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A video demo of every vintage bass you ever wanted

Don’t ask us how those who made the video were able to get together all these basses all at once, because we don’t know.

What we do know is that we’re glad they did it, because having a video showcasing 17 of the most-desired vintage electric basses of all time through one of the most-desired vintage bass amps of all time (Ampeg B-15 flip top) is nothing short of incredible.

Recently on Facebook we put out the call for someone to submit a rare (as in under-200-made rare) ’65 thru ’71 Fender Bass V as a Bass of the Week, and the video below actually shows that bass being played. (Note: The Bass V is the very first production 5-string electric bass.) We are still hoping someone that owns a Bass V does submit a BOTW entry.

This is the list of every bass seen and heard in the video.

1. 1965 Fender Precision, flatwound strings
2. 1953 Fender Precision, tapewound strings
3. 1969 Fender Telecaster Bass
4. 1973 Fender Telecaster Bass
5. 1960 Fender Jazz Bass
6. 1962 Fender Jazz Bass
7. 1971 Fender Jazz Bass
8. 1964 Gibson Thunderbird
9. 1974 Gibson Ripper
10. 1965 Gibson EB3
11. 1954 Gibson EB1
12. 1976 Music Man Stingray
13. 1963 Höfner 500/1
14. 1965 Fender Bass V
15. 1962 Fender Bass VI
16. 1963 Danelectro Longhorn
17. 1972 Rickenbacker 4003

As far as we know, no other video showcases this much highly desired electric bass goodness as this one does.

The best part? You can hear tone vs. tone from bass to bass all in one sitting. You get a very good idea just from sound alone why certain basses from specific years are so sought after.

Which bass has the best sound to your ears?

Post a comment below with the one you think sounded best.

Is there any bass in this list you ever owned?

If you ever owned any of the basses in this list, post a comment on your experience with it and why it was so good. Or even if it was not good, share your knowledge as people will learn from it.

13 thoughts on “A video demo of every vintage bass you ever wanted”

  1. I have a ’76 Ibanez 2353 which is a copy of the ’73 Tele Bass. They sound very similar… Lots of mid range tones…

    I like the Precision Basses (the strings make so much difference)
    I love the ’74 Ripper. Great tone and smooth..!!

    Reply
  2. My early 70’s Jazz has the sounds I need to play any gig, any style and Fenders feel like home to me. That’s what I love about that bass.
    This is an awesome video!
    1-cool vintage basses
    2-Ampeg!
    3-nice studio gear
    Great job guys, thanks for taking the time to put it together.

    Reply
  3. With all the advances in basses, and I own many, I doubt there have any really meaningful improvements over the Fender Precision and Jazz. They are still top-flight basses, but affordable and out perform and out-play basses costing 6 yo 8 times more. I love all my more esoteric basses, but my first love a 62 Precision is still with me, joined later in life by a 95 Jazz. I have later vintage Precisions too, but my 62, sounds similar to the vintage Precisions on the video, but the bottom line is it has everything you need, and nothing you don’t.

    Reply
  4. To me, hands down, the ‘65 and ’53 Fender Precisions, then the ’71 Fender Jazz, and the Gibson EB-3 doesn’t sound that bad either but the Precisions have bottom WITH the crunch in highs AND lows. Listen after the Precisions how the tone has some crunch but very thin.

    Reply
  5. Nice video! Great to hear all the different basses. My first choice in the line up has to be the ’76 Music Man Stingray! Second choice goes to the ’60 Fender Jazz. Great sounding basses! I owned a ’72 Precision, and at least 3 or 4 Rickenbacker 4001’s and a hollow body 4003! I should’ve NEVER traded the 4003, what a beauty! The Rick’s were too weak in construction, The Fenders have it all! Now my favorite bass is Bianca, my 6 string Alembic Europa with 5A Quilt Maple top! In a class all by herself!

    Reply
  6. I own the EB-3 and it’s a ’72 model with a slotted headstock. It is still quite playable but is in need of a complete re-fretting and new binding/new nut. Yep, I’m Jack Bruce enthusiast, what can I say? Fuzz tone on this instrument is almost mandatory!

    Reply
  7. Great comparison… thanks
    Fender’s excellent quality and continuity never competed with the tonal palate options that Gibson achieved with its many models over the years.
    Still EB3L’s and Rippers for me!

    Reply
  8. I own a ’66 Precision, a ’69 Gibson EB-3, (and a perfect copy of that EB-3 which is an early ’70’s El Degas), a ’65 Gibson EB-2D, an early ’70’s Kingston Precision, two ’70 Ampeg Dan Armstrongs (fretted and fretless), a ’66 Fender Musicmaster, a ’65 Fender Mustang, and a ’76 Rickenbacker 4001, plus a recent Mike Lull Thunderbird style. Also, a lot of guitars and amps, mostly vintage. My faves? All of them, because they all have their own personalities, just like people ( some of whose personalities I’m less tolerant of, lol). I prefer the short scale Gibsons, and the neck on the Rick. The Dan Armstrongs and the EB-2D are monsters!

    Reply

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