EBMM Stingray 5H ('99), Cort Elrick NJB5, Ibanez EHB1005, Rikkers Powerline
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
EBMM Stingray 5H ('99), Cort Elrick NJB5, Ibanez EHB1005, Rikkers Powerline
Holy cow, I didn't realize how many basses I had bought and sold in the last year! Even being able to humor my GAS is a blessing, but it's always a losing game. I'd like to think I've refined my tastes and general attitude towards gear to where I won't move half as much gear this year as last, but we'll see 
Basses that have come and gone:
Jan - Harley Benton JB-62cc Black - SOLD
Feb - Fender P MIM Midnight Wine - SOLD
March - G&L Tribute JB2 - TRADED
May - Gibson EB4 2014 - SOLD
May - Fender Vintera Jazz Daphne Blue w/ Roasted Maple Neck - PARTED OUT
May - Reverend Mercalli 5 FM Purple - SOLD
May - SBMM Ray 34 Blue Sparkle - TRADED
August - Squier P w/ Fender MIM neck - SOLD
Basses I plan to sell:
September - Squier B34 Bullet Bass - Listed for Sale
October - Lakland 44-02 maple fingerboard fretless - Listed for Sale
Basses I don't plan to sell:
Jan - Harley Benton Mustang GOTOH
October - Fender Aerodyne P Special Bright White
November - Fender Aerodyne J Special Dolphin Grey
The only bass from before 2023:
Lakland Skyline 44-02 fretted
Pics of my favorites to follow
Basses that have come and gone:
Jan - Harley Benton JB-62cc Black - SOLD
Feb - Fender P MIM Midnight Wine - SOLD
March - G&L Tribute JB2 - TRADED
May - Gibson EB4 2014 - SOLD
May - Fender Vintera Jazz Daphne Blue w/ Roasted Maple Neck - PARTED OUT
May - Reverend Mercalli 5 FM Purple - SOLD
May - SBMM Ray 34 Blue Sparkle - TRADED
August - Squier P w/ Fender MIM neck - SOLD
Basses I plan to sell:
September - Squier B34 Bullet Bass - Listed for Sale
October - Lakland 44-02 maple fingerboard fretless - Listed for Sale
Basses I don't plan to sell:
Jan - Harley Benton Mustang GOTOH
October - Fender Aerodyne P Special Bright White
November - Fender Aerodyne J Special Dolphin Grey
The only bass from before 2023:
Lakland Skyline 44-02 fretted
Pics of my favorites to follow
Thx, very happy with it!That Rikkers is a beauty.
Never heard of the brand.
The website of Rikkers: Home - Rikkers Gitaarbouwhttps://www.rikkersgitaarbouw.nl/
I bought and sold zero basses this year.
I did buy a guitar, an acoustic drum set, and an electronic drum set, though. I also helped a buddy buy his first electric guitar. Does that count?!
I did buy a guitar, an acoustic drum set, and an electronic drum set, though. I also helped a buddy buy his first electric guitar. Does that count?!
Picked up a USA G&L LB100, a MIM Fender Jazz, and a Squier Pbass. Moved out 3 Basses so 3 in 3 out. Moved out some amps and cabs as well. Long slow march toward the dream rig. Cheers to a great 2024!
New Maruszczyk Frog fretless 5.
'05 Rickenbacker 4003 fretless.
'05 Rickenbacker 4003 fretless.
I spent $4K on a Will Lee Metroline 4 that’s not left the house and hasn’t left its case in months. I was playing in a Brazilian ensemble in the spring and wanted a “bright, active” sound. Whereas my Fender Jazz bass was doing the job perfectly well. I feel foolish about it, mostly since my primary axe is upright. And even that I haven’t wanted to play much lately. It’s a weird time of year.The last night of 2023 is here and I thought I'd post my bass acquisitions for the year. I invite you to do the same even if you already sold any of them. Please post pix if you can.
Happy New Year, Y'All!!!!
