Why I Stopped Buying Vintage Basses 

Last Bass I got myself was a mexican P Bass. Had the bridge and the pick-ups upgraded, never been happier.

I agree 💯%!! I bought my 1976 Rick 4001 in 1982, and always keep it at home. It still plays great and I have many fond memories playing that bass. This year I bought a new Fender American Pro II P-bass, put some Labella low-tension flats on it and I’m loving it! I never hesitate to take it to rehearsals or gigs and consider it my #1 now. Thanks for this insightful video!!

Thanks for the great tips!

Great video! Well summarized.

Thanks for this awesome advice, so glad i just saw your video, i’ve been really looking at Vintage Fender Basses lately, but haven’t gotten myself to pull the trigger with the crazy cost of them, I appreciate you. 👍🏼

Great insight man

Absolutely fantastic video have a good weekend ❤😊

100% agree. I haven't spent as much as you on fender stuff, but its hard for me to replace my schecter stiletto. It's just lighter and slimmer than most stuff I try

Man, I mostly play guitar but I love playing bass too. The only bass I have is a Squier Vintage Modified 70's Jazz bass that I bought brand new in 2014. It's been professionally set up and it's perfect, it didn't need any modifications. I could play that bass for the rest of my life.

Great video and your point about having to gig with an expensive piece of gear is spot on. Les Claypool, earlier this year, said he doesn't travel with the Rainbow Bass anymore because he's afraid something will happen to it and it's just too valuable. The new gear really is amazing too. Totally agree there. When finding a good bass, for me, it's always been about one that "fits" me. When I was young, that could be a more vintage bass or a newer one, but today I have been priced out of the vintage bass market. Fortunately there are a ton of great newer bass options out there. My only complaint is that they almost always need a setup. I wonder how many times a great bass is passed on because the action is too high or low or varies too much down the neck.

I have both vintage and modern. I really think it depends on the bass. My favorites are an 90’s Stingray, a new Sandberg, and an 80’s Squire. Funny thing is the Sandberg set me back the most and my Squire was 400 bucks but it just vibes with me. Thanks for the video. You saved me some serious 💰chasing the vintage gear. 🙏🏼

Great video, you hit the mark on so many levels. I started playing bass and guitar in 1973 and your "vintage P" would have been just another 7 year old Fender hanging on the wall in some music store. None of us thought these were "Holy Grail" instruments, in fact, we always looked forward to what the next model year would bring which was better instruments hopefully! BTW, I've played hundreds of basses from different eras and what do I play now? A 2010 Squier P, a 2009 Squier J, and Taiwanese made Yamaha RBX (all with better quality pickups installed) All are as good as anything else I've ever used.

Love your honesty,,!

Thanx so much, pal!

Glad your back.

Just a tip. I bought my self a Japanese 1984 Fender Jazz bass medium scale. Not being satisfied with my standard Fender jazz bass neck action was suddenly gone. So much better to use medium scale. Better fit for the human avarage hand.

You're absolutely right. I bought a early 70's Gibson Grabber - tone is very cool and unique, but the action is like my upright bass and it's very tiring to play. As you say, the imperfections become our "perfection"... I don't play it often, only in the studio when looking for a unique tone.

Guitar is like a shovel: a tool. I will sharpen, oil, and store it properly, but you will never see me buying vintage shovels for stupid price.

I got a Rickenbacker 4003S brand new in 2019 for roughly 1500 bucks. It is by far my number one bass followed by my Mexican made Fender Precision. The only vintage bass in my collection is an early 80s G&L L-1000 and it has a warped neck, but I didn't pay anything for it, it was given to me by a family friend.

Among The Living was part of rhe sound track to my 7th grade year back in 1987 👍

I have a 1990 fender Squier P bass which I’ve had from New, The difference could be, it was especially ordered left-handed base, and my tech seems to think there’s more fender than Squire in it, but I’ve tried more expensive, more modern and more older bass guitars always gone back to my squire. I just love it

I tried a cherry red Hagstrom Viking B at my area Guitar Center like the one you returned and the switch was exactly the same way. It would keep coming loose too as you use the selector switch, that plus I was not sure if the neck could be cranked down and action gotten low. Asking the on-site guitar tech to do that because you’re looking to buy does not always get the desired results as I found with the Jack Casady model.

Real Talk🍻

I did the same with Gibson basses. Great instruments but felt like I was paranoid to damage them, lose them or get stolen. Found other basses in my collection more fun to play and take care of, that cost a lot less and could modify to my liking without 'defacing' a relic

Great video. When all that great music that a mid 1960s bass was recorded with, it was basically brand new. IF there is any difference in tone it would actually be the sound of a 60 year old instrument, not a 5 year old one.

