| Vintage instruments have always
been popular. Technology has created many machines which have
taken over many of the production stages of bass guitars,
while there is absolutelty nothing wrong with this, somewhere
along the line something is lost.
In the past bass guitars were made by hand. Let me re-phrase
that. They were not made, they were sculpted by an artist
know as a Luthier. To create one bass guitar, it took hours
of time from one man. His sweat and sometimes even blood went
into the creation. If done correctly it becomes a work of
art that is cherished for years to come. Because they were
made by hand, there were never any two that were exactly the
same. Although they achieved perfection, each and every one
had little mistakes or nuances that were a direct result of
human hands.
Some vintage bass guitars will cost you but they are more
than worth it. Once you get one in your hands you will soon
realize what makes a vintage bass so good. It is almost as
if they are alive and no other bass guitar on the planet will
fill it's shoes.
There are some bad apples out there. Just because someone
says it is a vintage that does not mean that isn't broken
or damaged. Before buying one look it over very closely. If
you are buying one at an auction and you can not hold it in
your hands, ask for very specific detailed pictures of areas
that are known to develop problems over time.
If the model has a bolt on neck, make sure you inspect the
area where the neck is bolted onto the body. Look for any
large cracks. I have some basses that have small cracks here
and they have had these cracks for years and there has never
been a problem but look anyways.
Other things that you should consider before buying are:
- Warping - If you look down the headstock,
down the neck towards the body of the bass, this will be
the first place that you will notice any warping.
- Frets - Make sure that all of the frets
are in good shape. You can always have new frets installed
by a qualified luthier.
- Hardware - Make sure all of the hardware
is in working order. Some vintage hardware will wear with
time but you will find that most of the times you just can
not go wrong with the vintage hardware.
- Electronics - Make sure that all of the
volume and tone knobs are working. The jacks and selector
switches should be free from any noise during operation.
For many people one vintage bass is not enough, they must
have a whole collection and once you get your hand on one
you will see why. The old saying, "They just don't make
them like they use to," will ring true.
|
Home -
Search -
Most Wanted
Basses - Most
Wanted Bass Amps - Contact
- Privacy
Policy 
