late 70's fender's

[king_biscuit]

So we're agreed. Who'd a thunk it?

How about that! btw, my hippie statements were made a bit tongue in cheek and I always think about Cartman when I say them I do think there is some bitterness about the value and vintage cache of 70s Fenders, but I'm sure at least some of the hippies bathed regularly To be fair, no matter how taken, I don't think they are any more offensive than implying that anybody who buys a 70s Fender is an idiot as Old Harry does in every thread in which it might or might not fit!

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

And yet you have responded directly or indirectly to things I said in this thread and others -- well the easy things. You still haven't answered my question about value of other vintage instruments like preCBS Fenders. I'm curious too if you still insist that Fullerton reissues are CBS junk?

a "reissue" of a poorly designed instrument, say a 77 J bass, is still a poorly designed instrument, period. I've picked up and played a few of these reissues, though I couldn't say if they were US made or otherwise - and I've found them every bit as desirable (!) as he original. In fact, it seems puzzling to me why Fender would "Reissue" these instruments. Percieved potential demand, I suppose.

 

[king_biscuit]

a "reissue" of a poorly designed instrument, say a 77 J bass, is still a poorly designed instrument, period. I've picked up and played a few of these reissues, though I couldn't say if they were US made or otherwise - and I've found them every bit as desirable (!) as he original. In fact, it seems puzzling to me why Fender would "Reissue" these instruments. Percieved potential demand, I suppose.

Have you ever played a Fullerton era 77 reissue Jazz bass?

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Have you ever played a Fullerton era 77 reissue Jazz bass?

To be honest, I do not know. Given that I started seeing a re-issue of the 77 J bass in the store I worked at back in 89, unless it was MIJ it was a Fullerton - and the one ones we got in were just like my old bass - a heavy piece of junk.

I *DO* know that I owned, and gigged with, a 1977 Jazz bass - not a re-issue, the real-deal, bought brand new.

I also owned a real, US made '78 P-bass that wasn't nearly so awful, but it was still heavy and clunky and, on the whole, inferior to basses made today. No a re-issue, a real bass made in 1978,

 

[king_biscuit]

To be honest, I do not know. Given that I started seeing a re-issue of the 77 J bass in the store I worked at back in 89, unless it was MIJ it was a Fullerton - and the one ones we got in were just like my old bass - a heavy piece of junk.

I don't have the energy to correct all of this Carry on my friend!

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I don't have the energy to correct all of this Carry on my friend!

correct?

Give it a whirl, son. Please tell me where I worked in '89. Please tell me what basses I owned and played. Really.

Going ad hominem to "prove" your point - really now. Aren't you too busy for this?

 

[king_biscuit]

correct?

Give it a whirl, son. Please tell me where I worked in '89. Please tell me what basses I owned and played. Really.

Going ad hominem to "prove" your point - really now. Aren't you too busy for this?

Briefly, there were no 77 reissue Jazz basses in 89 (or after as far as I know), the Fullerton Fender era ended in early 1985, and real Fullerton reissues (limited to 57 and 62 Precisions and 62 Jazz and never a 70s anything) are commonly regarded as some of the finest Fender basses ever made -- I know mine are!

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Ah, so for you, this is all a matter of defending your purchasing decisions. I can see why you're so defensive about it.

And are you now saying that there has never been a '77 J reissue? Or are you only saying that there has never been a *fullerton* '77 J reissue?

Lastly, I'm happy you like your reissue basses. Ultimately, that is what's important - what a player likes. I, personally, don't care for the whole idea of "reissues", but that's my personal hang-up. HOWEVER, was not the OP asking not about reissues but real, 1970's era basses?

 

[narud]

Ah, so for you, this is all a matter of defending your purchasing decisions. I can see why you're so defensive about it.

And are you now saying that there has never been a '77 J reissue? Or are you only saying that there has never been a *fullerton* '77 J reissue?

Lastly, I'm happy you like your reissue basses. Ultimately, that is what's important - what a player likes. I, personally, don't care for the whole idea of "reissues", but that's my personal hang-up. HOWEVER, was not the OP asking not about reissues but real, 1970's era basses?

mij 75 reissue basses were introduced in the us in the mid 90s

 

[king_biscuit]

Ah, so for you, this is all a matter of defending your purchasing decisions. I can see why you're so defensive about it.

And are you now saying that there has never been a '77 J reissue? Or are you only saying that there has never been a *fullerton* '77 J reissue?

Lastly, I'm happy you like your reissue basses. Ultimately, that is what's important - what a player likes. I, personally, don't care for the whole idea of "reissues", but that's my personal hang-up. HOWEVER, was not the OP asking not about reissues but real, 1970's era basses?

Even if I were sensitive I would never have to justify my Fullerton reissues in a 70s Fender thread -- or really anywhere else -- ask around a bit about those Harry One thing I am certain about, you did not play a 77 Fullerton reissue Jazz bass in 1989!

