I've afraid even at buying used basses, so I can't ever imagine myself buying a vintage one! The only used bass ever bought, a Yamaha Attitude, got a total stop of the truss rod after some months of use, so from that moment I've immediately stopped to buy used things. Sorry. 😐
The vintage prices are ridiculous, and market driven. I have a 1983 Reissue Vintage '62 Jazz Bass, so I'm good. 😊 Also, the new Squier 40th Anniversary Edition Basses are really well made, and inexpensive.
I mean they talk about that. Something is worth what people are willing to pay for it. People aren’t dropping 15k on a 65 because it sounds so much better. Same reason owning a vintage car isn’t about it being better than a modern car.
I just bought 40th anni vintage Squier Jazz Bass in seafoam green, and what youre saying is absolutely true. For the price, it matches fenders at twice the price imo.
Definitely more content like this. The three of you all have collections and change / add more all the time, so a regular meetup of talking about them would be cool for those of us too poor to have our own collections ;)
@@adammadtin8451 honeslty its incredible. i cant say this on the internet without sounding pretentious but someone who doesn't play everyday probably won't notice the difference but I do and its worth it to me.
It’s subjective.. It depends on who you’re talking to-and their intents/goals.. If you’re a Rich Rockstar and you could afford to pay $15000-$20,000 for a guitar.. you do it without batting an eye ….But anyone other than that who wants to play a well-built instrument that suits their individual playing and needs, would be foolish to entertain anything near that price point. I have a few pre-CBS Ps, and a few 70s J Basses I obtained for more reasonable prices, (I know people, lol) and I can tell you that while they feel like aged furniture in my hand, they’re not necessarily better than a well-built modern instrument today… I think it’s actually ridiculous that since the early 90s, the industry has made you feel that you have to pay ultra thousands of dollars to get a well-built/excellent sounding guitar.. that is simply BS… you could spend $1000-$2000,… and if you ‘know what you’re doing’ while shopping, have a very nice instrument for that money.. stay away from Fender and Gibson… you’re basically paying for the names. Now spend the rest of that money, You didn’t give to Fender and Gibson,..Taking Lessons..
I totally agree with you. Get some Japanese guitars from the mid seventies to the late eighties, from the better factories. You'll have a lot more guitar for your money than with the big American brands. I would never trade my 1976 Pearl jazz bass copy for any Fender, never ever. Although I must admit one of the pickups died somewhere in the late nineties, and so I put a set of Di Marzio Ultra Jazz in it. Now it's even better, and I wouldn't trade it for five Fenders ;-) My Matsumoku built Aria Pro II SB Integra custom shop neck-through PJ bass with Bartolini pickups and preamp is an incredible machine, and I bought it for the price of a low end Squier Jazz... So just let those people worship Fender and Gibson and the likes, so we can get some really good guitars for decent, honest prices, while they work their ****s off for that fancy **** ;-) Moreover, the Asian industry has gotten real good the last few decennia, and if you know what you're looking at, you can find some really good stuff for close to nothing, if you know how to swap out a few parts and customize a little. I have a very decent Les Paul Standard copy from a "big store home brand" which I paid the price of the Seymour Duncan's the previous owner put into it, and with better tuning keys, it will probably be nearly as good as "the real thing". Don't get fooled by brand names. They get bought and sold, they don't really mean anything anymore. But, of course, this is a player's perspective, not an investor's ;-)
I agree with you guys' assessment. The vintage StingRay sounds smoother and rounder. In fact, it's probably the mellowest StingRay pickup I've ever heard. That's probably because I've only played modern StingRays.
So interesting! … On that “bass geek” note, could you guys do a vid on different fretboard radius + fret sizes?? I’ve been waiting for that to come forward and feel like it isn’t featured much. There must be such a difference in feel regarding all the options there… 🙏🏼 x love
Technically...economics 101. Nothing has intrinsic value -> all value is subjective -> the value is what someone will pay for it -> so by definition that's what they're worth. Tone/quality/etc wise is the value proportional? Hell no.
Nothing" production vintage" is superior (like a Fender P orJ) to whats available today. Money can get so much more for what some are foolish enough to pay for an old dogwood bass.
I predict that the prices of these vintage instruments is going to absolutely collapse in the next 10-15 years. If you paid $30K for a 1955 P Bass last week, when you go to sell it 10-15 years from now, I am 100% convinced that you will lose your shirt and barely get $5K for it. The reason why is, right now, the Boomers are selling off their guitars as they retire. And the Gen X'ers are buying them. When the Gen X'ers go to sell them, their will be no one to buy them because Millennials don't play guitars and basses. They play video games. Gen Z'ers don't play guitars and basses. They play video games. This video doesn't give anyone an objective view of this because this Andy Baxter guy has a vested interest and the other 2 have a vested interest in agreeing with him so they can keep having him on the show.
