BYB - Birth Year Basses

[RayWithFlats]

Not exactly BYB but maybe CYB (conception year bass)? LOL

Born in early 85, but I have a Black 1984 Yamaha BB1600...always thought those 80's BB models looked cool after seeing the bassist from Crowded House playing one in the "Don't dream it's over" video (near the end of the video)...the recorded bass in that song sounds great too and has a P-bass vibe to it, so I always assumed it was that bass or one like it:


Was also a fan of No Doubt in my youth and once I realised Tony Kanal used a BB1600 I always said I'd like to get one...many moons later one showed up on TB and the rest is history. So there's my CYB story

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Not normally a big fan of gold hardware but that’s sweet!

 

[HeavyJazz]

How about a '77 Thunderbird? @Turlu has one up currently that's quite beautiful.

 

[1bassplayinfool]

hell..look for one that aint pricey from 66!!

I have a 66

 

[Pings Bass]

My first electric guitar was a birth year all-original 1965 Gibson Melody Maker D I bought out of the classifieds for $125. I didn't know it was a 65 at the time, it was just a cheap electric guitar. I couldn't wait to get rid of that POS (foolishly traded it for a POS Harmony arch top), but now it's probably worth a few grand if it survived intact. No way would I even consider a 65 bass guitar; there's not enough sentimental or utility value to justify the price of a pre-CBS Fender today.

The thought of there being something special about an 80s or 90s instrument for our younger colleagues is kind of funny, too. CNC manufacturing has gotten so good since then, it's hard to imagine anything outstanding from that era. I mean, I've got a mid-80s MiJ Fender that's pretty good, but it's not outstanding compared to a modern MiM or Indonesian import for the money.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

1959?...... I couldn't even afford the knobs......

 

[Stackpole]

61’ Jazz

 

[Turlu]

How about a '77 Thunderbird? @Turlu has one up currently that's quite beautiful.

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Thanks!!!
That is indeed such the nicest Bird I ever seen!!!! Sweet sweet sweet!!! Nobody can find one like that in such a great condition!!!

 

[roycroft_88]

Millenials have lots of cool/interesting basses to choose from. I'd look for a Kubiki Factor or Steinberger.
Pointy basses (Charvel ,Jackson) from those years are cool too. I played G&L and Yamaha back then,lots of good stuff out there. As a late Boomer myself, I have my 64 Jazz.

 

[KohanMike]

I was born in 1949 and since there were no solid body electric bass guitars available then, I decided to modify one of my bass ukes into a tribute to the first electric solid body bass made by AudioVox in the 1930s, including a headstock label.

 

[mikeswals]

I don't like any BYB for me. Nothing from early 70's I find dear.
I like 60's Jazzes, and I like the boutique stuff that started in late 70's.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

I was born in 1949 and since there were no solid body electric bass guitars available then, I decided to modify one of my bass ukes into a tribute to the first electric solid body bass made by AudioVox in the 1930s, including a headstock label.View attachment 3864308

Would that be a Tutmarkenfaker?
Way cool by the way...

 

[LoTone]

I wonder what other basses were significant in 1968?

 

[SideshowDom]

Either an 83 Fender P-bass or BC Rich Eagle.

 

[Peteyboy]

I wonder what other basses were significant in 1968?

A few Gibsons, Fender Telecaster, Rickenbacker 4001, Hagstroms, Hofners, Vox. I want all of the basses.

 

[4dog]

I have a 66

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i see that!!!.... nice !!

 

[hardtop]

I'd like a Gibson Thunderbird Bicentennial... but at 5k for a nice one with all the hardware, it will never happen. Id buy a custom Sandberg Forty Eight if I wanted a t-bird and put 3k back in the bank.

 

[evilleotter]

For the record, I don't consider myself a millennial. 1980 wasn't a banner production year for basses, but I really like the shape of the body and headstock of the Yamaha SB-800. If I had the burning desire to own a BYB, it'd probably be this one.

 

[CJL]

Got my ‘68 P-bass earlier this year. Love it!

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

1976 was the Stingray’s birth year as well as mine so it’s doubly appropriate.

Meaning you're justified even if you get TWO B-Year basses

 

[Sid Fang]

My Danelectro UB2 six-string "tick-tack" bass *might* be from my birth year, 1956. I tell people it is, but it's not as if there's a serial number database for them, and the design was unchanged from 1956 through 1957. In '58, they changed the pick guard. When I bought it, I had no idea how old it was - I just saw it on consignment, cheap, at some point in the 1980s, had never seen one before, and thought it was cool.

[edit: Oh, you want a photo?]