I'm picking up a '78 Precision later today, and as excited as I am, I must confess to being nervous about whether or not it'll be as amazing as I hope. It could be comfy, dripping with mojo and everything I'm looking for, or, it could just be a beat up old P bass. I'll let you know tomorrow.
I've never owned a "vintage" Fender before, so I have no idea what to expect, but I'm [i]hoping[/i] for a [i]vibe[/i] as much as anything like WOT points out. I also think the price I've paid is fair too, and I agree that many of the old Fender I've seen have been vastly over priced IMO.
My other bass is a battered Fender H1 Jazz, and I'm hoping they'll partner each other well live, and whether or not there will be any great difference between two Fenders made 30 years apart I really don't know.