Choosing a "forever bass?"

[Stylee Mousse]

My clear blue G&L L-1000 I bought when I was 16 in 1982 is and always will be my forever bass. I have a Fretless jazz and a JC that I also enjoy playing and recording but the G&L will always be #1 for me.

it has never been a limiting factor to me so I can’t see what I have to gain hunting for some mythical improvement that is more important than technique

 

[FeltTipPen]

I used to have a mindset of buying a bass as a forever bass but that has changed over time. I would say that two of my basses have become forever basses because they've been important parts of my musical development and I can't see myself getting rid of them.

My first high quality bass, my Stingray5HH and my first fretless, my G&L L-2500.

 

[FeltTipPen]

And even though I don't have either of your choices, I would choose the Yamaha.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

Also Yamaha! Those are great basses

 

[Iridescentone]

I've bought basses online that, the instant I picked them up I knew they were fornever basses.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

 

[micguy]

I had a few "forever basses" a few years ago - all ones i put together, with unique circuits and the like. I was convinced I had my "forever herd", but I needed a 5....maybe. I built a 5, and now my previous "forever herd" (all 4's) has been donated, and I have a small herd of all 5's. At this point, I think I've learned that I shouldn't think of anything as forever, but I don't know (at this very minute) what else I would build. Of course, I could wake up tomorrow with an idea......

 

[lordradish]

My forever bass is my Wal 5 string. Because it's a Wal, plays and sounds amazing.

As to my rec to you, go for the Yamaha. I say that because it's more modern and Fenders are a dime a dozen.

 

[Swerve]

The forever bass isn't found outside ones self, it's found on the inside.

So whatever external bass I'm holding in the moment becomes an extension of my inner bass self.

I am the forever bass.

 

[shadven]

forever bass chooses you

That’s zen

 

[pingvuiini]

My current forever bass:

Although I have had several ‘forever’ basses, I do admire bassists that manage to really hold on to one bass throughout their whole career or at least have a strong association with a particular bass. Examples include Geddy’s Rickenbacker phase, Lemmy and his Rick, Jaco’s Jazz and Leigh Gorman’s Wal.

 

[Geri O]

The forever bass isn't found outside ones self, it's found on the inside.

So whatever external bass I'm holding in the moment becomes an extension of my inner bass self.

I am the forever bass.

That’s deep.

I love it!….

 

[shadven]

Get a Fender Precision Bass (not P+J) and call it a day!

 

[tb-player]

I’ve had so many ‘forever basses’ and ‘keepers’ that the concept has become laughable. That being said, I can see myself keeping this Custom Shop Precision forever. I just really like it a lot.

 

[logdrum]

My forever bass has been with me since I got in a pawnshop in West Plains MO in 1987, I learned how to play bass on it -- I was working in a Yoga retreat center when yoga was considered the work of devil specially around that park of the Ozarks and I got it when I was getting supplies to fix the hot water floor heating system and I passed by pawnshop. 120 including a Peavey TKO/ Kramer Pioneer P-Bass. I have travelled with this bass when I lived in Europe and India.

In 1988, a Luthier named Phil Orlikowski, defretted the bass and added an ebony slab overhanging the original fingerboard all the way to a high C# on the G -30 frets. He also put n Barcus Berry piezos in the neck and under the saddle. Then I contacted Bill Bartolini when they were still in Livermore CA and he made me a buffer for the piezo plus a Q control (think Lusithand or Wal Filter ) in one small preamp box. I played so many gigs and that bass was recorded not just by me but people that borrowed it. The neck cracked twice, once in Minnesota and here in ABQ and was repaired and it still plays. The ebony prevented it from snapping. The bass body is made of basswood and the control cavity is shot. A few hard knocks and drilling too many holes for knobs and switches caused the front to collapse. The control plate was done by someone in India I believe and I have no idea why he cut it that way. My friend is fixing it up and I am removing the various electronics I have added throughout the years and keeping the original Q filter from Bartolini. It also has Bartolini pickups and according to Bill, it is wound to work with piezo.

Can't sell this bass. No one would want it as it is too beat up looking but it sounds really nice. I just had my 5 string with Nordy Big Split jazz fitted with Lusithand and this one just sounds better, better than the Pedulla even.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

I have 2 forever instruments. My Squier VM p bass TB and my Squier CV50s Duo Sonic. I will play these two until they fall apart.

I have others, arguably better instruments, but I’d sell all of them (with much reluctance) before I sold those two. They are the sound and look I identify with, and I have an unexplainable loyalty towards them.

 

[Chris_will_do]

Never sold any of my basses. They found me or I carefully found them. Who knows. But they're part of me.

 

[winston]

My forever bass has been with me since I got in a pawnshop in West Plains MO in 1987, I learned how to play bass on it -- I was working in a Yoga retreat center when yoga was considered the work of devil specially around that park of the Ozarks and I got it when I was getting supplies to fix the hot water floor heating system and I passed by pawnshop. 120 including a Peavey TKO/ Kramer Pioneer P-Bass. I have travelled with this bass when I lived in Europe and India.

Haha my first rig ever in '85 was a black Kramer Pioneer JJ through a Peavey TKO65.
Loved the bass, amp was terrible (had a cheap speaker, not a Black Widow or Scorpion).

My taste in basses has changed enough in almost 40 years of playing that I'm not sure I'll have a forever bass.
But finding I'm drawn to lightweight J-style 4s.

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

I happen to have both of the basses you mentioned. I have flats on the Fender and rounds on the Yamaha. They get played on different gigs and provide a great deal of versatility.

If I had to pick only one to play forever though, it would be the Yamaha - without a second thought. I wouldn't want to live a life without the bridge sound - despite the fact that I'd probably play the P alone most of the time. In your case; Yamaha is a mixture of vintage + modern. PJ is a nice formula for that anyway.

• P at 10, J at 0: Warm vintage P sound.
• P at 10, J at 9: P sound with some bite. Good formula for overdrive.
• P at 10, J at 10: Slap-able scooped sound. Not unlike a J.
• P at 9, J at 10: Bridge-oriented bark. Not unlike an MM.
• P at 0, J at 10: Jaco!

Fender P can do only one of these sounds; not hard to guess which.

Although I love my P and make most of my musical income by playing it, you'd have to put a gun against my head to make me call it anything remotely modern. My definition of "modern" needs to have that bridge bite. A single P pickup simply isn't that.

 

[Watchootognbout]

For the most part......for the most part.........it's these two.