LeftyBassist.com

Recently there have been a fair number of '70's basses showing up for sale, mostly on eBay, for example this one - http://www.ebay.com/itm/1975-Lefty-Fend ... 19d7432971 - and other than the fact that it's now a 38-year-old bass, I've always read that basses from the mid-'70's weren't that well made, nor sounded very good. My first bass was a 1974 Sunburst P-bass, and I never liked it; it was too heavy, neck dive thin sounding... I had Basslines installed at one point in an attempt to get a better sound. My only regret with this bass was trading it straight across for a '94 Ibanez SR800... obviously the other guy get a better deal in the long run, as the Ibanez is worth $200, and the P-bass is now worth most likely $2000....

In looking back on all of that though, I realize that during the time I owned the '74, I had really no idea on how to dial the tone or "sweet-spot" into a bass; plus, I never had anything close to a good amp/cabinet combo. The closest I got at that time was a Peavey TKO 150, and a friend I played with who had a GK RB800, running into an 18" Peavey Black Widow bottom, and a 2x10 cabinet (can't recall the name of it at the moment) in his practice studio. The first time I felt like I had a tone close to what I heard in my head was when I bought a Hohner B2A/active 4-string, which was my third bass at that point.

But back to my reason for starting this thread... I know the '70's was a turbulent time for Fender, what with the CBS period and all, but I'm curious as to your opinions as to what basses stand out from the '70's? It seems to me the "74-'76 period may have been the low point, and from what I've read here, the '78 seems to be the resurrection of the Fender bass and sound. I would appreciate a walk-through of the '70's bass line - P-bass and Jazz, to see what you all think was the the best, or worst of that era. Thanks!

No idea. But my all original '74 Jazz sounds like god's balls and so does my somewhat modded '78 Pbass. I've also had a couple crappy '78 precisions.

I have played and owned enough 70's Fenders now to comfortably say there is no definitive answer and thus you can't really make a blanketed statement along the lines of, "1978 was a resurrection year, but 74-75 sucked", etc. There are excellent and horrible examples produced in every production year, IMO, including the pre-CBS era. Some maintain that QC consistency is better now than it's ever been (pre-CBS included), with the advent of CNC/Plek manufacturing, etc. But the knock against the 70's really comes down to QC's inconsistencies, where the 70's tend to have a higher ratio of error. QC could be spotty, so it's encouraged to try out the instrument first if possible, though that's a good rule to follow for any bass/any era. The perception that '78 was a good year or that lefties were most prevalent that year is misconstrued due to the fact that several instruments from '78-80 bore the S8 serial number prefix. So they ain't all from '78. The latter part of the era usually featured heavy northern ash body construction and "thick skin" coats, neither of which I'm a huge fan of, but they do have their own sound as a result. The '77 J I used to own had a very "thick" sound to it - still a Jazz tone but a rounder, fuller, less crisp tone than other Jazzes. For that reason, I liked it. But it weighed 12lbs!

Thanks PJ, I appreciate your answer. Considering what you mentioned about QC during that time, and with the transition from Fender to CBS, and the desire to use up stock"lying around" etc. I can see why there could well be inconsistencies from bass-to-bass, and year-to-year.

Also, considering what the Fender players amongst us have said about basses from the all the decades, including Japanese made, all years/models have their pluses/minuses. I think you said it best that before buying, being able to play the bass you're interested in is the way to go, if it's possible to actually get it in your hands...

It seems though, and I know I'm generalizing a bit here, but basses from the 60's seem to be the most consistant in regards to build and sound; I don't think I've ever heard of a truly crappy bass from that time, hence the at-times considerable prices people ask for, and pay for them. Fair assessment?

I've also had my fair share of older Fender. I agree with all said here. The quality problems in the '70s was more of imperfections (misaligned bridges, imprecise neck pockets) but in general I'd say that the quality of the wood and the hardware were very good. Whether you like the sound of heavy ash or not it's a matter of taste, but I also think that wood gets better with age (even under thick poly) and "usually" when I hear or play an older Fender, it sounds better than a current one.

My '82 Jazz (which was built basically from late '70s parts) has such a magical sound, full, complex, etc, etc, that no Sadowsky or Lull or Lakland can surpass. I once had the chance to play an all-original lefty '65 P-Bass - and equally, it had a sound that was just incomparable. I don't believe in magic, but I do believe that wood sounds better with the passing if time. That's the only explanation I can find.

So, when buying an older Fender I think that the most critical part is that the neck is in good shape. Frets can be changed or dressed, electronics can be changed, neck pockets are not an issue, but a warped/bent neck is a problem that will render the bass unplayable. That's not to say that there aren't '70s "dogs" out there made from bad wood - I'm sure there are.

Another thing that stands out for me on '70s Fender are the necks. I love those wide frets and maple necks - they sound right, they feel right. The necks in my '82 Jazz (has a soft V profile) and "A" neck in my '73 P are just to die for. I know that most '70s P-Bass have really thick necks, but I still love the feel of them.

And to answer the original question, I don't really think there is a definite worst year/period in the '70s for Fenders. I think that late-'70s tend to be the heaviest, but that's not 100%. My '82 Jazz (again, made mostly from leftover '70s parts) weighed 9 lbs before I put Hipshot tuners), and the same with my '73 P. With the Hipshot they are now around 8.5 lb. . .

Yep, misaligned bridges, imprecise neck pockets, and crooked PUP routes are the most common errors I've seen on 70's basses. Have a look at my '77 Tele bass:



Look at the at positioning/spacing of the strings, especially the E string vs. G. The E's flush with the edge of the neck! Neck pocket spacing is so wide you could fit a book of matches in it. If it weren't for the fact that these basses are incredibly rare left handed and difficult to find, I probably would have passed on this one.

