I'd like to see a shoot-out that features "relic/road worn/etc" instruments against real vintage instruments, to see how much difference there really is in the way they sound. It might be hard to gather enough vintage pieces to make the comparisons, but I'd bet if anyone could, it would be a mag like Bass Player/Guitar Player. What do you think, dudes?

I'd definitely be interested in this. I played a road-worn P-bass recently and was impressed enough to consider selling my 72 P to buy it! I decided not to, of course, but the thought crossed my mind. : )

I think it would be fascinating to compare "road-worn," vintage (pre-CBS, CBS), and new Fenders (MIA, MIM, MIJ). You could stick to Fender exclusively, but I wonder what it would be like to throw in some of the Fenderesque basses as well...whether it's higher end builders like Sadowsky, Lull, Nordstrand or relic'd builders like Nash. Maybe even the "lawsuit" Ibanez basses from a couple of decades ago.

I realize this might be too much to do, but I bet it would make for an interesting read. And probably be a good time for the BP staffers as well.

I'd be curious for sure.

Peace.
--SW

I really like Sweet Willie's idea. It would be nice to see how a '63 Jazz or a '57 P stacks up against one of Sadowsky or Lull's finest.

Thanks, Thomas. It's sort of like doing a shoot-out of Fender and the Fender legacy.

So many of us have played a MIM Jazz that spoke to us or borrowed a friend's vintage ax for a session or had a chance to finger one of the Fender-style maker's basses. While the individual basses really spoke to us, it makes me wonder how much the fit, feel, and sound of some traditional passive J and P basses compare.

Peace.
--SW