Vintage Old Fender - I don't get it.

[zacmac]

I love my 69 P bass and it sounds and plays incredible. I have played a dozen or so from the 60's and this one was one that really jumped out at me as a well built, great sounding and comfortable guitar.

I recently played a lakland P copy that was an import that absolutely killed and was the best set up bass I have ever played.

vintage fenders all have thier quirks and issues and the vast majority of really good ones seem to be out of circulation as in players with the 25% that will smoke anything that they are put up against will not be selling them. Ive always felt like the worst vintage gear in recent years is what seems to be on market. Players dont let go of exceptional vintage basses unless they financially have to.

It won't matter though as most kids could care less about vintage gear and there is not enough of it floating around for them to experience great sounding and playing basses. once the baby boomers are gone the high priced bubble of 50's and early 60's fenders will deflate IMO. Look at how hard of a hit pre war bluegrass instruments have taken a hit now that all of that generation are no longer consumers.

 

[mongo2]

Look at how hard of a hit pre war bluegrass instruments have taken a hit now that all of that generation are no longer consumers.

The cycle of life.

 

[mongo2]

3000 euros in 2009. Over here a Sadowsky NYC standard start off at about 4500 euros ($6000). We get crucified with tax and import duty. The 64 jazz has a refinished body and the bridge pickup rewound to original spec. Apart from that it is stock. Regardless of our experiences of vintage instruments I think we can both agree that the prices some people are prepared to pay for Vintage Basses is outrageous. There's a concentric pot all original jazz selling here at the moment for 25000 euros. Crazy stuff, but I am sure somebody out there will defend such a sum. The joys of the free market. Happy to answer any questions--I had eggs for breakfast and the hofner is on my wish list as I clearly got your point. waiting with bated breath

3K Euros is a bit high for a bass of your description here. But as you said, the taxman needs his cut.

I've had many basses. I repair them, assemble them and build my own DIY designs with my shortscale fretted Washtub EUB being the best sounding of the lot. Go figure. However, I recently picked up a second MII Club. Why? Because when I tried it I realized it sounds even better than my first Club bass (it was a real "damn, this sounds good" moment) and very similar to my "Thunder Tub" plus it's much lighter than the "tub" win-win-win.

BTW, my current favorite solidbody is my Squier Jaguar shortscale. It sounds much better and plays much easier than my '73 P bass.

 

[leroy diamond]

3K Euros is a bit high for a bass of your description here. But as you said, the taxman needs his cut.

Vintage Fenders and US imports are more expensive here than in the states. I could easily offload my 64 jazz and make a handsome profit. Here's a similar bass that sold for £ 3995 (5000 euros)http://www.andybaxterbass.com/details.php?id=444 Comparing prices each side of the pond is another case of apples and oranges unfortunately

 

[mongo2]

Vintage Fenders and US imports are more expensive here than in the states. I could easily offload my 64 jazz and make a handsome profit. Here's a similar bass that sold for £ 3995 (5000 euros)http://www.andybaxterbass.com/details.php?id=444 Comparing prices each side of the pond is another case of apples and oranges unfortunately

I know, I sympathize with you on that.

Funny that he mentions the bass has "mojo"...don't even get me started on that bit of tomfoolery.

 

[leroy diamond]

I know, I sympathize with you on that.

Funny that he mentions the bass has "mojo"...don't even get me started on that bit of tomfoolery.

Agreed re "mojo". You see it all the time here when a vintage Fender comes up for sale. Personally I don't care if a bass looks like dog turd. It just has to play and sound great.

 

[ExaltBass]

My '59 (the Fiesta Red P) at a recent outdoor gig. What's so cool about it? Well, other than the BEST NECK ever... is that I've owned it since the mid '70s - and we've played thousands of gigs together! Is it better than a recent one? No way of knowing... I've already got mine.

 

[Geezer Brown]

Attention Fender cult members, there is no need to respond to this thread. I will answer for you.

"YOUR WRONG VINTAGE FENDER BASSES ARE PERFECT! YOU MAKE ME CRY WITH YOUR LIES! LEO GOT IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME! FLATS! SUNBURST! TORT! PRE-CBS! IT'S SQUIER NOT SQUIRE! EVERY SONG EVER RECORDED WAS DONE WITH A FENDER BASS!"

That^^^^
Is my new sig

 

[Watchootognbout]

I'm not one for vintage basses of any brand and I don't search them out.In general I'm attracted to the newer "shark like"shapes of natural finished modern basses with modern tones(Picture).As far as looks are concerned, Fender doesn't and WON"T make what I want.But if they EVER decide to produce a satin finished, walnut burl and maple body, neck thru, 24 fret, "hippie sandwich" six string Jazz Bass(not the Steve Bailey model)or a six string three tone sunburst Jaco Pastorius "Relic finish" fretless Jazz Bass.............Who knows?But we all know they won't.So............

 

[Easy8]

The engineer at the studio where we were recording and I compared his '60s J bass to my new Made in Indonesia Hofner Icon Club bass ($360). His "vintage" J sounded positively anemic compared to the Hofner. He offered to buy the Hofner from me on the spot.

I've compared many "vintage" instruments to newer instruments over the years and the "vintage" instruments have always proven to be nothing special. Just average at best with very few good ones and some real stinkers, just like current production instruments.

"Always proven to be nothing special?"

"Just average at best"?

Those are preposterous statements.

I know quite a few pros that would disagree with this. I should just shitcan of my 60 P (which performers, producers and engineers I work with rave about and request) and get a Hofner Icon.

