Talk about your basses...

[BassPlayer900]

Silvertone P bass: My first bass. It has a black finish, maple neck/rosewood fretboard and I bought it online. Currently it's lacking an E string, so I haven't been able to play it. It is pretty cheap but it's a decent bass. I don't know if I'll bother making it playable again.

Fender FSR Jazz bass: I got this bass at Guitar Center. For the longest time I thought it was just your average made in Mexico Fender J, but then I learned that it's a Fender Special Run, which is different due to a natural finish and ash body.

The neck is one of the most comfortable I've ever played. The fret edges are slightly sharp in some places, but it isn't too bad for me. I wish the tuners stayed in tune a little longer, but they're still nice.

It took me a while to get used to the weight, but with a leather strap, it certainly isn't too much for me. The neck pickup is very P-bass like, but a little less midrange-y and more bright. The bridge pickup, for me, is not very usable. WAY too twangy for my tastes. I either run both pickups on full, or favor the neck pickup over the bridge. It's a little buzzy at my house, but when I played it at GC, it was fine. Its a little better now that I upgraded my amp.

[rainbownorth]

Eh, mine seem so pathetic in comparison to all these sweet machines...
Oh well, this wont take long anyway:

Cort Action 4: My first bass, so I'll probably never sell, just because my Nan (rest her soul) bought if for me. Walnut Satin colour which is beautiful, and strung with D'addario tapewounds. Gets a nice thump, but its really unstable these days. Needs a good setup and truss rod adjustment, just keeps going out. More of a monument these days cause it's just too much work. It has been a dream to play in the past though, so maybe its worth the love.

Warwick rockbass corvette 4: Standard black passive Warwick clone. Nothing special to tell about this one, although my fiancee bought it for me earlier on in our relationship, so the odds of selling this one are slim too. Nice thin neck, light to play and gets a fairly warwick-ish tone profile. It's playable, and has points above the Cort for being very stable and not needing a lot of work. I've made adjustments while changing strings but otherwise never needs it. So it's a steady Eddy.

Musicman Sterling Ray34: Yes, its another clone. But it's a frickin awesome one. This bass is a beast. Reasonably light, great neck profile, a dream to play, and it gets a great muscular fat tone. I'd probably not buy another EBMM because this does everything I'd want from an authentic Ray anyway. I got recommended this over more expensive basses when I bought it, and haven't regretted it since. VERY versatile tone wise, and really cuts through just nicely. Again, a very stable bass, although it does need a tweak at the moment. It may be a clone but it's my pride and joy.

All I really wanna add now is a 5 when I have the dough. I'm thinking of maybe an MTD kingston heir, maybe modding out the pre. Seems like it would fill in some gaps tonally that my other basses can't achieve. I'll see how that pans out though...

[DwaynieAD]

I only play basses I hate. It's more metal that way.

[wolfmancharlie]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

I love that paintjob. That bass needs it's own thread!!

Thanks for that Rip ,I may do a thread on this one.but I don't know how the stars and bars will go over on the Internet . Just sort of posting and seeing what players think. I did want to say that the homemade thunderbird looks awesome , nice wood grain. Hope you get her finished.let us know .

[Lonnybass]

Lonnybass Fretted Singlecut "Authority-IIIX" 5 string
New out of the shop, and it has quickly become my #1. Absolutely huge sounding, wicked B string, tons of versatility in the preamp and lots of complex character in the tone.


Lonnybass Fretted Doublecut 5 Spalted Myrtle
A 5 stringer that became a soulmate last year. "Jazz bass with a twist" concept on a super comfortable ergonomic platform.


My "bass of groom"
Built this to play at my wedding. I was really digging on Marcus Miller and the Sadowsky vibe, and wanted to create a bass that combined those elements into the ultimate J. Equipped with Sadowsky HCs and preamp with the vintage tone control - this is seriously the punchiest sounding bass I've ever played.


Lonnybass Fretted Doublecut 5
Another doublecut, indentically equipped to the spalted myrtle bass above. Warm and fat sounding. Currently on the bench being outfitted with a fretless fingerboard. I'm excited to have this back in the rotation!


Amberburst Pedulla Thunderbolt "The Moneymaker" (on the right)
This bass brought home the bacon for a long time! Very aggressive lower midrange with the switch activated, very traditional j-bass sound with it off.


