2023 Bass Acquisition Round Up

[JBabineaux]

Only one 2023 purchase for me, but that's one more than I thought it would be. Previously owned by two other TB'ers (@JBabineaux @ScottfromCalgary), this Fender 50's Precision Roadworn has found its forever home (Austin,Texas to Calgary, Alberta to Toronto, Ontario)! I was never a fan of faux wear, but this was called out to me for some reason. It has some additional earned wear on it as well. The extra misaligned bridge cover hole adds to the charm. The only personal changes I made was to replace the white pickup covers I got it with and I added a finger rest just because it adds to the vibe. The neck is sublime. View attachment 5301935View attachment 5301950

Thanks so much for tagging me in this! That bass is special. The feel of the neck and wear (you mentioned both) are both from a lot of playing. I'm so glad it's found it's forever home.

When I got that bass (Craigslist find) someone had "decorated" it in stickers. I carefully cleaned it up. There was even residue from stickers on the back of the neck! I sanded it off because it has reacted and ruined the nitro finish on the neck. I put multiple layers of TruOil and resanded it many times to find the right feel on the neck.

 

[el murdoque]

I'm actually more than happy with only two basses, a Le Fay 6 string and a P with flats.
However, as a gigging musician I don't really feel comfortable without a solid backup - and while I could bring the 6 string to a gig I'd play on the P bass, it does not really work the other way round, so I set out to get another six string bass.
After searching the web for ages, a Dingwall popped up about an hour's drive from my home. It even was the color way I wanted, so I headed over, checked it out and bought it:

I removed the pickguard and sent it to a place to custom make me a clear one without the 'Turbo stripes'.
Then I contacted Pyramid strings and ordered a custom set of flatwounds that would fit it.
Then I got in touch with a luthier to talk about replacing the Darkglass preamp with a Glockenklang, but ultimately decided that I don't like the bass enough to drop another four hundred bucks into it to see if it gets any better. Right at that time, a second hand Music Man Bongo popped up in an entirely wrong section of my local classifieds, sold by someone who clearly had no idea about basses. I did some research until I found that bass and seller are most likely legit, haggled the price down to a suspiciously low amount and bought it.

The Dingwall was sold for about twice of what I bought the Bongo for, so I considered that a good deal.
The Bongo is a fair bit lighter and even though it has a bit of neck dive (I already have a set of Hipshot Ultralite tuners here, just need to find the time to install them), it offers a lot more comfort for me and my playing style.
I might just get a second Le Fay at some point, but I need to win the lottery first.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I'm actually more than happy with only two basses, a Le Fay 6 string and a P with flats.
However, as a gigging musician I don't really feel comfortable without a solid backup - and while I could bring the 6 string to a gig I'd play on the P bass, it does not really work the other way round, so I set out to get another six string bass.
After searching the web for ages, a Dingwall popped up about an hour's drive from my home. It even was the color way I wanted, so I headed over, checked it out and bought it:
View attachment 5302285

I removed the pickguard and sent it to a place to custom make me a clear one without the 'Turbo stripes'.
Then I contacted Pyramid strings and ordered a custom set of flatwounds that would fit it.
Then I got in touch with a luthier to talk about replacing the Darkglass preamp with a Glockenklang, but ultimately decided that I don't like the bass enough to drop another four hundred bucks into it to see if it gets any better. Right at that time, a second hand Music Man Bongo popped up in an entirely wrong section of my local classifieds, sold by someone who clearly had no idea about basses. I did some research until I found that bass and seller are most likely legit, haggled the price down to a suspiciously low amount and bought it.
View attachment 5302289

The Dingwall was sold for about twice of what I bought the Bongo for, so I considered that a good deal.
The Bongo is a fair bit lighter and even though it has a bit of neck dive (I already have a set of Hipshot Ultralite tuners here, just need to find the time to install them), it offers a lot more comfort for me and my playing style.
I might just get a second Le Fay at some point, but I need to win the lottery first.

Nice Bongo!!!

 

[rabidwolverine]

My year was fairly calm up until the end. My Warmoth Jazz was going to be my only acquisition, until my wife crazily bought me a Fodera in November.

 

[el murdoque]

Nice Bongo!!!

Thank you. It is quite the weird specimen. As you can see it has only a single humbucker (in the Stingray position) and it also sports the three band EQ preamp. No stacked knobs. It basically sounds more like a Stingray than a Bongo, but given that there are no six string 'rays, I don't mind that at all.

 

[Danny O Danny]

2023 was an unusually busy year for me in terms of buying and selling basses. When it's all said and done:
I bought 14 basses.
Of those 14, I resold 5.
I returned 4 for refund.
I kept 5.

A big part of the reason for this much activity is that I went through a period of reassessing nearly everything about my bass playing: what type of amplification I use (went to IEMs), what type of bass I play, and what type of sound I want, what type of player I want to be, etc. I transitioned from long scale solid body Fender-style basses to short scale hollow/semi-hollow body basses. There was some trial and error involved.

In the last year or so, I've moved across country, retired, formed a new band, also started performing solo as a singer/songwriter, and turned 61. So, there's been a lot of change and reassessment (happy to say, I'm still married to my wife of 37 years).

