalled short cummings they all sounded great and I've never had a sound man come to me and say that my bass was difficult to sit it in mix and no one could hear it.......straight ready-set-go,I also have a 98 MIM 5 string that's pretty much the same way,however can't really say that about my 05 Marcus Miller V....it's ok but it should be much much better for what Fender is asking for.
