The 60`s P are getting more and more rare, are getting too expensive for a normal bass player, so it is getting to the next step the 70`s P.
It is a question of supply and demand.
[quote name='Bassnut62' post='1094907' date='Jan 19 2011, 11:55 AM']Not so long ago there was broad consensus that late 70s Fenders were dreadful second rate instruments to play and sounded pretty poor too.[/quote]
may be that is wrong? For me it sounds more like an often heard prejudice.
First of all, what is late 70`s?Is late 70`s also 76 or is that more a mid 70`s?You understand what i mean?
It is too common. As i played and owned many Fender basses also from 75-80, there are more normal weight P basses than heavy weights out there.
The bigger part are fantastic basses out there and it is easy to sort out the good ones fast.
What is good about late 70`s P basses:
First of all...THEY ROCK!
They definitely do not sound pretty poor.
Compared to a 60`s P they sound a little bit "smaller", but therefor they have more bite.
The 60`s are more warm sounding, a little "deeper" than the 70`s, but the 70`s cut like a sword and nail it down, some are more than funky!
Both are basses from heaven, you have to decide which sound you prefer and in which context you want to be where.
Saying one is better than the other is in my oppinion not right. how could green be a better colour than red?
Interesting is, to hear how the sound from early 60`s over late 60`s to early 70`s and then to late 70`s developed,
i think according to how the whole music changed in these times.