I have my favorite but it's probably not going to be my forever bass. It's def been my main player longer than anything else, but I'm sure at some point something else will come along.
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Choosing a "forever bass?"
- Thread starter keyofnight
- Start date
In terms of sentiment, a cheap black holo-flake Squier Jazz boughten for me by my good friend Dan (RIP) over 20 years ago when I was nearly outdoors. I will never part with this bass for any reason.
In terms of playability & sound, my 2017 G&L JB5 with an East pre and Fender Noiseless pups. It's perfect up and down, it's my main gigging bass, and I love the way it looks, too. We've really bonded, and I don't ever see it getting replaced at this point.
There may be a couple others, but those are the main 2.
In terms of playability & sound, my 2017 G&L JB5 with an East pre and Fender Noiseless pups. It's perfect up and down, it's my main gigging bass, and I love the way it looks, too. We've really bonded, and I don't ever see it getting replaced at this point.
There may be a couple others, but those are the main 2.
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2 thoughts to the OP.
1. The “forever bass” often chooses you. For example, I had a bass that I originally thought of as a backup, but over time I noticed that it was the one that I was grabbing for everything, so it became my “forever bass.
2. Forever is a long time. Your tastes can change and that’s ok, especially on a GAS enabling site like this one.
1. The “forever bass” often chooses you. For example, I had a bass that I originally thought of as a backup, but over time I noticed that it was the one that I was grabbing for everything, so it became my “forever bass.
2. Forever is a long time. Your tastes can change and that’s ok, especially on a GAS enabling site like this one.
People say when you’re getting a dog you shouldn’t choose it, you should let the dog choose you. I suspect “forever basses” might be the same, it chooses you; or in other words, you know it when you play it and it would be the last one to go in hard times.
This is so encouraging. Thank you. I definitely know I'll dig all of the modern features packed into a form factor that pays homage to classic Ps and Js. I hope I enjoy mine as much as you do yours.
Several folks in this thread have said "there is no such thing as a 'forever bass.'" Maybe that's true. Maybe I'm habitually a long-term relationship type of person. I'm only now switching away from a bass I've had for 20 years. It goes without saying that if you're not like me, that's okay! We're all different, and that's a good thing.
Other folks have said, "you don't choose the bass, it chooses you." I've had that experience with a cat before — she put her nose to my nose and meowed as me, and I knew she was mine. Maybe my experience with basses will one day be similar. For now, I just list all the things I want from something, and pick my favorite from what is usually a very, very limited selection.
Other folks have said, "you don't choose the bass, it chooses you." I've had that experience with a cat before — she put her nose to my nose and meowed as me, and I knew she was mine. Maybe my experience with basses will one day be similar. For now, I just list all the things I want from something, and pick my favorite from what is usually a very, very limited selection.
Of the previous 8 basses I've owned, the one ibanez (SDGR300DX-JB) was my fave, so went looking at the SR300-500 models as my birthday bass, new or used was my price range. Over a couple weeks of re/searching, the emerald Ibanez 35th anniversary SR4 kept staring at me across the search page -totally out of my league, class, skill, price range, everything.
Talking with my wife, I spoke about this model over that and visa versa, then showed her the Emerald as a "Wow, isnt' that the prettiest thing you've ever seen?' kind-of way. It was my wife that then convinced me to spend triple my budget on the Emerald. Why? The way she whittled down the decision tree ended up being, "Is this a bass that is going to be with you for a long time, that you are going to keep forever?" Well, at 54yrs old, this is very likely the highest-quality, most expensive-ever bass I will ever own, so yes, 'forever'.
When it arrived and went over my shoulder my wife said "That's you." When I plucked that first note, I knew my forever bass had come home to me.
As I said in another thread somewhere, I wasn't looking to fall in love. It just happened. And as someone said earlier in this thread, "Forever bass picks you."
PS. Given your choice of Fender/Yamaha, for me it's philosophical. To me, Fender is mandatory conformity and subservience to other's expectations -whether audience, engineer or producer. Maybe it was the recording industry's fault. Either way, Fender is eyes-forward, heads-down, coloring between the lines despite all the inherent goodness they may have.
Talking with my wife, I spoke about this model over that and visa versa, then showed her the Emerald as a "Wow, isnt' that the prettiest thing you've ever seen?' kind-of way. It was my wife that then convinced me to spend triple my budget on the Emerald. Why? The way she whittled down the decision tree ended up being, "Is this a bass that is going to be with you for a long time, that you are going to keep forever?" Well, at 54yrs old, this is very likely the highest-quality, most expensive-ever bass I will ever own, so yes, 'forever'.
When it arrived and went over my shoulder my wife said "That's you." When I plucked that first note, I knew my forever bass had come home to me.
As I said in another thread somewhere, I wasn't looking to fall in love. It just happened. And as someone said earlier in this thread, "Forever bass picks you."
PS. Given your choice of Fender/Yamaha, for me it's philosophical. To me, Fender is mandatory conformity and subservience to other's expectations -whether audience, engineer or producer. Maybe it was the recording industry's fault. Either way, Fender is eyes-forward, heads-down, coloring between the lines despite all the inherent goodness they may have.
