80s Bass guitars

[MobileHolmes]

80s is pretty wide open in terms of basses. Depends early or late, and what actual genre of music.

My mind immediately goes to hair metal with that. Something Neon, or at least brightly colored. SR series ibanez, Anything Charvel or Jackson, or Possibly a BC rich.

 

[Amano]

Stingray.

Give us a poll to vote.

 

[jwilson67]

Charles Ottavio/Animotion....uses single Pickup Arias similar to the one in the vid....sounds like a P to me (fast forward to 1:18)




For comparison...heres a real P

The bass he's using in the Animotion video is an SB-R60. I had that exact bass in the mid-late 80's. It was a great instrument and one I wish I'd never sold. It was passive and had a tapered neck along with the "eye" inlays as opposed to the SB-1000 which was active, had almost no taper, and sported dot inlays. Really, really good bass.

 

[ThudThudThud]

I'd say:
Ibanez Musician
Aria Pro II (2 pickup)
MM Sabre
Kubicki Ex-Factor
Steinberger
Status (maybe you can find a Washburn Status)
Zon

 

[jwilson67]

I play in an 80's tribute band (a pretty popular and successful one here in the mid-Atlantic region). I have a lot of 80's era basses, but if I had to pick "the one" that truly nails the 80's vibe and tone, it would be my 1981 Aria Pro II SB-R60. The one pictured isn't mine, but mine looks just like it (minus the thumb-rest).

Like I said above, I wish I still had mine. I sold it to help pay for a Spector in 1988.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I remember the 80s very clearly- everyone was playing Spectors!!

 

[RyanKW]

I have it already. 1984 Japanese PJ (Jazz Special)

Link Removed

 

[Ninevolt]

My friend had an Ibby Destroyer like this one but with a kahler bridge. When he used the bridge you could see the neck move. It made some really cool space invader sounds.

 

[ZAR14]

 

[audreycashin]

This is what I played in the 80s.

Fender Performer

• Spent
• Dec 2, 2014
• 1

Pure 80's

 

[skinnypete]

SB-1. I have one of those.

 

[cavemanbass]

I think Alembic started making the Spoiler around 83...

 

[BurnOut]

I love all that 80's Big Hair Cheese. When the the power ballads took over I knew it had run it coarse. Except I don't think spandex on guys was a good idea, nope didn't like that one, it was wrong, very wrong.

 

[Spent]

View attachment 1117699 Pure 80's

Pointiest bass until LTD came along. I regret never getting the OHSC for it. I bought mine new in 1985 for about $250. Walked into my local music store (practically lived there and spent most of my money there) and the owner pointed it out. He hated it, said it would never sell and gave me pretty good deal on it. Played it live and recorded with it for a few years, then got my first Ric and never looked back. I dragged it out a couple of years ago to try it again but it just didn't do it for me. I keep it for posterity.

 

[fishdreams]

Wall. Or even better; Roland G-77

It occurred to me that the 80s might be the last decade one can think of specific factory-built basses that defined the era, period. Everything has gotten retro, nineties and on-to my mind, at least. But that's for another thread...

 

[TrevorR]

True enough. MK was the main person with any real JayDee profile. Well, apart from Tony Iommi who, IIRC had a Diggins made SG!!!

 

[diegom]

True enough. MK was the main person with any real JayDee profile.

Tony Franklin played a fretless JayDee occasionally with The Firm.

My contribution to 80s basses: They must be BRIGHT and PRISTINE! None of that "relic" stuff, unless you were punk. Then it was more "damaged" than "relic'd"...

 

[Govier966]

I picked up this handsome 82 Schecter PJ Bass last month. Great bass and very 80's 10/10 would recommend.

 

[FloridaSam]

I own my 2 favorite 80's basses.

 

[pbass2]

In the 80's I played one of these for a while. Traded my first good bass, a '74 Jetglo 4001, for it. What a dumb ass.