Vintage basses....who needs them?

[discreet]

[quote name='1970' timestamp='1461764304' post='3037403']
I need them, thanks for reading.
[/quote]

[Joebethell]

I have owned modern and vintage basses and the sound and quality can vary on both. I wasn't around in the 60s or 70s but having have Gibsons Fender, Ricky's and a Hofner the older wood does seem to add something to the tone! I dont know if it's right but I think it's down to the playing over many years with the vibration in the wood?

The one thing I have learnt is I don't like active basses especially with pedals! Overdrive,fuzz or distortion just sounds plain wrong with any active bass I have played!

[luckman67]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1461493569' post='3035049']
I used to like 70s Fender Precisions, have had 3, all were great. Loved the mojo about them having picked up a bit of wear along the way. But then in one of my fits of madness did a cull, sold them all and have gone for the post 2012 Precisions, having heard a soundclip on here - Spongebobs btw. Bought mine (a 2015) online, when it turned up was a bit concerned as for a while my fretting hand ached a bit, as the neck was a bit deeper than I was used to. Now having got used to it - only took a couple of weeks - I`m so glad I did it. The new Precision is a much better instrument, sounds better, plays better (all imo of course, might not be for others) and any wear that happens is going to be mine. I like it so much I`ve bought another, just for home use. So in my mind I like vintage instruments, and to the eye as well, but if honest, I`ve not yet played a vintage instrument I like as much as my 2015. It`s really changed my opinions on new instruments as was never that keen before, thought them too shiny and soul-less. I was wrong.
[/quote]

I agree with you I love my 2014 Precision with the CS pickups.

[TrevorR]

[quote name='Jebo1' timestamp='1461437693' post='3034682']


Imagine the scene: Me at the Royal Albert Hall, venue all sold out. I'm proudly stroking my 1988 Warwick Streamer, we do a line check ready to start and there's some piercing feedback on stage. Look at the Warwick. Look around the stage and realise it must be me. Warwick dispatched to its case, Fender plugged in and gig is played.
[/quote]
[quote name='Jebo1' timestamp='1461439407' post='3034697']
I couldn't really stop the gig and go and get a battery, so I plugged in a passive Fender. Problem solved, Warwick sold.

Extreme example and certainly nothing to do with the quality of Warwicks, I just won't use them after that. Superstitious nonsense I'm sure.
[/quote]

Imagine the scene: Me at the Royal Albert Hall, venue all sold out. The night before I'm proudly looking at my active Wal basses and think, "Huge gig tomorrow, I don't reckon it needs it but I'll change those batteries just in case."

I've been playing an active bass since 1988 and never had a battery go down in a gig. Mind you, I've always maintained my basses well and changed batteries on a regular (although not that frequent) basis. Goes with the active territory. A cheap multimeter from Dyas or Screwfix is a dead handy bit of kit...

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1461501479' post='3035155']

"PPPPPP", as they say: (Edit:Prior) Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. You should sack your Guitar Tech!

[/quote]

With the Wals I got into the habit of changing the battery every time I do a string change so they were swapped every six months or so. Their power draw is stupidly low given how the power and versatility of the active circuit. A case of "once a year whether it needs it or not!" Of course, now I've gone over to flats that approach goes out the window... Even with that low draw the battery isn't going to last four or five years! ;-)

[CamdenRob]

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1461912485' post='3038606']
With the Wals I got into the habit of changing the battery every time I do a string change
[/quote]

That's a good idea I think I shall adopt...

... however next time I sell out the Royal Albert Hall I'll change the battery anyway just in case.

Edited April 29, 2016 by CamdenRob

[Twincam]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1461758173' post='3037354']
Interesting discussion… but the same can said about anything old vs. its modern day equivalent.

The entire antiques trade operates on this basis. Some people just like old stuff because it’s old. It’s the reason why people like buying old cars, furniture, books, records, clothes, toys, whatever. Some of them are ‘design classics’, others are out of production… but mostly, people just like them because they’ve been around a long time and have accumulated history, character, mojo, whatever you want to call it.

I used to own a ‘classic car’ in my early 20s - a Triumph Herald. Loved it. But it needed constant repair, continually failed its MOT and was far less cost-efficient than running a ‘modern’ Ford Fiesta, which I subsequently purchased. The Fiesta had no mojo whatsoever, but it was fuel efficient, the heater worked and the body wasn’t in danger of detaching itself form the chasis if I braked too hard. It was all round a better product, albeit lacking in mojo (and sunroof).