All of my equipment right now is modern stuff. People are really hesitant to accept that modern gear can achieve vintage tones for some reason. Gear does matter to a certain extent in that you need it to be reliable and for it to hold a set up and tuning etc but largely I think if you can't make a P or a J or an HH bass and make it work then honestly the problem is kinda on you. Adjust that technique, change up your EQ, etc. Modern CNC machining is super good. The person finishing it is the question right now for production basses. Some of them will be excellent but others you will basically have to finish building. Some of the vintage stuff is very good. It can also be just as bad as today's misses and sometimes worse since the tolerances for all the dimensions of the parts aren't as accurate as today. People forget that not ever instrument made in 59 was good. The revered ones are the prime examples, and there's plenty of stinkers out there. Basically, there's pros and cons to both, but I'm gonna lean toward modern gear since it will be more cost effective for a larger demographic. And yeah the best point is the cost and anxiety of it being stolen too. Even my modern stuff is pretty expensive and I needed something I wasn't panicking about bringing to seedy bars. Set the max price to like $500-$750 on Reverb and you'll find stuff that would blow people's minds even in the early 00's. It's a great time to be a musician and it's a great time to get younger generations into live music and stop poopooing new gear.

Thanks for this video, it definitely helped me save money! By the way, there's a poster with a green-haired man in the background, where is it from? I really like it

1. I owned an early '65 L-serial Fender Jazz Bass--for all intents and purposes pre-CBS--in the early '90s, back when I could buy that for under $1,000. Though the finish had been stripped before--and so I refinished it nicely--it was a very good bass. Though I later sold it and regret it to some extent it's not a big deal. I learned to build and set up my own basses and I've come to realize that they are positively every bit as good as that '65 at least. They look great, feel great, play great, and sound great and I honestly believe they're in all ways at least as nice as what Fender Custom Shop produces, but for a fraction of their retail prices.

Digging the Anthrax Among the Living poster! Is there a story behind that?

2. The heart of great bass is essential in the neck and the setup. There are lots of great pickup makers e.g. Fralin, Novak, Arcane, etc. Great hardware--easy. Pick your strings to taste. It isn't rocket science. Knowing how to dial in your own setups; knowing how to use a soldering iron... if you've got a handle on that then you're well on your way to having a bass that always plays great and sounds great.

Nice one PRJ. Love your P bass brother. Yeah I've never really gone down the vintage rabbit hole. Yeah sure I'd love a birth yeah Jazz but that's not likely to happen. The vintage instrument thing is an industry now. Wealthy collectors own most of the valuable stuff, they cause the price hikes which in turn increases the value of their collection in time. Better than buying gold...if you're a collector. My 2 P basses are made from Warmoth parts & Fender pickups and both are increadible. They do the job live & studio no worries.

Another great video mate. RU-vid hasn't been putting your videos in my feed for a long time. It's infuriating because I want to see your uploads (I'm sub'd) but they keep feeding me crap. Sorry for the rant, but I subscribe to channels because I want to see their videos (obviously) and lately, I haven't seen a single upload by You, C.C. Bass, Lobster, Tony Franklin or Nate Navarro. I'm guessing YT is trying to starve out independent music channels. 😡

I'm not into any of the hype, and I think there is only so much that can be done with a block of wood, some magnets, and a bunch of metal cables, and I think people's perception is more based on confirmation bias than actual perception. However, there is a 62 P-bass in salmon pink that I played at rudy's music in NYC some time around 93 that I will never forget. It was like it was part of my body. But for 10k, even at the time, I didn't mind leaving that part of my body behind! Also there is something to be said for old wood. It's far more stable and you know you're not going to get fret sprout and all that crap. It's dried as dried can be, which is what roasted maple is trying to replicate. But it's hilarious to see these unobtainium fenders with gaps in the neck pocket you can fit a pinky in, while there's squires that are built to better tolerances.

When are getting that fretted StingRay back in your collection ?

What is the name of the 6 string you played in the video?

Props for being objective, in the music world people tend to be so snobbish as if you automatically must enjoy something that's vintage, don't get me wrong i love the vibe and often the sound, but it rarely justifies the price.

Finally, the truth comes out, and I, along with many others, appreciate you, my brother, for telling it like it really is while speaking the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

I have a 67 guild starfire bass that plays like a dream. Then again I got it for free lol

