Vintage Fenders

[Beedster]

2 minutes ago, Rick's Fine '52 said:

I agree too. It’s a great thread. However it isn’t the minefield some may think if you know what you’re looking at. Lots of simple nonsense spoken, in full view of simple, well known facts. But I’m out of this post too, I now remember why I stopped coming to this site some years back. Shame. 

 

It was really good to see you back, shame it's going to be an 'albeit briefly' 

[Happy Jack]

I started on vintage basses with Hofner. If you think it's tricky trying to sort out exact details for vintage (pre-CBS) Fenders, just wait until you start collecting 500/1 (Violin), 500/3 (Senator) and 500/5 (President) basses ...

[Old Man Riva]

46 minutes ago, Rick's Fine '52 said:

I agree too. It’s a great thread. However it isn’t the minefield some may think if you know what you’re looking at. Lots of simple nonsense spoken, in full view of simple, well known facts. But I’m out of this post too, I now remember why I stopped coming to this site some years back. Shame. 

Personally speaking, I think that’s a real shame. I have found your contributions, experience and insight to be incredibly helpful and always interesting.

 

Be great if you were to reconsider at some point!! 

[Reggaebass]

As above I do sincerely hope no one has fallen out here over a difference of opinion, it’s subjects like the stack knob dating and similar that I think we (certainly me) can really learn from, @Rick's Fine '52 and @Hellzero your knowledge and experience here is greatly appreciated, as is everyone’s , I do hope you will stick around 🙂

[Beedster]

54 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

As above I do sincerely hope no one has fallen out here over a difference of opinion, it’s subjects like the stack knob dating and similar that I think we (certainly me) can really learn from, @Rick's Fine '52 and @Hellzero your knowledge and experience here is greatly appreciated, as is everyone’s , I do hope you will stick around 🙂

 

Yep, the problem with web discussions is that it's all two easy for people who - were they in a bar or at a gig with a beer in their hand would get on famously and have a good chinwag - to get quite worked up about stuff (I've been there too many times). 

 

Here's a round for y'all 👍

 

 

 

[Rick's Fine '52]

1 hour ago, Reggaebass said:

As above I do sincerely hope no one has fallen out here over a difference of opinion, it’s subjects like the stack knob dating and similar that I think we (certainly me) can really learn from, @Rick's Fine '52 and @Hellzero your knowledge and experience here is greatly appreciated, as is everyone’s , I do hope you will stick around 🙂

I don’t fall out with anyone, life’s too short, but some of these points aren’t opinion. Some things are of course, but not the details referenced in the exchange. 
I will hang around, as had some very kind and interesting messages that have given me reason to stick around.

Happy Sunday everyone! ✌️ 

[Belka]

After reading these exchanges one thing that interests me now is the actual age of Jaco's bass of doom. It's widely reported to be a '62, and that Jaco removed the stack knobs and installed a three knob control set as he preferred the sound. Does this mean it's actually a '61? Do we only have Jaco's word for it that it's a '62 - I'm guessing he wouldn't be the most reliable narrator (although I'm guessing the likes of Kevin Kaufman and Rick Suchow have had the neck off and seen the neck stamp, if any of it remains)? 

 

I've always heard it had a slab board, but in this picture of the restoration it looks like a veneer (of course, this could be an illusion). 

[Reggaebass]

Never seen that before, what happened to the headstock and body 

[ped]

24 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

Never seen that before, what happened to the headstock and body 

A young Andy Baxter dismantled it to check its authenticity 

[Piers_Williamson]

51 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

Never seen that before, what happened to the headstock and body 

Jaco trashed it.  The bass of doom is the careful reconstruction of the bits as I understand it.

[Piers_Williamson]

1 hour ago, Belka said:

After reading these exchanges one thing that interests me now is the actual age of Jaco's bass of doom. It's widely reported to be a '62, and that Jaco removed the stack knobs and installed a three knob control set as he preferred the sound. Does this mean it's actually a '61? Do we only have Jaco's word for it that it's a '62 - I'm guessing he wouldn't be the most reliable narrator (although I'm guessing the likes of Kevin Kaufman and Rick Suchow have had the neck off and seen the neck stamp, if any of it remains)? 

 

I've always heard it had a slab board, but in this picture of the restoration it looks like a veneer (of course, this could be an illusion). 

 

THe mystery deepens!

[BassAgent]

I was eyeing vintage Mustang basses. And then I saw the prices they go for nowadays. Blimey.

[rwillett]

47 minutes ago, ped said:

A young Andy Baxter dismantled it to check its authenticity 

Is that before he learnt to put them back together?

[Hellzero]

Won't come back here anymore, I have way better ways to waste my time.

 

Trust whoever you want: I don't give a shīt anymore.

 

Get screwed by unscrupulous sellers who pretend to know everything : It's your own money after all.

 

Farewell forever, I'm really fed up by human beings!

