Top 10 Or So Favorite Basses

[chef wong]

Whether you've owned them, or not..what's your favorite? And if you feel like sharing, tell us why...

Alembic Distilliate: This thing goes far beyond all bass designs. Plus, I'm a bit OCD with neck straightness.

Fender Jazz Plus/Ash body: I like how it feels Fender. What's best about this thing is the sound when in passive mode. Take one to a blues gig to find out.

Rickenbacker 4001-4003: I don't care for any of the hardware/electronics they use, but the lack of deadspots and the way you can actually play chords on these is great. They look cool, too.

Ibanez RD707: These just look so cool. I hope they're reissued out of Japan with the same care and craftsmanship.

Any Fender Precision or Jazz made of Ash: I'd rather have a new piece of Ash than an Alder piece from a '64 Jazz. It's the resonance. And, of course old Ash sounds even better.


Gibson EB/SG..particularly the one's with just one huge pickup at the neck: I can haul ass on these things. Warm tone, sustain. The one's from the 70's with the muddy finishes are the best.

[king_biscuit]

Fender 60s spec Jazz (alder, rosewood, 7.5 radius, 60s pickup spacing)

Fender 70s spec Jazz (ash, maple, 7.5 radius, 70s pickup spacing)

Fender Precision (1 3/4 neck, 7.5 radius and maple board)

70s MM Stingray

EBMM Big AL (SSS model)

Ric 4001/4003

Stingray 5 (ceramic pickup)

Spector NS5

Ken Smith BT (with older 2 band eq)

[Modern Growl]

Sadowsky Ash/Maple 60's JJ
Sadowsky Alder/Brazilian Rosewood 60's JJ
Sadowsky Ash/Maple P
EBMM Stingray

Thats it.

[Mazinger]

I was going to mention the rd707 before I read your list.

Very cool bass and very easy to play. I think many people look over it because of the 80s look.

Yes....I have the bright magenta one.

[pacojas]

fenders
roscoes
steinbergers,
so far!

[4StringsEnough]

Spector NS-2.

Failing that, a Spector Euro 4 LX.

Failing that, a Rebop. Then a Legend. All great. Just choose the one that fits your budget!

[j.kernodle]

Wal Mk1
Mike Lull V4: super light resonant passive J's
Spector NS2
My 1978 Stingray
Wenge neck streamer Stage II
My buddy's mid 90's p bass. something special about that bass
Ken Smith BSR or CR 5
EBMM Sterling 5

that's it for me.

[alecduncan]

Peavey T40

Peavey Cirrus

Fender Geddy Lee

Ibanez Blazer

Gibson RD

Ovation Magnum

Fender Coronado II

Lakland Decade

Carvin SB5000

[xUptheIronsx]

hmmm, the top 10 I would like to have would be

1. my 72 p bass
2. my 80 j bass
3. my 86 Charvel 3b
4. a 70-75 Azure-glo Rickenbacker
5. 60-69 P Lake Placid Blue with maple neck
6. 60-69 J any color with maple neck and block inlays
7. an 80's era Jackson
8. a Geddy Lee Jazz, black with the maple neck
9. Steve Harris sig P-bass
10. a Pedulla 5 string fretless

[phillybass101]

Brubaker USA Custom KXB5, ash body, ash neck, maple board...the sound
Wyn Basses.....the sound
Mayones Basses Pilichowski Model....the sound
Marelaux Basses......the sound
Pre Gibson Tobias....the sound
MTD USA .......
Certain Ken Smiths.......
ZON Basses....

[Cookye]

Fodera Deluxe Monarch Spalted Maple/EMG pickups 4 string

Alembic Mark King Deluxe Coccabola laminated, koa tone block 4 or 5 string

Roscoe 3005 maple neck/bartolini pickups fretless

Pavel Tzack Randy Coven artist series 4 string with kahler bridge

Fodera Matt Garrison Flamed Maple/Seymour Duncan dual coil pickups 5 string

Fodera AJ presentation Buckeye Burl finish/Seymour Duncan dual coil pickups 6 string

Alembic Essence 4 string

Ibanez SR705 Bartolini pickups

1978/1980 Music Man Stingray Sunburst finish.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by chef wong

Whether you've owned them, or not..what's your favorite? And if you feel like sharing, tell us why...

