I love that 69 sound, but I'd love to hear them played with the same brand of strings. Strings make a huge difference in sound.

The sound difference can be attributed to the strings

Absolutely a personal decision. Both sounds great, but for me, the sound of the 69 cames from heaven.

I like the '69 better because it's sound is more my thing, and I think it would sit better in a mix. But I'm VERY impressed with the new one. Really sounds great.

the 2019 is impressive, but the growl of the 69 is where its at. thanks for actually playing cool riffs the same on both. proper review here

Put the same strings on it for more fair comparison.

The difference is pretty much due to the difference between the DR and Fender strings.

That raspy '69....*chef's kiss*. That's the ONE!!

The ‘69 JB there is a polyurethane finish. By the end of ‘68 and after experimenting with a poly/nitro mix, all Fender instruments had full poly finishes…and gone was Leo’s beloved thin nitro finishes.

I liked the 2019. Mostly because it has more definition, so you can shape the sound as you wish.

I own an American Professional Jazz Bass , I absolutely love it ! While my Dad still owns his original 76 Jazz bass . Both sound similar yet very different in many ways .

I owned and played a Jazz Bass for many years 'back in the day' and there are a few recordings of my work in bands and on sessions. I loved that guitar and should never have sold it even when times were hard. I started with a Gibson semi acoustic bass but never really liked it and I actually swapped it with the bass player in another band. No bass plays like an early Jazz and this was especially helpful in getting session work as you could double down the bass line to give that unique deep sound but with a 'clicky' top accentuation. Hiwatt built all the amps for the band I was in (the guy was building 'Sound City' marque amps at the time) and so mine was built to match the guitar and I played it through 1, 2 or 4 Hiwatt bass speakers depending on the session / gig. Mine had a fast action neck and I think it was a '64 / '65 in Sunburst. And no I never removed the finger block. Thanks for bringing back so many great memories.

Love the 69 over the 2019 but strings make a huge difference

..love it when you yak..gives me a chance to read the comments, while I'm waiting for you to play something!

I'm glad there are old Fenders, the new ones are completely digital, synthetic. I have a 73 model Fender jazz bass and its value is priceless.❤

The 1969 has a lot more punch most clearly on display in the tone-off riffing.

1969 all day long. Sounds AMAZING.

The 1969 bass may be better, but it's also thousands of dollars more.

I had a 1969 Jazz Bass - I bought it new and eventually I sold it because I had 2 basses and I only needed one. I sold it for $400 with a Fender case. Needless to say I'm still kicking myself.

the neck binding and block inlays are so nice on the '69.

I had a honor to play 69 jazz bass on few gigs in -71 -73. There was a big band rehearsing in same place as our band and the bassist was a kind person who loved to see young musicians starting their career. I always remember his kindness, my six member working class family wasn't wealthy. Same goes with the organ player, he loaned his Selmer amp and cab to many gigs.

Dunno, TBH, I liked the sound of the new one. Seemed smoother. I did a blind test (watching this video I mean).

Still Great, and props to your channel..Ove rocks!

Oh man this guy made me laugh (thanks you I needed one) They also make guitars? You are VERY entertaining and those are beautiful basses brother.

The 69 sounds alive, articulate...

Am I the only one who likes 2019 one more ? It has a clearer fingerstyle tone and nicer slap sound (almost like an active bass) while vintage one has more growl and more dynamic range.

Great video. I would like to jump into a time machine to 2069 and play the 2019 Jazz and see if it sounds as good as the 1969 Jazz does now.

The 2019 have a clear ,deeper tone , I think it is better , but the feeling of the seveties is amazing

I love the definition and "tone cleanliness" that the new model delivers.

I listened to this with good headphones and to me the 69 sounded much more open an lively. The Professional was nice too of course but sounded much more compressed.

Liked both basses the new has a sharper sound for slap bass but the 69 sounds so smooth as well however the look of that 69 is so awesome

the 1969 has more punch but the 2019 sounds brighter so idk its a personal thing

I like the 69... More because it sounds more beautiful ..I'm a keyboard player but the sound is very different.. I'd go for the older one... But of course it's more expensive..duh.. ..

