Sorry for the complete aside, but my mother has that record on the lower left on prominent display at her house. I can't remember the name, but I could never forget the face.
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So 70's Fender are desirable now?!
- Thread starter Vinnie Boombatz
- Start date
Sorry for the complete aside, but my mother has that record on the lower left on prominent display at her house. I can't remember the name, but I could never forget the face.
Not saying they weren't good, I mean they got the job done and created a lot of good music. It was what was most widely available at the time.
But I say it's nostalgia and collectors. People who grew up during that time are getting to where they've got the means to buy a piece of their youth, even if the cost is ridiculous. Time to buy the same kind of bass from the same era their favorite player used. And often either hang it on a wall, or noodle around on it every once in awhile. Whatever floats their boat, it's their money.
IMO (and I could be wrong) but I think to most working musicians, a bass is a tool and you use the highest quality, most cost effective tool that's going to get the job done cleanly, reliably and comfortably. Which could even be an Alembic if that's what works best. If you've got one of the better 70s Fenders that does the job, great, but your goal in music is to earn a living, you're probably not going to go out and spend a fortune on something just because it's vintage.
And IMO people who actually worked with Fenders in the 70s, and had to deal with the bad ones, probably don't have the same desire to have one again, especially at high prices.
Synths are the same way. Look at the prices for a Solina String Ensemble, which is nothing more than some of the parts from a home transistor organ in a smaller case for the road. The organ usually ends up costing money to send to a dumpster, if nobody will take it for free. 70s and early 80s analog synths were heavy, inconsistent and unreliable. Many people who actually used them for a living dumped them for dirt cheap when newer, lighter, more reliable equipment came into being. But look at the prices for a Jupiter 8 and others right now, because of collectors.
I have a double handful of 70's Fenders. Every one of them is way above average. I bought these because the basses from the 60's were insanely priced and, with careful selection, I'd put my 70's basses up against any others. No doubt there are a bunch out there that are not so nice with ill-fitting necks and poorly dried or selected wood that weighs a ton but mine are all light and all have excellent neck pockets and non-warped necks, etc.
I was just ahead of the curve and bought them before they started to get too pricey.
None of mine are "collectable" but I am delighted with my "collection" nonetheless.
And now....a few pics. No duplicates here so if you see some similar, it is only because they are similar!
I was just ahead of the curve and bought them before they started to get too pricey.
None of mine are "collectable" but I am delighted with my "collection" nonetheless.
And now....a few pics. No duplicates here so if you see some similar, it is only because they are similar!
Yup. I have two like that. It is where that extra long saddle/intonation screw originated that you can see on a ton-o-70's basses. I cover the bridge with an ashtray anyway!
barney kessel plays the guitar on that...Julie London's Julie Is Her Name.
fender is very good at marketing their past. it is their business.
they are a historic company that is intrinsically involved in the core sound of great american music every day. they will never stop marketing their past -
it works and makes their business unique. the closest corollary is to french grand cru wine. the great years are famous. this year is pretty good, and might be great. time always passes.
the “today” prices are driven by the vintage market and all of the supporting search results and literature from time gone by.
one day fender will reissue a (3d printable version) of the 2017 p bass used on some legendary hit record we don’t know about yet...
Sometime in 1973 on the precision bass they moved the tug Bar to above the E string and at the same time they routed the bass under the pick guard to accommodate the pick up wires. I’ve played my 72 Percision/maple neck for thirty years and it sounds as good or better than any other bass I’ve ever tried, and believe me I’ve tried way too many.
Now my 77 jazz has an ash body and unfortunately it’s very heavy. It’s my second favorite. It has an awesome growl, but no matter how great a jazz bass sounds, nothing sits better under the band than a P bass...
Now my 77 jazz has an ash body and unfortunately it’s very heavy. It’s my second favorite. It has an awesome growl, but no matter how great a jazz bass sounds, nothing sits better under the band than a P bass...
I bought my first Precision Bass in 1979. It was a '77 and I would trade any bass in my collection for it now. I was 18 in the photo. At the time I also had a '76 G-3 and a ''68 Wildwood Coronado II. I sold the '77 in 1982 to fund the cost of my '78 Sting Ray Bass which set me back $325. That was a lot of money for me in 1982. Just about 3 weeks pay.
I own two ash 70's P-basses. They both weigh 9 lbs just like my alder 1997 American Standard Jazz bass. I play the P-basses more than the jazz. They sound great and feel more solid and stable than the 1997 for whatever reason--maybe old wood.
I suppose you could find a cheap bass with great fit and finish, like an SX, that would sound as good as any Fender if it were properly set up and possibly modded. But there is something nice about playing an old Fender from the days when they all came from one factory, where you just had Precision and Jazz basses instead of trying to figure out what country it came from, whether it's a Reissue or a Road Worn or an American Standard or American Special or American Professional, or American Elite, or whatever new marketing name/gimmick they use to charge too much for what's basically a Precision or Jazz bass.
I suppose you could find a cheap bass with great fit and finish, like an SX, that would sound as good as any Fender if it were properly set up and possibly modded. But there is something nice about playing an old Fender from the days when they all came from one factory, where you just had Precision and Jazz basses instead of trying to figure out what country it came from, whether it's a Reissue or a Road Worn or an American Standard or American Special or American Professional, or American Elite, or whatever new marketing name/gimmick they use to charge too much for what's basically a Precision or Jazz bass.
Huh. I didn't know Slash started out as a bass player.
I concur. Collectible, mine are not. Most do not have the original pups anymore. Many have replacement pots and wiring. But then I am not a collector.....maybe a hoarder but that's different!
I was born in '76, so yep, don't really remember much from that year. I know who Bill Murray is, though.
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- Mar 13, 2008
- 53
- 14
- Disclosures
- Mo' Bass Club #38, SWR Fan Club #154
While acknowledging cut corners and some inferior product, that wasn't the case every time. Personally, I have a '73 P that draws consistent, unsolicited compliments for its tone, sustain and punch. The majority of my basses are Warwicks, but I use the Precision for modern country recording on half of what I do in that vein and the results are extremely solid; producers really like this bass.
And another thing......I really like the deep belly cut in my 70's basses. As nice as the current production bass are, they are not "right".... for me. I like that 70's contour and 7.25" neck. This is why I like that Nate Mendel sig bass. It is one of the few signature basses that Fender has offered that is actually more than cosmetic. From the ash body, with deep contour, the narrow nut, the 7.25" radius, 70's-style machines, etc... Pretty much what I'd build from scratch.
Even the AVRI's (old and newer ones) do not have the same body shape as my original 60's basses. They are great but not what I gravitate towards.
Even the AVRI's (old and newer ones) do not have the same body shape as my original 60's basses. They are great but not what I gravitate towards.
So basically the takeaway here is if you own a 70's Fender its one of the best basses ever made. If it's one you don't own, it's a dog.
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CosmicRay
Supporting Member
So, according to the s/n, it's a 1976. But it's strange that I have a pic of myself playing this bass in 1974. Could the s/n or date be wrong? Or maybe the pic is from '76?
Nevertheless, it plays fantastic, funky as hell, and sees quite a few gigs...