View attachment 5301880 View attachment 5301881 View attachment 5301882 View attachment 5301883 View attachment 5301885 View attachment 5301887 View attachment 5301889 View attachment 5301890 View attachment 5301891 View attachment 5301892 View attachment 5301896 View attachment 5301898
- Eastwood MRG Bass 30” passive semi-hollow (2022) set new MIC
- Epiphone EB-1 (2000) 32" Scale (MIK) bolt-on used passive
- Ibanez ASB140 semi-hollow 34” (2005) passive used MIC set
- Guild Jumbo Junior ABG Fishman preamp (2022) new MIC 23.75" set
- Epiphone Jack Casady Signature (2022) new MIC 34” Semi-Hollow set passive
- Dean Hillsboro Single MM (2011) bolt-on Active 2-band maple neck maple FB 34" MIC used
- Jon Letts - (2023) Letts Woden Padauk 27” Passive Single Coil Bolt-On String Through MIUK new
- Dean Edge Hammer 4 (2004) 34" active 2-band exposed pole pickups Bolt-On used MIK
- Schecter Corsair Semi-Hollow Body (2021) 34" 2-band active set used MIK Gold Two EMG TBHZ Humbuckers
- Dean Edge 1Q 34" (2008) Quilt Maple Top Passive DMT Soap Bars used bolt-on MIC
- Fender JP 90 refinished Poplar Tobacco Burst Gloss (formerly black) 34" P/J (1990) Passive used bolt-on MIA
- Dean Demonator Vintage 2006 Active set (MIK) used
I’ve been adhering to a “1 in, 1 out” rule as far as bass acquisition goes. That said, I disassembled my backup/beater franken- p bass and sold the Aerodyne neck it had. I used the funds from that sale to make my only bass purchase of 2023. Squier Sonic Precision. I immediately swapped in the pickguard, bridge and pickup/wiring from the old bass. This is my new backup p bass that I’ll be bringing to gigs where I don’t want to take my #1.
I picked up a (USACG) parts 5-string P/Soapbar(P2) around February of last year. That was it. Never say never and all that, but I'm pretty well set for life right now. I have more than I need; there are no gaps to fill.
I had no intentions of buying any this year because I was honestly quite happy with what I had. But I found a way to legitimately justify (rather than just merely rationalize) my first purchase back in June:
We had scheduled several festivals and outdoor gigs this summer and fall and I decided it was worth it to have a relatively inexpensive but decent bass that I could use when conditions made he reluctant to take any of my better basses. I seriosuly considered a Sterling by Musicman Stingray Ray5 HH because I'm a Stingray nut and I also seriously considered a Yamaha BB435 because I've never owned a PJ and just wanted to try one. But I ultimately went with a Jazz bass, which I'm also a big fan of, and, because I almost always buy active basses, I decided to get a passive Jazz. I ended up with a Sire V5R that I liked so much it gets it's share of gig time even when I'm not playing in potentially poor weather conditions. I loved as-is, though I did replace the original black pickguard with a pearl white because I thought that would help highlight the pearl blocks and help make the fretboard look even darker. I think the change was totally worth it
The second was totally unexpected and only happened because it basically fell into my lap:
I have always bought traditional/FSOs in bursts and, if they had a pickguard, always tort. I know a lot of TB'ers loathe those kinds of basses but they're just my thing. Still are. But in a conversation about another Big Al with a TB'er that I've bought from before, he just happened to mention that he's getting older and is now downsizing. Among a few others, his Big Al 5SSS in Candy Red Sparkle was one of the basses he was going to have to let go. I always thought these were interesting despite not being the kind of bass I'd ever buy, but something in my brain said BUY THIS BASS. So I did. It's totally unlike me and yet I've been absolutely blown away by it. The hard part was telling myself that I had to sell two basses to offset the cost of this one but, as much as I loved those two basses, I realized I wasn't playing them often and had to make a conscious decision to play either of them. I'm so happy now with my two Stingrays and my new-to-me Big Al that selling those two isn't going to be nearly as difficult as I thought it might. I'm extremely happy with this one.
The two that I now have to sell? My USA Precision V and my G&L L-2500. I'll miss them, but I won't regret letting them go.
We had scheduled several festivals and outdoor gigs this summer and fall and I decided it was worth it to have a relatively inexpensive but decent bass that I could use when conditions made he reluctant to take any of my better basses. I seriosuly considered a Sterling by Musicman Stingray Ray5 HH because I'm a Stingray nut and I also seriously considered a Yamaha BB435 because I've never owned a PJ and just wanted to try one. But I ultimately went with a Jazz bass, which I'm also a big fan of, and, because I almost always buy active basses, I decided to get a passive Jazz. I ended up with a Sire V5R that I liked so much it gets it's share of gig time even when I'm not playing in potentially poor weather conditions. I loved as-is, though I did replace the original black pickguard with a pearl white because I thought that would help highlight the pearl blocks and help make the fretboard look even darker. I think the change was totally worth it
The second was totally unexpected and only happened because it basically fell into my lap:
I have always bought traditional/FSOs in bursts and, if they had a pickguard, always tort. I know a lot of TB'ers loathe those kinds of basses but they're just my thing. Still are. But in a conversation about another Big Al with a TB'er that I've bought from before, he just happened to mention that he's getting older and is now downsizing. Among a few others, his Big Al 5SSS in Candy Red Sparkle was one of the basses he was going to have to let go. I always thought these were interesting despite not being the kind of bass I'd ever buy, but something in my brain said BUY THIS BASS. So I did. It's totally unlike me and yet I've been absolutely blown away by it. The hard part was telling myself that I had to sell two basses to offset the cost of this one but, as much as I loved those two basses, I realized I wasn't playing them often and had to make a conscious decision to play either of them. I'm so happy now with my two Stingrays and my new-to-me Big Al that selling those two isn't going to be nearly as difficult as I thought it might. I'm extremely happy with this one.
