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what is it with all those vint fender?

G

Gunstringer

Mar 7, 2008
25
0
#1
I was talking to a fellow bassist, and the debate raised me a question:
why people buy all those vintage fender from the 60s, 70s and etc, and in so much money?
i can get all that vintage that its got age, but really, the 2008-now lines of fender are pretty great, and IMHO there are so many better alternative rather than an old fender, I really don't feel, nor hear the difference, well except for the fact that the vintage bass in a worst condition usually...

i feel committed to say that this is MY opinion about those bass, and i asked this question because I seriously do want to know y people prefer them on a regular fender.
 
#2
Gunstringer said:
I was talking to a fellow bassist, and the debate raised me a question:
why people buy all those vintage fender from the 60s, 70s and etc, and in so much money?
i can get all that vintage that its got age, but really, the 2008-now lines of fender are pretty great, and IMHO there are so many better alternative rather than an old fender, I really don't feel, nor hear the difference, well except for the fact that the vintage bass in a worst condition usually...

i feel committed to say that this is MY opinion about those bass, and i asked this question because I seriously do want to know y people prefer them on a regular fender.
Click to expand...

They ARE regular Fender just older ones. If you have never played a vintage P or J then you really should before opening mouth and inserting foot. I have a 76 P that I payed the grand sum of $200 for back in the 8o's and it is one of the best playing and sounding basses I have ever had in my hands.


Oh and you are so right, my 76 is in such bad shape.


P1000747.png
 
#3
I never understood it either until i actually owned a real 75, you play a new 75 reissue and they feel stiff, the real thing not only sounded better but played amazing. A bass that is still around after 40 years, means its standed the test of time...a new bass you won't know how its going to play for a while. Also their were certain construction and manufacturing techniques that were allowed in the US back when these basses were being made that are not allowed today, such as how they do the nitro finish.
 
#5
It's the age thing with some and a new one just won't do. For others it's reminiscent of their past, perhaps they may have owned one then. Finally, there are also collectors. Sure the new ones can be had by anyone, but the vintage ones don't come so easy, unless you've got the dough. Again, it's a want, not a need.
 
#6
CTbass613 said:
I never understood it either until i actually owned a real 75, you play a new 75 reissue and they feel stiff, the real thing not only sounded better but played amazing. A bass that is still around after 40 years, means its standed the test of time...a new bass you won't know how its going to play for a while. Also their were certain construction and manufacturing techniques that were allowed in the US back when these basses were being made that are not allowed today, such as how they do the nitro finish.
Click to expand...

A 1975 Fender doesn't have a nitro finish except on the front of the headstock.


... and there are still plenty of nitro finished instruments made in the U.S.

Gibson comes to mind.
 
#8
Aspidites said:
They ARE regular Fender just older ones. If you have never played a vintage P or J then you really should before opening mouth and inserting foot. I have a 76 P that I payed the grand sum of $200 for back in the 8o's and it is one of the best playing and sounding basses I have ever had in my hands.


Oh and you are so right, my 76 is in such bad shape.


P1000747.png
Click to expand...

The screwed-up tissues and vacuum cleaner nozzle in the corner of that photo suggest that you really do love that bass... I don't blame you :).
 
#10
I had a 1976 Jazz bass that I wish I still had. I got it from Manny's Music in NY Brand New. I guess if it wasn't parted out by now and in good shape its worth something. Today, I have a new $499 Jazz bass with active-pickups and it sounds great. I have eyes for something else but most likely it'll be a new Fender. Nothing against the old stuff but I want new.
 
#11
I've owned a few, and played LOTS, of newer P basses. Not one of them has sounded as good or felt as good in my hands as my '68. There is a midrange punch in my '68 that I haven't heard in any P I've played. The width and shape of the neck are perfect for my hand - not too wide, and plenty of thickness.

Are the newer Fender instruments made with better tolerances? Undoubtedly. The neck joint on my '68 is downright sloppy. I wouldn't buy a new instrument - even a Squier - with a neck joint as poorly fit as my '68 has. From a technical point of view, the newer Fenders may very well be better-made instruments, but yet, not one of them that I've played has the magic combination that makes my '68 so "right" for me.

