Each bass is different IMO. Even 78 P's. Mark, you could probably pick up another one of the same year and be amazed to find that it feels and sounds OK, or even supurb.
I agree. I like to pick on Fenders, but that's just because they seem to vary from one to the next more than any other "classic" brand. There are some real winners out there, you just have to try LOTS of them to find one. Having said that, most of the newer, post-80s ones are generally fine.