Nash vs Vintage P

[dc-upright]

I appreciate all the helpful replies, I am not familiar with some of these brands! This thread has been very helpful!

 

[Dynacord]

Nacho Ts are 3x what a Nash costs and more than a CS so it doesn’t belong in the set. Also Fender doesn’t have the technology to paint headstocks. If you want Advanced Headstock Painting Technology the Nash is a good option. They play very well.

If I was shopping I’d make the choice based on neck as they’re otherwise really similar. What feels best to you?

Nacho is admittedly an outlier. Bravewoods are about the same as a Nash - IF you can find one. Nash basically charges luthier made prices for parts guitars that many here could put together on their own. I do agree they play well - though a good local luthier should be able to achieve the same with a fret dress and set up.

On Nash's headstock painting technology, well, see the photos in my post. I'm not impressed.

Dave Reimer in Vancouver is worth mentioning as well as he makes great vintage type basses, though without the relic treatment.

 

[Dynacord]

As are all Bolt on Basses!

Still, I see a difference between builders who actually build those components vs buying them the same as any of us can.

 

[Grinderman]

(First things first)

What most unanimously or commonly defines what that is? What are the qualifying characteristics and features and what characteristics and features are cause for disqualification? What makes "truly a magical experience" or spoils it?


Well, it seems so real, I can see it
And it seems so real, I can feel it
And it seems so real, I can taste it
And it seems so real, I can hear it

So why, can't I touch it?
So why, can't I touch it?

But then it looks so real, I can see it
And it feels so real, I can feel it
And it tastes so real, I can taste it
And it sounds so real, I can hear it

So why, can't I touch it?
So why, can't I touch it?

Then it looks so real, I can feel it
And it feels so real, I can taste it
And it tastes so real, I can hear it
And it sounds so real, I can see it

So why, can't I touch it?
So why, can't I touch it?

Now it is so real, I can see it
And it is so real, I can feel it
And it is so real, I can hear it
And it is so real, I can be it

So why, can't I touch it?
So why, can't I touch it?

 

[jimmydean]

Never played a Nash that I didn't want to buy on the spot . Prefer them over Fender CS and they will cost less than any vintage PB , love their "beat to Hell" relic basses . Look online and order one or do a road trip if that shop has a couple Nash basses to tryout .

 

[Grinderman]

Nash is a parts guitar.

When people say this as though it's making a point of distinction I have to wonder what they think Fenders are.

 

[Dynacord]

When people say this as though it's making a point of distinction I have to wonder what they think Fenders are.

Though Fender produces their own parts.

 

[Grinderman]

Nash in my experience playing them is NOTHING like a pre cbs p aside from maybe the lollar pickup. 10” radius, and I think his necks are 1 5/8” allparts necks. You’d be better off with say a moollon or american vintage reissue.

They're not Allparts. They're made by Wildwood Manufacturing in California; one of the companies that also supplies bodies to MJT.

The necks that Bill Nash buys from Wildwood are shaped the way they are, including the width and radius because that is how Nash tells Wildwood to make them for Nash.

 

[Dynacord]

They're not Allparts. They're made by Wildwood Manufacturing in California; one of the companies that also supplies bodies to MJT.

The necks that Bill Nash buys from Wildwood are shaped the way they are, including the width and radius because that is how Nash tells Wildwood to make them for Nash.

That's a good upgrade. Some of the old ones I've seen were regular Allparts.

 

[antfarm]

Moollon and Olinto also have a good reputation for building vintage-inspired P basses.

 

[Grinderman]

Though Fender produces their own parts.

That's true. I don't see how necessarily it makes any difference.

One could even take this point further to say FMIC doesn't produce its parts the same way that pre-CBS did; furthermore, FMIC, including FCS, don't even source their wood from the same suppliers as Leo Fender did.

My response to all of that would be to question in what meaningful ways those make any difference.

 

[Dynacord]

One could even take this point further to say FMIC doesn't produce its parts the same way that pre-CBS did; furthermore, FMIC, including FCS don't even source their wood from the same suppliers. My response to that would be to question in what meaningful ways that makes any difference.

