Thoughts about getting a Fender 1979 P-Bass

[Rhynobass]

Hi, guys!

so, im thinking about getting a 1979 fender precision bass (black finish, maple neck, beautiful). Love P-Bass tone and the look of relic instruments.

but there are some things that im worried about since i have no experience with vintage precisions.

things that i worry: intonation and low action with no buzz.

I worry about these things because considering its a pretty old bass, seems like a crime to do anything that could loss its originality, like leveling the fingerboard or something like that.
Maybe would it be better to get something like a professional II? Is it better built?

thanks a lot for your time! Also, sorry if there is already a topic about that, i couldnt find it

 

[Ghastly]

Not a direct response, but I have a '73 and keep my action kinda high, mostly due to fret buzz. The frets are a bit worn, too.

 

[Rhynobass]

Not a direct response, but I have a '73 and keep my action kinda high, mostly due to fret buzz. The frets are a bit worn, too.

thanks for your answer. actually to me doesn't need to be really really really low, just enough to feel good, confortable and with no huge effort to play lol

 

[godofthunder59]

thanks for your answer. actually to me doesn't need to be really really really low, just enough to feel good, confortable and with no huge effort to play lol

I have a 74 black and maple that has super low action, probably the best playing Fender I own. With vintage instruments it's best to try before you buy. If you can't try it ask a lot of questions. Buy from a reputable vintage dealer with a return policy. My 2 cents

 

[kbakerde]

Can you try it out? I took a chance on a '78 P Bass, and I love it. Plays great. YMMV.

 

[Rhynobass]

I have a 74 black and maple that has super low action, probably the best playing Fender I own. With vintage instruments it's best to try before you buy. If you can't try it ask a lot of questions. Buy from a reputable vintage dealer with a return policy. My 2 cents

Can you try it out? I took a chance on a '78 P Bass, and I love it. Plays great. YMMV.

thanks! unfortunately Im cannot try it because im in another city. I have a lot of pictures and asked for a video, that im still waiting for them to send it to me. The place is a reputable dealer, I had bought a bass with them before.
What questions would you recommend me that must been aske?

 

[AGCurry]

A Fender bass from 1979 is not a work of art. It could be anywhere on the quality spectrum: Great, good, fair, poor... Fender's quality control in the late 1970s was, shall we say, less than thorough. I would not buy it without seeing it with my own eyes and putting my hands on it, unless I have the option to return it without losing too much money.

I can understand concern about neck condition (buzz, action), but why would you worry about intonation?

At any rate - again, it's not a work of art, it's not a collectible vintage piece. If it needs work to make it better, you won't harm its value by having it worked on.

 

[Rhynobass]

A Precision bass from 1979 is not a work of art. It could be anywhere on the quality spectrum: Great, good, fair, poor... Fender's quality control in the late 1970s was, shall we say, less than thorough. I would not buy it without seeing it with my own eyes and putting my hands on it, unless I have the option to return it without losing too much money.

I can understand concern about neck condition (buzz, action), but why would you worry about intonation?

At any rate - again, it's not a work of art, it's not a collectible vintage piece. If it needs work to make it better, you won't harm its value by having it worked on.

Hi, AGCurry! My worry about intonation is that I had a vintage musicmaster before and a hofner viola that were not able to tune the octaves and since I record a lot, that become quite a problem, and im worry that by any construction issue, that could happen with the P Bass too. am I worrying for nothing? x.x

 

[AGCurry]

Hi, AGCurry! My worry about intonation is that I had a vintage musicmaster before and a hofner viola that were not able to tune the octaves and since I record a lot, that become quite a problem, and im worry that by any construction issue, that could happen with the P Bass too. am I worrying for nothing? x.x

With a Fender Precision, intonation would be the least of my concerns. If there is an intonation problem (unlikely), it's something easily fixed.

 

[Rhynobass]

With a Fender Precision, intonation would be the least of my concerns. If there is an intonation problem (unlikely), it's something easily fixed.

got it. thanks! good to know.
which aspects would you recomend me to look at and questions to ask the dealer?