Thanks for the video, Ove. The secret is in your hands. No matter how old is your bass.

Great to hear both of them in true sound . I own a 79 P Bass and am a true lover of Fender Bass . The Vintage one would be my choice everytime and love how Fender always keeps the original set up through the ages . That's why they are the best maker of Basses

i had a 68 jazz bass.... wish i still had it..... : (

The sound difference can be attributed to the strings don't forget to visit our site

I miss you, Ove.

Mine is a 2015. Mine sounds closer to the 69. That being said, I prefer the sound of that 2019. It sounds snappy and crisp.

Nitro + Age = Wonderful, wonderful sound!

You should have exactly the same strings on each. DR’s are gonna sound way better than Fender strings.

Hi guys! In my opinion it´s in fact the position of the bridge PU that makes a real difference. As Ove told it, there was a slight difference of maybe 2 or 3 inches after 74 towards the bridge and that I guess makes a real difference to all the other J-Fenders. I once had a Jazz Bass from 1971 and sold it because in some way didn´t sound like I hoped it would. So, a couple of years ago I bought one of the 74 American Vintage series (no ash wood!, but...)and since then I play it in every session I take part and I love it. I ALWAYS play it with both pick ups and alter only the amount of peresence to influence the sound. THAT´s what a Jazz Bass should sound like! It can play Rock´n Roll, Funk, Blues and even Hard´n Heavy without changing any settings neither amp or bass, really! And the real difference makes the bridge PU after 74. Meanwhile that Vintage Series` price increased really significantly and I know the reason, why!! ;)

50 years does make a difference. For studio use, I would use the '69. For live use, the '19, mostly because I wouldn't take the '69 out of the studio for security reasons. Both sound great, BUT the '69 is cleaner, punchier, and has the Mojo. :-) P.S. I kinda wish the strings had been exactly the same [Apples to Apples] on both basses. IMO, there is is difference in sound between the DR and Fender strings. Having said that, I would probably still choose the '69. Hypothetically, it would be interesting to hear what the 2019 bass sounds like in 50 years.

69 got more punch, bass and a crunchy sound. 2019 got a modern sound (which I don’t like).

The 2019 sounds darker, so people will say it's muddy. But if the 69 was the darker sounding one, people would say it was 'warmer'. They're different, but not necessarily better or worse - people will always say vintage sounds 'better'.

Hands down. There is no comparison. The 1969, just has it. The low-end growl. The increased articulation. The depth of the tonality. The resonance of the instrument. All, there. The 2019 version, sounds, more like a disappointment. It lacks, in just about every area. Still… I wouldn't turn one down. Though, I think a better pair of pickups would be in order. But I'm not necessarily sold. I've heard better from an Ibanez.

I'm amazed Thomann managed to send that bass over to you without it getting damaged. Almost I everything I ever bought from them was DOA or shipping damaged

I'm not a kind of person who claims that older instruments sound somehow better, which is not true at all. Newer instruments have a better, more balanced sound. But the rarity, looks, even history of the older instrument makes me want to have it. There are many 2019s, but only a few of 1969s.

69 is best sound....Crazy Bass man

The 2019 is more a 'modern' sound to it and, I would have liked to hear the 1969 with flatts on her. ... Way back when I owned a 68 J-bass and I now own an all original 1974. ... Thanks.

69, my year of birth so I'm gonna go with that, plus it sounds a whole lot more warm and mellowed in.

I have a lot of p and jazz from different years and value, from cheap highway one p bass to elite, from professional to american vintage and that being said, it's not a "real" vintage but my jazz and p avri 62 beats ALL my other fender hands down!!!

Fender really shit the bed getting rid of the neck binding and block inlays. Did they really have to drop those attributes that make it look and feel 10x better?

Sounds like the 1969 has more on the top, and a bit more clarity with both pickups and the tone fully on, and the 2019 is just a bit warmer, and more round. Both sound very nice. With such a significant price difference, for me, it wouldn't seem worth it to shell out that much more for the 1969. That sounds like something that someone who is more of a collector would do.