This is where someone like Bravewood, Clive Brown, MB Guitars and a few other are more accurate than Fender themselves - in that they build using methods much closer to Fender in the pre CBS era.

 

[mattj1stc]

Basses like Nash and Bluesman Vintage are often very nice, and considerably more affordable than actual vintage instruments. Whether they are equivalent to or better than the original is a case-by-case comparison and highly subjective as the costs are so different.

 

[Mike Vee]

Olinto

 

[Grinderman]

This is were someone like Bravewood, Clive Brown, MB Guitars and a few other are more accurate than Fender themselves - in that they build using methods much closer to Fender in the pre CBS era.

It's milling and shaping wood. Different, more modern, production methods do not prevent the same level of precision; the issue is the opposite of precision.

The control drawing that calls out all of the nominal dimensions and contours for a 1959 Fender Precision bass can be the same; modern production methods don't necessarily inhibit or prevent cutting and shaping parts to match the production control drawings or pre-CBS's samples and production patterns.

If anything, the challenge of using modern production methods is how to mimic vintage characteristics that are a function of inconsistency in pre-CBS Fender's production methods that lacked precision.

I believe this is driving home the point of my question above. There's a lack of unanimity in what defines what's being sought by the OP and everyone else.

 

[57pbass]

I have a 2007 build 57 P Bass Nash. It has DiMarzio pickups that are stock. I love this bass and have used it on countless shows. If you can get one from this era it’s very likely that it was built by Bill Nash himself..his shop has expanded.

Like with any brand and if possible you should road test as many as possible. Some are great and some are just duds. I’ve also seen some really horrible relic jobs from Nash that look like someone took a belt sander to the body and it looks just fake.

Take a close look at the Fender AVRI 62 & 63 P Basses..they are legendary and are well made instruments. I have a 63 3 TSB and with flats and it’s amazing.

 

[Grinderman]

The features and characteristics of Nash's PB-57 necks are different from pre-CBS '57 Fender P bass necks in at least seven or eight ways. How much that matters to any one person: YMMV.

 

[Shlabotnik]

I didn't want to love the Nash basses because I have issues with relicing but damn... every one I've picked up has felt unbelievable. Call them what you want... reduce them to simply "parts basses" or whatever... they play and sound just phenomenal in my experience.

 

[MikeBass]

If it’s a newer Nash, I’d maybe go for it. They supposedly are using better necks and bodies now.

Older ones?No way.
Nash was built using All Parts necks and bodies. Literally bought the same necks and bodies that anyone can buy, and assembled them. The same as anyone else.

So, people will justify their purchases, but at the end of the day, you have an All Parts “parts” bass with a relic finish and a Lollar pickup for $2000.
Something you could build yourself for 1/4 the price.

 

[FullumMusic]

The thing about Pre-CBS fenders is (like most basses from most builders & manufacturers) they're not all gonna play and sound the same. And i know it's a bit sacrilege to say, but not all Pre-CBS Fenders are gems. There's a lot of dogs in there too. So even if you were just comparing the Pre-CBS P Bass you played to ten other Pre-CBS P Basses, they might not all be magical. You might find some to be great and others just don't do it for you. Likewise, comparing the one you played to the modern-custom-vintage-clones-and-recreations might give you the same comparison results: You'll love some and hate others, or find some "meh," even from the same builder.

That said, i gotta throw another vote for Olinto by La Bella.

Of course, the tricky thing is, you'll probably have to go to their shop in Brooklyn if you want to play one, unless you know someone with one. You can find videos online, but it's never the same as having a bass in your hands. Of course, the whole reason i bought an Olinto P bass was because i was in their shop to buy an amp, pulled their basses off the wall to test the amp, and then fell head-over-heel in love with the P i played and ordered one for myself to my specs.

But back to my first point, every time i'm in their shop i play the basses they have on the wall. I've never disliked one. But, every once in a while i play one that has some sort of Magic to it. It's not that the other ones are bad. They're all just slightly different, especially being hand-built with hand-wound pickups. So i'll play a few Ps and Js and think, "nice. These are killer basses." And then i'll pick up another one and think, "Wow. THIS bass is f'n FANTASTIC. THIS ONE is amazing, when compared to all the other amazing basses." And that "one amazing" bass might be different for each of us.