Same applies to bass guitars. The modern day equivalents are - in the majority cases - going to be all round better instruments. But what you can’t replicate with modern production is ‘oldness’ (at least not until we invent time machines). And that’s essentially what people are prepared to pay money for - and will continue to do so.

It's no more complicated than that
[/quote]

Interestingly I also owned a triumph herald in my early 20s.

Too add to the discussion a lot of people put value into things like sentimentality which is made up of many things. With vintage basses and instruments in general there's the story, the history and who made the bass and the "mojo" factor, seeing your heroes play that model/year of production instrument. Could you not afford one when younger but can now etc etc.

No one needs a vintage instrument but they play an important part in enhancing some people's enjoyment.

[discreet]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1461758173' post='3037354']
I used to own a ‘classic car’ in my early 20s - a Triumph Herald.
[/quote]
[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1461925018' post='3038745']
I also owned a triumph herald in my early 20s.
[/quote]

Pointless coincidence corner: I learnt to drive in a Triumph Herald and passed my test in one. It wasn't a classic car at the time.

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1461925018' post='3038745']
With vintage basses and instruments in general there's the story, the history and who made the bass and the "mojo" factor, seeing your heroes play that model/year of production instrument. Could you not afford one when younger but can now etc etc.
[/quote]

Labouring the point somewhat, but I was in fact able to afford a 'vintage' bass when I was younger, however it wasn't a vintage bass at the time, it was simply 'a new bass'.

Edited April 29, 2016 by discreet

[gary mac]

Another addition to the pointless coincidence corner: Once, when thumbing a lift, I got a ride in a convertible herald, it was damned terrifying

Also my Granddad had a Herald.

[Twincam]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1461925431' post='3038748']



Pointless coincidence corner: I learnt to drive in a Triumph Herald and passed my test in one. It wasn't a classic car at the time.



Labouring the point somewhat, but I was in fact able to afford a 'vintage' bass when I was younger, however it wasn't a vintage bass at the time, it was simply 'a new bass'.
[/quote]

Yes well that's the other side, the ones who had an instrument in there younger days, lost it for whatever reason and yearn for the real vintage one, same model same colour.

My first bass was a bit rubbish and uncool so no yearning will be felt in 30 odd years time. Although I did name it after an old girlfriend that I did yearn for lol.

[discreet]

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1461926609' post='3038764']
Yes well that's the other side, the ones who had an instrument in there younger days, lost it for whatever reason and yearn for the real vintage one, same model same colour.
[/quote]

I've just about managed to hang on to mine.

[Twincam]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1461926695' post='3038766']


I've just about managed to hang on to mine.
[/quote]

I would of sold it many times over by now.

[keefbaker]

I'm kind of like that with the old stingray "copy" I have that I'll never sell. It makes me want a real one but the real ones don't seem to play as well or sound as good.

[BigRedX]

AFAICS the current accepted definition of vintage is anything over 25 years old. That means anything made before 1991!

That puts it into perspective...

Also means that all my Gus guitars and basses will be considered vintage within the next 10 years!

[discreet]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1461929856' post='3038818']
AFAICS the current accepted definition of vintage is anything over 25 years old. That means anything made before 1991!
[/quote]

Yes, it's ridiculous. My interpretation is that a Fender bass is 'vintage' if it has the serial number on the neck plate.

[AndrewJordan]

I think its something to do with geting old. I feel the same. A bass from 1990 can't be vintage.........it was only made a few short years ago...........er........wasn't it?

[Dad3353]

Vintage
Pronunciation: /ˈvɪntɪdʒ/

Noun...[list]
[*]The year or place in which wine, especially wine of high quality, was produced: 1982 is one of the best vintages of the century
[/list][list=1]
[*]A wine of high quality made from the crop of a single identified district in a good year.
[*](Literary...) Wine.
[*]The harvesting of grapes for winemaking: the work songs of the scything and the vintage
[*]The grapes or wine produced in a particular season: They have released the 1988 vintage of their best-selling red wine. He never lost a vintage through frost
[/list][list]
[*]The time that something of quality was produced: Rifles of various sizes and vintages
[/list]
Adjective...[list]
[*]Relating to or denoting wine of high quality: Vintage claret
[*][b]Denoting something from the past of high quality, especially something representing the best of its kind[/b]: A vintage Sherlock Holmes adventure
[/list]
Origin...
Late Middle English: alteration (influenced by vintner) of earlier vendage, from Old French vendange, from Latin vindemia (from vinum 'wine' + demere 'remove').