I'll take the 69 any day but I know the 2019 with some extra eq it can sound very close.

To me the 2019 doesn't sound bad at all. I think the heavier bridge and the pickups add some of that clarity that makes it sound more modern. Some of the warmth and growl of the '69 comes without a doubt from the aged wood and years of playing though. I'm a big fan of the Nordstrand NJ vintage pickups. They have that characteristic low midrange grind of the original 60s Fender pickups. I'm pretty sure the 2019 comes closer to the '69 with them. If you want your JB to sound more vintage, I definitely recommend to give them a try.

The 69 is older yes, the Wood ages and does make a difference in any instrument, usually for the better in older ones. You should compare the Mexican made Fender Jazz Bass. The Geddy Lee model. I do like the big square fretboard markers too.

I had a 67. My 1st bass. I never could get the neck straight. Hated the sound. Ditched it for a 63 Rickenbacker. Played it til it started coming apart. Tried a myriad of others. Got a Carvin BB 75 and have it still after 20+ years. Just put together a Jazz with Bartolini pups. Love them both.

Let the Am Pro be 2 yers old and I will growl so well! it happened with my 2017 Am Pro Precision

I love this guy😄

Would be interesting to hear how they sound in the mix. I could imagine that the new one with the pronounced higher mids comes through a little better. So for live the new one for me - for recordings the old one

The 69 sounds more shinning for me... and I Love it.

I'd go for the '69, it just has that nostalgic crispy and yet balanced tone. I'm going to modify my current Squier 60's Classic Vibe JB, by switching to Bartolini pickups and a pickup cover and finish it up with DR Hi Beam strings. Can't wait how that turns out..

I liked the character of the 69, but the 2019 had a bit more solidity.

In my opinion...Effectively, the "old one" sounds like a fender jazz have to sound for every bassist. The recent jazz bass sounds good, more high-midrange, slight less basses and less "organic" sound. 1969's bass has a crystalline-deep bass sound that make me feel more confident with the instrument.

That ‘69 has a beautiful growl to it, while the Pro sounded more modern (no pun intended). Now I actually do want a ‘60s Jazz…

The '69 seemed to have more depth of tone and character in the sound. The musical phrasing was more expressive on it, IMO.

I own a '68 Jazz all original, except for the frets that I removed the day after seeing a Weather Report concert in Rome and hearing the great Jaco playing a bass that looked like mine... True story.

The neck pickups sounded very similar, but the bridge pickup of the '69 sounded far better than the 2019. (You should have listened without seeing which was being played)

1969 What a year to be born Gimme that gimme gimme that fit my birthday

Thanks the 2019 has the new Vmods Pickups worth a mention

I've been a bass player over 30 years, and I stand by this. The 1969 has a warmth and roundness that the 2019 doesn't have. Cosmetically the 69 is more pleasing (blocks vs dots). The 69 pickups have a beautiful aging tonality to the (as well as the other parts of the electronics) that the '19 doesn't Fender got it right decades ago when they built the Jazz ( and P Bass prior). Their updated doesn't have the soul of the original. Heck even the series name changes affect quality. You don't fix what was never broken. 69 any time and all the time!

both sound great !!

The new one just needs a tortoishell pickguard!

I like the '69. Love those original pickups.

Strings make a huge difference in sound, however the 69 sounds awesome!

That 69 had a livelier sound

The older Fenders definately have something the newer ones don't, and to this day I can't quite figure out what exactly it is. I have a black - actually - no, it's super dark green that looks black - 1960 Jazz bass body that is battered, which has the 3 knob control panel mod, along with the Bad Ass bridge [both of which everybody seemed to be doing back in the day] and even though it has a really old well worn de-fretted Schecter copy of a Fender neck on it, well... it just sounds so right. My newer Fender Jazz [1982??] which is a sunburst, with stacked pots and the stock bridge while sounding really really good, there's still something about the old one I like better. This is a good video, as I'm always interested in these kinds of comparisons. Maybe it's just as simple as the older the instruments get, the better they sound - but I do believe that more care went into the electronics back in the 1960s, 1970s... and that I think as one commenter mentioned - the bodies were I think slightly larger. There is a definate difference, it's just hard to put my finger on exactly what it is.

