Beater bass

[tbirdsp]

I've got a Yamaha RBX360 I bought off of CL for $80 - with a tiny crappy amp. P/J config. Neck is good, electrics noisy though. I use it more to just leave laying around the house if I want to practice than actually take it to gigs. I do occasionally bring it as backup.

 

[2cooltoolz]

My drummer hosted an open mike night once a week at a local dive bar. He would invariably ask at some point in the night if someone could use my bass. So I got my beater for $75 on eBay, but I couldn't leave it alone. 2001 Squier Precision special.
Neck sucked, so I bought an MIM p neck here. Then added MIM hardware (already had) to replace the corroded Squier parts. Oh well, might as well put in this Super 55 Jazz pickup and this American standard P I have laying around.
Now it's one of my favorites!

 

[UK Philip]

Gretsch JR Jet, single pup version.

The body wood is as soft as butter but the more dents it gets, the more mojo it seems to have. It's also the bass I'd hate to lose (first ever) but theft is unlikely.

 

[Az_Rocker76]

The fingerboard really did come out nice! What did you fill the fret slots with?

They have a wood filler that hardens. It has held up pretty good too no problems with the neck at.

 

[GeneralElectric]

This started life off as a 2006 Fender Highway 1 (one?) and was originally that creme color that they came in. Right after I got it, I ditched the neck and put on a fretless jazz neck from Michael Dolan. When I sold that fretless neck the bass became a test bed for necks, hardware, and electronics. When I had it with a maple one piece neck (early JV Squier) I sanded off the finish so it'd look more like George Porter Jr.'s bass. Now its covered in artwork from different friends. As stuff rubs off it gets painted over by something else.

Currently it has a B Hefner neck (C width), Nordstrand NP4 pickups, .22 paper in oil cap on a no load tone pot, and a Hipshot B style bridge. Some day soon I'll reshape the Hefner neck to make it skinnier from front to back. For now it lives in my practice space.

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[Mr.Ace]

What's your "good" bass...?

My good bass is a Lakland 55-14 in car. The thumb was recently acquired in a trade on
Tb. I traded a mint 2015 Fender American deluxe Jazz bass. When I got the thumb I was amazed at how beat up it was. I mean it looks like hammered dog s*** also appears to have had some repairs. Had some separation in a few spots near the bridge. The repairs don't look that great. Kind of got crazy with the epoxy. The head stock I think was used as a battering ram at some point. Oh yeah, the upper horn has a 1" hairline crack at the strap button. And I've heard of buckle rash, but this was insane. I contacted the seller and he said he had got it in a trade, and hadn't noticed all the issues. He said he would gladly trade back, or I could keep it and he would float me a c note. So I played it and fell in love with the tone and playability. I've been renting a bass for real wild shows. For instance, my band plays a machine gun shoot twice a year. It's out doors, either super hot, or icey cold and dusty. Anyways, I decided that this bass was a perfect bass for such an occasion. And like others have stated, it can sit in a stand and i don't freak out if anyone, or any of my dogs goes flailing around it.

 

[Chili Bo Billy]

My beater bass is my sterling Ray 34 by music man

 

[Chili Bo Billy]

I definitely have played some questionable places over the years, and I have found that despite the fact that I'm using a beater bass, it still stings when it is nicked!

 

[Ken R]

Backyard BBQ bass. For the days when your guitar player and singer are doing the PA setup and leave the speaker cords coiled on the ground, and you are walking toward one and not looking at the ground and attempt to step over the cord that you KNOW is lying flat on the ground..........Yep, I did the "Tuck and Roll" while hugging the bass! Just another dent in an already dented bass.

 

[shawshank72]

I guess that would be all my basses.
They are meant to be played.

 

[Norwegian Bass]

Probably my '96 Stingray. It's the heaviest bass I've got; which makes it the best weapon in an emergency! The neck is really nice as a handle too, so I can really get a good swing going!

 

[Ghastly]

I have a couple collectible showpiece basses that I still play at home fairly regularly. Not beaters! But then I have a couple that I wouldn't quite call "beaters" but I wouldn't worry as much if they got a ding or two, such as my '73 P bass (it already has alot of wear)… but it's probably my #1 bass. Also, I have a 2012 Modern Player Jazz bass. Low end on the price tag, yet a nice instrument.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

View attachment 865567 View attachment 865566 View attachment 865565

Gettin there

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Gettin there

 

[EatS1stBassist]

View attachment 867598 Gettin there

It's in mock until I finally get everything installed screw holes are drying

 

[EatS1stBassist]

My beater bass done and sounds great!

View attachment 867598 Gettin there

 

[bucephylus]

Here is my beater, which is seeing a fair amount of work right now.

It's a parts bass. MIM neck, Warmth body etc. But, it is set up perfectly and has excellent passive tone. I am quite fond of it.

The use of inexpensive basses vs higher priced instruments gets debated a lot on TB. I kind of like the player bass that isn't too special for a lot of gigs. Kind the same way I would put on a pair of jeans to go down to watch the football game at the local sports bar vs a pair of fancy slacks. Nothing wrong with the slacks. Just use them for going different places. If that makes any sense at all.

 

[1bassplayinfool]

Here is my beater, which is seeing a fair amount of work right now.
View attachment 1002977

It's a parts bass. MIM neck, Warmth body etc. But, it is set up perfectly and has excellent passive tone. I am quite fond of it.

The use of inexpensive basses vs higher priced instruments gets debated a lot on TB. I kind of like the player bass that isn't too special for a lot of gigs. Kind the same way I would put on a pair of jeans to go down to watch the football game at the local sports bar vs a pair of fancy slacks. Nothing wrong with the slacks. Just use them for going different places. If that makes any sense at all.

Got one just like that...