I gig with 3. For laid back settings, quiet volumes etc. I use my '59 Precision. Blues, I use my '68 Telecaster. Rock at higher volumes, I like my '83 Precision. It just has a VERY unique tone for a P. I've never heard another P that sounds like it, and I've played many. It's grindy, but not wooly. And super defined for a P, even with the tone rolled off. Sounds almost active the pickup is so hot, and it's all stock. If anyone knows why '83's sound so different, let me know.
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Whose Main Bass Is A Vintage (Over 30)
- Thread starter theevilplankton
- Start date
1960 Gibson EBO-Les Paul Jr. style.
1971-Fender precision.
Getting close 1985 Wal Fretless MK1.
I know Fender was really trying to turn things around in the early '80s from the previous decade, when their quality control went to crap. Not to say all '70s Fender are crap, there are lots of nice ones out there. But there were a lot of not-so-great, heavy boat anchors with really loose neckpockets, etc.. especially in the late '70s.
By '82 Fender had released their new American Vintage Reissue Series with the idea behind them being, just to "make em like they used to". I wouldn't be surprised if all the pickups, woods, and overall fit and finishes improved on all the American-made guitars and basses because Fender decided it was important to make fine instruments consistently again.
That's exactly what the team they assembled to build the AV series set out to do, re-establish Fender's reputation by launching a high quality series of instruments with a direct lineage to the ones that made their name in the first place.
My main gigging bass is my Oly White '83 P, truly a splendid instrument.
Someone told me the pickups were great in '83 too--that they used the reissue pickups for everything. I've also wondered if the very thin front-to-back neck might give it a different tone too. The neck vibrates in a very lively way when you plck a string...I dunno. I just know I love it.
1970- Fender Precision Sunburst all original except for refin back to original by me. 7 lbs 13 oz alder strung with Chromes
1974- Fender Precision Oly white all original except for refin to original by me. 8 lbs exactly alder
1976- Fender Precision Black with Oly white (factory refin) in 76 or so.. 11 lbs ash all original
1974- Fender Precision Oly white all original except for refin to original by me. 8 lbs exactly alder
1976- Fender Precision Black with Oly white (factory refin) in 76 or so.. 11 lbs ash all original
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edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
My main gigging bass is a '67 Guild Starfire with '73 Alembic Series II pickups and electronics. The strings aren't quite vintage but the rest of it sure is.
'78 Jazz Antigua finish, bought new, I changed the strings to Rotosound soon after purchase and they are still on there, so how about a n "oldest strings" thread. It is the only bass I have ever gigged with since then, my backup is a1963 Vox but my Fender has never let me down. I had a break from 1999 to 2011 and when I took it from its case it was still perfectly in tune. It was a bit of a stretch to buy it back then so I did not get a genuine Fender case, now cases are fetching more than I paid for the instrument!
This one turns 30 in September.
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Funny that when they came out, the Vinatage Re-Issue basses were replicating roughly twenty year old instruments.......
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Funny that when they came out, the Vinatage Re-Issue basses were replicating roughly twenty year old instruments.......
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The natural Fender in the pic is a 76 body with an 83 neck, but the electronics are a little newer. Still, I count it as a 30+ year old bass. The amp, however, turns 50 next year!
The natural Fender in the pic is a 76 body with an 83 neck, but the electronics are a little newer. Still, I count it as a 30+ year old bass. The amp, however, turns 50 next year!
My eldest bass is a Defil Lotos, that I'm repairing right now. Dont know exactly which year is it, but it's at least from 1970, and can be even from 1963. It was also a cheapest bass that I bought lol 
Anyway it was in really bad condition, even had no fretboard. Got occasionally a pickup from Washburn T12, and bridge from Jolana Proxima Bass, so I have nearly all hardware I need.
I also have a handmade JB that I wrote about in another thread ( http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/hand-made-jazz-bass-your-opinion-maybe-your-own-jb-954391/ ). Dont know the exact year it was made, but it also can be from 60's (those pickups are from 60's bass). Pure oldschool sounding, but not really similiar with Jazz Bass.
My main bass (Defil Luna) is probably from 1986, so it would be soon a 30 year.
Anyway it was in really bad condition, even had no fretboard. Got occasionally a pickup from Washburn T12, and bridge from Jolana Proxima Bass, so I have nearly all hardware I need.I also have a handmade JB that I wrote about in another thread ( http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/hand-made-jazz-bass-your-opinion-maybe-your-own-jb-954391/ ). Dont know the exact year it was made, but it also can be from 60's (those pickups are from 60's bass). Pure oldschool sounding, but not really similiar with Jazz Bass.
My main bass (Defil Luna) is probably from 1986, so it would be soon a 30 year.
My Lado solo 2 1978
Lado basses are excellent, and have flown under the radar since they came on the market. I used to drool over them when I was a teenager in the late '70s. Speaking of the 70s, does anyone use any of the following as their main bass?
SD Curlee
Renaissance Acrylic
Travis Bean
Kramer Aluminum
+1 Lado
My main bass is a Lado Solo - great bass wouldn't sell it for anything- it's a classic now too
No single "main" bass, but my '63 P is in my regular rotation depending on my mood. Turns 50 this year, just like me.
