Best year of Fender Precision

[risingson]

I'm using a '78 as my main bass right now. It's heavy, but that's all that's wrong with it really (apart from the cosmetic tests of time that it shows). There are quite a few late 70's Fenders that I've tried that I've really liked so I think the prejudice against this era Fender can be a little unfounded, like everyone always says with vintage Fenders you've got to pick and choose them yourself as they're not all going to be great.

[chris_b]

[quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1365418515' post='2039150']
....The oldest I've owned was a 68....
[/quote]

I've got a 68 P and it was very poor, but back then we didn't know any better.

The term Pre CBS was already in use and the prices were sky high as a result.


These days I wouldn't go for a vintage bass over a good modern one.

IMO, having seen both sides, everything about the modern world of bass is better than it was.

[Rick's Fine '52]

OK, my two-penny-worth.

Firstly, like anything, choosing something for you, is wholly subjective, as we all like, and crave different things, not just from our basses.

If it was [i]my[/i] £1500, and your looking for the best playing, feeling, and sounding P, in my experience, it would be a Fullerton '82 reissue of a '62 Precision, or a 1st series JV, if you can find an example for sale of either...they do show up. They are the best built, most vintage correct you'll find for that money, and are pretty close to the real deal. Assuming you want the vintage feel of course. They also hold their value very well, and will probably continue to increase if its a nice one.

If you want a brighter, tighter feel, then buy any new..ish bass. All the new (1990 to date) Precisions I've played, do not sound, or feel like Precisions that I know, and fell in love with, they just sound like any new bass guitar....to me anyway, often down to the quality and attention to detail on the necks.

Sadly, if you want the feel and sound of a genuine old Fender, then thats what you have to buy, because newer ones aren't the same.......despite what many would like to believe.

As has been mentioned many times on this thread, and rightly so, you have to play as many as you can, and buy the one that suits you, and feels the nicest...to you....you never know, the one that suits you may even be a Rickenbacker 4001...in which case, there are help groups available for that!

Happy hunting though, the search can often be as enjoyable as the catch, and I hope you find the bass for you, whatever that may be.

Best year for me?, difficult, for various reasons, as they vary so very much, and each period has its own merits, neck profiles, neck woods, pickup arrangements etc. If I had to pick one to play for the rest of my days, it would a '58, super slim maple neck, 3-tone, gold guard, my favourite combination visually, and the warmest, softest tones ever, on the easiest neck to play.

Edited April 9, 2013 by Rick's Fine '52

[Paul S]

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1365509659' post='2040434']
or a 1st series JV, if you can find an example for sale of either...they do show up. They are the best built, most vintage correct you'll find for that money, and are pretty close to the real deal. Assuming you want the vintage feel of course. They also hold their value very well, and will probably continue to increase if its a nice one.
[/quote]

There was a JV on Gumtree this week that almost doubled in value in the space of just a few days.

[Rick's Fine '52]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1365514856' post='2040546']
There was a JV on Gumtree this week that almost doubled in value in the space of just a few days.
[/quote]

I know, it wasnt a first series though, and it apparently sold for more than it was worth...most odd?