Lonnybass Fretless Zebrawood 5 string
Warm, warm, warm sounding fretless 5. Easy to dial up those Jaco moments with the help of the midrange EQ controls and a little bit of chorus.


Fender MB-5
My first 5 string. Replaced the pickups to EMG and installed an active preamp. Many happy memories plunking away through college on this thing. String spacing's a bit tight nowadays but good to keep around as a backup and for sentimental reasons!


Lonnybass "The Blueberry"
Built to commemorate finding out "It's a Boy." I love the P/J combination on this thing!


I've also got a handful of other basses in the lineup, but these seem to see the most action nowadays!

[chadds]

I said, "I won't slap you. I know some people would. I won't pop you either I'm not violent. You have a big bottom and highs that aren't shrill. Your shape and your neck....."

Wait!!! Did you say talk TO your bass?

[KISSbestfan]

My bass guitars

Fernandes Gravity 4x: DoB - ca. 2003. Body and headstock is deep blue, neck natural. JB hardware (pickups, bridge, 3 pots). Neck has 24 frets, and its rather thin. It was my first bass guitar, also I'm the first owner. I played on it my first horrible live show. Still like to grab it sometimes, and play something. Even tough I dont really like its design - to me its too much modern, when I prefer more oldschool in bass guitars (of course that has to with the ugly headstock, I see commonly nowadays ...). The sounding is kinda metallic, due to equipped Olimpia strings - perfect for heavier tunes.

Stamar Acoustic Bass: DoB - 2005. Made in Czech Republic. Natural top, with brown neck and rest of the body. Piezzo active pickup, 9V battery required. Neck has 24 frets, and its also rather thin. Jumbo style body. I'm not the first owner, bought it nearly non-used with the bag and spare strings. My acoustic bass, that I bought shortly before I started to interest with luthiery (or just customizing the guitars). I wanted an acoustic bass, and thought about making it from acoustic guitar, but I realized, that it would be too difficult. I got this beauty then. I like it, its pretty loud, and it also sounds good plugged. Used on one jam session tough, but maybe when I'll get back to the normal playing with band - who knows.

Defil Luna 22: DoB - 1988. Body has sunburst painting, neck natural with 2 stripes. 2 humbucking pickups (designed for guitar, but due to their construction, they fit perfectly for any other guitar), 4 pots. The bridge is a tune-o-matic, but without the STB system, just the metal plate to hold'em. Neck has 20 frets, and to me the shape is very much like Rick neck. The first bass I ever bought for my own money. It has been probably much used, and not really cared about (the neck still is not straight, but mostly because I still dont have much time to do it properly, and the last fret needs to be removed or replaced with new one). The body is pretty big, but to me it looks very oldschool, and I really like this classic sound (the strings are original from 1988 !, still holding the tune).

"Tele Bass": DoB - unknown (but aiming at 80's). Still in works, planned color dark yellow, black pickguard and natural neck. Electrics - planning one big pickup, made of 2 smaller, under nickled cover. The bridge I'll try to put a DIY. Neck has 20 frets, and its rather medium. This bass was made probably to be a PB copy, but the result is more like Tele Bass, so I planned to make it look like more in that way. Body was made from MDF, and neck comes from Defil Lotos bass. Haven't played it yet, so cant tell much about my experiences.

"Jazzmaster": DoB - unknown (probably 80's, but due to used hardware, it can be even from 60's!). Its a Jazz Bass copy, probably Made in Poland. This bass was in pretty bad shape, but still able to play. Its a handmade, only the hardware is different. The pickups are from Jolana Pampero (bass version of Jolana Tornado), and frets are probably from acoustic guitar Made in USSR. Bass is made from maple, and the fretboard is probably from oak. I started to repair it, but I'll finish probably during summer. When I played it, the neck had a great feeling, because its very thin and narrow, even more than in PB. The sounding - pure oldschool, but nothing familiar with Jazz Bass. Why I named it "Jazzmaster" even if its a JB copy ? Because the seller told me firstly that he has "a Fender Jazzmaster copy to be repaired", and I just liked this name.

Defil Lotos: DoB - probably late 60's. I bought this bass very cheap, but its shape was also very bad. Neck had no fretboard, body was painted horribly at blue, and there was nearly no hardware (except machine heads, jack input and one pickup from Hofner guitar). I started to scratch the paint off, and started to customize it (no chances for its original style). For now I put there a pickup from Washburn T12, and a bridge from Jolana Proxima Bass, my friend gave me. Also cutted the picguard from white plexi. I'm planning to make a maple fretboard with Jazz Bass black square markers, but have no idea for painting - it depends on my cousin, because I'm making this bass for him. The final results I'll post here.

