Me, too. I managed a music store in 78-79 and the Fenders of that era were very inconsistent in quality. But everything eventually becomes vintage, no matter how crappy. Look at how people fetishize junk like Teiscos now.
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So 70's Fender are desirable now?!
- Thread starter Vinnie Boombatz
- Start date
Me, too. I managed a music store in 78-79 and the Fenders of that era were very inconsistent in quality. But everything eventually becomes vintage, no matter how crappy. Look at how people fetishize junk like Teiscos now.
Or that if you own one it's because you can afford it. If you don't own one it's because you can't.
I musta got lucky when I bought my '74 Jazz in 1976 for $125.
Not heavy, great neck, & GORGEOUS!
I have done mods over the years...(to make it even better!)
View media item 462
Not heavy, great neck, & GORGEOUS!
I have done mods over the years...(to make it even better!)
View media item 462
Thats a pretty weak, blanket statement. Plenty of us can afford one, and just choose not to. I can afford one, have owned one, and sold it. I didn't sell it because it wasn't a good bass, because it was. I just didn't see it being anything better than other Fenders out there that was much lighter, sounded as good or better, played as good or better, and cost a heck of a lot less. I actually traded an amazingly clean, unmolested '76 P I bought for $250 several years ago for a very nice acoustic guitar worth a few grand which I play every day, and own several other guitars that cost upward of around $3k, so saying that someone like me is just hating because we can't afford one is hilarious. I don't miss that 70's Fender for a second. My 2008 American Standard that weighs 8.4lbs and has been PLEK'd plays like butter, doesn't hurt the back and sounds just as good as the '76 I got rid of. I could buy a much more expensive car, but for my uses I just don't see the need to shell out for say an Audi wagon when my Subaru Outback keeps me perfectly happy. Doesn't mean I can't afford something more expensive.
Lots of people are skewed by nostalgia, "the good old days" and blurred perception. If those are qualities that are super important to you in a bass, than don't let me stop you from spending your money on whatever you want, even if that's a 70's Fender.
Not my cup of tea at all, but I guess your statement also holds up for the guys who buy a custom build that costs much more than a 70's Fender? Guess they can't afford one either.
How is that weaker than, "...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."
I own them because they have many of the features that I prefer....and they were affordable.
Pretty testy for someone who took paid $250 for a modded '76. You have a selective memory because I seem to remember you raving about it when you bought it.
Please help date this P-bass (w/ pics)
And who could forget the blasphemy thread....
Is this blasphemy, or should I sell my '76 to buy another bass & amp?
Or having "second thoughts" about parting with it...
Which bridge & pickup for a '76 P-bass?
Please help date this P-bass (w/ pics)
And who could forget the blasphemy thread....
Is this blasphemy, or should I sell my '76 to buy another bass & amp?
Or having "second thoughts" about parting with it...
Which bridge & pickup for a '76 P-bass?
I use my butterscotch 62 p mostly nice bright tone. my 72 p is heavy but has a great low end tone that is quite different than the 62, the neck started playing games when I brought it here to florida. I have other basses but that 62 is rock solid and can't be replaced. it's going into the grave with me.
That's an interesting train of thoughts. Wasn't this thread about 70s Fenders, and not Foderas and/or Carl Thompson basses?
All jokes aside, play what you like and love what you play regardless of the name on the headstock, or the oh-so-bloody-important serial number.
The 70's Fenders were fine; after the CBS acquisition they did change some of their manufacturing processes and made a few cosmetic changes, but by and large they were great instruments. The main issue was that they needed a good setup by a luthier who knew what he was doing. The necks were often out of adjustment by the time they reached the stores and the bridges were usually a bit off too. Seems like the Fenders of today!
Then it's a 1974. The s/n means nothing, they just grabbed from a huge supply of neckplates.
I own a 1973 P, one of the first that were routed under the pickguard, with the thumbrest on top, white pickguard, long G saddle screw. It's very much a 1974 if you go by this, and the serial number, but the guy I bought it from bought it *IN 1973*.
I felt that I over paid for what appears to clearly be a 1975 Fender P bass that was modified into a Jazz (a bit wide, but hey, more treble) and beat the heck up. Being Left-Handed, I asked the guy to play it so I could hear it and he made a video. You have 7 days to return it so I gave it a try.
Played just fine, sounded awesome. But was it worth $1500? I figured that answer would come with time. So I lurked to see prices and just let times see if my good impression got worse. It didn't, and lurking saw prices much higher than what I paid. You just don't see many 1975 P basses modified, or Jazz, with Maple necks for Leftys.
I have a theory or two about 1970's vs earlier eras. Maybe the degrading pickup magnetism made 1950's sound sweeter by the 70's. And that by the time their "sweet spot" started developing, technology was largely digital and less phat sounding. So who knows? As to playability, I've seen really good players who can't setup their instruments and when I set them up they are amazed. Not every technical player is a technical "luthier" if I can use that word liberally (in my case anyways.)
Bottom line is, I feel like I got a piece of history from a time period that produced some great music; fun to play, records just like I'd hoped. I'm happy.
Played just fine, sounded awesome. But was it worth $1500? I figured that answer would come with time. So I lurked to see prices and just let times see if my good impression got worse. It didn't, and lurking saw prices much higher than what I paid. You just don't see many 1975 P basses modified, or Jazz, with Maple necks for Leftys.
I have a theory or two about 1970's vs earlier eras. Maybe the degrading pickup magnetism made 1950's sound sweeter by the 70's. And that by the time their "sweet spot" started developing, technology was largely digital and less phat sounding. So who knows? As to playability, I've seen really good players who can't setup their instruments and when I set them up they are amazed. Not every technical player is a technical "luthier" if I can use that word liberally (in my case anyways.)
Bottom line is, I feel like I got a piece of history from a time period that produced some great music; fun to play, records just like I'd hoped. I'm happy.
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