Good point about the wood and aging process and definitely true of an acoustic instrument, though so many other factors go into the makeup of a great sounding/great playing [u]electric[u] instrument that it can sometimes be difficult to discern what effect it's having on the overall sound (PUPs, hardware, setup, amplification, and even your own technique come into play in the overall sound). I will say that I "think" my '72 J sounds better than it did when I first bought it in the 80's, but how much of that is dependent on the wood aging process vs. my ability to conjure better sounds out of it now that I'm a better player w better equipment?

It's funny how perceptions change over the years. The thought process behind the use of northern ash in that late 70's period was due to the fact that it was believed that added mass = better sustain, tone, etc. I hear the differences better on a guitar, thus those 11+lbs. Gibson LPs are tolerated because they have "the tone". Then it switched over to the trend of lighter = better for improved resonance (i.e. swamp ash Telecaster guitars). I can comfortably say that the added mass of a Badass II bridge on my J basses does improve it's tone, though that could be my personal preference.

5bass52 makes a great point about the gear used back in the day. there weren't a lot of 'affordable' choices for amps available back in the early-mid 70's, and usually what i could afford as a teenager in those days couldn't hold a candle in comparison with what's out there today in the 'budget' market.
Geez, I remember when the first solid state amps came out and they sounded like shite (am I dating myself again?)

I agree with all the comments but I feel the main part is for 70's Fender Some a good, others not so good. I have 1-64P Bass (most amazing bass) 3 70's basses Jazz and P and they are heavy but some play great others not so good. OK, I love my 83 P bass but it looks very generic and I have several Fender Japan from 90's and 2000 that are very good. I feel the issue is time heals all wounds now that it is vintage folks are looking to sell. Perhaps cause of the new basses coming out, thinning the heard. I know of a couple of basses that were posted on ebay (one bass was in the original cardboard box) was from an estate sale so perhaps that generation is just moving on.

You mean, aging Baby-boomers are selling the gear they bought brand new during their rocking years because they can't/don't play it anymore and they may as well take advantage of the high re-sell value?
I indeed can imagine it would be a trend for awhile. At least until all those, once-beloved little vintage treasures, change hands and get some playing again.

Agreed, and one of my original points... As a more skilled player now, with good equipment and the knowledge I've acquired in tweaking said gear - I wonder what I would think of my '74 P-bass if I had it now? Would it sound better, or would I think of it now as I did then? Of course I'll never know....

My 1976 Precision is awesome. It's a total beast. The electronics have been totally modded but the body and neck quality is good.

I have limited experience with 70's Fender basses. My current main bass is a '75 P-Bass with a really heavy ash body and chunky maple neck = 11,5 lbs. That's boat anchor territory, I know, but I can live with the weight because it just sounds and feels so good: huge sustain (especially in the lowest range), lively snap and attack, love the feel and shape of the chunky maple neck. Neck pocket is tight with no gaps. Good ergonomic playing posture and a wide padded strap make it easier on the body, as I'm not a big guy.

Some 12-13 years ago I tried a '78 Jazz that had a really sweet neck shape, but many QC-related problems: 1) HUGE gaps on BOTH sides of neck pocket (with a 3-bolt system I'd imagine neck stability or lack thereof could be an issue); 2) body contours were fairly non-existent, making it uncomfortable to play 3) string spacing was way off. Also, disliked the plastic-looking 3-tone sunburst, so didn't buy it.

I was just about to post a similar question when I saw this new thread! Strange.

I'm completely lost on old Fender bass obsession (and the prices). I've never played one I liked, but perhaps I've always gotten my hands on the bad ones?

That said, I'm looking for a '76 ('birth year bass'). How come I seldom see fender basses from 76? Garbage or not, I should see something out there, right? But I almost never do- lots of 78s, etc. Were there only a few made in 76 or something? I've had my eyes on eBay for years without luck...

I got my 76 off Ebay ~3years ago. I think it was advertised as a 1975. It's super heavy but I like it. The mods are old enough to be rusted. I'll post a picture of the neck pocket. Is any of that scribble interesting? What does the special stamp mean?

"special" was used quite commonly for left-handed builds, or other special ordor stuff from that period in time.

Thanks

IME, I have seen a ton of 76 P basses - mostly blondes -over the years. Much more so than 75, 77 or 78. Maybe I've just been seeing the same ones recirculating?
OTOH, I have seen relatively few Jazz bases from that period.

Might be because of the transition they did in '76, using the preprinted "S76" as a prefix during part of the year. After that, the number system changed, using "S7" as a prefix. Maybe those later necks are listed as '77s, or maybe they didn't make as many.

Who knows, really. Trying to figure out Fender's practices in the 70's can make your head spin.

My observation - I see lots of basses listed as 77s, 78s and 79s that have the SAME prefix - S846.

Of course, the serial number only tells you when the neck was made.

BTW, I have a '76 J and it's a good one for sure. It's heavy ash with maple fretboard but it's very warm and resonant. And the 3-bolt neck is really solid. (I think the 3-bolt gets a bad rap).

I recently read an interview/article on Steve Harris in the UK Bass mag and in it Steve's tech makes a comment that seemed pretty significant to me but I havn't noticed anyone else talk about online. Apparently there was a period in the mid 70's when Fender was having a harder time sourcing Ash and Alder so they briefly used some kind of Maple for their bodies. So while there certainly are some hefty Ash bodied basses from the 70's, apparently some of those boat anchor basses are actually Maple bodies.

Anyone else read that?