Bridgehouse

I also play mandolin with a piezo pickup. It amplifies this beautifully for acoustic style gigs.

Yes, pretty much exactly. Except the FRFR could also do a lot more things too..

And similarly if you want a northern East Midlands ish offer to go with that, I have: 64 P 74 P 09 AVRI P

@Funkfingers - and 1915 was exactly when Gibson were buying massive stockpiles of wood for their growing mandolin business....

Although not a direct answer to the question, age does improve wood for two reasons: - Age of growth - Drying The fabled Honduran mahogany used by Gibson et al in the 60s was old growth (different cell structure) and had been sitting in the stockpile for 50+ years drying out. That wood was highly regarded for resonance, but most importantly for light weight. Fender and Gibson ran out of these stocks in the 70s and had to use young growth wood not dried out as much which was much heavier.

I did a HB project once and I was surprised just how good it was for the money. If previous experience stacks up I suspect: - Frets will need a teeny bit of fettling to feel smooth at the edges - Body and neck fit and finish will be very good - Tuners might need replacing - Pickups will be pretty bland - Electronics will be a bit average Having said that, for the money, they are one of the better budget buys

It's definitely not vintage

The worst I've ever seen was caused by no strings on, a knackered truss rod, and 20 years in the loft with no insulation.

I think it's worth considering the quite conservative nature of musicians and instruments. Look through the classifieds and you will see a large number of basses (possibly even a majority) which are based on the P and J. Fundamentally simple, a lot of basses today modelled after them are technologically the same. Two bits of wood bolted together with what is effectively 60 years old electronics technology. That has a lot to do with taste, and what players want as the manufacturers see it. I wanted a vintage Fender bass - the reason why is possibly irrelevant, but I wasn't going to get one to look at but to play. I wanted it to play well and sound great. I would say I played about a dozen, all for sale. Out of those I really loved two, I thought about 4 were "meh" and the other 6 were frankly dogs. They were all about the same price. A different player on a different day might have tried all 12 and come to a completely different conclusion. It's an individual thing. I have played some nearly new basses that I have thought of as brilliant - and some I've thought were really very disappointing. I'd say the ratio for me has been about 50/50.

Got to agree on them being superb quality for the money. I got this a few weeks back (brand new) for £412

This is beginning to sound like a sequel to The Lion King...

You guys do realise that by posting here you are basically opening yourself up to future "Ha! ha!" comments when you post those NGD, NAD, NCD etc. posts?

I've got a 64 and an AVRI. They are very close. I'd say given your opening post the AVRI would scratch your itch enough. You really have to want a vintage to justify the expense - otherwise you'll wonder why you have so much money tied up in it

I agree. Specially at the more eye watering end of the price scale!

Get yourself off to Bass Direct and go play one Or, as another thought - how about a vintage Mustang bass? (Trying to stay on topic!) A 66 sold on here for under a grand just a few days ago

Ha! And I think the Chowny is the best option - don't listen to the Ric naysayers

Depending on where it's located, I'm sure some of us vintage owners/collectors would come and look with you as well. I know I would. I may not know everything, but I've learned the obvious stuff to look for

Do you mean the forum? If so, I'm the same username over there

No, but I'll give you one for free A good friend of mine - Feline Guitars based in Croydon. Jon really knows his stuff and he is an absolute expert and a gent. He makes the most beautiful guitars and basses, and he services a lot of guitars played by some of the worlds best - he's seen his fair share of proper authentic vintages owned by guitar heroes and expert musicians alike and he would be a good starting point..

I will give you two answers to that. Yes, and no. Yes - with a very real example. The fingerboard edges on my 64 are rolled due to years and years of play. Even when done with a tool it's not the same. It feels played in - and played in over many years. And no - I'm sure some of the feel is because I've bonded with it so much.

Yeah, I'd spot my shrinking tort pickguard even with my ham fists

You can. Having said that, there's only a couple I would trust..

True. Which was what attracted me to a vintage bass in the first place, having owned a few vintage guitars.. My only controversial thought on vintage basses is thus: Whether it's the material, the ageing or whatever, once you find one that you really like, I think they do feel different to a more modern instrument.