Edit: yes the OP was asking about real 70s Fenders, I am just making a point that all opinions about Fenders are not to be taken equally. No offense.

 

[Lowbrow]

How about that! btw, my hippie statements were made a bit tongue in cheek

Noted - Note also that my assertion that the 70s was a period in Fender's history that has a reputation for inconsistent and often sub-par instruments is not at all tongue in cheek.

To be fair, no matter how taken, I don't think they are any more offensive than implying that anybody who buys a 70s Fender is an idiot as Old Harry does in every thread in which it might or might not fit!

To that point, I’ll say that buying a 70s-vintage Fender for a lot of money without playing it first is a risky thing to do.

Your pissing match with Harry is none of my business and I wish I didn't have to hear about it.

 

[JTE]

Player's (sic) didnt (sic) make Fender's (sic)"Vintage" or collectible..collecters (sic) did.

I disagree. Show of hands on how many TBers buy numbers of pre-CBS or CBS era Fenders just to play them? Allot are are bought up by guitar brokers/collecters to drive up the market. Simple supply and demand.

Your second point is not at all your first one (to which I was responding when you said you disagree). Players DID make old Fenders, Gibsons and Martins collectible. Then the dealers saw a market opportunity and jumped on it (and also helped fuel things with hyperbole). But it all started with musicians who picked up a new guitar and wondered why it wasn't as good as the older ones. Dealers didn't start it and that's the assertion your first quote makes. Not disagreeing with how it has turned out and what's fueled that, but the genesis of it was simply guitarists and to a smaller extent bassist trying to get good instruments.

John

 

[king_biscuit]

To that point, I’ll say that buying a 70s-vintage Fender for a lot of money without playing it first is a risky thing to do.

Your pissing match with Harry is none of my business and I wish I didn't have to hear about it.

Buying any vintage bass is risky business, why limit it 70s instruments? As far as the bit about Harry, that's easy, don't open this thread ever again -- fixed!

 

[Lowbrow]

Buying any vintage bass is risky business, why limit it 70s instruments?

Buying a 70s Fender entails MORE risk. Clear? Get it?

As far as the bit about Harry, that's easy, don't open this thread ever again -- fixed!

Not likely. I'll be reading, rolling my eyes, and posting as the mood strikes me. Thanks for your suggestion, though!

 

[king_biscuit]

Buying a 70s Fender entails MORE risk. Clear? Get it?

A late 70s Fender for $1100 dollars is a riskier purchase than a 10k plus 40+ year old 60s Fender. Whatever Again proving my point that not all poster's opinions should be treated equally!

 

[Spinal Tapper]

This thread is outta hand, guys. C'mon!

 

[king_biscuit]

This thread is outta hand, guys. C'mon!

You want some of what he got?

Seriously, we have two anti-70s Fender crusaders here that as far as I can tell each had a late 70s Fender he didn't like with "issues" that may have been fixable, one of which insists he may have played a new 77 Fullerton reissue in 1989 and the other angrily demanding that an $1100 dollar late 70s P is a riskier proposition than say a 20k 60 stack knob. Really, this is getting outta hand!

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Noted - Note also that my assertion that the 70s was a period in Fender's history that has a reputation for inconsistent and often sub-par instruments is not at all tongue in cheek.

To that point, I’ll say that buying a 70s-vintage Fender for a lot of money without playing it first is a risky thing to do.

Your pissing match with Harry is none of my business and I wish I didn't have to hear about it.

I didn't know it as a pissing match...

No matter - we are in complete agreement. It's interesting that at the GC in Pasadena there hangs at least two - and last time I was there three - '70s P-basses. All three priced under $1500, all gathering dust, all three absolute firewood (I got a sales guy to let me play them). To buy a bass like this without playing it first is just foolish.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

You want some of what he got?

Seriously, we have two anti-70s Fender crusaders here that as far as I can tell each had a late 70s Fender he didn't like with "issues" that may have been fixable, one of which insists he played a 77 Fullerton reissue in 1989 and the other angrily demanding that an $1100 dollar late 70s P is a riskier proposition than say a 20k 60 stack knob. Really, this is getting outta hand!

I disagree. We, who have actually *owned* these basses have some perspective; Those who have not...

 

[king_biscuit]

It's interesting that at the GC in Pasadena there hangs at least two - and last time I was there three - '70s P-basses. All three priced under $1500, all gathering dust, all three absolute firewood (I got a sales guy to let me play them). To buy a bass like this without playing it first is just foolish.

Really, can you be specific as to why they are firewood? Also, what years are they. There seems to be some difference in quality control around 75/76. What do you think of the 75 reissue Fenders, btw? I have played many new Fenders that for me are little more than firewood -- not because they are not decent instruments, but because they do not interest me.