Which Basses Have The Same Specs As A Basic 1960s Precision?

[Jack45]

I keep meaning to buy one.

It's crazy, original 60s basses go for thousands, and then you have new ones that go from fairly cheap to a couple thousand.

It's really just some wood, strings, and a pickup, what's the big deal?

Anyway, I think the specs are alder wood, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and a split coil pickup.

What basses are that? Which is the cheapest version?

Btw, I put the basic specs in google, and Xaviere basses came up. Never heard of them. Crap? Or a great deal?

Thanks.

 

[A9X]

what's the big deal?

Mysticism.

 

[hypercarrots]

dryness and stability of wood
quartersawn vs half sawn neck wood, etc
fit and finish of neck pocket, minimal gap
paint quality, application and finishing
quality of tuning machines and bridge
quality of pots
solder work
pickup magnet type
pickup wire and number of winds
fretwork, installation, leveling, end finishing, polishing
attention to neck profile and edges in terms of roundness, smoothness, taper, consistent shaping

 

[A9X]

^^ All of which can be matched or bettered today, except for the wood being old, but torrification makes that pretty moot.

 

[Gorn]

Specs that match whatever bass you’re talking about? I’m sure there’s something out there. The magical qualities ascribed to vintage basses? Just close your eyes and tell yourself they’re there.

 

[buldog5151bass]

So you want something super cheap that plays and sounds like a vintage pre CBS Fender?

Don't we all ...

 

[A9X]

Don't we all

No. Tried a couple. Meh.

 

[Jack45]

So you want something super cheap that plays and sounds like a vintage pre CBS Fender?

Don't we all ...

Yeah.

 

[micguy]

The absolute most important spec for something to sound like a P is to get the pickup(s) in the right spot. The rest is details that, while they matter some, if you put them pickup in a different spot, nothing else you can do w”can compensate for that.

If you want a neck that’ll vibrate like a half century old piece of maple (the neck is more important to the sound of the bass than the body), get yourself a roasted Warmoth neck.

 

[luciens]

I keep meaning to buy one.

It's crazy, original 60s basses go for thousands, and then you have new ones that go from fairly cheap to a couple thousand.

It's really just some wood, strings, and a pickup, what's the big deal?

Anyway, I think the specs are alder wood, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and a split coil pickup.

What basses are that? Which is the cheapest version?

Btw, I put the basic specs in google, and Xaviere basses came up. Never heard of them. Crap? Or a great deal?

Thanks.

The closest to a Fender P bass is a Fender P bass. So, I'd suggest a Fender P bass. Strange but true, even the pre-CBS basses were mostly hand-made, out of wood that was basically sitting around like piles of lumber in the factory, with no temp or humidity controls, aging, etc. So they weren't known for their consistency, and there wasn't any kind of QC on the wood used. Fret work wasn't great, etc.

So, if you're thinking in terms of equivalent quality and sound, probably any current model of Fender P will be at least as good or better. A modern MIA will probably be a better P bass overall. If my Tony Franklin is any guide, much better than a 60's vintage.

If you want a true MIA mostly-hand-made Fender converted into a tactical thermonuclear weapon by Leo Fender himself, go for an MIA G&L L2000. But I'm going off track here....

So that'd be my suggestion. Get a Fender P bass. go MIA if you want a slightly better one.

L

 

[frankie5string]

I'm sure you could get yourself exactly what you're looking for from Warmoth.
Go for a roasted neck and a P-Bass body, and I'd go one step further and buy the old Bartolini "Original P-Bass" (not the deep version) pickup. It's pretty bloody grunty and you can always dial it back with the tone pot.

 

[hypercarrots]

^^ All of which can be matched or bettered today, except for the wood being old, but torrification makes that pretty moot.

Or even exceeded at a better sale price. Yamaha comes to mind.

but what i was saying is that it’s not just the specification but how it is crafted, assembeld and finished.

 

[jamro217]

Mutts.

 

[hypercarrots]

Also old fenders that still exist now have survived all this time because they sound good and have been repeatedly set up, dressed and maintained over years. You put that years of care into the right modern instrument and it can also come out the other end of time in a similar state.

 

[Texaspandj]

Just get a MIA P-bass. Here's my '97 MIA. Solid as a rock.

 

[andare]

The Fender American Original 60s is what you're looking for but it doesn't have the same fretboard radius. It's 9.5" instead of 7.25".
Similar finish but there's probably poly under the nitro, at least on the body.
An AVRI will have the period correct radius. You might find one used.

If you're willing to compromise on the neck size and shape then any MIA or MIM or MIJ or CIJ can be found used with a rosewood fretboard. It's not available new anymore except for the AOs

 

[Paul New]

Just get a MIA P-bass. Here's my '97 MIA. Solid as a rock.View attachment 4486486

I have a 95, same color, with a little bit darker red tort and GZR pickups. It is very nice but not quite as good as my 68, and I have no idea why.

in answer to the OP, i would just go try a few Player Ps and buy the best one.

 

[rantbot]

As is apparent to even casual inspection, the only important difference is the tort. Modern tort blows goats. Seventy-year-old tort looks marginally better, but is showing its age for various reasons, most of them having to do with chemistry.

 

[theduke1]

A few years ago I did some studio work with a collector friend of mine and commented that some day I would like to own a pre cbs Pbass. Now I was playing my 2006 G&L l2500 and his response to me was, “ I have 6 of them in my collection and there isn’t a one that sounds as good as your G&L” When Leo said it was his best creation, he wasn’t kidding “
I am not saying that vintage Fender basses are not good they just don’t do it for me
Good luck with your quest
Duke

 

[mellobud]

A few years ago I did some studio work with a collector friend of mine and commented that some day I would like to own a pre cbs Pbass. Now I was playing my 2006 G&L l2500 and his response to me was, “ I have 6 of them in my collection and there isn’t a one that sounds as good as your G&L” When Leo said it was his best creation, he wasn’t kidding “
I am not saying that vintage Fender basses are not good they just don’t do it for me
Good luck with your quest
Duke

You’re not wrong. G&L has impressed me. Got my first a few months ago and
I’ve been blown away by it. (US LB100)