Favorite Bass or Biggest Surprise

donnercruz · #1 04-01-2011, 07:04 AM

I just read a bunch of posts on "What was your most disappointing bass?"

I thought I'd go the other way.

I haven't had any great surprises, but my favorite bass is my MTD 535 with the Mango top. Amazing sound, very versatile, and a true beauty.

donnercruz · #2 04-01-2011, 07:11 AM

Here's a the one!

BBQV · #3 04-02-2011, 02:37 AM

I was very surprised when I picked up a Fender Road Worn Precision for the first time. A black pick guard, then it's ready to rock 'til the cows come home!

Also, the neck on my '68 Telecaster Bass was a surprise. Fat AND wide! Me like...

Timmay on bass · #4 04-02-2011, 04:49 PM

That's a beatiful MTD 535-that shouldn't be a suprise!

The G&L L2K was the most pleasent suprise for me-I thought G&L's were ugly for a long time, until a saleperson convinced me to try one out. Now I don't miss my Fenders one bit!

tjh · #5 04-02-2011, 05:04 PM

I just picked up a MIJ Squier Bullet 1 bass, with an '82 serial # ... amazing how nice it sounds and feels, even with the mixn'match strings that it came on it ... I smile every time I plug it in ...

faulknersj · #6 04-02-2011, 05:10 PM

2006 MIA MM Sterling. I bought my Sterling to flip, and hated the way it sounded (loved the way it felt and played) because I was SO incredibly used to sound of my Fender Jazz basses. Well, after several gigs, my ears started to warm up to it and now I love it! Someone in the audience always wants to compliment its tone and at several open jam sessions, I have been told that it was the best sounding bass of the night. I Still love my jazz basses, but I love my Sterling too!

Mike M. · #7 04-02-2011, 05:14 PM

I'm still amazed by my Squire P bass that I bought from a friend for $75.00. It's at least 12 years old and it's player for sure. I put some old Fender flatwounds on it and they're not coming off that bass! It's a fun bass to play.

Still amazed by my Ibanez SR505. Great sound and the playability is superb. Felt like it was custom made for me from the moment I first played it.

bluesbasshound · #8 04-02-2011, 05:27 PM

I bought an Ibanez GWB-1 last month for a great used price... it is the best feeling bass I've played in 40 years. Ergonomically near perfect, tone is incredible, weight and balance is great for the long gigs. I've owned dozens of basses since 1970 including some very high end custom and some vintage treasures... none of them compare to this modern marvel. My hat's off to Mr. Gary Willis for designing something so inspirational to play!

AntAir267 · #9 04-02-2011, 05:55 PM

My first bass, my MIK '93 Squier P-bass. It's probably my favorite of the basses that I currently have (which is 3), but it isn't my dream bass (Gonna get one those in a few months). Picked it up at a pawn shop for $70. They were selling it that low 'cause they thought it was broken when in reality it was just the POS input jack. I switched that out; its a pretty slick bass and still works for me.

RadioPilot · #10 04-02-2011, 06:02 PM

I was pleasantly surprised at the versatility of my MIM Dirnt P-Bass. I thought it'd be a one-trick pony, but it's my primary bass now.

themacinator · #11 04-02-2011, 06:15 PM

A 1981 Korean made Squier Jazz that I got for like 150 with molded Fender case...I'd stack it up against ANY Jazz from ANY era, country, etc. It's solid, tight, clean, and fluid.

nocontrols · #12 04-02-2011, 10:40 PM

I mentioned this in other threads but... I just bought an amazing US Peavey Fury (what year it was created, I don't know) for $110. It's dinged and scuffed up, of course, but the amazing part is the bang-for-buck ratio.

I expected a standard P clone but it's better (at least to my preferences) than a Fender. It's got a super comfortable, slim neck and has a darker, boomier tone. That there are dozens or hundreds of American-made quality instruments floating out there for such a cheap price is a big surprise to me. Just goes to show you how cool it is to benefit from the bogus cachet/cred people associate with owning a Fender-brand Fender. Keep undervaluing those outstanding...er, I mean... TOTALLY CRAPPY Peavey's, people!

bassist4dalord · #13 04-02-2011, 10:44 PM

I've got a 2002 Squier Affinity P that I bought used in 2008 for $100. It's my #1 bass. I love the sound, look, feel, and everything about this bass!

No Neck Shrek · #14 04-03-2011, 06:47 AM

I have a collection of "those outstanding...er, I mean... TOTALLY CRAPPY Peavey's"

I'd have to say the biggest surprise would be the Foundation 2000 that I bought off C/L for $65.
I love the sound of this one !

This is after a good clean up & new strings.

nocontrols · #15 04-03-2011, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by No Neck Shrek

I have a collection of "those outstanding...er, I mean... TOTALLY CRAPPY Peavey's"

I'd have to say the biggest surprise would be the Foundation 2000 that I bought off C/L for $65.
I love the sound of this one !

This is after a good clean up & new strings.

WOW!

See, that's what I mean. Someone would be crazy to let that go for that price. Suits me just fine.

unclejane · #16 04-03-2011, 08:25 AM

For me, it's my Carvin Bunny 4 holer. How good it is is even more apparent when I compare it to the very, very worst of basses, for trying to get through a gig with anyway, the Rick 4003. My 4003 made a rare appearance out of its case this am to take this pic for the comparison....

LS