Your first impression of your bass, and your thoughts on it now.

[Lukc]

My one and only basss, a yamaha rbx 170, I bought it because it was the cheapest non squire I could find. I was expecting a crappy horrible sound, yet the more I play it the more I love it. My only complaint is I've had tons of problems with wiring and the nut. But I still love it.

What about you?

[Casting Thunder]

I only first and only is an Ibanez GSR 200L. I got it because it fit my price range and I found a review what said it was still playable after falling down a stairway.

Looking back the reviews are right the pick ups are horrid and the smaller neck is more of a pain in my hand then help. That said, it's still on my list of things to grab if the house is burning.

[ShowLow]

My most recent addition to the herd, a replica of an early '70s Precision by TBer Dan Atkinson.

On arrival: Love.

Now: More love. Looker and a player!




Edit: As "first bass" seems to be a common theme here...my first bass, an MIM Precision, is now in a new home. The new owner digs it! This is the direct replacement and really my ideal concept of a Precision.

[Snarf]

My first bass, a MIM Precision, is now my main bass again. I got it when I was 13, and I didn't really know much about how to get a great sound. It was just a bass to play. Since then I've been to music school, done lots of different kinds of gigs, etc, and I really have a feel for the instrument. I grew up with it. In between, I've tried to make 5-6 different basses my "main." I don't have any of them anymore. None of them felt like "home" when they were in my hands. My first bass keeps getting better with age, and it's going to be with me on a lot more stages in the future.

[ShonenCello]

1st bass was cheap and lousy to me. Still is.

2nd bass was well researched based on needs. One year or more into into it - still think I made the right choice.

(Epi RumbleKat BTW)

[petrus61]

My first bass was a Rogue and it was more like a toy than anything else. I used a plywood Charvel mostly at first because the Rogue was a beyotch to set up and the nut broke during the first string change. I didn't really have any idea of what a nice bass was to compare it to until I played a friends Japanese thru-neck Ibanez SR. Then that became the standard to reach for an so on until I wound up where I am now. Basically, even without knowing better, that first bass always felt like crap.

[Eric_71]

My first bass was an Ibanez SR1000. I didn't (and still don't) know jack about basses -- I just bought it because it was a good deal on craigslist. It seemed like it was pretty versatile and smooth, and that's still my general impression of it.

[phillybass101]

I love all my axes but my Brubaker Brutes are getting the most love and I love them more as I play them more. Next to them is my Geddy Lee. If I want to play some wicked slap with out having to be so clean with my technique as on a 5 string this is the ticket. As a backup to the GL I have an SX 75 JB copy. One of the older traditional series that even has a serial number and SX logo engraved in the neckplate, made from heavy ash, maple board. Killer slap tone as well. I bought a fretless neck for it as a project. In reserve I have another 4 banger franken bass with a Bart MM pickup, and bart 2 band pre. Voicing is low mid. This bass is a candidate for a defret and expoxy job to become my second fretless. Just a mater of time and money. Lastly I have a Carlo Robelli Silver Sparkle 8 string bass and it is for sale in the classifieds. I also have a Brubaker KXB5 in the makings.

[bassgod0dmw]

My first impression of all of my basses were:
Damn! This thing is flippin' awesome! I need to own this.

My thoughts now? I still love each and every one of them. If I didn't, I'd sell it/them.

[JCheung]

My first bass where I thought I knew what I was doing was a Traben Array 4. I loved the neck and it's weight but after playing it for 3-4 years I came to really want a classic sound. I was torn between a precision and a stingray sounds and ultimately went with a SBMM Ray34 new. After 6 months I still love the bass and it gives that classic sounds I was looking for with plenty of tonal varieties of an active EQ. Now that I've got my Ray it's time to round out my dream pair of basses with a Precision once I sell my Traben.

[1bassleft]

I remember my delight at first seeing an affordable lefty in a shop and bought the Hondo Fame Series 830 within the gasp. What junk. The neck went bow-wow in the cold rehearsal room and went the other way returning home. Strings snapped on the thru-body bridge so regularly that it felt like I was having it on lease-purchase. Put it on Fleab after 20 years of sitting around with a totally honest descn and was amazed to get £50.

2nd lefty was an Aria SLB 2a. Pointy plywood, should be same old story but no... PJ, one-knob active, it had a lovely, slim neck and a bright-as-buttons, JJ Brunel (Stranglers) TANG! tone with Elites stainless 45-105s. Gigged with it all through the 90s to 2001 until I got hooked on 5-string; couldn't be more different with mahogany/ bird's eye koa and warm soaps.

I eventually sold it on because I stopped using a 4 but, honestly, I felt like I'd divorced my loyal, pregnant wife all because some exotic girly with tassles turned up on the scene

[Mojo-Man]

It's always a love affaire once you get a new bass.
The big test is how you still feel a few months later?
I good one last forever.

[two fingers]

Fender Roscoe Beck 5. I thought it was complicated, way overdone, and confusing with all of it's buttons, switches and knobs. But it looked great (Shoreline Gold with matching head). Now, I love the tone, the controls, they way it plays, the versatility, etc. But I wish it was a sunburst.

[DwaynieAD]

MIM fender jazz 5. acquired it used from here on TB. was impressed by how it sounded when I first plugged it in. for the past two years i've been beating the hell out of it in a metal band. hammering away on the b string like it owed me money. been getting sick of it and thinking of trading it for a Sterling by MM 5. last night at practice I backed the volume down and took it easy on the old gal and fell back in love with that tone. so now I have to keep her and buy a Sterling.

[KISSbestfan]