Originally, people bought the 50's Les Pauls in england because used gibsons and Fenders were basically the only thing available. Then music stars were seen playing these old used instruments, which inspired younger players to buy like "branded" instruments through out the 70s. Not the older instruments per say, just the brands, mainly. Those older instruments were just called "Used" gear, not "vintage". In the 80's you could buy used les pauls, customs, standards, deluxes, for around $300-$350 all day long especially in pawn shops. The year/vintage, still didn't matter. These were still just "used" guitars.Then around 1982 magazines like guitar player, started talking about "vintage" instruments. Things like a 59' Les Paul similar to the one Page played could be bought for around $6000-$8000. But the masses really didn't know much about the "vintage" market. For most, these were still just used guitars. Enter a new generation in the late 80's early 90's. The idea of "vintage" was starting to really take root. Fender starts making "road worn" guitars and this new generation starts thinking these beat up/new guitars are cool. Guys from my generation were thinking, why would you pay NEW prices for these used looking guitars?? It's just silly! Enter another generation were now things like old guitars become "legendary" in their minds. I mean Kurt Cobain didn't look for vintage when he was shopping for a guitar before Nirvana. He just bought a used instrument he could afford. By 2000, vintage becomes a real thing. Older guys start getting sentimental and start trying to acquire these older instruments. The guitars they owned or dreamed about owning when they started playing when they were younger. It was like the perfect storm. Legend meets sentimentality. Prices started going through the roof by 2005-2010. Now quite frankly, prices are just ridiculous. This year i turned 60. I've owned a 52 LP standard. A 56' Les Paul custom. plenty of 60's fenders. Probably over a hundred 60's, 70', 80's and forward Les Pauls (not all at once. Just one or two at a time). My first Les Paul was a brand new 1981 Silverburst custom, I bought after joining the Air Force in 1981. I was stationed over in England, where at the time Marshalls were a dime a dozen and pretty cheap. I was new to playing electric and bought the Les Paul and my first amp, which was surprisingly a Mesa Boogie combo. At the time I didn't have a clue what a Mesa Boogie was, and quickly swapped it for a 69' Marshall head I paid 100 quid for. Anyway, I digress. I was lucky enough to own many Marshall in the 2 years I was stationed there. lol Over the years I've owned a lot of gear. Where am I going with his story? Around 2018 it is my opinion that Fender, Gibson, pretty much all the decent brands really started making the best gear they have ever made. Even the budget versions of their guitars, made in Japan, Mexico, or where ever. I wouldn't own some over priced vintage anything again. Save your money and buy something new or from around 2006 forward. I think thats when Gibson started Plekking their guitars. You'll save not only major money, but get a much better instrument. And it won't weigh a ton like the vintage stuff does. You know the same for microphones. I had quite a collection of Neumann mics until around 2001 right around when a company called "Studio Projects" started putting out microphones. When compared to the Neumann's, the difference was so negligible, I sold most of my high end mics and started trying out and buying the newer mics. I still have my original Studio Project mics and that's been over 20 years now, I love them that much. I'm sure there are plenty of these newer mic companies that have taken the bar up even farther. So, if you like "vintage" gear that's fine. But my journey took me elsewhere. Don't get caught up into all the hype, youtube videos, marketing and sales tactics where all's they want to do is separate you from your hard earned money. Prestige is not worth the price they are asking now a day...

I LOVE my 200$ Ibanez Tallman TMB-100 A vintage bass will cost 100times that and sound 10% better (In the hands of an absolute pro... In the hands of a novice like my it will sound 2-3% better only)

I love my 76🤷🏻

I've never purchased a vintage bass but I have an old ass knock off p bass that has a p90 in it for some reason

P-bass is actually my pleaser, I don't know why, I enjoy it. Although is this true most P-basses kinda lack in sustain?

WARNING: Those overly expensive brand-named vintage guitars and basses has a curse on them, and you always have to sleep with one eye open due to its high value. These types of instruments only belong on a "Grammy stage" and don't belong in a typical "bar and grill" venue. Just use your favorite makeshift instrument instead and leave that "Stradivarius" at home. Because of possible damage or theft, most touring musicians choose Mexican Stratocasters, Telecasters, Squiers and Epiphones due to their low cost, convenience, ease of play and variety.

I dont buy vintage .....and im vintage!

I always buy new instruments. What I don't get is "relic" instruments.... it is so stupid!

finally ! and thank you . this type of gatekeeping and elitist excuse making is tired .

Vintage instruments are kind of unnecessary in my opinion when you can get new ones that sound nearly identical if not better, the only real exception being any models that aren't in production anymore.

I find your arguments to be persuasive.

sometimes old basses are just old basses

I used to go on reverb and look at old basses..$5,000…$9,000…$19,000.. What am I paying for.. yea it’s a 1968 or what ever but who’s going to know you spent $15,00 on a bass? Just you.. you buy a vintage bass and what do you do you put it on a wall cause you’re afraid you’ll break it! I think people who have the money to burn are trying to buy nastalgia but what they get is an old hunk of wood to put on the wall.. a fender Mexican p bass is not any different than an old p bass made 50 years ago. My opinions don’t mean right, just my thinking

- Buying a newer used bass is also a much lower risk than an expensive old used bass. They were all just basic new basses at one time. Being 50 yrs old doesn’t mean value. Demand dictates the price.

I like to make vintage instruments - buy a high quality new instrument and keep it for 30+ years!

Don't worry mate, I don't have the money for vintage 😂

I've owned a lot of modern Fender basses and while they played great the didn't sound the same, close but it's like they are too polite. There is something about the older ones, despite the imperfections, they have this extra grunt when you dig into them that the new ones don't have.

I HAVE 40 GREAT VERY COOL BASSES SO I WAS COMPELLED TO WATCH THE POWER OF LEO COMPELS ME THE POWER OF LEO COMPELS ME WORTH EVERY DAMN PENNY CARLOS GUITARLOS 90042 USA

Me looking over at my mid-late 2000s Jackson Dinky with the reverse headstock. Was maybe $400 bucks back then. Has been my go to studio guitar for years now because it plays great and I can get everything from country to metal out of it. Just broke the nut on the last restring so I’ve gotta get that fixed. But in another 20 years that guitar will be vintage af!