Naming Basses

[saxnbass]

Anybody here name their basses? If so, what did you name them and why? and of course, what's the bass?

[keb]

I've never named my basses, or any other inanimate object (or semi-inanimate object like a car) for that matter. It's just weird man!

Oh heck, I have trouble even keeping a name on animate objects (I always just end up calling our pets "the cat" and "the lizard", heh.)

[sasred]

I was actually thinking about starting this thread the other day after I opened my mouth in the MIM Club thread...but wasn't sure where to go with it.

I do, for the following reasons,

--It speaks of the personal relationship I have with each of them; each evoke certain feelings and inspiration with their tone. Gives them a little bit of extra "character". Plus, in the case of the one, the appearance was the inspiration for the name.
--It's a hell of a lot easier, when you're talking with people who know nothing about bass, but who know you HAVE basses, to identify each to them. To my co-workers and students, "Go get me my Fender Jazz Special in Sonic Blue" (never mind the upgrades) means nothing. I say, "Go get Jade for me," and the right bass will show up.

So, I've got a name (and gender) for each.

Chip (M)--'92-'93 MIM Precision, Lake Placid Blue w/white pickguard (want to swap it out for tort)
Has a rather unfortunate gigging history--got dropped on a stage 2 owners ago and sustained damage that prompted the name... . But he still thumps with gusto!

Jade (F)--'84-'87 MIJ Jazz Special, Sonic Blue (GAWGEOUS color that always washes out in pics), upgraded pups and Black Beauties (while those aren't my fave to play, I can't imagine anything else on that bass!!!)
The name just...came to me. Based on the color, and since the black-on-teal-green looked so sexy, figured this one was a "she". The tones are just as moody as a woman, too. Low, throaty purr (soloed P) to trash-talking (blended P and J) to whine (soloed J--will probably swap that one out 'cause the tone's just too thin).

Cherry (F)--'06 Squier Standard P-Bass, Metallic Red (?--is that what they call it?) w/white pickguard (want to swap that out too)--bought in England this summer 'cause I was desperate to have something to practice on and it was the cheapest I could get that wasn't totally store-damaged.
Why the name? Two-fold--her color, of course, and the fact that I was over there to chase Simply Red around on tour. But I didn't want anything cheesy relating to the band name or color. Since she's my youngest "kid", wanted something kind of juvenile. Cherry just seemed to work.
Will be rescuing her from her "foster mum" the next chance I get--I never hear from the woman. I know she's not going to do anything to the bass, but if I'm going to leave a $300 plank of wood and wires with you, I'd like a "hey, how ya doin'?" once in a while!! Besides, I want to upgrade her/get her a proper TLC setup, and can't do that if she's not here.

Alright, someone else type up their confessions--including the person who started this thread. Fun topic!

Will edit to add pics when I can get some decent ones.

[saxnbass]

lol. So far I've only named a bass I don't have yet. I ordered it and it should be here in about a week. It's a Blue Fender Fretless Jazz MIM. I'm naming it Sully. After the blue guy from Monsters INC. Its a smooth sounding bass with plenty of low end growl.

I still have to come up with names for my other ones.

[Steve]

I never named an instrument but I had a Sadowsky VJ5 for a while and the first time I played it onstage the singer turned around and said, "That things a real asshammer isn't it?"

That name kind of stuck.

[Toneonbass]

My P bass is named Amber (avatar). and still working on a name for my Lakland.

[CTbass&birdsong]

I have a large collection and have names for all my basses...I consider them my bass family and each one represents a happy moment I want to remember, so I grab one for the mood that Im in ........My 23th electric bass arrives tues and is named judy after one of my ex-wives.....and no, I dont have 23 ex-wives !!!!!!! ....my primary basses are birdsongs, but I have CTs,fenders ,spectors,alembic,warrior,warrick,spellbinders,ric k and others...so its one mixed up family !!!!!

[hawaiianbass]

I have a Carvin LB70 that is named Tiki. I had the truss rod caver engrave with that. I also have a Tobias 6 string fretless that is named Aloha. I really don't know why those names stuck but I like em.

CK

[MAJOR METAL]

I have names that I keep to myself to describe my basses.

[tplyons]

I used to, but then I realized my arsenal was nothing but a timeline of bad girlfriends.

[anderbass]

I call my white (69) P-bass, "Shea-whitey"...

[jonathan_matos5]

i call my tbc ap400mj blondie because of the natural finish on ash. i have not yet come up with a name for my blueburst tribute l2000. my amp i call the fart machine because it makes farting sounds when i turn it up over 5

[spudmaster34]

I have nothing against names when they come naturally, when they are forced, it is just cheesy

[saxnbass]

Originally Posted by spudmaster34

I have nothing against names when they come naturally, when they are forced, it is just cheesy

I agree. That's why only "Sully" has a name.

[AmazingGracePlayer]

I always give my bass a girl name or something that's not a guy's name because it sounds wierd when I say "I'm going to play David." (I'm a guy) I named my first Ibanez SR200 Expur, and I sold it after about 3 weeks because it started falling apart haha, and then I got the Ibanez SR500 Vengeance, because nobody in the school accepted me as a bassist before (Because I sucked, of course) and I got better, and I think I'm better than all other bassists in the school (whom I've heard play). And my next bass, most likely a Fodera, will be named Cage. I don't know, I just thing it's a cool name =)

[Bassist4Life]

I named my TRB1006 "Lester". I was listening to Lester Young when I drove to the store to pick up my bass. I don't go around calling my bass Lester, but I know that's what I called it.

Joe

[drumsnbass]

Named my Green Roscoe LG3005 Fretless the Green Hornet.

Then named my Red Roscoe LG3005 Fretted the Cherry Bomb.

[Rich600]

Beauty - Ibanez EDB600, given the name because it looks hot and sounds really smooth.

Beast - Ibanez GSR205, given the name because it is hella powerful, passive pickups(very powerful still), 5 string, its way more beastly than beauty.