A few weeks ago I posted a question here on TB (buy this bass or a '61), and thanks to the many who replied:
Pre-CBS Jazz Choice (which one of these two would you get?)
I had left my question somewhat vague on purpose (trying to simplify something that wasn't simple), and TB slightly favored the '64. Lots of you said don't buy either…but I did!
Of the two, going to see/play the '64 was the easier (still, 10 total hours of driving!), and I got the price down to close to half the price of the '61.
Birthyear also helped me decide, but it was the playing that mattered. I had brought my MIM Jazz (the one that feels "right" to me) to compare, and so I switched playing from one to the other, and back again in the guy's living room. The '64 felt the same (as in, it felt "right"), but it was the sound that really leaped out at me. It was both deeper and brighter at the same time, if that's possible. So, I bought it.
The previous owner owned it for about 10 years, from a guy who purchased it for his son, who did not get into bass. The son had stripped it, but otherwise hadn't hurt it too much. The gentleman I purchased it from had it refinished with a thin nitro to original burst (I'm not in love with the color – the shade seems off – but since I plan on playing out with it occasionally, I'm glad I don't have some pristine beauty that I have to handle with kid gloves). He also had had the pickups rewound by Jason Lollar.
Except for the thumb rest (looks like a replacement) and the refin/rewind, it's all original (please, let me know if something looks funky – I know where the guy lives). No covers were included, nor the original case.
The pictures of the innards and parts are from the seller, while the body shots are mine. It weighs 9 pounds, and was wearing flatwounds when I bought it (which is my preferred string).
Here are my pics:
I was concerned there was a crack in the headstock, but it's just a wood grain line (see the two previous pics to see the top view by the E string, and see that it's just a line on the top)
An interesting problem comes from never realizing how much I rely on the side dots. These are very hard to see, as they blend in too well, so as I play it, I sometimes feel like I'm getting lost on the fretboard.
Pre-CBS Jazz Choice (which one of these two would you get?)
I had left my question somewhat vague on purpose (trying to simplify something that wasn't simple), and TB slightly favored the '64. Lots of you said don't buy either…but I did!
Of the two, going to see/play the '64 was the easier (still, 10 total hours of driving!), and I got the price down to close to half the price of the '61.
Birthyear also helped me decide, but it was the playing that mattered. I had brought my MIM Jazz (the one that feels "right" to me) to compare, and so I switched playing from one to the other, and back again in the guy's living room. The '64 felt the same (as in, it felt "right"), but it was the sound that really leaped out at me. It was both deeper and brighter at the same time, if that's possible. So, I bought it.
The previous owner owned it for about 10 years, from a guy who purchased it for his son, who did not get into bass. The son had stripped it, but otherwise hadn't hurt it too much. The gentleman I purchased it from had it refinished with a thin nitro to original burst (I'm not in love with the color – the shade seems off – but since I plan on playing out with it occasionally, I'm glad I don't have some pristine beauty that I have to handle with kid gloves). He also had had the pickups rewound by Jason Lollar.
Except for the thumb rest (looks like a replacement) and the refin/rewind, it's all original (please, let me know if something looks funky – I know where the guy lives). No covers were included, nor the original case.
The pictures of the innards and parts are from the seller, while the body shots are mine. It weighs 9 pounds, and was wearing flatwounds when I bought it (which is my preferred string).
Here are my pics:
I was concerned there was a crack in the headstock, but it's just a wood grain line (see the two previous pics to see the top view by the E string, and see that it's just a line on the top)
An interesting problem comes from never realizing how much I rely on the side dots. These are very hard to see, as they blend in too well, so as I play it, I sometimes feel like I'm getting lost on the fretboard.
Attachments
-
301917740_8034407849932513_2473206079957508268_n.jpg -
300638398_1012667649428435_155912112936637104_n.jpg -
301715288_619226503141035_3777197327332125655_n.jpg -
301672420_1717631348596345_7586283450289847499_n.jpg -
301181389_796319944895947_7977908854938366300_n.jpg -
WIN_20221001_11_52_41_Pro.jpg -
WIN_20221001_11_53_07_Pro.jpg -
WIN_20221001_11_53_50_Pro.jpg -
WIN_20221001_11_54_08_Pro.jpg -
WIN_20221001_11_54_26_Pro.jpg -
WIN_20221001_11_55_12_Pro.jpg -
WIN_20221001_11_55_42_Pro.jpg -
WIN_20221001_11_56_22_Pro.jpg -
WIN_20221001_11_56_56_Pro.jpg -
WIN_20221001_11_57_23_Pro.jpg
Last edited:
. I have Lollars in all my instruments, so that's a bonus!
