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Vintage basses: Could it Be?

R

Rob S

Guest
Sep 30, 2012
230
74
Westlake Village, CA
#1
As some of you know, I have been an active collector of Fender Precision basses over the past couple of years. I fell in love with '60s basses and then in 2014 I felt I had learned enough to start in on '50s P basses.

I recently acquired a grail bass: a '58 sunburst in near mint condition and was just playing it until a few minutes ago.

I wonder, and it's a spiritual question, but could the combined musical knowledge and skill of all the bassists who owned and played a bass for decades, be ingrained and embedded in these old basses? I ask because, when I am playing these 1950's basses, I play so much better both technically and rhythmically than I usually play. There is just so much inspiration and soul in the wood of these magical instruments.

All I know is that these basses are not only iconic objects, but also hallowed musical machines.
 
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#2
Rob S said:
As some of you know, I have been an active collector of Fender Precision basses over the past couple of years. I fell in love with '60s basses and then in 2014 I felt I had learned enough to start in on '50s P basses.

I recently acquired a grail bass: a '58 sunburst in near mint condition and was just playing it until a few minutes ago.

I wonder, and it's a spiritual question, but could the combined musical knowledge and skill of all the bassists who owned and played a bass for decades, be ingrained and embedded in these old basses? I ask because, when I am playing these 1950's basses, I play so much better both technically and rhythmically than I usually play. There is just so much inspiration and soul in the wood of these magical instruments.

All I know is that these basses are not only iconic objects, but also hallowed musical machines.
Click to expand...

Well, I don't know about embedded knowledge and skill, but I often wonder about various pieces of vintage music gear that I own. I wonder who all played it, how far it traveled, what kind of stages it was on.

I've done all I can to add some cool history to what I own. No matter the value, every instrument I own is a "player".
 
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#9
Well, lots of people believe Stradivarius violins are somehow "infused" with the collective experience of generations of players, or that the musical vibrations actually transform the wood. Those are really nice, romantic ideas that probably aren't factual. An old bass is certainly "infused" with old skin oil, dead skin cells, spilled beer, rust, and tobacco smoke, which we collectively refer to as "Mojo", but its still just a hunk of wood with some wires strung on it.There is a gritty honesty in any well used old tool that I love, and it sounds like your 58 is that kind of relic. If it inspires you to play, the actual facts of the matter are moot.
 
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#10
I'm not sure what happens to the wood density over time, but wood and varnish (not so much paint) does fuse and mellow over time, allowing more resonance through. I was almost in a similar place with a 1971 Precision fretless, but it all went wrong with Rip-Off-Britain Customs and another instrument being destroyed by the stupid oafs at UPS.

So as far as mojo goes, I'll have to stick with my tried and trusted 1979 Ioah Luca Cello, my 1974 Ron Prentice Double Bass and my 1948 Thomas Penny Violin.

I'd still like a 69 Jazz or Precision, though - year of my birth.
 
#14
dincz said:
If it works for you, I guess it doesn't matter if it's only in your head. I suggest you also try sleeping next to a pile of old books.
Click to expand...
Add some Feng Shui and try focusing the energy by building a properly oriented pyramid with a healing crystal at its apex as well. Wooooo-ooooooo. :) But hey, if it makes you happy, whatever works for ya. :D (That is, if you think it works, it does.)
 
#15
there is probably something along the lines of it being a great playing and sounding instrument that inspires and/or makes you play better. Does it embody some kind of fairy tale magic ? well thats debatable, its probably just you.
 
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#16
i've heard violinists talk about this.

sam zygmuntowicz, one of the finest violin makers in the world right now, said about it "i've been around scientists enough to not belive this. but i've also been around violins and violinists enough to know its true."

there is something to an instrument that's really been played in and played well. but, in my oppinion... a solid body instrument will take way longer for that break in to happen. they just don't resonante the way a hollow body, or better yet a bowed instrument, would. the stradivari violins in question have always been played, and played well in most cases. they're also 300 years old. so theres that.

when it comes to a ~60 year old solid body bass, i'd have to say there can't be any significant effect of previous players.
 
#18
There is certainly truth to the fact that an instrument that is played often and kept in tune and properly adjusted and set up will stay adjusted and set up better than a bass that has just had a drastic two turn adjustment to the truss rod.
So yeah, an instrument that was loved and played daily will almost certainly have a much better feel than one that sat in an un heated basement for 30 years.
There is also a reason someone before you loved that instrument and played it so much. Maybe it was a special instrument to begin with.
Lastly, some people (myself included) prefer worn frets
 

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