Members karaoke Posted September 20, 2007 Members Share Posted September 20, 2007 Im looking at the Fender P bass from the 70's versus the new ones(deluxe)...can anyone suggest why or why not vintage may be better sounding than new ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members willsellout Posted September 20, 2007 Members Share Posted September 20, 2007 Better sounding..no difference really. Playability wise there is a big difference. Vintage basses just feel better.To expand on this a bit, I've played a few 70's Fenders as well as one 50's P bass (can't remember which year) and none of them sounded any different that I could tell but they all played really well and the necks felt super comfortable. Both basses had excellent setups as well so that helped. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Noise... Posted September 20, 2007 Members Share Posted September 20, 2007 Personally, I can only recommend that you try both if at all possible, and then pick the one you like better. Either way you'll get a good bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted September 20, 2007 Members Share Posted September 20, 2007 The only thing that I can think of is that the wood on the vintage has had 30 years or so longer to dry out. Drier wood = more resonance and warmth. That being said, just about everyone these days is after more of a hify sustain, pretty much the exact opposite of vintage warmth. I think that the new ones are probably better built basses and the playability is going to be much more consistent from bass to bass, just my guess. And, part of the problem with basses that old is that, much of the time, you don't have the opportunity to play them before you plunk down your hard earned cash. While some of the older Fenders are amazing players, some are absolute dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shaffle Posted September 20, 2007 Members Share Posted September 20, 2007 Some would say that the vintage instruments "speak to them tonally" but for (at least from what I can determine) very subjective reasons. The value that has been attached to vintage instruments is amazing to me. I'm much more practical than that but still can't seem to shake my curiosity towards the "vintage craze." They DO appeal to me, but I don't really know why. Maybe its because I don't have the disposable income to pick one up so its out of my reach. Maybe its the history, I don't know. The quality is certainly excellent but the same can be said of today's instruments. I guess what I'm saying is that- No, I don't have a suggestion why or why not vintage may be better sounding. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted September 20, 2007 Moderators Share Posted September 20, 2007 Well ,there is a good reason why the older P will sound better, because it is a true P, not some deluxe active EQ and goofy humbucker derivative. Comparing a vintage P to a American P, or better yet an American Vintage P, there is no reason one should sound better than the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thumper Posted September 20, 2007 Members Share Posted September 20, 2007 '70s Fenders can be dodgy propositions. Quality control was nearing rock bottom near the end of the CBS era. There are nice players out there, though, and I'd want to play before buying. I think some older basses have a vibe. The wood has aged, the neck has worn in a bit, and they're comfy like an old pair of jeans. I have a '62 Jazz reissue I bought new in 1987. I just had it refretted, so it should be good for another 20 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members karaoke Posted September 20, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 20, 2007 Yeah...it does make it hard when many vintage ones are basically "buy before you try" online... ....emprov change your avatar man...i was eating a nice pepperoni stick and almost threw up when i saw that things legs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted September 20, 2007 Members Share Posted September 20, 2007 ....emprov change your avatar man...i was eating a nice pepperoni stick and almost threw up when i saw that things legs! Believe me when I say that you do not want me to change it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members karaoke Posted September 20, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 20, 2007 as long as it doesn't involve the zoom button on the same photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hawkhuff Posted September 20, 2007 Members Share Posted September 20, 2007 I would play a bunch of new ones. I think the vintage are way over priced and I don't buy this wood dried out so it sounds better stuff. With the vintage, it's an ambience thing, that's all. Of course, this could be that I remember what they cost new back in the late 60's and 70's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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