[discreet]

[quote name='AndrewJordan' timestamp='1461938201' post='3038944']
I feel the same. A bass from 1990 can't be vintage... it was only made a few short years ago... er... wasn't it?
[/quote]

The late 1980s still seem quite recent to me. I have trouble believing it's 2006, let alone 2016.
Woahh!! *Slips through time continuum again - goes into 'Frodo with ring on'-style wooshy weirdness*

[Jebo1]

Good story. Problem was, I had changed the battery, done the sound check and all the rest of it. Wasn't the first time I'd done a big gig.

And if I looked down at a Wal I'd mostly be thinking: "crikey this is an over-engineered and massively heavy plank of wood that's beautifully made and stunningly finished."

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1461912485' post='3038606']



Imagine the scene: Me at the Royal Albert Hall, venue all sold out. The night before I'm proudly looking at my active Wal basses and think, "Huge gig tomorrow, I don't reckon it needs it but I'll change those batteries just in case."

I've been playing an active bass since 1988 and never had a battery go down in a gig. Mind you, I've always maintained my basses well and changed batteries on a regular (although not that frequent) basis. Goes with the active territory. A cheap multimeter from Dyas or Screwfix is a dead handy bit of kit...



With the Wals I got into the habit of changing the battery every time I do a string change so they were swapped every six months or so. Their power draw is stupidly low given how the power and versatility of the active circuit. A case of "once a year whether it needs it or not!" Of course, now I've gone over to flats that approach goes out the window... Even with that low draw the battery isn't going to last four or five years! ;-)
[/quote]

[TrevorR]

[quote name='Jebo1' timestamp='1461970759' post='3039324']
Good story. Problem was, I had changed the battery, done the sound check and all the rest of it. Wasn't the first time I'd done a big gig.

And if I looked down at a Wal I'd mostly be thinking: "crikey this is an over-engineered and massively heavy plank of wood that's beautifully made and stunningly finished."
[/quote]

Oh dear, properly bad luck then...

Funny, when I look down at my Wal I think, "Crikey, this is beautifully made, ergonomically designed bass that hangs just nicely, feels perfect in my hands and serves up every tone I've ever wanted it to make... " but then again Your Milage May Vary, horses for courses, one man's meat, each to their own, takes all sorts and all that malarkey...

[discreet]

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1461971823' post='3039329']
...Your Mileage May Vary, horses for courses, one man's meat, each to their own, takes all sorts...
[/quote]

...there's nowt as queer as folk, it would be a funny old world if we all liked the same thing, one man's loss is another man's gain, and never wipe your arse with a broken bottle.

Edited April 29, 2016 by discreet

[Jebo1]

I'm just being silly, of course.

My Wal was the best recording bass I ever had. It was one of the original Pro series and could do everything. The problem is - and I'm honest enough to admit it - was that it could do so much, I couldn't get my head around it all. Sadly, I'm quite a simple person when it comes to basses.

Was heavy though! I got offered an obscene amount of money for it by an Amercian and then sold it. I'd love another one, but I'm not recording anymore really.

Any vintage bass collection needs a Wal I'd say.

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1461971823' post='3039329']


Oh dear, properly bad luck then...

Funny, when I look down at my Wal I think, "Crikey, this is beautifully made, ergonomically designed bass that hangs just nicely, feels perfect in my hands and serves up every tone I've ever wanted it to make... " but then again Your Milage May Vary, horses for courses, one man's meat, each to their own, takes all sorts and all that malarkey...
[/quote]

[TrevorR]

And just for clarity as well, I wasn't being tetchy or sarky so hope it didn't read like that...

And vintage or not I reckon there's a Wal shaped space in most places. But I am biased... Very biased.

[Paul S]

I have a particular fondness for the early MIJ Squiers so, by necessity, most of my basses are and have been 'vintage'. Of those I own at the moment, my three best and favourite basses are 2 Squiers made in '84 and '83 and a Yamaha made in '73.

[Jebo1]

It's the internet, I never get upset with what people write. I leave that for people on the Guardian of Daily Mail websites...!

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1462001932' post='3039404']
And just for clarity as well, I wasn't being tetchy or sarky so hope it didn't read like that...

And vintage or not I reckon there's a Wal shaped space in most places. But I am biased... Very biased.
[/quote]

[chris_b]

[quote name='Jebo1' timestamp='1462001145' post='3039397']
Any vintage bass collection needs a Wal I'd say.
[/quote]

I totally agree. If you're serious about collecting, you've got to own a Wal.

My Wal, a mk 3 custom 5 string, was the best sounding and playing bass I've owned. A thoroughbred amongst cart horses and a beautifully crafted piece of inspiration, design and engineering.

In spite of that I sold it after the originals bands split and recordings dried up. It was the best bass for that time.