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Played a '75 Precision

MichiBass

MichiBass

Nov 2, 2005
840
46
40
Timișoara, Romania
mihaimoldoveanu.ro
#1
So, it finally happened, I played a vintage Fender. I own a '05 Highway One Jazz with added BadAss II and I really love my bass. But after yesterday, I want a vintage Fender. I compared the '75 with a '06 60th Anniversary P. But the '75 is just another level, all notes are more clear, more deep, more articulate, more focused, more profound. When I took the '06, it sounded like a broken bass... And the '06 P is a really good bass, and has American Vintage Pickups...
The reason why I started this topic is following:
I never intend to sell my bass, because I love it. It sounds very nice to me, but a little bit rough. After I played the '75 P it doesn't sound anymore so good to me :( I really love it, i bought it new and it gets mojo every day...
But that '75 P was just awesome... It makes me go vintage. But I have no money now to pay 2000 + for a seventies Jazz. But that '75 sounded so piano-like...
I don't know, I'm kinda sad, because my bass does not sound like a vintage Fender...
I have some questions :

1. Does anybody feel like me?
2. Will my bass sound like a vintage Fender in 20 + years? If yes, I'll keep it, because it does the job...
3. Does the American Vintage line from Fender sound like a vintage Fender?
4. Should I sell my HWY1 to buy a Vintage?
5. Should I jump in front of the train?

Thank you!

Michi
 
#2
Michi

I liked your post. I have a 75 P and don't consider it vintage because I remember it new in the stores when 70's Fender were considered mediocre. ;)

The Jazz and Precision are different basses. They have different personalities and sound different. Just keep that in mind. I have a couple of Jazz clones along with the Precision. All three are unique sounding basses. Try a few more Precisions, including the newer MIA Precisions. Very nice basses.
 
#3
bmc said:
Michi

I liked your post. I have a 75 P and don't consider it vintage because I remember it new in the stores when 70's Fender were considered mediocre. ;)

The Jazz and Precision are different basses. They have different personalities and sound different. Just keep that in mind. I have a couple of Jazz clones along with the Precision. All three are unique sounding basses. Try a few more Precisions, including the newer MIA Precisions. Very nice basses.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your post.
I'm gonna try the newer Fenders, I heard that they are (finally) going up again... (quality wise).
 
#4
MichiBass said:
1. Does anybody feel like me?
2. Will my bass sound like a vintage Fender in 20 + years? If yes, I'll keep it, because it does the job...
3. Does the American Vintage line from Fender sound like a vintage Fender?
4. Should I sell my HWY1 to buy a Vintage?
5. Should I jump in front of the train?
Click to expand...


1. I don't.

2. Probably not since each instrument is an individual and will have it's own sound and feel.

3. See Answer #2.

4. See Answer # 3.

5. No.
 
#6
MichiBass said:
Ok, but isn't it true that vintage basses have THAT something ? ? ?
Click to expand...


Not any more than any bass from any time can have that "THAT something" you speak of. I've found many instruments old and new that fit the bill and still have their own personalities. It's not just "vintage" that does it, nor is it because they're "vintage" that some have it.

A good instrument was good the day it was made and a bad instrument was bad from the day it was made. Most are average and they don't magically change at a certain age.

I've been playing "vintage" instruments since they were new and there's nothing that special about them, especially once you hit the mid-late '70s. That period is generally considered the low point of Fender production quality, though I did have a '79 that sounded good but was extremely heavy.

You found an instrument that you like in that '75. Frankly it's very possible someone else wouldn't find it to be so good, or they could agree with you. Personal preference plays a huge role in how someone perceives an instrument.
 
#11
i have a 75 P that i love to death.i have had it for 15 years and would never sell it.it sounds great through any amp.it seems to be a very popular year for Presicions,so many people post about 75's or 72's but i never hear about 73,74 or 76,77. why are these years less common?did they make more jazz basses those years?
 
#12
SKATE RAT said:
i have a 75 P that i love to death.i have had it for 15 years and would never sell it.it sounds great through any amp.it seems to be a very popular year for Presicions,so many people post about 75's or 72's but i never hear about 73,74 or 76,77. why are these years less common?did they make more jazz basses those years?
Click to expand...

Maybe, check Marcus Millers '77/'78...
 
#16
SKATE RAT said:
i have a 75 P that i love to death.i have had it for 15 years and would never sell it.it sounds great through any amp.it seems to be a very popular year for Presicions,so many people post about 75's or 72's but i never hear about 73,74 or 76,77. why are these years less common?did they make more jazz basses those years?
Click to expand...

73 P owner here, owned her since new. Love her to bits though I had her refinished in 83 and an original Badass bridge fitted in 77. I retired it from gigging about 5 years ago after several unsuccessful attempts were made to steal her at gigs.
 
#17
What poster #2 said. You're comparing a Jazz with a P. I like (and have) vintage instuments, but I put together a bass from parts (basically MIJ P parts) thinking to make it my beater bass. It has a great feel, sustain, sounds like a Piano, and ended up being my main bass. To do a true comparison, the basses need to be setup somewhat the same, and at least have same strings.

If the P had some labella flats on it (for example), and your bass has an old set of ? roundwounds, then it'll be a lot different feeling and sounding.

HOWEVER, if the bass just felt right to in your hands, then you may not want to pass up on it. If you think it will be your "bass" then then $2,500 will be a good investiment in the long run... 'cause it is indeed expensive to find the "one", and maybe that is your one.
 
#20
I had a P and a J from -77/-78 (don't remember which bass was from which year). They both sucked. But my new J was made in August -07 and I totally adore it. It is a fantastic instrument. Ok, it is custom shop -64 ri nos, but still, it is new, not vintage. Even the P from -01 I recently had owned my mentioned seventees. But you know, if my instruments all had been made one week later, it could probably be the other way around :smug:
 

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