This is a good rundown of 2 exceptional Jazz Basses. I'm definitely a Rock N Roll style/Heavy Metal bassist who takes influences from the 1970-very very early 1990s. Yet I clean all my instruments thoroughly and keep them in protective cases. I'm a clean Rocker lol. That being said I'm mainly a Precision job kBass man but in this case I would be more than satisfied with the American Modern Pro series or even one of the cheaper Fender Jazz Basses not displayed or demoed on this video. There wasn't anything about that 1969 classic that said it's worth over twice the money. Beautiful collectors piece and fantastic tone though.

I couldn't afford a '60s vintage Jazz so I bought a new one (American Standard), back in '95. Now it's a quarter of a century old and beginning to feel played in. I wonder how it compares with a 2020 model.

After hours and hours of testing I have bought a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass with a maple fretboard in Candy Apple Red 3 years ago. To me it sounded better than the Mexican and American versions. All in all it's obviously a matter of taste but i was also very convinced by the built quality. The Squier just felt like MY bass. I still love this thing to bits and I play it quite a lot...

Technique first. Sound only puts icing on the cake. Technique is thee most important. Give a amazing bass player a squier and they would still sound amazing.

Difference is tremendous...! Thanks, great vid... ! road worn would be interesting comparison... i love RW series, each electric i have tried feels so much better than anything else...! i am sure the nitro / less finish combo works wonders.... i am also a fan of Gibson worn series...same reason... and wood breathing effect is surely more obvious in bass context than electric guitar, which is so much dependent on peripherals...

Time make instruments sounds better. The vibrations and the drying process along years gives the wood a lot of sound richness. It's similar to the wine.

Omg Fender 69' still good Conditions 😱🤑

From 5.55 in the video ,it is clear that the 69' blows the new Jazz out of the water...However, the new Jazz is a nice playing bass...Easy fix..replace the pickups in the new Jazz....Tons of options out there.

That 69 baby sings.

A brand-new instrument is just a bunch of wood and metal parts put together. It requires years of intensive playing, not just years spent in a closet, to "learn how to resonate as ONE instrument". That's the difference between the two basses, IMO.

8:11 bridge pickup tone half on. thank later

the new Fenders sound very good, but lack the character that the old ones have. It's hard to explain, the old ones have this extra sweet thing when you dig in that is either harsh or just not there on the new ones.

listened/watched in my studio with very good speakers. Wow! The 1969 is so much nicer in every example.

A 6 minute introduction? C'mon man...

nice comparison. The 69 sounds fuller, but you can dial-in the same tone from the 2019. Apple and oranges, the 69 will be the more sought after just because its vintage and who doesn't love block inlays. For the price of either one you could get a squire VM or parts build one for half the amount

The 69er is more crisp and defined. I gotta believe that the difference of a more rounder, almost bulbous tone in the 19er is due to strings, hardware and electronics. Either way, it's a Fender Bass man! You can't go wrong. Besides...most cats can't tell a difference anyway. I've got a 68 American made Jazz, and a 2012 MIM Jazz Deluxe V. Luv 'em both. And at times, depending on settings, I can't tell a difference either. 👑🎸🎵

At 8:28 there is text in the middle of the screen that says "Titel" for a fraction of a second.

Please show us how to use the finger rest, mounted on the pickguard just below the G string. I never saw anyone using this... Thank you!

'69, more clarity and warmer deep sound. '69 was played, older wood. This makes a difference.

Nice comparison , hands down 69 !

That '69 looks just like mine. It didn't have the bridge cover so I bought one and put it on. It's like having a '57 Chevy without it's front bumper. It doesn't effect the sound at all and looks great. I have bridge covers on all my FENDER JAZZ BASSES! So. there!

Hey Ove! That's a great video! I have a hard time chosing between the two. They both sound huge, yet the old one is more beautiful. Do you find the old one having better harmonics, as they say?