Hummergeist
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- Jul 21, 2020
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Choosing a "forever bass?"
- Thread starter keyofnight
- Start date
Haaa!! I bought a beautiful Fender jazz thinking this one would be it. Hand it down to my son, I took the bass play it at a gig for one set, could not stand it, swapped back to my sterling ray4, took the Jazz back to guitar Center.
My forever bass is a pf50t fliptop and 4string passive fretless bass...of which I have a few.
My forever bass is my Olympic White 1982 Fender Jazz with white-bound all-maple neck, white pickguard, white pickup covers, and white strat-type numbered control knobs. It also has the 70's era pickup spacing of 4" center to center, which places the bridge pickup not quite 1/2" closer to the bridge, resulting in a brighter sound than the 3.6" center to center spacing used currently as well as in the 60's. I bought it because when I picked it off the wall of the music store and played it, it felt like coming home. The neck has the same feel to it that my '65 Jazz did that I bought in 1965, toured with in the early 70's, and was stolen in 1976. It has a 60's Slim C-shape neck with a 7.25" radius. It took me almost 10-years to find another Jazz that had that neck on it. All the other ones had fatter necks than my '65.
As to be expected it sounds a little brighter than my '65 and growls more easily when I dig into the strings over the bridge pickup. It also has a lot better sustain then my '65 did. It has the best and easiest playability that I've ever experienced. I really don't need or want anything modern, at least not in a 4-string. But I'm an old guy; I know what I like; and this is it!
Ibanez SRX3EXQM1 modded with a Bartolini 3-band preamp (EQ bypass included).
It's not the best at anything, but it's can kick it hard in almost everything.
It's not the best at anything, but it's can kick it hard in almost everything.
So at the beginning of COVID I found this builder on Reverb (guitars by MO) whom was offering real telecaster shaped basses at fire sale prices.
I ordered a mahogany fretless 5 with ebony fingerboard.
UPS damaged it in transit so we went through Reverb insurance hell to ship it back to him so he could actually rebuild my new bass.
Words can't describe. It's voice is deep punchy powerful and everything you've ever been lied to about in an instrument brochure.
I love that bass so much I bought it's sibling from Michael about a year ago, a fretted PJ 5 with a fancy top.
316bassguitars.com no affiliation.
I ordered a mahogany fretless 5 with ebony fingerboard.
UPS damaged it in transit so we went through Reverb insurance hell to ship it back to him so he could actually rebuild my new bass.
Words can't describe. It's voice is deep punchy powerful and everything you've ever been lied to about in an instrument brochure.
I love that bass so much I bought it's sibling from Michael about a year ago, a fretted PJ 5 with a fancy top.
316bassguitars.com no affiliation.
My "forever bass" is the next one....or maybe the one after that. 
Exactly. I’ve come to the conclusion that there simply is no “forever” bass or guitar for me because I’ve had several. But notice the past tense, had.My "forever bass" is the next one....or maybe the one after that.
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,588
- 18,607
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- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
It’s the one that has my initials at the end of the headstock. It might be a main, but not my only tools that I use.
I think my Nash PB63 fits the bill for me. Time will tell, but so far it's the best P bass I've owned and that's the sound and feel I'm looking for.
Everyones needs are different. For me, an Active 5 String Jazz is the forever all needs covered bass.
However, I must say, I do also love the Flats, Precision and Tubes.
However, I must say, I do also love the Flats, Precision and Tubes.
That is sweet. And Lull makes a great bass. Still need to order my PJ5
Forever Bass not sure I have one.
Dream Bass I want 4 string Fodera Monarch Standard.
Since I took up playing again in 2007 or 2008 for many years I had only 1 bass a Ibanez SR 500.
I never truly feel in love with it but it was what I could afford at the time. Bought a MIJ/CIJ Geddy Lee Jazz instantly fell in love with it its not going anywhere. Since then I've added multiple basses that aren't going anywhere that fit different tonal, styles, etc.
I was also extremely lucky to have had on loan a Fodera Standard Classic for darn near 8 years.
going to NAMM over the years cured me of wanting so many brands that just didn't fell right. Also helped me to better understand what I do like A lot of High end basses have been removed form my desire lottery list. LOL
Wish I had gotten a Pedulla Rapture. But honestly at this point I want other Basses no needs whatsoever. Things I like to obtain 5 string Jazz, Stingray Special 5HH or Bongo, EBMMSRS Short Scale, 32" Maruszczyk custom bass, & Fodera my dream bass.
Dream Bass I want 4 string Fodera Monarch Standard.
Since I took up playing again in 2007 or 2008 for many years I had only 1 bass a Ibanez SR 500.
I never truly feel in love with it but it was what I could afford at the time. Bought a MIJ/CIJ Geddy Lee Jazz instantly fell in love with it its not going anywhere. Since then I've added multiple basses that aren't going anywhere that fit different tonal, styles, etc.
