pal1972 Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 Are the 'vintage' brand of basses any good? seen a couple of decent priced ones go on ebay recently and just wondered if they were worth apoke and would be any good if upgraded etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 It depends a lot which model you had in mind - i've reviewed and owned a couple so might be able to shed some light on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillbilly deluxe Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 I have a Vintage 5 string,it's good quality,the sound is ok,though not outstanding,stays in tune,and it plays great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donut Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 I had an EST96NA (4-string active Stingray copy) which was rather nice. Probably shouldn't have sold it but at the time I preferred a smaller neck. It was well put together, the electronics weren't noisy as far as I can remember, and the sound was a pretty decent approximation of a Stingray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golchen Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 Generally they seem to get very good reviews at their price range. For a clever bloke, Trev Wilkinson was totally misguided in calling his guitars 'Vintage'. For one thing, they are not! But also, try doing a search for Vintage and you get a million other things, search for Sei (for example) and you just get what you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 I've played a couple and think they are good for the money. The Stingray copy stood out for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazdah Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 I tried icon series Jazz Bass fretless and P-bass. The P-bass was pretty decent, but jazz bass was no good - there was nothing near the "Jaco tone" there. So be carefull buing their instrument. Some are decend, some are not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 I've played a couple and they seem okay for the money. I liked the slightly modified Stingray 5 copy that MB1 had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmachine2112 Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 hiho,I hope I can help here.I have a v4 p-bass copy that was good as standard,I got this to play in pubs. I liked it as standard so I wondered if it could be better and save me the cost of the real thing ,the upgrading started -a set of schaller tuners,wizard thumper pick up,badass copy bridge with the intention of fitting the real thing but I,m more than happy with the results. I have in the past played a lot of fenders that never sounded as good. With the thumper fitted I can roll of a bit on the volume and the tone and get loadsa sounds,very high output-14k on the meter.I am however thinking of fitting a stealth 51 from Andy at wizard.A drop D tuner would make this a real cracker. For the price there is no worries,pity they don,t do a black one with a maple neck. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmachine2112 Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 hiho,forgot to say that as standard it was great and my mate plays one with a named band and wants mine so what can I say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxobass Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I`ve been playing the Bubinga bodied 4 string fretless now for 3 months (the V940 FL?), and I really can`t fault it. Very nice neck with a lovely fast, smooth action, good, punchy sound range, well made and superb value I`d say! Using it for modern jazz and don`t believe it can be faulted at the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_bass Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 I'm getting a 'vintage' precision copy tonight from a friend who has had it lying around for years. I suspect it must be 10+ years old, but don't really know much about it. How do I identify it? Also, does anyone know if a squier/fender scratchplate will fit on it, cos I'm thinking of using it as the basis of my first every project bass - so I can have practice at setting a bass up etc and then keep it as a spare for our church band I also need to get to some replacement knobs for the control as it doesn't come with any - where is a good place to get some - I don't care what make they are as long as they are reasonable quality and very cheap. I don't really have any money to spend on the project at the mo' so cheap is good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillbilly deluxe Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 (edited) Check out the JHS website for details of the models.I do'nt think they have changed much. P basses are the "Icon"in a relic/vintage finish,and the V4 in standard finishes.All are fitted with Wilkinson hardware as standard. Edited January 18, 2010 by hillbilly deluxe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 [quote name='mazdah' post='697597' date='Dec 31 2009, 09:31 PM']So be carefull buing their instrument. Some are decend, some are not.[/quote] A bit like Fender then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 [quote name='jim_bass' post='715787' date='Jan 17 2010, 04:56 PM']I also need to get to some replacement knobs for the control as it doesn't come with any - where is a good place to get some - I don't care what make they are as long as they are reasonable quality and very cheap. I don't really have any money to spend on the project at the mo' so cheap is good.[/quote] I get cheap ones from eBay, usually cheapest to buy a set from Hong Kong. Also keep a look out on the for sale section here, there's usually a few bits and pieces on there especially as people tend to swap chrome ones out for black/gold etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_bass Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 I've now got my 'Vintage' bass. [url="http://gallery.me.com/james.cartwright#100086"]http://gallery.me.com/james.cartwright#100086[/url]. I'm guessing it's a V4 then. Seems fairly tidy looking, a few rusty screws, but the colour of the sunburst is awful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxobass Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 (edited) That`s their Precision copy. Don`t know what they call it but you can check the website. Mine`s the V940FL, and it`s a different beast altogether. Edited January 20, 2010 by saxobass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillbilly deluxe Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 That's not a usual type of finish,maybe it's an older one,the headstock logo looks different to the latest ones too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_bass Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 (edited) Does anyone know how much my 'vintage' precision would be worth? [url="http://gallery.me.com/james.cartwright#100094"]http://gallery.me.com/james.cartwright#100094[/url] I've now stripped the bass down and cleaned it all up - and I've change my mind, now it been polished up, the sunburst looks pretty nice - you can see the wood grain through it. Changed the strings, set it up nicely. I plays pretty good (not that I've ever owned a precision before). The are a few little scratches on the front, but there is one gouge out of the back - I've taken a picture of it. If the answer is £20 then I'l keep it, but if I could get £100 for it, then I'd sell it as I don't really need 3 basses! Edited January 23, 2010 by jim_bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillbilly deluxe Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 They sell from about £160 new,so i think that £80 - £100 could be possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznbass Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 My first bass was a Vintage Axxe or something, it was this baisically... [url="http://www.guitarbitz.com/166.htm"]http://www.guitarbitz.com/166.htm[/url] Except it had a different headstock. It was very good from what i can remember, i just grew out of the shape, then i saw a bc rich warlock and jumped at it... I think it was a great bass to start learning on, and their scond hand value is just awesome for the buyer, im sure you can have one for under £80 i recon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlbbb Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 I keep thinking I'll buy a Squier Classic Vibe Jazz as my next and main bass, but then I also see the the Vintage AV4 in white and love it. I like the overall look of the Squier the best, but love the unsual "take" on the Jazz by Vintage. I'd also have another V940, THAT was a nice bass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greydad Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 (edited) I'm no professional but FWIW I think Vintage are very good, and astonishingly good value for money. I played a VP940FL in Reverb Bristol just for a laugh but was surprised how nice it was: [url="http://www.reverb-store.co.uk/product-detail.asp?prod=4858"]Vintage VP940FL fretless[/url] I was so impressed that when the son of a friend of mine came seeking advice for a new bass under £250 I sent him straight in there. He bought the fretted version: [url="http://www.reverb-store.co.uk/product-detail.asp?prod=4857"]Vintage VP940B fretted[/url] I played it when he brought it round and it was great. I later found out his teacher was so impressed he borrowed it off him Haven't played any of the others but the VP940's I have no hesitation in recommending. Edited January 24, 2010 by Greydad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxobass Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 I`ll endorse that, again. The V 940 FL is among the nicest basses I`ve ever played. At that money I`m amazed that so few seem to realise just how good they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_bass Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 [quote name='karlbbb' post='722777' date='Jan 24 2010, 01:17 AM']I keep thinking I'll buy a Squier Classic Vibe Jazz as my next and main bass, but then I also see the the Vintage AV4 in white and love it. I like the overall look of the Squier the best, but love the unsual "take" on the Jazz by Vintage. I'd also have another V940, THAT was a nice bass![/quote] I've not played a Vintage Jazz bass, but this precision is nice to play. Having said that, I've just bought a Squier Classic Vibe Jazz and it plays a lot nicer (IMO) and is soon to become my main bass, making my yamaha a backup bass. But I'm not a huge fan of precisions anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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