Got also some electric and acoustic guitars, but its not a thread to talk about it. Personally I love them all - got that much, for that not much money.

[Baird6869]

2013 Fodera Emperor 5 Standard - just got this one after saving forever for it. Best bass I have ever played and after only one gig, my new #1 for everything except rainy outdoor gigs.

2010 MTD 535 - Best feeling neck I have ever played. This is a beautiful bass and very versatile. My "other" #1.

2011 Spector Forte 5 - sounds incredible but I might sell it as the neck is too thick and it is way too heavy.

1995 Modulus Quantum 5 Sweetspot - thinnest 5er neck I have ever played. It is light and sounds great. Likely selling it as it isn't getting played enough lately.

1974 Precision - Looked for a great sounding and light '70's P for years... This is one of the good ones. My main recording bass. Never will sell this one.

1973 Jazz - a real Geddy Lee. Another great playing bass with a super thin neck.

Squier VM Fretless Jazz relic - Very nice guitar for the $$$. Plays and sounds like a $1000 bass.

Morgan Monroe Acoustic Bass - my campfire guitar. Great ABG for the $$$.

[CTC564]

Lakland 55-94---purchased as a gift from my brother after my divorce...she's got a Tealburst finish over some of the nicest quilted maple I've ever seen...rosewood fingerboard with BEM dots...probably my all time favorite bass due to its incredible playability and variety of tone...currently strung with GHS Super Steels

Nordy VJ5 Modern---bought used from TB...cherry sunburst with a BEM fingerboard with pearloid blocks to match the pearloid pickguard...love how she plays and really dig how the sounds can be very vintage or modern sounding...strung with D'Addario Chromes...probably gets most of my playing time at the moment

EBMM Fretless Stingray 5---my first official venture into "FRETLESS LAND" and she's made the transition pretty painless...natural ash body with a black pickguard and Pau Ferro fingerboard...currently strung with LaBella Black Nylon Tapewound strings...very cool sound

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

I only play basses I hate. It's more metal that way.

Disagree. Playing basses you hate is more punk than metal.

[Wallace320]

When Syd Vicious was found dead, everybody thought about a curse from Paul Anka's entourage, after Vicious' brutalization of Anka's "My Way"

No: it was his Fender Precision, in a vengeance after months of severe, of ignorant (Glen Matlock's acclaimed theory) abuse

Cheers,
Wallace

[Mike M.]

I'll narrow it down to my three fav's.

Fender MIJ Classic 70's Precision bass. Bought it last spring and it's the first P bass I've ever owned. When I first found this bass two things struck me...how low the action was (and still is) with no string to fret noise at all and how much variation the tone control gives you. A very well built bass that feels lighter than it's 8.5 pounds that has some real thump to it. Glad I waited to buy for as long as I did with this one.

2011 Fender American Standard 5 string Jazz bass. Candy Cola with a maple fretboard which was a first for me. I love this bass. Really took my time and must have played about 15 differant ones (Standards and Deluxe's) at various locations. All good but there was a specific feel I was looking for and wasn't going to settle until I found just what I wanted. When I finally found it, it was like...."no way. this bass plays too good to be true". Bought it in December of 2011, it needed no setup at all and it's still rock solid with a very even and solid sound.

2009 Fender American Standard 4 string Jazz bass. Black with a maple fretboard. Bought it new this past December. Don't know how this one slipped under the radar at my local music store because it wasn't until this past October that I first noticed it. At first glance I even thought it was a new 2012 model because it was flawless. Even had the sticker on the pickguard. When I first played it, I think I played it for about 45 minutes and thought "wow....someone is going to end up with a great player." Put it back and didn't think about it any further. Went back a month later and it was still there. (Hmmm). Played it again and thought...."don't even think about it. I don't need another bass." And I really didn't, I'll admit it! Went back three weeks later for some string's and it was still there. ("Oh dear, I'm in trouble now!!") I went and not only played it but also compared it with an MIM Jazz and an American Special Jazz. Very nice basses, but in the end there was no comparison. The Am Std was simply the finest playing 4 string bass I've ever laid my hands on. Effortless and a joy to play. After about two hours of comparing I came to the conclusion that this 2009 bass had been waiting for me all this time, so I bought it. I still can't believe how well it plays and how great it sounds.

