2017 was great for bass, because...?

[Nebula24]

Decided to play again. Traded in my old ibanez tr series that mostly sat unplayed in case except few times a year. Got a shorty eb0 with a neck that feels great to me that has kept me playing almost daily for 4 months. Havent played this much or for such a stretch in forever.

 

[Bass V]

Got a shorty eb0 with a neck that feels great to me that has kept me playing almost daily

what year, finish, and model did you get? I've been thinking of the new SG Standards with the Babicz bridge over something vintage, but it's gotta be spectacular and that may be expecting too much even with mods.

 

[Nebula24]

Just a used epiphone eb0..2001..mik. Liked it more than a new one. [Used feels smooth while new was sticky]. Didnt want to overspend if it would just end up back in case like my old bass. So far hasnt.

Nearby store had one of those gibson sg with babicz but way over my limit for now. Got to prove i will stick with playing for now. But will probably just mod my epi [bridge for sure...pickup maybe].

 

[Bass V]

Just a used epiphone eb0..2001..mik. Liked it more than a new one. [Used feels smooth while new was sticky]. Didnt want to overspend if it would just end up back in case like my old bass. So far hasnt. Nearby store had one of those gibson sg with babicz but way over my limit for now.

smart move. I'm not going to spend 1K on any bass unless it's the all time keeper, but the SG looks and sounds are right at the top of my list, and the new bridge has me GAS'n.

 

[Neil Martin]

Well, I bought 2 basses in 2017, A Sire V7-5 and a Fender p-bass pro 5. I also built a BFM S15 and picked up a Fender Rumble 500 head. So bass wise I been pretty busy this year.

View attachment 2838792new p-bass by TOM STRAIGHT, on Flickr

View attachment 2838793Sire V7 by TOM STRAIGHT, on Flickr

View attachment 2838794s15 with metal grill by TOM STRAIGHT, on Flickr

 

[gkella]

Wow......where do I start...
2017 was my first year playing bass.
Man, did I get hooked.
Started off with Toby IV that I paid two hundred bucks for.
Three months later, I was the proud owner of a Fender Professional series Jazz Bass.
A month or so ago, I couldn't resist a great deal on a Stealth Black Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray.
Retiring in 2018 and looking so forward to progressing and enjoying this incredible instrument..

 

[fourstringdrums]

It was great for me because I started playing again and finally found a setup which I wish I'd had years ago.

 

[Bass V]

Wow......where do I start...
2017 was my first year playing bass.
Man, did I get hooked.
Started off with Toby IV that I paid two hundred bucks for.

glad to hear of your success in the new world of bass and all it's awesomeness! I hope your Toby is still getting some action, even if it's now in different hands. this week has been the first stretch I've not played mine as I explore my new vintage Cort PJ tank and am curios how it will be returning to the Toby. it's the only bass I have which can give me the sweetest OD and best approximates Felix's Mountain sound for cheap, plus still the lightest, friendliest, and most comfortable bass I have. I expect my next and final '17 arrival, a burst Cort Curbow Retro, to give it stiff competition.

 

[RickenCliff]

2017 was a good and bad year for me,

The good,
Got out of tech school this past may n finally got myself a real job. This inevitably led to a series of upgrades for the arsenal. A few of these include my Ruby Red 4003, Eden 810xt for mad cheap, a custom Warmoth Jazz, and dozen or so new effects to contribute to the wacky sounds I like to make. It's really accomplishing in going through school, getting a job, and being able to get the gear you want.

Got my band up n running again, taking charge on vocals now as well as bass. I'm digging the whole frontman gig, even nicer when the audience is oogling at the Ric in my hands. It's great to be getting back in a mindset where I can contribute with other musicians and creating some awesome results.

Now for the bad...
A very, very good friend, his name was Tony, of mine passed away in a car accident back in June. It was actually the same day I had my interview for my new job. Working in fast food for the past four years, I was pumped as all hell to tell him it. Only I was to recieve a phone call later that evening from his parents with the news.