If late 80s and early 90s Yamaha TRBs,TRBP 1&2 and TRBJPs (which were made in Japan) are considered "vintage", then they are worth every penny... Regarding old Fenders or MMs or Gibsons ...well...im not sold at all,sorry. Why? Unlike the Yamaha's i can buy them brand new for a fraction of the price and they sound just as good. Custom shop? Pass.
I would like a 60's/70's Fender Jazz Bass but they are over 2000 euros... You could get a costum handmade bass for that kind of money. Less known brands (Asian) vintage Basses are really affordable though.
Vintage… you pay for mojo. I had a 2017 MIA Precision. Tone-wise blew away my friends 70’s Precision. But which would I pick? I’d take the 70’s all day.
This will make me unpopular, but what you said about old ... My '96 Mexican Jazz Bass V sounds better to me than a new USA model. Because it has had years of being played. I got it this year at a pawn shop, and after 3 hours of setting up and heavier strings (that B string was floppy) it now is a beautiful instrument.
Totally get where you're coming from - sometimes those vintage vibes just can't be beat. It's all about that unique history and how it meshes with your personal style. 🙌🏻🧡🔥
Like I always say, are the better than anything made today? Probably not. On paper, for the instrument you're getting are they worth the premium price? I'd say no... but I believe there is more to it than that. You're buying the history and cool factor (and of course the value on the market place) I will say this, since I've picked up a few vintage basses I've never been THIS inspired to pick up my bass and play. I play more now than I ever have... to me that is worth the price of admission.
I have a late 70's(????) Definitely early 80's B.C Rich warlock, 4-string bass, definitely a custom shop piece, but I'm having a helluva time trying to definitely pinning down a year, an price. B,c Rich's serial numbers got ALL screwed up for a few years due to company sales, changes, re-locating, an fire sales of parts in between company changes.... please help! Thanks!!!!
Yes, yes, yes! Please more content like this! I also would have loved to see more blindfolded trials with different sorts of basses just so I could hear you guys play them all! 😂😂😂❤
As a pro player and lucky owner of several vintage instruments, I really enjoyed this one and agree with all being said. I also play and own a 100 year old contrabas which gives me another perspective on why older instruments sound "better". Thanx for the video :-)
You know who buys these? City Bankers, as an investment. No musician in their right mind would take one of these beauties on the road. My beloved 64 P lost all its "value" due to botched refrets (and more) plus it's no longer close to stock so I risk it!
Great video. The sound comparison and blind test was the best part. The vintage music man definitely sounded far better than the modern one. Would be really interesting to hear how much variation there is between modern basses just down to production variation too.
As someone who has owned a 66 jazz, 65 jazz, a 65 precision, and a 72 precision… yeah totally overpriced (no not sarcasm). I sold all of those, kept the money and now stick to custom shops and reissues. Modern basses are simply better for players.
Back in the '80s, one of my maestros played a '75 Fender Jazz, and I fell in love with it. Some years later, a friend who owns a guitar store called me to tell me he had a '66 left-handed fretless Fender Jazz neck. I went to check it out, it had the feel, the feel, at least for me, that only old Fender Jazz necks have. I bought it for $390.00. From there I created a custom jazz bass. It has been my go-to bass ever since.
I compared discussion with buying vintage cars. very much the same view and taste of players of the value. its like being an investment or just a player of the instrument. Great info. The Guitar Carpenter from Seattle Washington (Bass Player).
The only objective advantage I could think of is that vintage instruments feel worn in and comfortable. All the plastic and metal edges are rounded off, the fret edges rolled, the neck finish smooth. Other than that, there is no magic dust in vintage instruments.
they also sound different. Better or worse is subjective but the older ones just have a certain tone the new ones don't. 59 Les Paul might be the best example of this.
When I first moved to Nashville I went to Guitar Center and played a ‘64 P-Bass that Tom Peterson sold to them earlier that day and it was one of the most incredible P-Basses I’ve ever played. I compared it to the newer ones and the 64 was so much warmer and had this low-midrange the newer ones didn’t have. I didn’t have the money for it at the time, but I bought another ‘64 later that year that was even better and a better price and it’s my go-to studio bass to this day.
It depends. If one is a collector, maybe. I was in Nashville this spring and tracked down a few early 60s Jazz basses. Price points were in the $17K to $20K range; playability OK and road-worn as expected. Outside of the basses I've bought over my lifetime, I don't consider my self a collector/trader. Eventually I settled on a new 60s Jazz re-issue.
Without even watching the video yet. Like all old things; it’s only worth a lot if someone is willing to pay that price. My advice is play lots of basses and pick the one you like to play and sounds best to your ears. FYI it’s usually around 600-1000.
We've just had 10,15 years of cheap money top of the market aint it lol. Dealing with a death here and f all selling unless you want to give it away at moment.