I've gone thru a lot of basses searching for the right ones and I'm very, very happy knowing the search is over. I love how they all play, how they all fit me and how great they all sound.

[totallywink]

Here's the stable...

Geddy Lee MIJ Jazz - this is currently my favorite bass as I recently just got her. The sunburst is killer and I dig the playability.

60s Classic Jazz - although it's MIM, it plays great. Again, another sunburst and a warmer tone than Geddy.

Modulus Flea 5 - my only 5er who unfortunately has not seen much playing time as I have ventured back to playing a 4. I know I should keep her but..... anyway, awesome bass, amazing tone that can cut through any setting.

Charvel 2B - I've had her since 1986 and she was my main bass from 86 to about 92. She hangs on the wall in all her 'vintage' glory :-)

Thanks for listening!

[worxforme]

After years of playing different basses I figured out what I did and didn't like and put together my own out of my favorite parts, I only have a couple of others to sell because this is "it":

Joe Barden Pick-ups and the electronics are Mojo Tone Passive 250K Audio Tapered CTS pots, jack and .47 Microfared cap
Hipshot bridge and all chrome Hipshot tuners
Maple neck with rosewood board, thin stainless frets
Ash body with Candy Cola paint (forgot what kind)
Neck Plate off eB@y
(Dig my Zebra Carpet!)

[JakeTrippATW]

My arsenal:

Fender American Standard Jazz - Bought it used from a previous owner who did not take care of it. Serious neck warp was a pain to fix. Mainly using it for jamming at home.

Warwick Corvette $$ - My workhorse. This one usually goes with me to jams and studio sessions with side projects


With my band:

Dean Hardtail - Awesome tone. Neck-thru basswood body (even though it feels like alder...?), EMG active pickups, and a monorail bridge.

Dean Demonator Chaos - As the name may imply, this axe sounds awesome for heavy music. Neck-thru, Bartolini pickups (knockoff?), and stock with a Warwick 2-piece bridge (Which I thought was an AWESOME addition ). I would describe it as a kind of "burpy" growl.

Dean Demonator (Standard Black) - Completely identical to the Chaos model in build, parts, etc (minus the finish of course). The only difference is that this one is TWICE as loud, and I can't exactly figure out why...Not complaining though!

I also have a Dean Hillsboro Single on the way. I've heard a lot of good things about these, so I figured I'd give it a try. I am also searching for a Classic-White Demonator for use as a backup.

[Co0O]

2008 Squier Precision Bass Special: A very nice instrument, except for the crappy pick-ups and pots it came with. Those just had to be replaced. Really cool looking dark satin pewter metallic grey body and headstock. Slim Jazz type neck. Made in Indonesia, had a surprisingly good factory setup that only needed minor adjustments. Well used, but not so much after I bought my MIM. I've decided to get rid of one of my three basses, and this is the one that has to go.

2011 Fender Standard Precision Bass (MIM): Sunburst/rosewood. The one I use all the time, the one I bring with me to gigs and rehearsals. This one is upgraded too, with an American Vintage '62 pick-up, a Gotoh 201 bridge and a tortoise pickguard from WD. Looks good, sounds great.

2012 Fender American Standard Precision Bass: FSR model (one of 150), mahogany hand stained ash body and maple neck. Hand signed and numbered (#44) by Fender's Corona Production Manager Jeff Allen. I love this one so much, I rarely bring it out of the house. If my girlfriend would let me, I'd keep it in a fireproof display cabinet in our livingroom. Apart from that, it's just a very nice standard MIA Precision.

[Dave Siff]

'98 Reverend Rumblefish: We're comin' up on 15 years together. Everything the OP said about his 'Fish, I'd echo about mine. Best neck I've ever played. Killer tone. It's always snarled like an angry dog, but I put some Ernie Ball Cobalts on it and now it sounds like a dinosaur eating monster trucks.

'09 Fender Precision 5-string: The classic, with a B string. Sunburst/tort/rosewood. It just works in every way. Balances perfectly, plays beautifully, and sits in the mix like only a P-bass can. I bought it new and it still has the factory strings on it, but I've got a new set on the way.

