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Bass older than you?
- Thread starter Axtman
- Start date
Well, fact is... unless it was a custom-made Tutmarc - or a custom made upright? Unless it was made in 1950 - or earlier? There are no basses older than me to play; left handed ones, anyway... The oldest electric bass I've seen that I could buy and play, was a custom made (as all lefty basses were at the time) 1951 Fender P-Bass. All original, with case and all the case candy? The opening bid price was more than I paid for my current house. And, it was sold within a week...
So, much as I would like to have a birth year bass - or one even older? For me, that ain't gonna happen...
You and I are in the same boat. A bass would have to have been made before June of 1951 to be older than me. If one was available, there is no way I could afford it. But, I love my 2 year old Ibanez ergonomic multi scale fanned fret short scale.
Scratching me head, why does this matter?
If I’m 60 and play a 55 year old bass, that’s an OLD bass, but saying it’s younger than me almost implies it’s a young bass.
If I’m 60 and play a 55 year old bass, that’s an OLD bass, but saying it’s younger than me almost implies it’s a young bass.
I have one bass that is for sure older than me-- 1987 Yamaha BB300. (I was made in 1997.)
I also have a Gibson archtop guitar from the 40s, as well as two Yamaha B100-II heads that are from 1981 and 1983.
I have two basses that may be the same age as me, but I don't have a way to verify. I also have a couple of basses that are just a few years younger. Only two of my instruments are under 10 years old.
All my bass guitars are younger than me.
I did briefly have a P-bass that was older than me - from 1969. But it wasn't that good.
Upright basses are a completely different story. My #1 that's earned more money than every other instrument combined is a Kay M1 from 1948.
I did briefly have a P-bass that was older than me - from 1969. But it wasn't that good.
Upright basses are a completely different story. My #1 that's earned more money than every other instrument combined is a Kay M1 from 1948.
Same here, I'm older than any production electric bass guitars, March, 1951. So any birth-year bass I could buy other than an astronomically pricy 1st Fall 1951 P-bass, would be 'the Plank' or some other early experimental electric bass from a musical instrument museum. All unaffordable to the retired elderly bedroom student hack duffer bass player that I have the honor to be.Well, fact is... unless it was a custom-made Tutmarc - or a custom made upright? Unless it was made in 1950 - or earlier? There are no basses older than me to play; left handed ones, anyway... The oldest electric bass I've seen that I could buy and play, was a custom made (as all lefty basses were at the time) 1951 Fender P-Bass. All original, with case and all the case candy? The opening bid price was more than I paid for my current house. And, it was sold within a week...
So, much as I would like to have a birth year bass - or one even older? For me, that ain't gonna happen...
i have rocks younger than you guys --- i'm assuming that both of you have been carbon-dated?! 
no matter, you both look marvelous!
...
I would never abuse a 58 year old (or older) bass at 100+ shows per year.
Plus, a 1965 (or older) P is above my pay grade (and a string too short).
Plus, a 1965 (or older) P is above my pay grade (and a string too short).
The only thing older than me in this house is an early-1900s mandolin. My oldest bass is '85.
I would be interested to know what basses are younger than me; I'm 75.
If I had a bass older than me, it should be put back in his case and in a storage in an hospice.
My P Bass has the same birth month/year as me... from some time back in the 1960's.... it gets played daily.
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
All of my basses are younger than I am except one of my double basses, which dates from the 1930s; I inherited "Baby" from Pop when he passed several years ago, and although he was left-handed, I can't imagine not having her in my home.
When Pop first started giving me lessons about 60 years ago, I learned on Baby, despite the fact that she is backwards. I learned the rudiments and thought nothing of her handedness; I was too preoccupied with technique and Simandl.
When I was looking for a new electric bass several years ago, the salesman thought it would be funny to sneak a left-handed bass in among the basses I was test driving without saying anything to me. The look on his face was priceless when I began playing it.
When Pop first started giving me lessons about 60 years ago, I learned on Baby, despite the fact that she is backwards. I learned the rudiments and thought nothing of her handedness; I was too preoccupied with technique and Simandl.
When I was looking for a new electric bass several years ago, the salesman thought it would be funny to sneak a left-handed bass in among the basses I was test driving without saying anything to me. The look on his face was priceless when I began playing it.