I have 2 Wals, 62 Fender stacked knob, Rudy Sarzo prototype Fender, Bud Cockrell's Fender, Warren Waters Fender, 2 Fodera Yin Yang's, 64 Thunderbird (headstock not broken), 004 Warwick that caused a lawsuit with Stuart Spector and copyright infringement on a Spector NS Stage 1 and a few others. Did a quick estimate of value, 200K+. I think my collection got out of control.
I bought an original 1964 Jazz Bass from the original owner, but didn't notice the neck problem until I got home and tried to adjust the truss rod...he loosened the strings, but didn't loosen the truss rod, so the neck had serious backbow. Even tightening the screw ALL the way only helped slightly. I took it to a luthier who tried using a jig and a heat lamp to try and fix it, but to no avail. I bought the bass for $400, turned around and sold it to someone else for $750. He wanted it for his collection, so the neck problem was a non-issue for him. The bass was COMPLETELY original, including the case, and that's what he was looking for.
As a bassist, I have always kept a rather minimalist arsenal. Let me tell you, I totally agree with the some instruments are just "magic" sentiment. I walked into a shop in 2019 with no intentions of buying anything, especially an instrument. I was surprised to see a '75 Olympic White Fender P (locked wall hanger) but nonetheless just hanging around with all the modern basses. I figured what the hell, I'll ask to play it expecting a '70s Fender shit show. I was immediately in shock. This had none of the issues associated with the CBS '70s Fenders. It was the weight of a new AmPro, perfect neck slot fit, smoothest feeling neck I'd ever played, amazing sounding pickups, fantastic linear tone & volume, overall a stunning bass. It had clearly been PLAYED A TON over the years and magic is really the only word. After playing it for over a hour (thinking fuck I think I have to buy this...) I asked some questions, and everything was 100% original & came with the red velvet OHSC (which contained the ashtray and cover). The tech who set it up offered to unscrew the pickguard to show me the codes/dates on the pots and pickups, as well as the neck and body stamps. All original indeed, I bought it on the spot.I have played a few late 60s P's and one pre CBS '64 Jazz, and this '75 just unlocked something I've never felt in any other bass. I sold my 2008 American Standard P within a week of buying the '75. As I write this (with 'The Unicorn' sitting on my lap) it's still the best sounding, best playing Fender I've plugged in. Funnest part is I've always played Jazz Basses. I still own, love, and use my late 2016 AmPro Jazz when fitting (another very cool instrument; being the crossover year it really fells like the pinnacle of the American Standard Jazz Bass, with some subtle improvements. Also, the last of an era simultaneously). TLDR: Out of my 3 basses; '16 AmPro Jazz, '13 Musicman Stingray, 1975 all original Fender P, it shocks me, the first bass I always reach for is the '75 P. If I live to be 83 years old, I'd love to throw it a 100th birthday party!
Mmmmm.... nice fact is that at the time of Jaco and Jamerson... there was no such as Vintage instruments around. And they made history. I wanna hear a Sound eng. tell Mr. Caron to put down the bass and get a P, preferably old. It is getting like old watches... Anyway, the market today is targeting only very rich customers, therefore....
I always liked old basses, but I don't like paying prices above new prices for an old bass. I just got an old Peavey 80s Foundation and I really like it. But if those go up to $1000+ I would definitely not buy one.
The double art thing i brilliant, and that's how i always saw it too! Beautiful works of art to make more art! Great discussion! Interesting topics and ideas! Wish this was longer! Super cool conversation with vintage stuff! 😅😎👌🏻
I regret selling my 66 refin precision (payed it €2500 and sold it for €2700) about 8 years ago. I'll never have one for an price anywhere near that price. I'm curious what you guys opinion is on old wood. I have nowhere near the experience of Andy of course, but I have played a variety of pre and post CBS vintage Fenders. Not all are great, but a good vintage one has a vibe that no new bass has according to my ears. There is this legend that Leo used very old wood on the pre cbs basses. Do you guys believe the old wood has to do with this? To me an old bass with a new pickup still can sound like an old bass, while vise versa it does not.
This is purely nostalgia fetishism. Today's manufacturing process is better than anything we had 30 years ago. Wood changes over time and old instruments will never play as good as a modern Suhr, PRS or Spector (for example), even the lower tier instruments.
I love vintage basses, but no way there worth that much for a working bassist, actually I prefer a new boutique jazz bass like a Sadowski or Lakland. But of course they are a piece of history , their value will go up and up.
The answer is YES if all you care about is playing a good bass. All this rarity and investment and value bullshit really stinks to me. It's an instrument. It's meant to be played. Who gives a fuck if it's rare? I'm a bass player not a collector.
I enjoyed this video, but all of these conversations go the same way, don't they? A group of dudes who want to justify their collections, so they offer the same old reasons. But honestly? I think this kind of talk is pretty discouraging. People really think they need a vintage instrument to be a "real" bassist, and it's hard to fight that thought.
