BYB - Birth Year Basses

[graphics1988]

Well...I turn 50 tomorrow....which makes me a 1970 baby. I tried numerous vintage basses..pre BYB and above. My wife is 1972...ironically that and this fluke 1970 P bass I found, are the nicest ones I played.
I love the BYB idea....but I think it's more personal than what someone would pay for it. So I will keep it for life and maybe it will be worth a bit more in 40years or so....the kids can sell n split the money. I will be 90 and only care about if I crapped myself or if that was yesterday's.

 

[707GK]

You'd also be a cool 7 year old prodigy with a decidedly retro vibe.

You’re overestimating my abilities on bass!

 

[never-enough]

If I had been born in 1983, I’d happily enjoy the jazz bass below as my birth year bass.
it’s a Fullerton reissue, 8.4lbs and plays like a dream. It is set up with rounds, 70/85/105/135 tuned BEAD.

so millennials should have some quality options too!

 

[Copperhead]

I'm just old enough that a birth year bass is nearly impossible.

 

[mikewalker]

As it happens, I'm rebirthing myself this year, and have a 2020 model on order...

 

[Peteyboy]

I gave up on this a long time ago. 1988 is the year for me. I’ve never seen anything from ‘88 that I’d prefer over anything from any other year.

Dopejohnpaul is the best name I've seen on here yet. If you were a slappy Stingray guy you might better appreciate '88.

 

[bluesblaster]

Rebirthing ? .........isnt that cheating?

Mine would be prohibitively expensive, still holding out hope for a garage sale find of a lifetime

 

[Peteyboy]

As it happens, I'm rebirthing myself this year, and have a 2020 model on order...

Pics or it didn't...

Wait, I'm not sure what this entails!

 

[Peteyboy]

If I had been born in 1983, I’d happily enjoy the jazz bass below as my birth year bass.
it’s a Fullerton reissue, 8.4lbs and plays like a dream. It is set up with rounds, 70/85/105/135 tuned BEAD. View attachment 3863502 so millennials should have some quality options too!

No one told you? We're making some adjustments on our D'sOB. Let's just say you're 37. Boom.

 

[captainofsmooth]

Dopejohnpaul is the best name I've seen on here yet. If you were a slappy Stingray guy you might better appreciate '88.

haha, thank you. Name of a defunct band I used to be in during college. And yes, you’re probably right, alas, I am not a slappy Stingray guy at all.

 

[devnulljp]

So, I'm just old enough that the concept of a Birth Year Bass makes sense to me. Gen X or whatever. I'd love to have a 1968 EB2. But what about the TB members who are Millenials? If we agree that their birth year would be 1980 - 1999. What would the coveted BYB be for them? My daughter was born in '02 so I can't ask her this one.

You were born the same year as me. I've had two birth year basses -- a Telecaster bass and an EB-0. Ended up selling them both though when I bought a house. The slab body of the tele was uncomfortable and the EB-0 was kinda muddy. I'd love a birth year EB-3 or a P-Bass, but they're $$$$ now and I already have a couple of nice pre-CBS Fenders so ...
Nice BYB for a millenial? How about a Wal? Or a Stingray? Steinberger (yuk!)?

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

I was born in 69 and have a 68 500/1. I wish I had a 69, but the 68 is close enough I figure. We have both roughly been on the Earth for the same amount of time, and I think that is cool.

 

[jbhaugh]

No interest. Don't get it.

 

[Bill Staudt]

I found mine earlier this year, '71 Engelhardt. The '78 G3 was a wedding gift from my wife.

 

[Dincrest]

I was born in 1978... and I would not want any bass from that year. I'm primarily a 5-string player, and I wouldn't call 1978 a good year for 5-strings. Heck, even in the 1990s, low B's were all over the place because 5-strings were still coming into their own.

 

[farace]

What would I want—and what would I play—from 1960? A Precision might be nice, but I’m off P-Basses, and it might be too valuable to gig. I’d love a ‘60 Rickenbacker, but again I’d be nervous leaving the house with it, and truth be told it probably wouldn’t be as playable as one of my 4003s. Closest I have to birth year is a ‘63 Ampeg by Burns Vista Sonic Bass.

 

[jonesn4bass]

I want an '84 Ibby Musician.

 

[BassTapp]

I wasn't looking for a birth year bass when I purchased my G&L LB-100 but thought it was a cool coincidence it was a '94 model (according to the seller). Two years later I took off the neck for the first time and discovered it is actually a '96. Oh well.

 

[TOOL460002]

Had an '83 Stingray +/- 1-2mo of my actual birthday. Still hurts a bit that it disappeared on me. So if I'm technically a millennial that would be it for me.

 

[Pauly 4001]

In 1952, the choices were just a few less than what you can get today. And frankly, I wouldn’t want want any that were on the market.

I'm just old enough that a birth year bass is nearly impossible.

Having been born in 1958 and being poor and sensible I don't even look at possible birth year basses though if someone wanted to give me a Gibson EB-1 or even a Thunderbird that just happened to be made in 1958 I would be most appreciative.
Thanks in advance for your consideration.