My top 3 basses, all of which I acquired in 2023, are:
1. Reverend Dub King
2. Reverend Dub King (soon to be converted to fretless)
3. Harmony H22

I currently own 6 basses, 2 of which are for sale. I don't have plans to buy any more at this point.

 

[emal]

I love these threads, all awesome basses
I got my second Rosche Custom

 

[nonohmic]

Put a deposit on a Cliff Bordwell. That is all for 2023.

 

[lordradish]

Just one last year, my Cliff Bordwell fretless 6:

 

[andruca]

Happy, healthy, prosperous and fulfilling 2024 to everyone Lots of gems in this thread, truly happy for you all.

2023 was good to me. I got both a Sire V3 I really like, and also find usable in a variety of situations...


... and just a few weeks ago I was able to grab one of my all time dream basses, a sweet playing and hard rocking Yamaha SBV-500...


As of today (1 Jan, 2024) I don't feel any bass guitar GAS. Let's se how long this lasts

 

[Geogio]

Turned over a Samick Farelane rescue, it needed a serious clean up, pickups, good pots and jack, all of which were in the parts stash. Cleaned up nicely.

Brought the Ibanez AFB200 out of hiding. It is now it up to spec and played daily. Went over the cello, went over the Beatle clone. Put the Godin shifter classic on consignment, put a czech viola on consignment.

Picked up a tele-shaped mandolin for some electric band work I've been asked to contribute on. The initial performances went very well.

The Arirang neck-thru SS keeps popping up in my mind, I need to bring that poor thing up to restored playability.

Stared at the fretless a few times... the '91 Cort P-bass needs ajustment, maybe I'll get to that this week. Overall, pretty good year. Next week I'll check with Jim and see if my consignments moved over the holidays.

The drum set overhaul WILL be accomplished this year.
The man cave WILL be redone and become a musical instrument room and small bench workshop.

I WILL fish a bit more!

Happy New Year!

 

[B-Mac]

Tacoma ThunderchiefView attachment 5302174
Peavey G Bass modded with Super Ferrite recreations by 916 pickups. Still needs a pickguard. View attachment 5302149Parts bass, MIM Fender neck. Unknown body is a nice heavy piece of Mahogany. Super Ferrite P pups by 916 pickups.View attachment 53021501987 Peavey FuryView attachment 5302155Guild Starfire IView attachment 5302156Warmoth wenge/pau ferro 32" scale neck, roasted swamp ash body, waiting for assembly View attachment 5302170

Looks like someone was busy! Some nice axes!

 

[Standalone]

 

[groooooove]

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yA7KnDgv7fk

not a bass but,

i had this little flat top mandolin built by the violin maker who made my upright bass.

it's one of my favorite instruments i've ever touched. such a vibrant rich sound. anytime i pop open the case, hours go by because it's just too much fun to play.

it's also wonderful, after decades of making other music work on a bass, to be able to play violin-register repertoire without having to do any backflips to make the arrangement work.

 

[area_man]

I picked up one of these

Squier Precision Bass 40th Anniversary - satin dakota red red Solid body electric bass

because I thought it would be a good idea to match my existing P bass at home with one I would play when I work on the road. Now I realize my mistake and want to sell it and get a Peavey T-40 for home and take my mid 80s messican P with me on the road. The Peavey will be fun for home and to play along with the radio cause maybe I can fake the tone a little with that bass, I guess I just won't worry about it with the P, it's going to sound like a P, but P's sound good so just play the P clean.

I don't want to drag another bag along with me on the plane honestly that might take enough of the fun out of it that I just wouldn't bother. I hate airport security enough already without adding more to the day.

Still new to playing, kind of figuring things out. Nothing wrong with that P above either, I enjoy playing it just fine. Just wish I had thought this through differently a year ago.

 

[CPplaysBASS]

Thanks so much for tagging me in this! That bass is special. The feel of the neck and wear (you mentioned both) are both from a lot of playing. I'm so glad it's found it's forever home.

When I got that bass (Craigslist find) someone had "decorated" it in stickers. I carefully cleaned it up. There was even residue from stickers on the back of the neck! I sanded it off because it has reacted and ruined the nitro finish on the neck. I put multiple layers of TruOil and resanded it many times to find the right feel on the neck.

Ah, that extra work makes sense and is appreciated! I previously played a Roadworn in a store years ago and I would have bought it if the neck felt as good as this one. I'm convinced that having Austin, Texas as part of its musical duty adds to the tone too I can't prove that scientifically though!!

 

[area_man]

View attachment 5302338 View attachment 5302339 View attachment 5302341 View attachment 5302342

Dang what's that explorer... looks sharp

That other one has way too many strings, what are you doing with all those strings, nobody else has so many

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Find of the year: Peavey Fury, early '90s. $300. Sweet!

 

[Deleted member 394512]

Just one new bass in 2023. Actually bought it in Dec 2022 and received it Jan 2023.

Lakland 44-94. Put a J.East pre in and I am happy now.

 

[B-Mac]

2023 was a strange year for me with just one bass bought.

TBH I'd almost zero interest in the bass, all I wanted was the neck and bridge. It was worth £50 to get them, Guyker want £45 for those 2 part bridges.

View attachment 5302120

Did you play this at all before removing anything? I’m asking for the guys in the Glarry club as this is something they’d be interested in.