Blindfold these guys, give them an assortment of Fender Custom Shop, standard issue and vintage basses and let's see how they do. If concert violinists can't tell the difference between a Stradivarius and a well made copy, they can't do it either
agreed! in a nation wide music store I saw this pristine sunburst p bass from the mid 60s that had a very high price claiming all original... sales dude took the ladder out and brought it down... I plugged it in and after 10 secs I told him put it back on the wall... there's a reason it looks showroom... cause even though it was truly old vintage etc etc it actually sounded like total crap!... some of the total parts... had more dead spots than any bass i've ever played! lol.
New bass, old bass, who cares? As long as it isn't an accordion bass..... Of course I did sell a 62 back in 1982 just because it had a bad ass bridge instead of original.
Great video! The result of endless “money” printing by central banks is currency debasement and the diminished purchasing power of cash. Better to own a scarce, tangible asset like a vintage collectable guitar than to save and hold dollars and be robbed by inflation.
It’s a status symbol basically. Sonically, when put to an A-B test, they don’t make a difference. If you want to buy them, go ahead. But understand that it is not any better than a modern bass.
Total nonsense! I love vintage basses, love Fender, its dealers cashing in they are never worth the amounts we see, no way! You're a fool if you buy one for anything over the price of custom shop or master build.
A fender reissue will never be as good as a real vintage bass. Sorry they feel and sound better. You cant reproduce what they did back then. Why? Many factors.
If you bought a Fender bass from 1978 or earlier just a few years ago, they are worth more today. If you buy one today, it'll likely be worth more in a few years. Most newer basses are going to be worth less in a few years.
I had a 1972? fretless P bass sunburst body a bit like the one on the wall behind Scott. I sold in in 1985 for £500 which at the time seemed like a good Idea! like everyone else it seemed at the time I wanted a MM stingray ( which I got) Ive often wondered though how much it would go for now ? it was nice and after that Ive bought other things but NEVER sold anything again. anyone know? I think its going to upset me but Id like to know!
I would say you had a result there, I bought a near mint 78 P in Antigua finish in 82 and it cost me 250 quid. I’ve still got it though and it’s still my favourite bass.
Fine deal you never know how much more expensive it will become. If so, I would have bought a lot of vintage Marantz amplifiers and Thorens turntable's, they became 3 times more expensive in 10 years. That early 70's bass would be real expensive now though.
they're definitely worth more than new basses but not that much more. sod that, i'll be sticking with my vintage japanese gear which is still cheap ish
vintage basses are not better ... they are just older
As someone who couldn’t visually tell which one was vintage. The second he started playing the second one I said that one is the vintage
I've afraid even at buying used basses, so I can't ever imagine myself buying a vintage one! The only used bass ever bought, a Yamaha Attitude, got a total stop of the truss rod after some months of use, so from that moment I've immediately stopped to buy used things. Sorry. 😐
Half the real vintage guitars from the 50s and 60s are in better condition than the custom shop reproduction stuff 😂
The vintage prices are ridiculous, and market driven. I have a 1983 Reissue Vintage '62 Jazz Bass, so I'm good. 😊 Also, the new Squier 40th Anniversary Edition Basses are really well made, and inexpensive.
I mean they talk about that. Something is worth what people are willing to pay for it. People aren’t dropping 15k on a 65 because it sounds so much better. Same reason owning a vintage car isn’t about it being better than a modern car.
@@TheMadMedek its sounds like an american pride comment
@@cacadordorio third worlder moment
I just bought 40th anni vintage Squier Jazz Bass in seafoam green, and what youre saying is absolutely true. For the price, it matches fenders at twice the price imo.
Vintage prices should be expensive. Stuff from the 1960s and 70s become more historical as more decades go by.
I have a 73 jazz sunburst original with the original case. Dad gave it to me years ago and I love that bass. It’s priceless to me.
Definitely more content like this. The three of you all have collections and change / add more all the time, so a regular meetup of talking about them would be cool for those of us too poor to have our own collections ;)
I bought a 66 P bass from a shop for $4700. it was stripped some time in the 70s no refinish and i feel lucky now to have found that price.
How does it sit in the mix?
@@adammadtin8451 honeslty its incredible. i cant say this on the internet without sounding pretentious but someone who doesn't play everyday probably won't notice the difference but I do and its worth it to me.
more of this for sure!
You made a lot better content the last weeks !
It’s subjective..
It depends on who you’re talking to-and their intents/goals..
If you’re a Rich Rockstar and you could afford to pay $15000-$20,000 for a guitar.. you do it without batting an eye
….But anyone other than that who wants to play a well-built instrument that suits their individual playing and needs, would be foolish to entertain anything near that price point. I have a few pre-CBS Ps, and a few 70s J Basses I obtained for more reasonable prices, (I know people, lol)
and I can tell you that while they feel like aged furniture in my hand, they’re not necessarily better than a well-built modern instrument today…
I think it’s actually ridiculous that since the early 90s, the industry has made you feel that you have to pay ultra thousands of dollars to get a well-built/excellent sounding guitar.. that is simply BS… you could spend $1000-$2000,… and if you ‘know what you’re doing’ while shopping, have a very nice instrument for that money.. stay away from Fender and Gibson… you’re basically paying for the names.