The two that I now have to sell? My USA Precision V and my G&L L-2500. I'll miss them, but I won't regret letting them go.
Last edited:
Some real sweet looking axes!I had no intentions of buying any this year because I was honestly quite happy with what I had. But I found a way to legitimately justify (rather than just merely rationalize) my first purchase back in June:
We had scheduled several festivals and outdoor gigs this summer and fall and I decided it was worth it to have a relatively inexpensive but decent bass that I could use when conditions made he reluctant to take any of my better basses. I seriosuly considered a Sterling by Musicman Stingray Ray5 HH because I'm a Stingray nut and I also seriously considered a Yamaha BB435 because I've never owned a PJ and just wanted to try one. But I ultimately went with a Jazz bass, which I'm also a big fan of, and, because I almost always buy active basses, I decided to get a passive Jazz. I ended up with a Sire V5R that I liked so much it gets it's share of gig time even when I'm not playing in potentially poor weather conditions. I loved as-is, though I did replace the original black pickguard with a pearl white because I thought that would help highlight the pearl blocks and help make the fretboard look even darker. I think the change was totally worth it
The second was totally unexpected and only happened because it basically fell into my lap:
I have always bought traditional/FSOs in bursts and, if they had a pickguard, always tort. I know a lot of TB'ers loathe those kinds of basses but they're just my thing. Still are. But another TB'er that I've bought from before just happened to mention in converstation that he's getting older and is now downsizing. Among a few others, his Big Al 5SSS in Candy Red Sparkle was one of the basses he was going to have to let go. I always thought these were interesting despite not being the kind of bass I'd ever buy, but something in my brain said BUY THIS BASS. So I did. It's totally unlike me and yet I've been absolutely blown away by it. The hard part was telling myself that I had to sell two basses to offset the cost of this one but, as much as I loved those two basses, I realized I wasn't playing them often and had to make a conscious decision to play either of them. I'm so happy now with my two Stingrays and my new-to-me Big Al that selling those two isn't going to be nearly as difficult as I thought it might. I'm extremely happy with this one.
The two that I now have to sell? My USA Precision V and my G&L L-2500. I'll miss them, but I won't regret letting them go.
It's funny how much bass gear I bought/sold over the course of the year, only to wind up with almost the exact same stuff that I had last year:
https://www.talkbass.com/bookmarks/51059/view-item
Bass buying started with a 1984 Ibanez RB630.
I cleaned it up, swapped-in updated black hardware, then never fell in love with the neck profile, so I sold it.
Next up, was a sage green Epiphone Embassy.
The Embassy was a great bass for the price, but ultimately didn't have the punch I wanted, so I returned it.
A few months ago, I saw a Greco Phoenix bass on the Guitar Center website, and it looked like an amazing bass for the price.
It was, and the playability was fantastic, but the pickups were too close to the bridge to get the tone I want from a bass - and the fretboard extended way up into the body, so there would be no way to modify the bass.
That one got returned too.
So I ended 2023 with the exact same basses that I started the year with - the same trio that have been the core lineup since 2016...
Though I modified my Dingwall again by rewiring it passive, and replacing the original Bartolini pickups with a pair of Nordstrand Big Rails.
I also modified my Squier Precision by cleaning up the routing and putting new pickups in it.
Amps, ironically, are the same story; lots of movement that just took me back to where I started.
I traded my GK Legacy 800 for a Genzler Magellan, then ended up missing the GK, selling the Genzler, and buying my GK back from the guy who'd bought it.
I did manage to find a combo to love - a GK MB210, which worked so well as a gig-worthy grab & go that I sold a couple speaker cabinets (Fearful 15+6 and an SWR Goliath II) and picked up a GK Neo 112 to leave at my drummer's house.
