P-Bass: older vs newer.

[Swamp_Ronin]

Yep the hardware is all original. I have the ashtray, somewhere. It has some honest wear here and there, I’d say it’s ‘very good’ condition. It used to belong to a Southern Gospel group (Ew- the music, not bashing religion) and it came into possession of a soundguy. When I was 22 or 23, the soundguy gave it to me because he saw I was a good player and that I’d take care of it. It’s a great bass, true neck, the pickup is excellent, although I haven’t compared it to other pickups.

 

[SLPimp]

I bought what someone told me was a 78 for cheap, just to flip. It was an 81. I got maybe 1300 for it. Not sure how the market has changed.

The guy that bought it said parting might make more in the long run, but people aren't quite to the point of restoring 80s basses and needing parts.

 

[P. Aaron]

As the owner of a 2010, and a 2014 (USA) Fender, I concur that Fender is consistently making nice instruments these days with arguably as good materially and in some cases, maybe not quite as good. The finishing of frets, reliability of the overall construction and consistently built electronics all make one’s practice, rehearsals and on stage experience much more about getting at the music.

The cost for a good new American Fender I think is well worth the price. Especially in light of the cost in time and $$$ pursuit of a ‘vintage’ or birth year bass, IF that’s your thing, go for it.

Between what’s available via standard production, the Mod Shop, or Custom Shop, the costs are really not that exculpatory compared to the classic/vintage market...and you know it’s a 100% Fender bass and not someone’s used bass. You can really get what you want and not battle scarcity.

 

[P. Aaron]

Yep the hardware is all original. I have the ashtray, somewhere. It has some honest wear here and there, I’d say it’s ‘very good’ condition. It used to belong to a Southern Gospel group (Ew- the music, not bashing religion) and it came into possession of a soundguy. When I was 22 or 23, the soundguy gave it to me because he saw I was a good player and that I’d take care of it. It’s a great bass, true neck, the pickup is excellent, although I haven’t compared it to other pickups.

FWIW, if you do change out your current bass for a newer Fender, it will be different and likely, you won’t get the old bass back. If you can, want to, you could just buy a new one and keep the classic 80’s bass.

 

[waynobass]

It’s in good shape. Thing sounds good.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

(IOW, stay with your wife and quit looking at younger women.)

 

[OnTheDownLow]

Yep the hardware is all original. I have the ashtray, somewhere. It has some honest wear here and there, I’d say it’s ‘very good’ condition. It used to belong to a Southern Gospel group (Ew- the music, not bashing religion) and it came into possession of a soundguy. When I was 22 or 23, the soundguy gave it to me because he saw I was a good player and that I’d take care of it. It’s a great bass, true neck, the pickup is excellent, although I haven’t compared it to other pickups.

The necks on 70s P Basses are personally my favorites. (I like the 7.25 radius and the fatness) I've found the pickups on them to be lacking the bass end than say compared to the tone a '63 has. They are great for slap and having a tone that will cut through but I could never make them as mellow as I wanted without having too much midrange from the pup (especially that ash/maple combo) I know that the 78-82 era Fenders of all types are all over the place when trying to determine their age. When Dan Smith took over the production in '82 or so they had a huge stockpile of parts dating back to '78 from massive CBS production. Since most of those parts weren't produced that well, they got rid of them through using up that stockpile and making special runs before producing anymore new parts. (International Series, General Models) What I am trying to get at is just because the guitars and basses had a 78 or 79 serial number doesn't mean they were made that year, they could have been assembled in 81 or 82 out of that stockpile of parts or vice versa. Have you really dug into the parts and serial numbers? There's a chance they could actually be a little older than 81. Anyways, that's a really cool bass man. Personally, I wouldn't get rid of it because even though it's from fenders "worst" era, it's still going to be a piece of history one day more than it already is. You got it from that soundguy for free so you're not a couple of grand in the hole or anything by keeping it. So why not man? Especially one in better condition like that, the finish looks like it hasn't been exposed to the sun or cigarette smoke much and that's hard to come by with older fenders unless they were kept in their cases mostly or/and in a church where no smoking occured. (case and point haha) Most look really orange and aged by this point, not to mention moderate to heavy play wear on alot as well. Just my opinion man!

 

[nabilhuakbar]

I will say that my '19 Player Precision is most impressive for the $$$. Great neck, light @8.6 lbs, fit and finish is excellent on mine, pickup sound very nice and everything just works well together. So, a good option if you wanna keep your '81.

+1 to the Player series...I just got mine and holy crap, I am absolutely stunned by it.