[ped]

A simpler way to deal with it is to give your opinion and back it up, and if someone proves otherwise (and you disagree) just say:

 

“OK, my evidence shows otherwise, but there you go”

 

Not hard. Let the silent majority who enjoy the well presented experience and information make up their own mind. Nobody knows for sure anyway. Surely that’s part of the fun. 

[ped]

2 hours ago, BassAgent said:

I was eyeing vintage Mustang basses. And then I saw the prices they go for nowadays. Blimey.

Yes they have. It can be harder to find an original as they are often modified (not necessarily badly) but even some of the badly modified ones are silly prices. A good one with a racing stripe seems to be around £3500. Pre-stripe is about 4K. Post stripe around 2 grand? I do think they vary quite a lot probably more so than P basses I have tried from various eras but a nice one is a terrific and versatile bass, and a little bit different. Are you looking for a specific one? 

[rodney72a]

@Rick's Fine '52 is correct, of course, stating that the 3-knobs started around mid-'61. I've seen quite a few examples, in person as well as on photos (some very detailed among those). In my experience, you can find both configurations for the second half of the year.

 

I've yet to see a 1962 stack-knob though, at least a well-documented one. The only one I recall was from a senior contributor on the now deceased Fender Discussion Page who said his was a 1962. Not much evidence or details given, if I remember correctly, so difficult to verify.

 

The Bass Gallery bass could really do with an in-depth description. Two of the pots are obviously replacements, along with the bridge. You'd have to see the instrument in person in order to tell whether there is any overspray - the vivid Red however is typical for a 1961 Sunburst.

Edited Sunday at 19:18 by rodney72a

[BassAgent]

1 hour ago, ped said:

Yes they have. It can be harder to find an original as they are often modified (not necessarily badly) but even some of the badly modified ones are silly prices. A good one with a racing stripe seems to be around £3500. Pre-stripe is about 4K. Post stripe around 2 grand? I do think they vary quite a lot probably more so than P basses I have tried from various eras but a nice one is a terrific and versatile bass, and a little bit different. Are you looking for a specific one? 

Not particularly. A friend of mine had a gorgeous Dakota Red 1966 he bought from Andy's. That was my holy grail. I do have a JMJ that is brilliant so I don't have a need for an old one, but still...a competition would be cool.

[Owen]

9 hours ago, Happy Jack said:

vintage (pre-CBS) Fenders

Truth.

[Rick's Fine '52]

2 hours ago, rodney72a said:

@Rick's Fine '52 is correct, of course, stating that the 3-knobs started around mid-'61. I've seen quite a few examples, in person as well as on photos (some very detailed among those). In my experience, you can find both configurations for the second half of the year.

 

I've yet to see a 1962 stack-knob though, at least a well-documented one. The only one I recall was from a senior contributor on the now deceased Fender Discussion Page who said his was a 1962. Not much evidence or details given, if I remember correctly, so difficult to verify.

 

The Bass Gallery bass could really do with an in-depth description. Two of the pots are obviously replacements, along with the bridge. You'd have to see the instrument in person in order to tell whether there is any overspray - the vivid Red however is typical for a 1961 Sunburst.

Thanks, like I said, it’s not opinion, there’s plenty of examples out there. 👍
 

By the way, the pots on the ‘61 look good to me. 

[OliverBlackman]

Not sure why this needed a separate thread to the vintage fender one, but no it doesn’t appear that any records were kept and therefore everything is a best guess approach.

[OliverBlackman]

5 hours ago, BassAgent said:

I was eyeing vintage Mustang basses. And then I saw the prices they go for nowadays. Blimey.

Short scale in general are in vogue and this way players can have the usability and vintage Fender sound in one. @ped’s sounds ace even if modified!

 

 

3 hours ago, Hellzero said:

Trust whoever you want: I don't give a shīt anymore.

This topic only became a problem when the replies were aggressive. Otherwise it’s a good discussion to have on Fender basses golden era.

[wateroftyne]

11 minutes ago, OliverBlackman said:

Not sure why this needed a separate thread to the vintage fender one, but no it doesn’t appear that any records were kept and therefore everything is a best guess approach.

It didn't, so I've merged it.

[andytoad]

Come on guys, its (just - i know not really just, its Basschat! The best bloomin site around, much better than hooters anyhoo) a forum to chat about stuff. Facts or not, there will always be disagreement. I don't post much, but lurk alot, I know you two to be great contributors since I've been here, don't let a keyboard spat ruin it for yourselves. @Hellzero @Rick's Fine '52.

 

Bugger, that diddnt hit the spot.......delete.......delete..... too late submit. But you know what we are saying.

[Rick's Fine '52]

26 minutes ago, OliverBlackman said:

Not sure why this needed a separate thread to the vintage fender one, but no it doesn’t appear that any records were kept and therefore everything is a best guess approach.

The instruments produced are the records.