Why is it that older basses are much more desirable?

[Tupac]

If given the choice between an 80s bass or a brand new one, everyone would go for the older one. Just curious, why is this? I'd think most people would want a nice, shiny, untouched one. Is it the antique factor, or do they truly sound better?



My experience with basses is limited, please don't hang me.

 

[Punk Rock Jason]

I think that's a pretty broad generalization. Yeah, a lot of people like the vintage vibe, but I think it really depends on the basses in question. I love to play my Peavey T-40's (from approximately '79), but I also like my new Schecter 5-string.

 

[1bassman]

The saying goes"they don't make um like they used to"...

 

[Marty Forrer]

I dont know about 80s basses, but 60s ones are desirable to me for their worn, broken in factor. There is a mojo, mystique, whatever you like to call it. 80s basses dont appeal much, except for the Fender Japan and the Stingrays.
It's like my 1928 Model A Ford. Its slow, rattles, has no heat or a/c, but I'd rather drive it than any other car on the road. Why? Because it has soul, it has mojo, it has that undefineable "something" that speaks to me. I wouldn't swap it for any new Corvette, Ferrari etc.

 

[anonymous02282011]

I wouldn't, unless there was something particularly special about some 80s era bass.

I wouldn't really consider something from the 80s antique either

 

[basssist]

I think it's the fact that they have the nice heavy, deap and clean sound. Better for mellow music as most new ones have a more rough sound for harder, heavier music.

 

[Tupac]

I wouldn't, unless there was something particularly special about some 80s era bass.

I wouldn't really consider something from the 80s antique either

Well, you get the idea. I was just pulled up a random decade.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

If given the choice between an 80s bass or a brand new one, everyone would go for the older one. Just curious, why is this? I'd think most people would want a nice, shiny, untouched one. Is it the antique factor, or do they truly sound better?



My experience with basses is limited, please don't hang me.

'80's basses are now considered "Vintage"????

oy vey. I give up.

 

[chuck3]

my two Fenders are a fretless P from 1978 and a '62 Jazz reissue from 2008. Thirty years apart, both great basses. They are very different to play, though.

To come back to your question, I often wonder about this too. As someone else said, I don't think you can generalize. I tried a '70s P at Sam Ash in NYC recently, and it sucked - mainly because it wasn't set up well etc, but still - it needed a lot of work and I still don't know if it would have been good. But if I buy a new Sadowsky (which I haven't yet), I know it will be excellent. So there's no one size fits all, and price is always a consideration too.

 

[pnut166]

For the same reason a `69 Camaro is more valuable than a new one.

 

[WilliamSandoval]

I would rather have a new jazz bass over an 80's, But I would rather have a '62 over a 2011. Why? Because that was the first year Jazz basses were good. (And I have a slight obsession with JPJ)

other than the Jazz basses from 1962, I would sell a 74 for a 2011 any day.

 

[bassbenj]

If given the choice between an 80s bass or a brand new one, everyone would go for the older one. Just curious, why is this? I'd think most people would want a nice, shiny, untouched one. Is it the antique factor, or do they truly sound better?

My experience with basses is limited, please don't hang me.

So why is it that antique people will pay a fortune for some rusty stamped metal tin toy that they played with as a kid? I guess it's because every memory gets more and more shine as it fades into time.

Hey, I PLAYED those early Fender basses. I remember whining like mad about tinny stamped bridges, buzzy frets, hum, heavy weight, and a bunch of other stuff. I got rid of them and didn't play Fender again until quite recently and then only to get an old-school sound. I truly do not understand the rosy glow that some people see surrounding some of these old Fender basses.

My current Fender has five strings and active three band preamp! Sure didn't see any of those back then, though I was really wishing for one! Not only me, but Leo the creator of the classic Jazz and "P" was not happy with bassdom then and we both moved on to new ideas like active circuits, humbuckers, and tonal variations early bass players could only dream about!

So what about the vintage lovers? Hey, some people just love old stuff. And if you want the authentic tone for old music you have to use the instrument they used back then! There are still people making and playing the lute for crying out loud! Whatever floats your boat!

 

[WilliamSandoval]

I wouldn't buy a 62 RI though because it's still a 2011. I wouldn't buy a road worn either. Who would want a beat up bass when they could have one with a brand new paint job from the same year.

 

[s_mcsleazy]

the same thing can usually be said for old cars too.

is my dream car the ford capri better than say a modern eu focus.

the focus will be more reliable, cheeper to run, insure, frount wings wont rust and is easyer to use everyday. still doesnt mean i dont want the capri.

its more about the mark they've made rather than the actuall instrument

 

[chuck3]

BTW, there are some differences to consider such as fretboard radius of a P. The old one I got has the 7.25" or whatever it is radius, while the modern ones are 9.5" I think. I may not have that exactly right, but it changed and I like the old one.

 

[Aspidites]

It is usually about buying a particular moment in time more than it is the nuts and bolts themselves.

 

[bluesdogblues]

If given the choice between an 80s bass or a brand new one, everyone would go for the older one. Just curious, why is this? I'd think most people would want a nice, shiny, untouched one. Is it the antique factor, or do they truly sound better?

My experience with basses is limited, please don't hang me.

For me it depends.
What kind of Bass.
And.. 80s Basses? I don't really think so (except few of them). I probably will choose the brand new one.
But if they're 50s or 60s Fender P or J basses.. That's my dream

YMMV

 

[tabdog]

In the eighties, I was bass shopping.

I looked at 60s and 70s Fender Jazz and P basses
and some others. They could be had for $400 or
$500 used back then which was all I could afford
at the time.

I found a Japanese PJ bass that blew them all away
and still does. The only thing it could not quite do
was to sound like a P bass.

I now have about 7 or 8 P basses, but I only have
one PJ bass and no Jazz basses. They just don't
do it for me.

I don't play any high end basses. I am not saying it
is the best there is, but it's the best I came across.

What I'm not quite sure of is if this has anything to
do with anything.

Sorry for ramblein,

Tabgdog

 

[Uncle Walt]

Well there are some legit reasons to like some old stuff. Successful bass manufactures get successful because they make a quality product. Then what usually happens is once they are successful some big corperation comes and buys them up and starts mass producing lesser quality instruments with the same name tag in an effort to get all the market share. So it makes since when people want Pre-CBS(60's), Pre-Ernie Ball(80's), Fullerton(80's) or Pre-Fender(90's) versions of basses. However, since the "pre" whatever versions are popular and pricey people that don't know why those are popular run up the prices on ALL the old stuff and pretend like it's great. There is also value for collectors, if you have some 50 y/o thing in mint condish, it's gonna be a great find worth a truck load of cash, but no one cares how a thing like that sounds. I tend to think new is better cause everything works perfectly no noisey pots, dead p/u coils, crusty jacks, etc. plus Jaco said it best "the tone is in my hands" what kind of gear you have matters less than how you play it!

 

[Rockmusician]

I prefer basses from the 60's and 70's. It seems like starting in the 80's more and more basses were being mass produced with less attention to quality and detail.