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New Member Here

Dust2Dust

Dust2Dust

Apr 9, 2022
1,644
2,610
Fort Lauderdale
#1
Hello, my name is Wayne and I've been a beginner for several decades now. I thought it might be fun to finally learn a little something, and maybe get a little better.
I bought a Squier 70s Classic Vibe that I really like and is as good as I'll ever need. Mine is natural finish (no paint, just wood with gloss finish). I don't remember ever seeing basses like that from the 70s so I started researching to see if that is an actual style from that era. I never found an answer but I DID find TB. I am grateful for all I've learned in this short amount of time so far. Thanks TB.
 
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#5
There are plenty of natural basses from the 70s

10165_01.jpg images (5).jpeg GIBSON_BASSES_70s_04.jpg images (6).jpeg images (7).jpeg

Welcome to TB!
 
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#7
Dust2Dust said:
Hello, my name is Wayne and I've been a beginner for several decades now. I thought it might be fun to finally learn a little something, and maybe get a little better.
I bought a Squier 70s Classic Vibe that I really like and is as good as I'll ever need. Mine is natural finish (no paint, just wood with gloss finish). I don't remember ever seeing basses like that from the 70s so I started researching to see if that is an actual style from that era. I never found an answer but I DID find TB. I am grateful for all I've learned in this short amount of time so far. Thanks TB.
Click to expand...
Hey welcome to TB if you do a google search try 1973 or 1974 Fender natural bass with blocks...
I bet a few look just like yours ;)
 
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#11
I really appreciate all this info and pictures. I really like the classic vibe series, and I wanted the 70s version because of the nostalgia (at least for me personally).

I went to the local (mom and pop) music store. Going to the big-box store requires me to drive on a major highway to another city. I'm unconfutable both driving that particular highway, and that particular neighborhood. (Neighborhood is a traffic nightmare in itself). Add to that it felt good about supporting the small-business people.

They usually have a large selection, but at the time they were still feeling the effects of the "supply chain issues". The only 70s classic vibe they had at all was this one, so that's the one I got. Since I had never noticed that kind of finish before, the "nostalgia" thing wasn't there (at least not like it was supposed to feel). Thanks for giving it back to me.
Also, it's a five string. Were 5 strings a thing back then? I'm usually pretty good at doing my own research, but in this case I'm not getting anywhere. In fact, it's a huge pain in the tuner! So far any time I try to do an internet search it always just shows me the bass that I bought along with several options for where to buy one.

Also, any tips on tuning the B string? When I use a Snark, it doesn't know what string it's on. It rapidly flickers back and forth between B and F#, so I gave up with that. When I use my Zoom B1 Four to tune, it will say the open B is a little low, but the 12-fret B is a little high.

I'm still new enough to be totally lost. I mean, bad tuner? Bad guitar? Bad strings? (Dunlop nickelwound 40-120)

Anybody?
 
#12
Dust2Dust said:
I really appreciate all this info and pictures. I really like the classic vibe series, and I wanted the 70s version because of the nostalgia (at least for me personally).

I went to the local (mom and pop) music store. Going to the big-box store requires me to drive on a major highway to another city. I'm unconfutable both driving that particular highway, and that particular neighborhood. (Neighborhood is a traffic nightmare in itself). Add to that it felt good about supporting the small-business people.

They usually have a large selection, but at the time they were still feeling the effects of the "supply chain issues". The only 70s classic vibe they had at all was this one, so that's the one I got. Since I had never noticed that kind of finish before, the "nostalgia" thing wasn't there (at least not like it was supposed to feel). Thanks for giving it back to me.
Also, it's a five string. Were 5 strings a thing back then? I'm usually pretty good at doing my own research, but in this case I'm not getting anywhere. In fact, it's a huge pain in the tuner! So far any time I try to do an internet search it always just shows me the bass that I bought along with several options for where to buy one.

Also, any tips on tuning the B string? When I use a Snark, it doesn't know what string it's on. It rapidly flickers back and forth between B and F#, so I gave up with that. When I use my Zoom B1 Four to tune, it will say the open B is a little low, but the 12-fret B is a little high.

I'm still new enough to be totally lost. I mean, bad tuner? Bad guitar? Bad strings? (Dunlop nickelwound 40-120)

Anybody?
Click to expand...
Snarks are iffy at best picking up the low B. You can use the 12th fret harmonic to tune, it'll hear the higher pitch much better.

5 strings didn't come around until the 70s, not in fender stuff until later than that.
 
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#14
Dust2Dust said:
Also, any tips on tuning the B string? When I use a Snark, it doesn't know what string it's on. It rapidly flickers back and forth between B and F#, so I gave up with that. When I use my Zoom B1 Four to tune, it will say the open B is a little low, but the 12-fret B is a little high.

I'm still new enough to be totally lost. I mean, bad tuner? Bad guitar? Bad strings? (Dunlop nickelwound 40-120)

Anybody?
Click to expand...
Congrats it's a great lookin bass!
As Reedt2000 mentions snarks can be iffy. On the B string I would start by giving that string a little thumb help to straighten that "jog" coming off the tuner so it is straighter, (force that B string towards the tuner past straight).

Also noticed on that D string it could fit a little better under that string tree (towards the center of the round tree like the G rides)...
image.jpeg
 
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#17
C Stone said:
Congrats it's a great lookin bass!
As Reedt2000 mentions snarks can be iffy. On the B string I would start by giving that string a little thumb help to straighten that "jog" coming off the tuner so it is straighter, (force that B string towards the tuner past straight).

Also noticed on that D string it could fit a little better under that string tree (towards the center of the round tree like the G rides)...
View attachment 4668071
Click to expand...

Thanks, and thanks for catching that about the D string. The D string has also been tough to tune. There is a strong resistance when I turn the key/peg/whatever it's called, and the indicators on the tuner don't move. Just about the time I'm thinking "the sting is going to snap", suddenly the tuner says I'm good.

When I get home, I'm going to I'm going to straighten that out right away. Thanks again.
 
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