Now spend the rest of that money, You didn’t give to Fender and Gibson,..Taking Lessons..
I totally agree with you. Get some Japanese guitars from the mid seventies to the late eighties, from the better factories. You'll have a lot more guitar for your money than with the big American brands.
I would never trade my 1976 Pearl jazz bass copy for any Fender, never ever. Although I must admit one of the pickups died somewhere in the late nineties, and so I put a set of Di Marzio Ultra Jazz in it. Now it's even better, and I wouldn't trade it for five Fenders ;-)
My Matsumoku built Aria Pro II SB Integra custom shop neck-through PJ bass with Bartolini pickups and preamp is an incredible machine, and I bought it for the price of a low end Squier Jazz...
So just let those people worship Fender and Gibson and the likes, so we can get some really good guitars for decent, honest prices, while they work their ****s off for that fancy **** ;-)
Moreover, the Asian industry has gotten real good the last few decennia, and if you know what you're looking at, you can find some really good stuff for close to nothing, if you know how to swap out a few parts and customize a little. I have a very decent Les Paul Standard copy from a "big store home brand" which I paid the price of the Seymour Duncan's the previous owner put into it, and with better tuning keys, it will probably be nearly as good as "the real thing".
Don't get fooled by brand names. They get bought and sold, they don't really mean anything anymore. But, of course, this is a player's perspective, not an investor's ;-)
Great video!! Maybe you could also do a video about “signature” basses and if they’re worth the “investment”, lol?!
We actually have a podcast episode coming up soon on signature basses!
Great video. Love this kind of content. More like this please. 😊
I agree with you guys' assessment. The vintage StingRay sounds smoother and rounder. In fact, it's probably the mellowest StingRay pickup I've ever heard. That's probably because I've only played modern StingRays.
So interesting! … On that “bass geek” note, could you guys do a vid on different fretboard radius + fret sizes?? I’ve been waiting for that to come forward and feel like it isn’t featured much. There must be such a difference in feel regarding all the options there… 🙏🏼 x love
Technically...economics 101. Nothing has intrinsic value -> all value is subjective -> the value is what someone will pay for it -> so by definition that's what they're worth.
Tone/quality/etc wise is the value proportional? Hell no.
Could listen all day - Andy is so cool!
Nothing" production vintage" is superior (like a Fender P orJ) to whats available today. Money can get so much more for what some are foolish enough to pay for an old dogwood bass.
Yes, please. More bass and bass gear geeking out content!
really? that ended up sooooo abruptly! i could watch this for hours!. im enjoying all the content!
What are the bass settings?
Too bad they don't precisely answer the question : which vintage basses are really worth buying as an investment? That's an interesting question.
I predict that the prices of these vintage instruments is going to absolutely collapse in the next 10-15 years. If you paid $30K for a 1955 P Bass last week, when you go to sell it 10-15 years from now, I am 100% convinced that you will lose your shirt and barely get $5K for it. The reason why is, right now, the Boomers are selling off their guitars as they retire. And the Gen X'ers are buying them. When the Gen X'ers go to sell them, their will be no one to buy them because Millennials don't play guitars and basses. They play video games. Gen Z'ers don't play guitars and basses. They play video games.
This video doesn't give anyone an objective view of this because this Andy Baxter guy has a vested interest and the other 2 have a vested interest in agreeing with him so they can keep having him on the show.
If late 80s and early 90s Yamaha TRBs,TRBP 1&2 and TRBJPs (which were made in Japan) are considered "vintage", then they are worth every penny... Regarding old Fenders or MMs or Gibsons ...well...im not sold at all,sorry. Why? Unlike the Yamaha's i can buy them brand new for a fraction of the price and they sound just as good. Custom shop? Pass.
That old musicman, my godddd
Would definitely love more content like this. Loved all the discussion around the basses and what each one of you look for in an instrument.
Awesome dude! Glad you enjoyed the video 🙌🏻
I would like a 60's/70's Fender Jazz Bass but they are over 2000 euros... You could get a costum handmade bass for that kind of money. Less known brands (Asian) vintage Basses are really affordable though.
Vintage… you pay for mojo. I had a 2017 MIA Precision. Tone-wise blew away my friends 70’s Precision. But which would I pick? I’d take the 70’s all day.
This will make me unpopular, but what you said about old ... My '96 Mexican Jazz Bass V sounds better to me than a new USA model. Because it has had years of being played.
I got it this year at a pawn shop, and after 3 hours of setting up and heavier strings (that B string was floppy) it now is a beautiful instrument.
