Thank you (bought my first bass)

[MackTheKnife84]

The many helpful replies to my first post helped me make a decision, I finally picked a 50s Vintera precision bass in dakota red.

I previously played all available basses in the shop in my price range (up to 2,5 k), so when I came back to the shop last week, I alread narrowed down my choices to the new Vintera II bass in black, a Player Series bass in buttercream and the aforementioned dakota red first generation Vintera bass.

The new black Vintera II had my favorite sound, but a far too chunky neck, I really wanted to like it, but it felt unnatural. Also, the tonal comparison wasn't fair, since it had newer strings compared to the other two.

The first generation Vintera in dakota red sounded close, despite having been in the shop for months already and having alot older strings. The neck was PERFECT. And the pickups are supposed to be the same compared to the vintera II.

So I concluded that the strings accounted for most of the difference. I sorted out the black Vintera II, and it now became a decision between the first generation Vintera and the Player Series bass.

So I played them back to back, and the Vintera clearly won both in terms of playability and tone.

The last jam session was fun, I was alread using my new bass for accompanying a piano player for a swing tune, that I practiced earlier on. It worked quite well but I'm still new to bass, so there is alot to learn

Thanks to everyone who chimed in you have been very helpful!

Now I need a proper amp, I don't need alot of volume, I just want something to bring out high quality tones. But I'm supposed to create a separate thread for that in the amps subforum so see you there in a bit

 

[thrashingbass]

I was going to state on that other thread that the Seafoam Green may be the answer-but the con was that your shop did not have it locally. Then you could eventually have the EBay Stratosphere people sell you the Vintera II pickup-if/whenever available.

That said, there "should" be a difference in tone between the pickups, as the 50s Vintera P I and II sound different to some of us from the same reviewer doing both. Could be the beefier neck, but it may be a slightly different pickup design. However, as far as I am concerned the Tim Shaw Vintera I pickup is so excellent, I really am not ever tempted to switch it out from my bass. For the mostly unfair amount of hate the Fender MiM factory often gets in these parts and with a few well-received Youtube reviewers, my Vintera I did not have problems, and the sound is amazing-most likely your Dakota Red P sounds outstanding, with nothing to ever be needed to be upgraded (the 7250m strings are nice too if you stay with roundwounds, I have flatwounds on mine, no bad options.) I do not think the Vintera I is "lesser", just older, and different is nice but not always *the* choice to make.

Follow your intuition and own taste always, as you did with your choice. At the reduced price, the Vintera I P is an easy recommendation for me to make anyone, with the proviso of the still relatively "thick" neck and large nut spacing. For *me*, it's probably the "best" feeling neck-though I have a tendency to adapt and like anything.

The Vintera (I) P is so nice that I personally am not tempted to ever buy one of the American Vintage models. It's a special player, in my very humble opinion. Keep enjoying your new bass!

 

[JRA]

congratulations on your new instrument and on discovering that the feel of the neck is more important than anything else --- everything else can be easily changed!