Effects also went round-robin; I had just sold my HX Stomp prior to the 2022 year-end retrospective - and after trying a bunch of desktop/headphone options - I wound up with another HX Stomp.
The only change to my pedalboard was a Joyo Scylla compressor.
Maybe the message I should take from this is that my preferences are pretty set - and the gear I already have suits those preferences better than anything I'm likely to find.
https://www.talkbass.com/bookmarks/51059/view-item
Bass buying started with a 1984 Ibanez RB630.
I cleaned it up, swapped-in updated black hardware, then never fell in love with the neck profile, so I sold it.
Next up, was a sage green Epiphone Embassy.
The Embassy was a great bass for the price, but ultimately didn't have the punch I wanted, so I returned it.
A few months ago, I saw a Greco Phoenix bass on the Guitar Center website, and it looked like an amazing bass for the price.
It was, and the playability was fantastic, but the pickups were too close to the bridge to get the tone I want from a bass - and the fretboard extended way up into the body, so there would be no way to modify the bass.
That one got returned too.
So I ended 2023 with the exact same basses that I started the year with - the same trio that have been the core lineup since 2016...
Though I modified my Dingwall again by rewiring it passive, and replacing the original Bartolini pickups with a pair of Nordstrand Big Rails.
I also modified my Squier Precision by cleaning up the routing and putting new pickups in it.
Amps, ironically, are the same story; lots of movement that just took me back to where I started.
I traded my GK Legacy 800 for a Genzler Magellan, then ended up missing the GK, selling the Genzler, and buying my GK back from the guy who'd bought it.
I did manage to find a combo to love - a GK MB210, which worked so well as a gig-worthy grab & go that I sold a couple speaker cabinets (Fearful 15+6 and an SWR Goliath II) and picked up a GK Neo 112 to leave at my drummer's house.
Effects also went round-robin; I had just sold my HX Stomp prior to the 2022 year-end retrospective - and after trying a bunch of desktop/headphone options - I wound up with another HX Stomp.
The only change to my pedalboard was a Joyo Scylla compressor.
Maybe the message I should take from this is that my preferences are pretty set - and the gear I already have suits those preferences better than anything I'm likely to find.
I was on a mild Epiphone kick this year. Picked up a J200EC Vintage acoustic and a Thunderbird Vintage bass.
2019 Fender® American Performer Precision (3-Color Sunburst, Black Pickguard, Rosewood) + Seymour Duncan SPB-3, Seymour Duncan SJB-3 N + Hipshot D-Tuner + Leo Quan Badass II Bridge A.K.A. Jackson
Invalid Link Removed
ISET PD-3 Heavy Metal
MXR - M81 Bass Preamp
JHS Pedals - Prestige Boost
Way Huge WM91 Pork & Pickle Overdrive & Fuzz
Invalid Link Removed
ISET PD-3 Heavy Metal
MXR - M81 Bass Preamp
JHS Pedals - Prestige Boost
Way Huge WM91 Pork & Pickle Overdrive & Fuzz
An EUB I got in February but haven’t been able to play as much as I hoped to (though that should change now) and a 2023 MIM P Bass that I think I only played once lol. Both are keepers though and hopefully everything else has died down enough that I can properly play these.
Only acquisition I hope for in 2024 is an acoustic upright
Only acquisition I hope for in 2024 is an acoustic upright
Oof... I had a busy year rebuilding my collection. I had to check my PayPal to remember everything bought in 2023 -
2011 EBMM Bongo 5HH
1998 Spector NS2000/5
2003 Spector Rebop 5
1996 SSD NS5CRFM
1999 Spector NS5CR
2021 Spector Skyler Acord 5
During the course of last year I let go of 2 basses, so I'm +4 net for the year.
2011 EBMM Bongo 5HH
1998 Spector NS2000/5
2003 Spector Rebop 5
1996 SSD NS5CRFM
1999 Spector NS5CR
2021 Spector Skyler Acord 5
During the course of last year I let go of 2 basses, so I'm +4 net for the year.
Last edited:
I am a poor and simple man and I bought no basses this year.
I did buy several drum machines including a Korg DDD-1 and DDD-5 and a AdrennaLinn III.
Bought a used Allen and Heath mixer and spent 10 times what I paid for my LinnDrum 35 years ago to have it meticulously restored along with a customized Drumulator that someone gave to me which never worked until now.
I did buy several drum machines including a Korg DDD-1 and DDD-5 and a AdrennaLinn III.
Bought a used Allen and Heath mixer and spent 10 times what I paid for my LinnDrum 35 years ago to have it meticulously restored along with a customized Drumulator that someone gave to me which never worked until now.