 

[Jefenator]

It will be a crapshoot if you can't try it out in person.
My '78 neck doesn't get the gold star for taking a low setup. But at least I can dig in with medium high action. (It's that kind of bass for me.)
My understanding is that removing the frets on a maple neck will necessitate some refinishing. I'm putting that off for as long as possible. (Which with flatwound strings should be pretty much indefinitely.)
IME '70s Fenders don't usually hold up very well to modern standards for materials & construction. But there is a certain character & attitude about them warts & all that most modern builds don't quite get.
FWIW my #1 Fender style build has an Allparts J neck with a slab rosewood fingerboard. Less "precious", but it sets up just fine and has plenty of mojo.
The standard P bridge has 4 independently adjustable saddles, which should make setting the intonation noticeably easier than a vintage Musicmaster.

 

[AGCurry]

got it. thanks! good to know.
which aspects would you recomend me to look at and questions to ask the dealer?

I would want to know its weight, but I'm old and creaky. You may not care.
I prefer my instruments without scars, but you may not care (or you may even prefer some scars).

Seriously, the neck is the most-important component. Twist? Ski jump? Condition of frets? Nut? Truss rod? These are things that can be fixed - given sufficient $$ - but why would you want to bear that expense?

I would also want quiet potentiometers and tuners that work well.

I don't want to come off as Mr. Negative - the '75 P bass I had for many years was a wonderful bass ... but I picked it out at a music store, in 1976.

 

[DrBnz]

I always have to keep telling myself its "just" a P-bass... an OLD P-bass. I really need to hold a bass to know if its "worth all that". How much is it???? But unless I can hold / play it first, I'd take the Pro II.

 

[Slevage]

Buy a Squier, replace the tuners and have a pro set up done. You'll probably end up with a much better instrument.

 

[capnjagg]

I'm another vote for "try before you buy." Been around the block enough times on that. I think a '79 P in good shape for the right price would be a good purchase, but so would an '89, '99, '09, '19, etc. When you pick up a P and it feels good in your hands, and you plug it in, and your face shines, and your hair starts to blow like Harry Potter picking up his wand for the first time, that's the right P to buy. IMO of course.

 

[deff]

I feel like most of these things are dependent more on who sets your bass up rather than the bass itself. Unless the neck is warped or there are other structural issues, a fret level, nut inspection, action adjustment and intonation should get most basses playing great. The issue is more about who does the work, rather than the bass itself.

 

[Pings Bass]

I've got a 76 P that's all-around great. Intonates well, no neck issues, but won't take super low action without a fret job, probably (I like it medium high, so not really an issue).

If taking a setup is top on your list, I'd be looking at something more recent without decades of potentially uneven fret wear. Lots of good, moderately-priced stuff out there that can take a low setup.

 

[OnTheDownLow]

I personally prefer the early to mid 70s P basses as opposed to the late 70s. The main factor for me is the early ones have a nice thick and round neck, the late ones are a lot thinner front to back and the edges aren't as rolled on them. Late 70s ones have a tendency to weigh a ton as well.

Edit: Can't beat a TV Logo as well.

 

[Eric Wolfe]

I have a '78 P <in my avatar>. The only issues I've ever run into are some leveling required of the second fret, and what I've heard to be the common dead spots on frets 5-7 on the G string. Oh, and it weighs a ton. It's hit and miss on taking low action.

 

[logdrum]

As someone who has an old one (okay at best), I say buy newer Fenders. I think there is a period but do not know the exact years for good Fender precision models. I have played the new ones with the contour heel and they play great. However I am not really picky. However I also do not have budget Fenders or owned any and only have Japan or USA made. The Japanese made ones are consistent. I have played good Mexican made basses as well. But I forgot what model*, but again the contour heel USA made precision I played recently was the best precision or 4 string I played ( Admittedly I haven't played that many in spite of playing for a while ). I know there are horror stories. If you have budget for a 1979 you might as well get a new one. I say go to a big city if you can and try as many as you can

EDIT - It was the American Professional II