I had been in and out of bands/various projects with Tony throughout the past 7 years or so. We started off in a band where I was on bass, him on vocals. As we got to know eachother more, he took a liking to the Bass Guitar (smart fella)
And the following christmas, he had his first Schector Stilleto. Now I, being the only bass player of our musicans cliche, wasn't sure what to think of another bass player in the stirring pot, but this was quick to change.

Tony and I both progressed as players. In a way it was like friendly competition, each of us trying to get the upper edge the other. I watched him go from someone plunking around trying to figure things out, to an evolved, unique character with his own style. Our styles meshed beautifully with eachother. We'd jam and write any time we could together, regardless of being in our own independent projects. Any time either of us got a new pedal, axe, amp, you name it, the other person was the first to know about it.

Hell, there were a couple points where him and I swore off guitar players all together and tried to start up a project with two basses. Yielded some pretty gnarly results.

This guy was my bass brother, heart and soul. And every time I go to pick up a bass I can't help but feel like a piece of the magic is missing. I don't know how many times I told him I was gonna have my own 4003 someday. Now I have it and he can't even be here to appreciate it with me. It tears at me, but I keep trying to find the passion to play, I know he'd have wanted it that way.

Moral of the story, cherish the ones you love in life. You never know when it'll all come crashing down on you.

Let's hope for a brighter 2018 folks

 

[jlepre]

These Marcus Miller Sires! Loving the P7 and the VV7 isn't far behind.

 

[armybass]

This is hard for me to say and even harder to imagine... but for a gear ho such as I, 2017 was the best ever. Gear purchases were totally over the top.... but I have an incredible stable (read collection, even if not very versatile) and I have acquired the best amps I have ever owned.

But more importantly my gig situation bounced back from the near gigless year that 2016 was (albeit self imposed) and 2018 looks to be even better.

 

[GBBSbassist]

I actually haven't played bass in a band for several years now. I've been focusing pretty much only on guitar, including two new guitar purchases, one that I'm waiting on to be built still (the suspense is terrible).

I do have an bass audition next week for a band that is forming up and has a sound I quite like. If that's the case, 2018 looks to be decent for bass for me at least.

I've been running a slightly mini rig for a bit now (2 1x12's and a class D head) and I may go for 2 2x12's pretty soon and add some more power. Maybe even 2 4x10's. Not sure yet. I did add a new P/J Frankenbass this year though.

 

[Bass V]

Tony was my bass brother, heart and soul. I keep trying to find the passion to play, I know he'd have wanted it that way.

that's truly sad, and the only thing to do is play your ass off for his spirit to enjoy.

 

[Wisebass]

Because I (50) started playing with two talented musicians (19 year old drummer, 20 year old guitarist)
Power Blues Rock, (faster, harder, louder) no compromise...I love it!!!

...and sometimes I hear them say to each other: Hey that guy nails it! (that is the best part!!! )

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[gkella]

glad to hear of your success in the new world of bass and all it's awesomeness! I hope your Toby is still getting some action, even if it's now in different hands. this week has been the first stretch I've not played mine as I explore my new vintage Cort PJ tank and am curios how it will be returning to the Toby. it's the only bass I have which can give me the sweetest OD and best approximates Felix's Mountain sound for cheap, plus still the lightest, friendliest, and most comfortable bass I have. I expect my next and final '17 arrival, a burst Cort Curbow Retro, to give it stiff competition.

The Toby is the bass I take with me in the car to practice on my lunch hour...weather permitting. It doesn't get too much love at home.

 

[Skaswan]

A little late, but 2017 was a great year for bass (for me) because I,

- Bought a Warwick Thumb, my first bass since I got my Ibanez SR 885 Ibanez In 1987 as I had not played consistently until a year ago. Extremely happy with it.
- Had a few gigs with my two bands, including playing at the largest festival in town.
- Started studying Music Theory as I have always played by ear.
- Bought my first pedal.
- Joined Talk Bass!
- Went to Bass Player Live 2017 and was extremely inspired by what I saw.