Sure, I'll play:

• Spector Euro LX
• Warwick Thumb NT
• Modulus Quantum TBX
• Peavey B-Quad 4/5
• Rickenbacker 4001/4003
• Brian Moore i5.13
• Peavey TL5 MKII
• Carvin Icon
• Carvin Bromberg
• Alembic Series I/II long scale

MM

[malthumb]

Funny.... Cookye, I have 2-1/2 of your favorite 10.

I have......

• Alembic Mark King Deluxe 5-string with Coco Bolo top and back (Series II electronics)
• Roscoe LG-3005 fretless
• 1979 sunburst Music Man Sabre (that's the half.....Sabre not Stingray)

Originally Posted by Cookye

Fodera Deluxe Monarch Spalted Maple/EMG pickups 4 string

Alembic Mark King Deluxe Coccabola laminated, koa tone block 4 or 5 string

Roscoe 3005 maple neck/bartolini pickups fretless

Pavel Tzack Randy Coven artist series 4 string with kahler bridge

Fodera Matt Garrison Flamed Maple/Seymour Duncan dual coil pickups 5 string

Fodera AJ presentation Buckeye Burl finish/Seymour Duncan dual coil pickups 6 string

Alembic Essence 4 string

Ibanez SR705 Bartolini pickups

1978/1980 Music Man Stingray Sunburst finish.

[blindrabbit]

Only 10? Sure, go ahead and make it too hard to narrow down...

[chef wong]

My list was all 4 strings. I do also have some sixes.

Yamaha TRB-neck thru or bolt on

Modulus TBX neck thru, or bolt on version

Alembic Orion 6 string

Early Smith Contrabass with the huge brass preamp box and engraved logo

I can't afford any of this...

[malthumb]

My Top 10.....

1. Alembic Series I or Series II, 4 or 5 string. Just totally awesome basses
2. 1979 - 80 Music Man Sabre. My first REAL bass was a '79 Sabre that I bought new, kept for 20 years, then sold. Regretted selling it and eventually bought a '79 and an '80. Keeping both.
3. Roscoe LG-3005. Played Vic's at a GTG. Awesome bass. Went out and ordered my own fretless 3005.
4. Hanewinckel 5-string. Used to own two 6-strings. Seriously under rated basses with the best necks / fingerboard feel. If they were 5-string i'd still own them.
5. Music Man Bongo 5-string. Bought one on a no-payments no-interest plan. Was totally shocked at how versatile the preamp is in this beast. Sold it at the end of the promotion, since that was my going in plan. Really thought about keeping it.
6. MTD 535. Surprisingly easy to play bass, at least the one I tried out.
7. Fender Marcus Miller 4-string. With a J-Retro preamp, this bass REALLY brings the funk.
8. Pensa 5-string. Goofed around with one at Rudy's in NYC. Best J-style I've ever laid my hands on.
9. CallowHill J(unk) 5 (haven't played one.....purely lust speaking)
10. Devon Diamond J. Had one for a couple years. Great bass. If I didn't already have three 5-strings that I have no intention of ever parting with, this one might have stayed.

I have at some point or other owned all but the MTD, Pensa, and CallowHill and have played all but the CallowHill.

[chef wong]

Those Hanewinckle's are something else.

[konnakelhaine]

any shechter
any fender
any ibanez
any warwick.
mostly any reasonablly sounding and comfitable basses

I LOVE BASS!!!!

[JimmyM]

Precision
P Lyte
Jazz
Danelectro Longhorn
Hofner Club Bass
Guild Starfire
Old Tobias
Steinberger L2
Alembic Series II
Mosrite Ventures

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