(IMO, YMMV)
 
#12
I'll play. I've owned a pletora of vintage basses over the years and still have a few. While I have had some wonderful vintage fenders I also have bought and sold a few that were dogs. I kind of understand some of them- I've played a '64 jazz that was for sale for $12,000 -obviously I didn't buy it but the neck was to die for- and I have a refined 72 that smokes a great many bass- but that said- I had two newly built custom jazzes that smoke every vintage bass I have ever touched- plus the necks don't have issues, there aren't worn frets etc. and it cost me $1200 as opposed to $12,000
I can kind of understand the market values of some of the early Fenders...the ones I don't get are the late 70's ones I had two a 77, and 78 I bought some time ago to help a buddy out who was moving (circa 2002) and I sold each bass for about 2500 (and might have gotten more)- and I don't get why- they were heavy, had a fartty midrange tone, and did not play well dispite significant set up work. For $2500 I could come up with a lot better bass than a 78 jazz...but I guess different strokes for different folks...me I'll keep my spectors and ken smiths- and let the rest of the world enjoy the 78 jazz!
 
#13
Old Fenders are not necessarily great Fender's
Fender basses (Pre CBS and up till about 1966) have an advantage that the wood is aged and tends to be more stable and in some cases the quality is much better. Further you have individuality of hand craftsmanship and better quality control which makes every one of them unique, which further adds to their quality, value and the legacy of Leo's vision.
From about 1968 on, Fender basses were hit and miss as CBS made changes to finish materials, introduced the 3 bolt neck, took shortcuts in body routing, eliminated the aluminum shield under the pick guard. They sacrificed quality for the sake of profit. Compound that with the horrible tolerances in the neck pockets which caused necks to shift and terrible issues with green wood, bad truss rods and twisted necks.
I worked in the music store business from 1974 and owned a store until 1993. I was a Fender dealer all of those years and saw it all go to hell.
So, why do you think Fender has gone back to is "roots" sort to speak? You have to give the current owners credit, they realized that the old stuff and the designs were classic and the real deal.
I'd feel better about buying a new Fender bass today than I ever did during the CBS era. Although, they are way overpriced.
They must be making huge profits, just look at the way they've afforded to buy and maintain all of the additional brands in the Fender lineup.
If you find a new Fender and it is a great bass and you love it... buy it. You'll be having this same discussion in another 30 years
 
#14
I bought a '73 P back in the early 70's for next to nothing. I sold it in the late 70's for next to nothing. It was the best-sounding, best-playing bass I ever owned...until I bought my 2008 MIA P. It plays a little better than the '73. The sound is comparable - at least as well as I can recall taking into account the 30 years and differences in amps/cabs between then and now. The 2008 has MUCH better fit and finish and is significantly lighter. All these differences I have mentioned so far are relatively minor, but there is a MAJOR difference between my 2008 and the '73: neck stability. The neck on my '73 moved around a lot with changes in season, changes in humidity, etc. I check my 2008 neck twice a year and it has only needed one minor tweak of about 0.002".

IMHO the reason "vintage" Fenders command such high prices is the current trend to glamorize (and up the value) of all things considered vintage/collectable. If that's your bag, great. Go for it! I have played a few "vintage" Fenders that had amazing sound and feel, although I'm sure much of the so-called mojo was just imagined on my part.

I don't value the sound and feel of vintage Fenders any higher than that of 2008 and later MIA's, but I also don't have a problem with those who do consider older Fenders to be worth more - TO THEM.
 
#15
To me it's a lot like vintage cars. People pay big bucks for rare muscle cars from the 60's, but new ones of the same model will outhandle and usually best the quarter mile times of any old one, better technology, safer, better gas mileage, etc.

Owning something vintage is a way of showing respect for history to me.

To me, the old ones just sound better anyway (cars and basses).
 
#16
I too, have owned several, played many, and now own two. I was born in 1950. The P-bass and I have sort of grown old together, so nostalgia, memory, and lost youth, etc., all play into this.

However, some of the old basses are really excellent sounding and feeling instruments. So, add together these ingredients: the desirability of the actual basses that built the sound of popular music in the 50s, 60s, and 70s; the iconic designs, the conventional wisdom about the loss of fender quality quality when CBS bought Fender in 1964, actual or falsely perceived quality as instruments, and scarcity. The result is that these instruments are expensive.

I agree with the OP. Get a new American Standard, a Road Worn, or even an MIM classic. If you happen into an old Fender you like and can afford, get it. Don't hide it away, insure it and play it!

Old basses can be fun, but old bass players are even better! :D :D :D
 
#17
brett7276 said:
I can kind of understand the market values of some of the early Fenders...the ones I don't get are the late 70's ones I had two a 77, and 78 I bought some time ago to help a buddy out who was moving (circa 2002) and I sold each bass for about 2500 (and might have gotten more)- and I don't get why- they were heavy, had a fartty midrange tone, and did not play well dispite significant set up work.
Click to expand...

I have two 78 antigua js. I got them set up quite well, but neither sounds that great. In spite of that, they are still 1978 Antigua j's!
 

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