By the way, I paid about the same ($375.00 adjusted for inflation) for it as you did the Icon.

 

[metron]

Perhaps not so preposterous when taking into consideration that it's subjective.

 

[Pet Sounds]

The cycle of life.

I dunno about prewar bluegrass instruments taking a huge hit in value; Elderly is selling a 1940 D-28 for $28,900.
IMO, there always be guys who want vintage instruments, especially from certain storied periods in history.

 

[Zanderwestcoast]

When I was single and in my twenties (mid eighties) I picked up two two Pre-CBS fenders. One a basket case 53 P that I had restored and the other a '61 Stack-Knob Jazz that had a horrible walnut refin that a luthier friend of mine later refinned in nitro sunburst as it should be.

The question of whether they are really special is an interesting and confusing one for me. I have had lots of players pick up the 53 and think it is fantastic. To me, it has always sounded weak and unimpressive. I can't escape the feeling of history I get playing it, so I will never get rid of it. In fact, I'm considering doing a rockabilly side project, and I am pretty sure I'll break it out for that.

The 61 J is another story. It is simply the best sounding and playing Jazz I have ever played or heard. I remember taking it to Bass Central to try out an Eden amp and a great player who was finalizing a Joe Osbourne purchase saw mine and asked if he could try it out. After 15 minutes of some of the nicest bass sounds I ever heard(Beaver even rolled out to see what was making those sounds) he left clearly not as sure about his Lakland purchase.

So as you can see, I don't completely buy into the idea that vintage means better. But if it's my choice, great vintage basses will beat out great modern basses.

Just curious....in your experience with your 61. What have you found gets you the best results as far as amp/speakers? I have found the vintage instruments tend to shine through classic amps like b15's or hand wired tube heads....any thoughts? I just bought a 65 Jazz and want to find something that will work very well with it.

 

[JIO]

Just curious....in your experience with your 61. What have you found gets you the best results as far as amp/speakers? I have found the vintage instruments tend to shine through classic amps like b15's or hand wired tube heads....any thoughts? I just bought a 65 Jazz and want to find something that will work very well with it.

Anything old or new that gives the tone/sound you want to hear playing your '65 that appeals to you should be the goal. Vintage or new tube amps or some new tube-pre amps will deliver a certain tone/sound that is appealing but it's up to your ears to determine which is the delivery-functionary for you.

 

[PortlandBass77]

From my expetience vintage instruments tend to have better build quality than modern ones of the same price (Fender Musicmaster, Peavey T-40, T-45, Foundation, Fury, Japanese P and J basses, and an Alvarez strat copy). Other than that just the mojo.

 

[Ritchie_Darling]

Find what works for you. Old/new doesn't matter.

Whatever feels good and sounds pleasing to your ear.

My best friend in the world will own NOTHING post-CBS from Fender.

He plays through ancient tube monstrosities that take a flatbed to move around.

And he records everything with an old Telefunken multi-track machine.

I, on the other hand do not care for vintage gear, don't like tube amps, and prefer digital recording.

And I stated in the 60s! When this stuff that is called "vintage" was called THIS YEARS MODEL!

It's what works for you and your sound. Nothing else is important.

Even so called "mojo".

 

[Dluxe]

I just wanted a Precision Bass from my birth year. It is the first Pre-CBS bass I've ever owned and I just love it. Has an old refin and reissue tuners but the neck and tone are fantastic.

 

[Zanderwestcoast]

Anything old or new that gives the tone/sound you want to hear playing your '65 that appeals to you should be the goal. Vintage or new tube amps or some new tube-pre amps will deliver a certain tone/sound that is appealing but it's up to your ears to determine which is the delivery-functionary for you.

Yeah I get that.....the subjective stuff....what defines "good tone" and what sounds "good" to one guy sounds bad to the next guy who has wax build up or tinnitus in one ear...

But in reality, "good tone" does exist out there regardless of ones preferences, lack of talent, or poor taste and certain amplifiers will combine and sound better with lower output, passive vintage Fender Jazz basses than others will. Take the B15 as an example...the unmistakable midrange it offers, combines beautifully with the subtle nuances and midrange punch of old brazilian rosewood on the early Jazz basses. Its like you are listening to a classic record being played back at you when you plug in. Sits in the mix beautifully. I guess thats why that amp combination has been used probably on more recordings with old Fenders than any other. But the B15 is not very loud for gigging. I have heard some great things about the Reeves amps with passive instruments. I would love to get my hands on an Acoustic 360/361, but they are hard to find and very expensive....

 

[JimmyM]

Yeah I get that.....the subjective stuff....what defines "good tone" and what sounds "good" to one guy sounds bad to the next guy who has wax build up or tinnitus in one ear...

But in reality, "good tone" does exist out there regardless of ones preferences, lack of talent, or poor taste and certain amplifiers will combine and sound better with lower output, passive vintage Fender Jazz basses than others will. Take the B15 as an example...the unmistakable midrange it offers, combines beautifully with the subtle nuances and midrange punch of old brazilian rosewood on the early Jazz basses. Its like you are listening to a classic record being played back at you when you plug in. Sits in the mix beautifully. I guess thats why that amp combination has been used probably on more recordings with old Fenders than any other. But the B15 is not very loud for gigging.

That's why SVT's and V4B's exist.

 

[JIO]

I honestly don't mean to be disrespectful, but the best players can make any system or bass sound good. I hear a good player first and their system/bass backing that up.