BREAKING! The 80's Bass Decade! video launches today at 3 pm PT, 5 pm CT & 6 pm ET. The Bass Players, Basses, Bass Amps and ALL of the other Cool stuff that made the 80's so special. IT'S ALL HERE! Please check it out!
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BREAKING! The 80's Bass Decade! Video Launches Today!
- Thread starter nixdad
- Start date
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! Got my Status and Tobias from the Bass Centre LA.
Amazing video @nixdad! I would love to see a sequel video like this for another decade (maybe the 1990s?).
This was a nice history lesson for me as the 1980s were before my time. I also really appreciate that you didn't use any AI in your video.
This was a nice history lesson for me as the 1980s were before my time. I also really appreciate that you didn't use any AI in your video.
That was a lot of fun. I owned, and still do, a lot of the basses and other gear featured in the video, much of it purchased back then, or in the 90's when I had a bit more money.
Very well done, and a great trip down memory lane.
Very well done, and a great trip down memory lane.
Enjoyed that. Majority of my basses Tokai, Greco, Ibanez, Yamaha & Aria, along with my GK amplification are from this era, and I'm still using it.
Thanks for this video
Thanks for this video
Had no idea you were so closely connected to The Bass Centre. I used to visit the original Wapping shop a fair bit around 1984/5 so our paths mauy have crossed all those years ago. I remember picking up the now defunct East London line from Whitechapel and seeing the Thames constantly dripping through the roof at the Wapping end of the Thames Tunnel! IIRC I only went to the new Wapping shop once - was there a drum/percussion place over the road?
Thanks for your kind comment, AND for your business @jpbass5! I'm sure we met back in the day.
BTW, which Status and which Tobias?
Lots of good times, indeed. I'm looking forward to beginning The Bass Centre L.A. video series in the next few months.
Thanks for your kind comments, @MrAB4003! The sequel will be the series of videos about The Bass Centre L.A. There will be plenty of early 90's content in those videos.Amazing video @nixdad! I would love to see a sequel video like this for another decade (maybe the 1990s?).
This was a nice history lesson for me as the 1980s were before my time. I also really appreciate that you didn't use any AI in your video.
Thanks @crazycloud! Yeah, it was a great time with LOTS of cool gear.
I'm glad you liked the video and for taking time to comment!
Thanks very much, @nickonbass1! My gosh, there were SO many great basses back then! I really hope someone takes the time to do a deep dive into the fantastic Japanese basses you've listed. I sold quote a few Ibanez and Yamaha basses back in the day! Good stuff!Enjoyed that. Majority of my basses Tokai, Greco, Ibanez, Yamaha & Aria, along with my GK amplification are from this era, and I'm still using it.
Thanks for this video
Hi @SteveCS - WOW! You were there the first few years when Barry opened the shop in Wapping at the original location. I managed The Bass Centre in L.A. for 7 years beginning in 1986 when we first launched the U.S. store. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to visit the store in London.
Yes, I believe the drum/percussion store was Barry's first business (I believe a lot of their focus was percussion rentals for the studios around London.) There's an entire story about how The Bass Centre came to be, much of which can be found in this 2016 interview with Barry Moorhouse by Mike Brooks (Brooksy's Bass Corner.)
BTW, I'm going to cover The Bass Centre origin story (and ties to Trace Elliot) in my next video.
Did you ever visit the store in L.A.?
Thanks for your kind comments @ahbradot! I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video and comment!Thank you!
I love the video and all the information.
I continuously wanted the video to elaborate more on everything.
The video went by too fast.
I want more!!!!
Yeah, this video was intended to be an overview of the decade only, and I think it succeeds on that level. There's SO MUCH to talk about! Some content was deeper than others, and I wish there was time to take a deep dive into everything.
Stating that 40 minutes went by too fast is a HUGE compliment. THANK YOU!
More info will certainly be shared when The Bass Centre L.A. videos are launched in 2026.
I appreciate your support! If you're so inclined, please share your comments on YT as well.
Thanks!
Chris
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Sadly not. But I can well believe the "11 Wal basses in a Week" headline. On my first visit to the original store I remember there being about half of the wall on the left as you went in being just Wal MkII 'Custom' basses - probably more than 20 with all different fancy tops, and about 50% fretless. Wal were experimenting with wood treatments at the time - the bleached bird-eye maple was stunning. I also played my first Steinberger at that store, through the ubiquitous Trace AH500,/GP11, 4x10+1x15 stage rig.
Yep, we sold our share of Wal basses as well! The black/gold Mk I 4-string in the original ad was purchased by Jason Newsted of Metallica, and the blue stained Mk II 4-string on the rack in the Studio City photo was purchased by Flea and is the very same bass you hear on Blood Sugar Sex Magik.
Great video - Lots of memories! Very well written, narrated, and produced. Although I only played drums and piano at the time, I remember much of these basses, amps, posters, etc. from the local music stores. As a current bassist, I wish I could go back and do the 80s all over again on bass.
HA!I'll watch it as soon as I can squeeze into these tights!!
Heck, @Doctor Morbius, I couldn't squeeze into tights back in the 80's, so believe me, there ain't no way that's happening now!Thanks so much for your kind comments, @dalahorse! I'm so glad it brought back good memories for you. It truly was a special time (as was the early 90's!)
Thanks again for your feedback!
Thanks @evs!
@nixdad We did indeed meet. You sold me the Status 5 string, I don't remember which model. That was replaced by a Tobias Classic 5-string, walnut with a purple heart top, which was my daily driver for many years. You set me up with the Tobias as well. I'm thinking it was around 1984 or 1985. I was living in New Orleans at the time and stopped by when visiting family in LA.Thanks for your kind comment, AND for your business @jpbass5! I'm sure we met back in the day.
BTW, which Status and which Tobias?
Lots of good times, indeed. I'm looking forward to beginning The Bass Centre L.A. video series in the next few months.
Thanks for your reply, @jpbass5! We REALLY appreciate you visiting us from New Orleans! It was SO great that we had customers from all over the country and all over the world. That's one of the things that makes that experience so special and memorable!
The Status 5 would have been a Series II with an exotic wood top. I figured the Tobias was a Classic - walnut with a Purple Heart top sounds VERY familiar.
OK, so we did not open until October 1986, so it had to have been our initial Calabasas location which had the wood paneling on the walls. Does that sound familiar?
Also - what color/type of wood was your Status 5-string?
Chris
