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Vintage basses: Could it Be?

#23
"What if the previous owners sucked?".... HILARIOUS!!!

Of course, it's just fantasy. But, I can't help but go down those paths when somebody brings me their 1963 Kay Old Kraftsman hollowbody, and I proceed to play the opening riff to "Crazy Train" on it... I imagine I'm offending someone (or the instrument itself) spiritually, LOL!

I've got a birth year bass. So I'm not immune to the spirituality of the deal. I know it's bunk, but it's fun, comforting bunk.
 
#24
Mastermold said:
I'm of the view that over time bad guitars and basses tend to get "weeded out" and since it's the good ones that stick around, and are well played in and feel good in the hands, we romanticize them a wee bit. But so long as you're motivated to play better that's alright!
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I've heard this a lot and always wondered where these "weeded out" instruments go. I'd like to find a pile of bad pre-CBS basses. I'm sure I could find one in there I could live with.
 
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#26
A well-made instrument with good tone, intonation, tuning stability and ergonomics will always inspire better playing, if for no other reason than the player is relieved of continually fidgeting with the instrument, and can simply relax and play. The mojo of a journeyman instrument is a bonus. Congrats on your '58.
 
#27
th.jpg
That's MOJO baby..YEAH!







Sure its in the wood all the blood, sweat and, tear's of all the players before you. I truly believe in bass Mojo. I have played basses that just spoke to me had a mystical feel.

I knew a guy once who collected all kinds of odd things. I once asked him why? He said he liked Pre owned items, the older the better and wondered often who owned them. He used to say if those items could only speak.
 
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#28
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.
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I would like to think it does, woods and tone certainly can change as an instrument ages. My 77 Jazz was purchased by my brother in the early 80's, was toured with exclusively and has logged thousands of gigs. I would like to think that has some effect on it.
 
#30
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...
It's just wood, dude. I think it's just your mentality when picking up a bass that you know to be from those eras. Your playing likely doesn't change, it's just your satisfaction from playing something with that much history.
 
#38
bluesblaster said:
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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Yeah, more like that - been experiencing that feeling myself lately, find myself playing things I didn't know I could play on the Earthwood. :) Is it previous expert players' remaining "mojo"? If it makes someone happy to think like that, sure, whatever - me, I'm just happy to find an instrument this inspiring!
 

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