Haha, wow, that catalogue man, sure brings back memories.. You should've gotten that Devil Tribal bass, then I'd understand your embarrasment 
But it kind of sounds like the Schecter C-5 is your forever bass. My forever electric guitar is a cheap old Essex (now SX) telecaster, nothing feels home like that one. My forever bass was bought not too long ago (last year), and that was a more though-out case, in the sense that I had a budget in mind, which I could even extend (and did), and I tried everything I could get my hands on. One just stayed in my head for days and that was it. That bass now also feels like home.
But it kind of sounds like the Schecter C-5 is your forever bass. My forever electric guitar is a cheap old Essex (now SX) telecaster, nothing feels home like that one. My forever bass was bought not too long ago (last year), and that was a more though-out case, in the sense that I had a budget in mind, which I could even extend (and did), and I tried everything I could get my hands on. One just stayed in my head for days and that was it. That bass now also feels like home.
My first forever bass is the 51 P that I built. Took it to church and was told it sounds better than any of my other basses I’ve been playing. Subsequently sold my other basses and now my 2nd bass (60’a Jazz) is nearing completion. This will be my 2nd forever bass and my 3rd will likely be a birth year-ish p bass. They are all forever basses only because I’ve built them and the only value they may have is to my kids…..likely not another bass player ;-).
Have you considered supporting a luthier (instead of big companies like Fender and Yamaha) and become much more involved in the process? I'd think this would increase your chances of finding that forever bass...
Someone like Pete Skjold, for example: https://www.skjolddesign.com/
Or, this guy: Models — minor seven
Or many others...
Someone like Pete Skjold, for example: https://www.skjolddesign.com/
Or, this guy: Models — minor seven
Or many others...
The concept is ultimately flawed. My "forever bass" was a beautiful vintage P bass then I found a Squire CV could do the same thing. Bye bye vintage.. a pocket full of greens and the CV covers all areas. ( I dont play jazz fusion or big band) so its fine.
My “forever bass” is the bass I’ve had since forever - in this case, my second bass since I started playing in high school in 1990 (a Carvin LB75 fretless).
One other definition of “forever bass” is which *ONE* bass you’d grab if your house was on fire.
One other definition of “forever bass” is which *ONE* bass you’d grab if your house was on fire.
My new forever bass is a Fender Coronado II (in my avatar). Prior to that is was a 32" Dave Pushic Custom, prior to that it was a 32"Alembic Persuader. Life has a way of changing things...with shoulder arthritis, I had to give up the weight of the Alembic and length of both that and the Pushic. The Fender is a 30" hollow body that checks all the boxes for me!!
My forever bass would be a "Jino Stingray5". Much like the Jino Jazz, but starting from a Stingray5 and adding a couple proper Jazz pickups both sides of the single H.
I've had several forever basses. What happens is boredom. Even though a new bass isn't necessary, I get one just for a temporary thrill.
The only one I've kept is the bass my wife bought me our first Christmas together.
The only one I've kept is the bass my wife bought me our first Christmas together.
Same here.
Life is unpredictable. I’ve learned to use words like: always, never, forever, only, always, and once very sparingly.
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Ive always had a number of instruments, mainly for different voicings for recording purposes.......Since starting my YouTube channel, Ive added more than I need...but I have one Forever Bass: my '95 G&L ASAT. One owner: Me. This bass and I have been through a LOT together. I love her so much that Ive actually kinda retired her (actually, I use an Xvive wireless at gigs and - for some reason - my ASAT creates a buzz through it. Its the only bass I own that does that with the Xvive, so she stays retired)...I will never part with this bass
My forever bass has been my forever bass . . . . . . until it wasn't.
This has happened to me twice and I'm on my third forever bass now.
My personal explanation is simple: I changed. My abilities grew, my musical horizon expanded. Suddenly, some things in a bass became less relevant while others that did not matter before suddenly started mattering.
This has happened to me twice and I'm on my third forever bass now.
My personal explanation is simple: I changed. My abilities grew, my musical horizon expanded. Suddenly, some things in a bass became less relevant while others that did not matter before suddenly started mattering.
Putting aside “forever” and reframing the question to something like “how do i choose a new #1?” I think it’s all about playing them. At this level these are subtle differences that amount to a “feeling” that a bass fits you. Nothing hours of reading reviews or comparing specs would get you.
Of the 2, I’d pick the Fender. I love Yamaha, but I’ve played the Fender and could see it being a #1. So I’d probably stop looking and just get it.
For my own, it’s actually a parts bass. So while I didn’t get to play it first, it took some experimenting (trial and error) and I played lots of basses first to help chose the parts I’d use.
Of the 2, I’d pick the Fender. I love Yamaha, but I’ve played the Fender and could see it being a #1. So I’d probably stop looking and just get it.
For my own, it’s actually a parts bass. So while I didn’t get to play it first, it took some experimenting (trial and error) and I played lots of basses first to help chose the parts I’d use.
I’ve only bought 4 basses since 1974, a Rickenbacker I had from 1974 to 2008, a Fender Jazz I bought for my son and got it back from him, and a 5 string I needed 8 years ago. So, for the most part, I buy a bass, it’s forever. I also have a Strat I bought in 1994, and a Taylor 510 I got 21 years ago.
My current PJ was obtained from my son who traded me even up for his original JB back in 2004.