[RhynoRock]

Mid 90's Peavey Fury - Woke up christmas morning to a tall, oddly shaped present from my dad when I was 15. He made me open it all weird and careful, and it was this bass, black w/white pickguard, standing up in a cheap case being held up between two cement blocks lol. I'd been gassing for a decent bass guitar for about two years before that moment. Honestly one of the happiest days of my life. A few weeks later, a friend of mine who worked in a body shop re-painted it for me in Dodge Intense Blue paint. I still have it, and I still pull it out from time to time.

Rickenbacker 4003 - I got this because I was a member at a local club back in 2004 with my then lead vocalist, and every monday there were sign in raffles, where anyone who had their name drawn out of the bucket, would win the big pot left over from membership dues. I won $1400 on a huge lucky draw, so I collected it, bought everyone there a round, and raced out to Rochester to The House Of Guitars. They had only one black one in a display case, so I grabbed that and looked it over. It was signed by Lemmy Kilmister in black sharpie on the pickguard. So I hung it back up, and went to speak to the very pleasant fella at the counter, asking him "If I buy that black Ric, can you sell it to me without the pickguard?" as that alone cranked the price up by $500, and he said "well, we were hoping that would sell thanks to the autograph...". So I whipped out my wad of 20's and hundreds and told him "I'm not walking outta here without a black Ric, I drove two hours for this and I want it." He looked at me with a big grin and said "Sure kid, let me take it upstairs and have the pickguard removed for you. We don't have a spare here right now, but I'll order one for you and have it shipped to your address, free of charge." He came back down, set the guitar on a stand behind the counter, went in the room in the back, came out with the case, tossed it up on the counter, handed me my new Ric, I stuck it in the case, he rang me up for $1000 on the nose, and I sailed home to plug in my brand new Ric.

Music Man SUB 4 - found this sitting on a stand at my local guitar shop for $450 on consignment (meaning someone brought it in for the store to sell for them, for those who aren't aware) All black, with textured finish, a few dings on the headstock, but otherwise in really nice shape. I spoke to my friend at the counter about it, and he said "nobody here is sure what it's worth, and neither did the original owner as he bought it used for his 16 year old son, who got sent to drug rehab. The price is best offer." So I asked if the boss was around, and he said "Nah, I'm the only one here for the next few days, Steve is at the NAMM show checkin out new acoustics". So I said, well, how about $300 for it? And he said "awesome, get that thing outta here" lol.

I had an Ibanez BTB500 that I got from everyone chipping in when I graduated high school, so I went and put a big down payment on it, then paid it off with my first job working as a cleaner at my local hospital. No real entertaining story to tell about it, other than it was my very first NICE bass. I gave it to my dad a few years ago.

[Liam76]

My Fender Geddy Lee Jazz...

My go to bass, black and white, and can fit in with almost any gig. Bright tone for slap and with the tone rolled off, it has a great nasal tone for finger funk.

My Warmoth fretted Jazz...

I never really brought this one out. It's a Surf Green body with an unknown Fender jazz neck. Seymour Duncan GP pickups wired up with a push-pull switch for series/parallel. That bass has some mean growl.

My Warmoth Fretless...

Walnut body, Wenge neck with a Ebony fingerboard and Seymour Duncan electronics. I mostly built this one based on cosmetics, with dark woods and all black hardware, but everytime I pick it up and play a note, the sustain and tone, it's hypnotic.

Squire VM fretless...

This one is my Guinea Pig, I always use this bass to try out different strings, like flats or ground wounds. I recently found some old pick up/bridge covers laying around, and wanted to see what it was like to play with them installed on a bass.

Squire CV Precision...

Sonic Blue, this one has the most Mojo of any one I own

Schecter Studio 5...

I was playing with some Doom Metal guys at the time, and I wasn't a fan of down tuning.

[ddawson2012]

Youza - always blown away by the bass selection here at TB. So I'll post my humble selection:

1981 Fender Precision Bass - Refin - Champagne Gold MetalFlake - this is my main bass - Bartolini Passive Pickups - .045 - .105 strings - needs a new bridge thanks to my highly acidic perspiration

1999 Music Man Sabre - Silver MetalFlake (i'm all about the metalflake) - all stock - don't play it as much as i used to as it's a wee bit on the heavy side and I've had issues with the neck clicking. It's been back to the factory twice but I just love the sonic range of this bass. The active preamp is a joy - Flats, Tapewounds and very occasionally half-rounds.