Totally get where you're coming from - sometimes those vintage vibes just can't be beat. It's all about that unique history and how it meshes with your personal style. 🙌🏻🧡🔥
Awesome video. Would love more content like this 👍
Like I always say, are the better than anything made today? Probably not. On paper, for the instrument you're getting are they worth the premium price? I'd say no... but I believe there is more to it than that. You're buying the history and cool factor (and of course the value on the market place) I will say this, since I've picked up a few vintage basses I've never been THIS inspired to pick up my bass and play. I play more now than I ever have... to me that is worth the price of admission.
I have a late 70's(????) Definitely early 80's B.C Rich warlock, 4-string bass, definitely a custom shop piece, but I'm having a helluva time trying to definitely pinning down a year, an price. B,c Rich's serial numbers got ALL screwed up for a few years due to company sales, changes, re-locating, an fire sales of parts in between company changes.... please help! Thanks!!!!
What’s a Burst? …really?
He’s a bass geek. I find it refreshing 😂
I feel spoiled since one of the first basses i learned on was a 74 Gibson Ripper my dad had in his garage. Still have it and i love playing it
I can’t ever quite see it, but I think there’s one behind the shop owner. I have my dad’s 79 G3 and it fat rules.
Yes, yes, yes! Please more content like this! I also would have loved to see more blindfolded trials with different sorts of basses just so I could hear you guys play them all! 😂😂😂❤
That was Fantastic - Yes, please-- More content like this !!
Really enjoyed this grown up conversation, Andy’s shop used to be near me but now unfortunately he’s moved , I play a 71 precision and love it
This is why i love my japanese lawsuit pbass from the 70s, i get all the nostalgia, all the feels and tone for less than 20% of the price of a fender
I cry myself to sleep every night, I could've/should've bought a '55 Goldtop Les Paul back in '97 for £5k.....£65k now 😢
Short answer. Do you have the money or not
Give me a Pre CBS Harley benton
As a pro player and lucky owner of several vintage instruments, I really enjoyed this one and agree with all being said. I also play and own a 100 year old contrabas which gives me another perspective on why older instruments sound "better".
Thanx for the video :-)
But an acoustic instrument is a complete other story. F
You know who buys these? City Bankers, as an investment. No musician in their right mind would take one of these beauties on the road. My beloved 64 P lost all its "value" due to botched refrets (and more) plus it's no longer close to stock so I risk it!
I take my vintage stuff to gigs and on tour 🤷🏻♂️
Great video. The sound comparison and blind test was the best part. The vintage music man definitely sounded far better than the modern one. Would be really interesting to hear how much variation there is between modern basses just down to production variation too.
As someone who has owned a 66 jazz, 65 jazz, a 65 precision, and a 72 precision… yeah totally overpriced (no not sarcasm). I sold all of those, kept the money and now stick to custom shops and reissues. Modern basses are simply better for players.
Back in the '80s, one of my maestros played a '75 Fender Jazz, and I fell in love with it. Some years later, a friend who owns a guitar store called me to tell me he had a '66 left-handed fretless Fender Jazz neck. I went to check it out, it had the feel, the feel, at least for me, that only old Fender Jazz necks have. I bought it for $390.00. From there I created a custom jazz bass. It has been my go-to bass ever since.
Please keep up the great work! You guys make me happy every time I watch a video.
I compared discussion with buying vintage cars. very much the same view and taste of players of the value. its like being an investment or just a player of the instrument. Great info. The Guitar Carpenter from Seattle Washington (Bass Player).
🧡🧡🧡
YES! Love this format. More like this
🧡🧡🧡
The only objective advantage I could think of is that vintage instruments feel worn in and comfortable. All the plastic and metal edges are rounded off, the fret edges rolled, the neck finish smooth. Other than that, there is no magic dust in vintage instruments.
they also sound different. Better or worse is subjective but the older ones just have a certain tone the new ones don't. 59 Les Paul might be the best example of this.
When I first moved to Nashville I went to Guitar Center and played a ‘64 P-Bass that Tom Peterson sold to them earlier that day and it was one of the most incredible P-Basses I’ve ever played. I compared it to the newer ones and the 64 was so much warmer and had this low-midrange the newer ones didn’t have. I didn’t have the money for it at the time, but I bought another ‘64 later that year that was even better and a better price and it’s my go-to studio bass to this day.
It depends. If one is a collector, maybe. I was in Nashville this spring and tracked down a few early 60s Jazz basses. Price points were in the $17K to $20K range; playability OK and road-worn as expected. Outside of the basses I've bought over my lifetime, I don't consider my self a collector/trader. Eventually I settled on a new 60s Jazz re-issue.
Without even watching the video yet.
Like all old things; it’s only worth a lot if someone is willing to pay that price.
My advice is play lots of basses and pick the one you like to play and sounds best to your ears. FYI it’s usually around 600-1000.
