80s Bass guitars

[Rib 13]

I really can't agree with that, unless we're talking about completely different Aria SBs. The ultimate early 80s bass for me would be the SB1000, one pickup, active electronics, 2-octave slim neck, neck-through body ...

Plz read rest of Post #21 and #45, particularly concerning "faux fretless"

sounds nothing like a PBass either.

Please see Post #51


BTW, Im not saying Im right, wrong, or otherwise... I was playing professionally back then, playing a lot of that kind of music....Just explaining what got me work and kept me working...Everyones Mileage May Vary

 

[bdplaid]

Ibanez Roadstar

 

[Twocan]

Any Kramer aluminum necked bass.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

A red P bass

 

[RickyWoo]

Almost forget.... Anything equipped with LED's, regardless of the decade it was made.

 

[danosix]

ok, I joined an 80s band. I love the music of the 80s. The band has great Musicans and should be a lot of fun. I play a 2008 mia P bass. A very standerd bass my back up is a Jazz. What would be your ultimate 80s bass?

I was thinking a Musicman Stingray. What do you think?

Something more obviously "modern" looking than a Stingray (those things look like they were designed by the same guy who made the PBass! ) like Steingberger, Ibanez Musician or Roadstar, Aria B1000 (probably wrong name - the John Taylor bass) or Integra.
Or something with a pointy/droppy headstock (Charvel/Kramer, etc) OR vintage Fender in the more "feminine" custom colours (surf or seafoam green, sonic, Daphne or Lake Placid blue, coral pink).
Or depending on the type of 80s music - Punk/Post Punk - well worn 70s PBass - Darker New Wave/Gothic Pop (Joy Division, The Cure, etc) - Something black.

 

[RickyWoo]

For some reason, whenever I think of Music Man, I peg it in the 70's, 90's, and onward. I skip the 80's for some reason.

 

[Blackjac97]

KRAMER FORUM

My favorite P bass is a Kramer Forum IV

 

[maxschrek]

If not a Stingray, this one:

 

[stingray78]

Nothing says 80s better than Randy Jackson's Polkadot Stingray

Other than that, I would say that at least for the 2nd half of the 80s anything goes as along as it is colorful and has no visible pickguard. Sunburst and Natural where definitely uncool in my neck of the woods back then. Unless you were into jazz and fusion, then colors were uncool.

But at the end, it's all about the attitude. Whatever you play, just own it

 

[Killens84]

If I were to choose just one bass, strictly to play 80's music, it'd be a Spector NS-2.

 

[RoyGBass]

SOME of my 80's basses:

 

[rtslinger]

Charvel/Jackson, BC Rich, Kramer, Dean Z's as long as you can impale yourself on it you should be okay

 

[RoyGBass]

and The REST of them:

 

[BurnOut]

Got me a couple entries.
Dean Hollywood Z in Zebra.
Kip Winger Hamer Impact purtty in pink.

 

[BassBrass]

...a two pickup bass with one pickup in the mid position and one at the bridge will be optimal. I also recommend learning the "faux fretless" technique (solo the bridge pickup, roll down tone or highs, slide into notes with fretting hand, pluck near bridge) as it is very useful in this style of music.

My living-room ornamental Westone Spectrum, red, is designed just so, and it barks at high volume, sends a lowmid sound that cuts through a band but needs added lows from your amp. Really it is best with just the neck pu, best P bass facsimile I have. Not comfortable to play though. In the 80s I played SD Curley, beautiful when new, better looking than sounding, Gibson EB3 walnut, un-tunable in summer, wound up playing a Carvin LB50, a bass with massive low end, sustain and pronounced midrange. A few years ago I finally scored a 1982 Guild Pilot, gray w pickguard, at a GC one lucky day. It is Very fine, light, efficient, it has high output pu's plus I believe older wood can get louder. It's always a surprise how acoustically loud it is. I have an issue with where the strap attaches so I play it sitting, but it isn't going anywhere except on vacation.

 

[socialleper]

It is hard for me to say, because when I think of 80s basses, I think of instruments with a heavy emphasis on looks but poor design. They tried a lot of different gimmicks that didn't last very long because they simply didn't work out. Maybe that's why so few mainstream bass builders don't try to innovate anymore, and just keep tweaking 60s-70s designs; which is a shame. I would definitely like more color options today, and more body styles, just as long as they are playable.
If I had to pick a single bass from the 80s, like so many others, a USA BC Rich Warlock or Eagle would be it. I wouldn't pursue them too diligently though since I probably wouldn't play them very often.

 

[Razman]

Hondo:
SOLD - Hondo Fame Series 861

 

[UNICORN BASS]

This.

 

[Engle]

^I disagree.
I have an Aria ProII SB600 - 1 pickup passive. It's not very much like a P-bass other than being a 34 inch scale single PU bass. (3 piece non tapered set neck, angled peghead, heavy brass bridge, tight string spacing) It can do the John Taylor thing.

I see your clarification and raise you some pedantry.

Yes, JT used a couple of Arias, the SB-700 and SB-1000 (both single pickup models) being the most famous. So if you want his sound, that's the way to go.

However, the SB-600 really does have a P-style pickup! Check this out, courtesy of magnetic film.View attachment 1117087[/QUOTE]
Yeah it's a split coil in a soapbar-ish case. I found that out the first time I filed the frets on mine.
I'd probably play mine more if it wasn't so heavy!