Most of all, two things made last Bass year different:
1) Met two amazing Bassmates (at BP Live 2017) whom I have been inspired by, feel supported and feel joy sharing this passion for the Bass.
2) Committed even more to bass playing after recovering from a Liver transplant.

As somebody said in one earlier post. Life is too short, you have to do what you love!

 

[gkella]

A little late, but 2017 was a great year for bass (for me) because I,

- Bought a Warwick Thumb, my first bass since I got my Ibanez SR 885 Ibanez In 1987 as I had not played consistently until a year ago. Extremely happy with it.
- Had a few gigs with my two bands, including playing at the largest festival in town.
- Started studying Music Theory as I have always played by ear.
- Bought my first pedal.
- Joined Talk Bass!
- Went to Bass Player Live 2017 and was extremely inspired by what I saw.

Most of all, two things made last Bass year different:
1) Met two amazing Bassmates (at BP Live 2017) whom I have been inspired by, feel supported and feel joy sharing this passion for the Bass.
2) Committed even more to bass playing after recovering from a Liver transplant.

As somebody said in one earlier post. Life is too short, you have to do what you love!

Inspiring !!!

 

[David Sutkin]

A little late, but 2017 was a great year for bass (for me) because I,

- Bought a Warwick Thumb, my first bass since I got my Ibanez SR 885 Ibanez In 1987 as I had not played consistently until a year ago. Extremely happy with it.
- Had a few gigs with my two bands, including playing at the largest festival in town.
- Started studying Music Theory as I have always played by ear.
- Bought my first pedal.
- Joined Talk Bass!
- Went to Bass Player Live 2017 and was extremely inspired by what I saw.

Most of all, two things made last Bass year different:
1) Met two amazing Bassmates (at BP Live 2017) whom I have been inspired by, feel supported and feel joy sharing this passion for the Bass.
2) Committed even more to bass playing after recovering from a Liver transplant.

As somebody said in one earlier post. Life is too short, you have to do what you love!

Sam, this is a really great post ... BPL 2017 was a freaking BLAST and I'm really glad we got a chance to meet up and become such good friends ever since, now on to NAMM bro!

 

[Geri O]

Two things this year:

Finally got my first Mike Lull bass, a 5-string 35"-scale Jazz-style bass. This bass has become all but attached to my hip. I hope to have a Mike Lull Precision-style bass in a few weeks.

And finally, getting to gig with my "little" 6'2" brother who is an absolute beast of a drummer. One of the versatile drummers I've ever seen. He moved to San Diego over 30 years ago, retired from teaching music and band last year, and moved back here. Even at 3 hours away, we are close enough to gig together. An awesome experience to be able to gig with a sibling.

 

[socialleper]

It was an OK year for gear, but I wouldn't say great.
For me, the biggest advances were in the continued development of class D amps that can hold their own, and the continuing development of powerful, lightweight cabs. I purchased a Mesa Subway D800 and Barefaced Super Twin, but technically, neither of these were new to 2017.
As far as basses, I've actually been very disappointed with a number of things over the last few years, and 2017 is no exception. There hasn't been a whole lot of innovations, and it seems like the market is slipping further and further into boring Fender-wannabe clones. Yawn inducing shapes, electronics, and finishes seem to dominate the market. The only semi-interesting basses for me were the Ibanez SR655, SR755, and SR1405, none of which were readily available in stores.
Then there is the stores themselves. What an absolute drag music stores have become for bass players. Nothing but the most boring, vanilla, cookie cutter stuff in terms of basses and amps. Guitar sections have definitely suffered as well, but the bass departments in some stores are little more than a corner with a handful of cheap basses and combo amps. The GC closest to me has their dozen or so bass stuffed behind their repair desk.