 

[Scarysharkface]

So I have an ‘81 P bass. It’s natural ash/maple board. It’s in good shape. Thing sounds good. I was thinking about selling it and getting a new one, with a cool paint job, and modern features etc. Probably an American Professional II. The bass I have is great, but I don’t see it becoming particularly collectible, and I’m a player, not a collector anyway. What I’m asking whoever is interested is this- would selling it be a mistake in your estimation?

If I'd kept all the basses I've owned that have massively gained in value over the years, I could sell them now and pay off the house and my car, but I would also have missed out on some fine instruments I traded them for. A new Fender Precision Bass with the graphite in the neck and the heavy bridge is most likely a superior instrument in most ways. I also can't emphasize this enough, but you should definitely check out the Laklands.

John

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

Thanks DownLow. The neck on this thing is colossal, but straight. I’m gonna go play an AmPro II at a shop just to see if it speaks to me. I can afford another, but I can’t justify owning two P’s.

I wonder if I just have trade-fever. I get that way sometimes, despite my belief in minimalism.

 

[MNAirHead]

Someone noted that post 2008 are the best.

I must have tried 200 while shopping...

Agree with the newer ones...

 

[OnTheDownLow]

Thanks DownLow. The neck on this thing is colossal, but straight. I’m gonna go play an AmPro II at a shop just to see if it speaks to me. I can afford another, but I can’t justify owning two P’s.

I wonder if I just have trade-fever. I get that way sometimes, despite my belief in minimalism.

Well man, could always just buy another one then put that one back in the case and shove it in the closet and forget about it for 20 years. Haha

 

[nabilhuakbar]

Thanks DownLow. The neck on this thing is colossal, but straight. I’m gonna go play an AmPro II at a shop just to see if it speaks to me. I can afford another, but I can’t justify owning two P’s.

I wonder if I just have trade-fever. I get that way sometimes, despite my belief in minimalism.

GAS is like quitting smoking. You've never truly "quit," and you always feel that urge no matter what.

Also don't pass by those Players Series basses...they're fantastic

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I really don't like the latest basses Fender is putting out. The paint feels cheap, the fingerbaord is usually meh. Personally, I'd look for something used in the 2012-2018 range. Maybe closer to 2012. Those years aren't hard and fast, but from the limited samples that I've played, somewhere around 2012 is the sweet spot.

 

[JoshS]

here’s the 81. It has a black guard, and also a tort one. I have this gold one on it because being isolated for a year has made me lose my mind.

I'm not a P-bass guy and like yourself am more of a J, but this is in good shape, PG aside. Having said that, if you clearly aren't that into it and there is no sentimental value to it, I'd trade and trade until you find what you like and if it isn't a P, that's OK.

Thank you, and yep, I did. Drawing took the front seat over music, but I’ve gotten bac k into the bass.

This is awesome. Which comic book are you most proud of? In other words, what should we look for to see your best work?

 

[AboutSweetSue]

Man, that ‘81 is going to have something weird about it that will be considered collectible and the price is going to surge.

Or, it’ll be worth the same throughout the future. Who knows? I’d just keep it.

 

[DanAdams]

I'd just get an 80s Ibanez Roadstar RB620 or RB630.
Fender realized that Ibanez was making making better P basses than their own. Why else would they have hired that exact factory to make the Fender P bass in the eighties?
Sell your 81, get a better bass, keep the vintage vibe, AND pocket a bunch of money.

 

[TrevorG]

If it wasn’t bought or kept as an investment I’m not sure what your issue is. The Pro IIs are great bases. If one fits in your hands and makes you happy it’s a no brainier for me.

 

[PWRL]

If you're asking me, I'd keep it, as I prefer that kind of radius. As long as the frets aren't worn out and the neck is in good shape and so forth, why even change?

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

Good advice, everybody. I think I’m gonna list it for a pretty high price, and if someone buys it, great. If they don’t, I’ll keep it.

I'm not a P-bass guy and like yourself am more of a J, but this is in good shape, PG aside. Having said that, if you clearly aren't that into it and there is no sentimental value to it, I'd trade and trade until you find what you like and if it isn't a P, that's OK.



This is awesome. Which comic book are you most proud of? In other words, what should we look for to see your best work?

I occasionally work on Hellboy, and I have a book called Sea of Stars at Image Comics.

 

[satjhmo]

You should be able to get enough for it to cover the price of a new one, and I would absolutely take a current MIA Fender over an ‘81, assuming both were typical Fender output for their years. ‘81 was around when CBS sold to FMIC, and other than the Fullerton Reissues, it was a dark time in Fender history.

CBS sold Fender in 1985.

For a "dark time" in its history, Fender made a hell of a lot of instruments that people like and sound really good. Investors may want to move funds into more liquid headline assets, shall we say...