Do they cost that much - Yes. Are they worth that much - No
Vintage bass prices are absurd. it is absolutely insane that a late sixties Fender P or J bass costs more than an Alembic or a Fodera.
Well to be fair you absolutely can pay $20,000+ for a Fodera if you really want to lol
We've just had 10,15 years of cheap money top of the market aint it lol. Dealing with a death here and f all selling unless you want to give it away at moment.
I want to hear about that Ric that Andy holds through the whole video!
Like such comparisons. Please some more! 😊
that 4005 is so sick
I have 2 Wals, 62 Fender stacked knob, Rudy Sarzo prototype Fender, Bud Cockrell's Fender, Warren Waters Fender, 2 Fodera Yin Yang's, 64 Thunderbird (headstock not broken), 004 Warwick that caused a lawsuit with Stuart Spector and copyright infringement on a Spector NS Stage 1 and a few others. Did a quick estimate of value, 200K+. I think my collection got out of control.
I bought an original 1964 Jazz Bass from the original owner, but didn't notice the neck problem until I got home and tried to adjust the truss rod...he loosened the strings, but didn't loosen the truss rod, so the neck had serious backbow. Even tightening the screw ALL the way only helped slightly. I took it to a luthier who tried using a jig and a heat lamp to try and fix it, but to no avail. I bought the bass for $400, turned around and sold it to someone else for $750. He wanted it for his collection, so the neck problem was a non-issue for him. The bass was COMPLETELY original, including the case, and that's what he was looking for.
Yes! I love episodes like this!! Keep it up!
As a bassist, I have always kept a rather minimalist arsenal. Let me tell you, I totally agree with the some instruments are just "magic" sentiment. I walked into a shop in 2019 with no intentions of buying anything, especially an instrument. I was surprised to see a '75 Olympic White Fender P (locked wall hanger) but nonetheless just hanging around with all the modern basses. I figured what the hell, I'll ask to play it expecting a '70s Fender shit show. I was immediately in shock. This had none of the issues associated with the CBS '70s Fenders. It was the weight of a new AmPro, perfect neck slot fit, smoothest feeling neck I'd ever played, amazing sounding pickups, fantastic linear tone & volume, overall a stunning bass. It had clearly been PLAYED A TON over the years and magic is really the only word. After playing it for over a hour (thinking fuck I think I have to buy this...) I asked some questions, and everything was 100% original & came with the red velvet OHSC (which contained the ashtray and cover). The tech who set it up offered to unscrew the pickguard to show me the codes/dates on the pots and pickups, as well as the neck and body stamps. All original indeed, I bought it on the spot.I have played a few late 60s P's and one pre CBS '64 Jazz, and this '75 just unlocked something I've never felt in any other bass. I sold my 2008 American Standard P within a week of buying the '75. As I write this (with 'The Unicorn' sitting on my lap) it's still the best sounding, best playing Fender I've plugged in.
Funnest part is I've always played Jazz Basses. I still own, love, and use my late 2016 AmPro Jazz when fitting (another very cool instrument; being the crossover year it really fells like the pinnacle of the American Standard Jazz Bass, with some subtle improvements. Also, the last of an era simultaneously). TLDR: Out of my 3 basses; '16 AmPro Jazz, '13 Musicman Stingray, 1975 all original Fender P, it shocks me, the first bass I always reach for is the '75 P. If I live to be 83 years old, I'd love to throw it a 100th birthday party!
Mmmmm.... nice fact is that at the time of Jaco and Jamerson... there was no such as Vintage instruments around. And they made history. I wanna hear a Sound eng. tell Mr. Caron to put down the bass and get a P, preferably old. It is getting like old watches... Anyway, the market today is targeting only very rich customers, therefore....
Great content! You guys answer all the questions I didn't realize I had! SBL for life!
I want that Stingray soo much🫠
I always liked old basses, but I don't like paying prices above new prices for an old bass. I just got an old Peavey 80s Foundation and I really like it. But if those go up to $1000+ I would definitely not buy one.
The double art thing i brilliant, and that's how i always saw it too! Beautiful works of art to make more art! Great discussion! Interesting topics and ideas! Wish this was longer! Super cool conversation with vintage stuff! 😅😎👌🏻
I regret selling my 66 refin precision (payed it €2500 and sold it for €2700) about 8 years ago. I'll never have one for an price anywhere near that price. I'm curious what you guys opinion is on old wood. I have nowhere near the experience of Andy of course, but I have played a variety of pre and post CBS vintage Fenders. Not all are great, but a good vintage one has a vibe that no new bass has according to my ears. There is this legend that Leo used very old wood on the pre cbs basses. Do you guys believe the old wood has to do with this? To me an old bass with a new pickup still can sound like an old bass, while vise versa it does not.
Myself, I like a new shiny bass. I just got a brand new Fender P bass (MIM). A couple years ago I got a brand new American Fender Jazz Bass.
