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New Bass Poll for 2011
- Thread starter TheDialog
- Start date
I'm about 20mins outside of the city. I don't know where you're planning on going, but there's Ludlow Guitars, and Rudy's Music in Manhattan, and the Sadowsky Shop in Brooklyn.
Why do you want the vintage, the only reason I can see for wanting one would be mojo. At that price range you could get pretty much anything new, to your specs. All IMO of course.
All I had to do was read up a little about A-C's fanatical dedication to the spirit of vintage instruments, and I put owning an A-C bass on my bucket list.
I've played a lot of the newer, boutique pieces and have found some nice ones, but I have an all original '71 P that I will never sell. I've sold everything else since owning this one (check my profile to see what I've sold).
I love the B neck, but really want a C neck. I also love Fender and am a fan of the brand. Pre-CBS to me is the holy grail, like many think. I want to own one for many reasons, but playability and tone is most important. I don't know if the Sadowsky could hang. I'm sure the Lakland and the AC could, but I don't know if spending the same money on one of those versus the vintage would be smart or not.
I put a vote in for the Lakland because it's great...and only because if you're going to get a vintage P, then my preference is to get it totally beat up and not refinished. Let it be.
Something I thought of though right after I voted as well...the Pino sig pbass is flat out amazing. That johnson will change people's lives.
Something I thought of though right after I voted as well...the Pino sig pbass is flat out amazing. That johnson will change people's lives.
I played this 'calico' 62 P through much of the 80s and 90s. When you find a great vintage piece there's nothing else like it. The question is finding it and affording it.
New American Precisions are pretty great if you can find one light enough, and I imagine CS are even better. But vintage is the way to go IMO if circumstances suit it and it's a good bass. Lots of early 60s basses didn't survive the Brass Age intact. They only got the finish on this one!
Anyway, that's just me - I love featherweight P-style basses.
New American Precisions are pretty great if you can find one light enough, and I imagine CS are even better. But vintage is the way to go IMO if circumstances suit it and it's a good bass. Lots of early 60s basses didn't survive the Brass Age intact. They only got the finish on this one!
Anyway, that's just me - I love featherweight P-style basses.
I wouldn't buy a boutique P bass because I personally don't find a big difference between a boutique P and a Fender P.
Why not buy a Fender RI or CS P and with the change buy something else?
I'd probably go for a Mike Lull PT bass-- it's a P-bass with a chrome dual-coil humbucker. Sounds pretty sweet!
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- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
i voted for a pre-cbs p bass. IMO, nothing can beat an old p bass as long as it's a good one to begin with. and since you want one w/o the original finish, you'll save tons of money. since 1973, i've built alot of very authentic replicas, and have restored even more original '57-'66 p basses, and when you play a vintage one that has a nice straight neck and a lightweight body, IMO, it's as good as it gets.
My heart has been set on the Fender and that's what I'll probably end up buying. I love your work John. The few bookmarks I have on this computer includes your site. I'm always looking to see if you're selling anything new or what mods you do to newer model basses like the Jags. You're an inspiration to me as a collector, restorer and historian. I appreciate you always taking the time to answer all my questions
.Happy Holidays to you!
If you want a Fender, so be it - but I think that there are lots of others with more sonic flexibility and uniqueness. Although I play a Warwick and a Rickenbacker, I'd look at a Dingwall or Sadowsky first. The Sadowsky is in the Fender vein, but with better build quality and a unique preamp. The Dingwall basses with their fanned frets address a common problem - correct pitch up and down the neck as well as a good clean low B.
Well, I messed up. I voted 'other', since the Nordstrand VP5 is just an amazing deal, and gets hugely positive reviews (I should get mine within a month or so). However, no 4 string model available.
If you can afford an Alleva-Coppolo 4 string P, that would be my recommendation if you want a nice old school sounding and feeling passive P.
If you can afford an Alleva-Coppolo 4 string P, that would be my recommendation if you want a nice old school sounding and feeling passive P.
Sandberg. You could get two for your budget and probably still have change. European boutique goodness right there. You can get one active and one passive,win win!
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Currently have a 60'P and 3- 70's P's.
They were not all great basses IMO; remember these were mass produced, low cost instruments that often times had the exact right combination of good wood, parts, and set up, however, they were not hand made nor did they go through extensive QC.
Never played a AC but will own one at some point; seems like these and the Sadowsky's are very consistent quality wise. Buying a used A/C or Sadowsky will obviously save some $$ as well. I think playing each through a similar amp will make the decision easier although probably not something you can put together at 1 store. Upside of a Pre-CBS Fender with original parts is that it is a blue chip stock that will maintain value well; seems like the A/C's hold up better on the used market than Sadowsky's presumably due to supply. Good Luck.
They were not all great basses IMO; remember these were mass produced, low cost instruments that often times had the exact right combination of good wood, parts, and set up, however, they were not hand made nor did they go through extensive QC.
Never played a AC but will own one at some point; seems like these and the Sadowsky's are very consistent quality wise. Buying a used A/C or Sadowsky will obviously save some $$ as well. I think playing each through a similar amp will make the decision easier although probably not something you can put together at 1 store. Upside of a Pre-CBS Fender with original parts is that it is a blue chip stock that will maintain value well; seems like the A/C's hold up better on the used market than Sadowsky's presumably due to supply. Good Luck.
I agree with what you're saying. Not every Fender I play is great, but the ones that are great, oh man, they are sweet.
I've played a few different Sad's and owned a UV70 J and I really didn't care for it. I was more than happy to play a newer American Fender J over that and save 2/3.
I would love to get my hands on some AC's, but I have no idea where to find them around where I live in MD. No one carries high-end, boutique basses anywhere around here.
I know the Fender is a great investment on top of everything and I'm leaning that way already.