I was also extremely lucky to have had on loan a Fodera Standard Classic for darn near 8 years.
going to NAMM over the years cured me of wanting so many brands that just didn't fell right. Also helped me to better understand what I do like A lot of High end basses have been removed form my desire lottery list. LOL
Wish I had gotten a Pedulla Rapture. But honestly at this point I want other Basses no needs whatsoever. Things I like to obtain 5 string Jazz, Stingray Special 5HH or Bongo, EBMMSRS Short Scale, 32" Maruszczyk custom bass, & Fodera my dream bass.
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everything about this picture kicks ass
I've been thinking about something similar lately. I've got four basses at the moment and I'm looking to downsize. The four are as follows:
- Guild Starfire II (a newer Newark St. Reissue)
- SX P Bass (Souped up w/ an EMG P)
- Sterling Ray4 (Also with EMG electronics)
- Partscaster Fretless Fender Jazz
The one I can't even consider parting with is the Guild. It was the first bass that I saved up for, most of the money I got from my first summer job went into it. It has everything I want out of a vintage sounding instrument: it can cover the McCartney sounds as well as Motown or even upright, and especially when I'm singing while playing, it feels so right. The other three, though? I'm just not nearly as attached to. Sure, there's something sentimental I can say about them all, but they wouldn't be missed so heavily.
I'd really like to streamline things to the Guild and one other bass, but I've been wondering where to go with that because there's things I like and dislike about all of the other three. The P Bass is perfect for recording and often really good live, but there's many times where it blends in a little too well, and I can't even hear myself. (Although it is a cheap bass that I did tinker with to make passable, so maybe I've just found its limits.) The StingRay is a similar story; it's punchy and can cover a lot of ground but I often find the sound just isn't quite right for some things. The fretless Jazz is fun to mess about with, but not much else.
If I were to be able to use those three to fund a "forever bass" to accompany my Guild I'm not sure what that would look like. My two ideas so far are some sort of Double P Bass I'd likely build myself (a la Leland Sklar or Doug Stegmeyer), or just save up enough for a USA StingRay. Who knows, though? Maybe my "Forever Bass" is something I've never even tried before. Somewhere in the back of my mind I know it's probably going to be a bass that I find in the wild, a bass I'll play and just know is exactly what I need, just like it was with my Guild.
- Guild Starfire II (a newer Newark St. Reissue)
- SX P Bass (Souped up w/ an EMG P)
- Sterling Ray4 (Also with EMG electronics)
- Partscaster Fretless Fender Jazz
The one I can't even consider parting with is the Guild. It was the first bass that I saved up for, most of the money I got from my first summer job went into it. It has everything I want out of a vintage sounding instrument: it can cover the McCartney sounds as well as Motown or even upright, and especially when I'm singing while playing, it feels so right. The other three, though? I'm just not nearly as attached to. Sure, there's something sentimental I can say about them all, but they wouldn't be missed so heavily.
I'd really like to streamline things to the Guild and one other bass, but I've been wondering where to go with that because there's things I like and dislike about all of the other three. The P Bass is perfect for recording and often really good live, but there's many times where it blends in a little too well, and I can't even hear myself. (Although it is a cheap bass that I did tinker with to make passable, so maybe I've just found its limits.) The StingRay is a similar story; it's punchy and can cover a lot of ground but I often find the sound just isn't quite right for some things. The fretless Jazz is fun to mess about with, but not much else.
If I were to be able to use those three to fund a "forever bass" to accompany my Guild I'm not sure what that would look like. My two ideas so far are some sort of Double P Bass I'd likely build myself (a la Leland Sklar or Doug Stegmeyer), or just save up enough for a USA StingRay. Who knows, though? Maybe my "Forever Bass" is something I've never even tried before. Somewhere in the back of my mind I know it's probably going to be a bass that I find in the wild, a bass I'll play and just know is exactly what I need, just like it was with my Guild.
Honestly, I have not had GAS in a good long time and while I have some very desirable basses, and good example of those desirable basses, I think my next bass is either going to be a Warmoth build or maybe just a good CV Squier with electronics of my choice. Surf Green or Daphne Blue. It's just an axe. It's not a new girlfriend and if it were, she'd piss me off one day. Many of the basses you see on national stage tours are actually shiny beaters. If the neck and action are good and the pickup is good....what more do I want?
Maybe this will help folks understand my post: The Warmoth build, or any bass I play on stage, would be a Precision with no more than two knobs. The other grass....does not look greener to me.
7.6 lbs. Nordstrand pickup. Satin finish. Perfect comfort. I feel very fortunate to own it. Definitely forever.
My forever bass is this P that I commissioned from Lakland. We will grow old together.
However I'm currently having an affair with a Stingray. It won't last -- but it's okay to have some fun, right?
However I'm currently having an affair with a Stingray. It won't last -- but it's okay to have some fun, right?