This is purely nostalgia fetishism. Today's manufacturing process is better than anything we had 30 years ago. Wood changes over time and old instruments will never play as good as a modern Suhr, PRS or Spector (for example), even the lower tier instruments.
I love vintage basses, but no way there worth that much for a working bassist, actually I prefer a new boutique jazz bass like a Sadowski or Lakland.
But of course they are a piece of history , their value will go up and up.
Do amps.
The answer is YES if all you care about is playing a good bass. All this rarity and investment and value bullshit really stinks to me. It's an instrument. It's meant to be played. Who gives a fuck if it's rare? I'm a bass player not a collector.
I enjoyed this video, but all of these conversations go the same way, don't they? A group of dudes who want to justify their collections, so they offer the same old reasons. But honestly? I think this kind of talk is pretty discouraging. People really think they need a vintage instrument to be a "real" bassist, and it's hard to fight that thought.
Blindfold these guys, give them an assortment of Fender Custom Shop, standard issue and vintage basses and let's see how they do. If concert violinists can't tell the difference between a Stradivarius and a well made copy, they can't do it either
Great vid. Agree with Scott. Would it be possible to do an interview with Paul at Wal?
agreed! in a nation wide music store I saw this pristine sunburst p bass from the mid 60s that had a very high price claiming all original... sales dude took the ladder out and brought it down... I plugged it in and after 10 secs I told him put it back on the wall... there's a reason it looks showroom... cause even though it was truly old vintage etc etc it actually sounded like total crap!... some of the total parts... had more dead spots than any bass i've ever played! lol.
I loved every second of that conversation. Andy is so knowledgeable about vintage stuff and able to share the insight into that world.
New bass, old bass, who cares? As long as it isn't an accordion bass..... Of course I did sell a 62 back in 1982 just because it had a bad ass bridge instead of original.
Great video! The result of endless “money” printing by central banks is currency debasement and the diminished purchasing power of cash. Better to own a scarce, tangible asset like a vintage collectable guitar than to save and hold dollars and be robbed by inflation.
that 16k bass looked all smashed up. I smashed my bass and it looks better I would offer 800 AT MOST because it needs a refinish and looks like sheeet
Yes much much much more content like this please ... I love it 🙂
My father has a 62’ and 64’ jazz bass. Any recommendations on who in New England can asses / appraise them or point in the best direction for care.
It’s a status symbol basically. Sonically, when put to an A-B test, they don’t make a difference. If you want to buy them, go ahead. But understand that it is not any better than a modern bass.
Total nonsense! I love vintage basses, love Fender, its dealers cashing in they are never worth the amounts we see, no way! You're a fool if you buy one for anything over the price of custom shop or master build.
A fender reissue will never be as good as a real vintage bass. Sorry they feel and sound better. You cant reproduce what they did back then. Why? Many factors.
If you bought a Fender bass from 1978 or earlier just a few years ago, they are worth more today. If you buy one today, it'll likely be worth more in a few years. Most newer basses are going to be worth less in a few years.
I had a 1972? fretless P bass sunburst body a bit like the one on the wall behind Scott. I sold in in 1985 for £500 which at the time seemed like a good Idea! like everyone else it seemed at the time I wanted a MM stingray ( which I got) Ive often wondered though how much it would go for now ? it was nice and after that Ive bought other things but NEVER sold anything again. anyone know? I think its going to upset me but Id like to know!
I would say you had a result there, I bought a near mint 78 P in Antigua finish in 82 and it cost me 250 quid. I’ve still got it though and it’s still my favourite bass.
Fine deal you never know how much more expensive it will become. If so, I would have bought a lot of vintage Marantz amplifiers and Thorens turntable's, they became 3 times more expensive in 10 years.
That early 70's bass would be real expensive now though.
We need a whole video on that lovely Ricky he's holding. 🤩
Vintage rics are magic, they have in spades that psychological factor andy mentioned...even from the moment you open the case you can feel it
Great video guys, I like my vintage fenders, are these the 2 that Andy has recently put up for sale
A smart man once told me, either you own your equipment or it owns you. Proud owner of a 78 Grabber.
they're definitely worth more than new basses but not that much more. sod that, i'll be sticking with my vintage japanese gear which is still cheap ish
Not all guitars will go up in value over time. Only specific makes and models.
I'd rather buy several Japanese Fenders in different configurations than a vintage one 😁😁😁
all this vintage and relic shit is ridiculous. the prices are batshit insane. a “rare color” makes no sense. just make more of it.
More of this content🤩
Absolutely a scam. Used guitars are used guitars, simple.
If you wanna spend thousands on a bass go for it . I personally won’t but do what you want .
This was such a cool hang
The only vintage instruments that worht it are the ones you bought brand new.
rich people trying hard to defend that vintage guitars are better
Scott and Ian is such a lovely couple
Have you seen their children? It's like "Mini-Me" versions of them. So adorable.