Do you have a perfect bass?

[Frog1]

Gibson 1967 EB2. Had it 40 years. Still does the business.

 

[kevmac]

The bass that does it for me is the Guild B-301! Unless I'm getting/making/modding a bass for a specific purpose (like, to fill the VI niche or have a shortscale, etc), it's the bass that I compare all others to. And all others have paled in comparison! Though I still maintain a few for playing out (when I don't want to risk losing the Guild).

It's a wonderful bass.

I would like to try a Rickenbacker 4003S, however - the shape + pickup placement + pickup type might be close! So that would be neat to have.

But then why not just buy another Guild B-301?

Yes that is a wonderful bass.

 

[bassdude51]

Yes.

#1 1953 P Bass 100% original.
#2 1966 P Bass 100% original.

 

[joel the bass player]

Really only messed with one bass out of eight. MIA P has had different bridges and pickguards and a different pickup. Have a Lakland Skyline that could use new tuners, but that is about it. The rest are all stock, I do like to try different strings every now and then though.

 

[Dan Knowlton]

About the only mods I do is different strings! My favorite bass is a Ken Lawrence Brase I 5-string (my avatar is that bass) and I am making a modification to it. I bought it used and someone had replaced the preamp with an Aguilar preamp which I don't think is "right" for the bass as it is a little fuzzy to my ears. The new preamp is a Glockenklang pre (Glockenklang 2-Pickup 5-Knob 3-Band Vol P/P A/P - Bl - Treb - Bass - Mid) that was delivered today.

I have other basses that I can't imagine modifying - MTD 535, Roscoe SKB Custom 5 fretless, Lakland 55-94 (Bart pickups and Lakland/Hanson preamp) and a 55-64 PJ all passive. I do have a Sadowsky 5-21 Satin that I might change the pickguard on - but is that *really* a mod?

Dan

 

[Bilvis]

I have two right now and one that I had too sell. I bought a Warwick Fortress Flashback in ‘97. The first bass I ever had owned, that costed more than $500. Was my main and sometimes only, bass for years. Still love it. In this past year I ordered a custom Alien Audio Constellation five string. These are perfect to me and can handle any style that I have played. Third was my G&L SB-2, any of the 3 that I have owned in the past!) I have never played a bad G&L. Thanks

 

[vlsndgrdn]

My G&L L2000

 

[Bibby]

The 2 in my sig pic, Musicman Sterling Classics. One with rounds, the other with flats. The best blend of vintage and modern I have played to date.

 

[Baloo Pasquariello]

Dead stock, and since I discovered Chromes it's felt just like home.View attachment 4408892

Edumacate me on the chromes, please!

 

[fclef66]

A perfect bass.

One you would never consider changing. One that came just right straight from the factory.

Out of the 5 Basses I own, 4 have had pickup changes. While all were successful and delivered what I wanted. One bass stood alone. Perfect in every way and will not be changed in any way.

The Basses that were changed were 3 Jazz Basses and one precision bass. The Jazz Basses because of the hum. And I’m happy to say that the hum is gone. But crazy good tone is there.

The Precision was also changed because of a clank sound that I traced to the pickups. Switching fixed this issue.

Now oddly enough my last Precision has identical pickups as the one that was upgraded. I’m fact it’s even the same model and year. So other than the finish both Basses were identical. Except for one thing. One has a maple fret board while the other has a rosewood. The maple fret board unit had the clank. Fortunately the pickup change as fixed this problem.

So.

Five Basses. Four upgraded. One stands alone. Perfect right out of the box.

Anybody else have a bass that you wouldn’t change a thing on?

I own several "perfect basses" depending on the gig and style of music I'm playing!! LOL

 

[fclef66]

Edumacate me on the chromes, please!

New skool old skool strings for those of us who enjoy a bit of rw brightness when we first put them on to play a roots/Motown/Americana show. They deaden up nicely after a few months and last for a year unless, of course you want that bright sound again. Full disclosure - I'm a D'Addario artist

 

[Baloo Pasquariello]

New skool old skool strings for those of us who enjoy a bit of rw brightness when we first put them on to play a roots/Motown/Americana show. They deaden up nicely after a few months and last for a year unless, of course you want that bright sound again. Full disclosure - I'm a D'Addario artist

What's funny about this, is that after I replied to your post, I went to Amazon to check them out, and it turns out those are the strings I currently love on my J!

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Yes. My P bass.

 

[BassGH]

Just got a G&L SB2 and it’s the first bass in like 4 years I haven’t wanted to mod. Still adjusting to the balance of it, but as long as it stays in the stable it’ll stay stock,

View attachment 4408961

No urge for a tone control? I sure liked that change on my sb2

 

[CallMeAl]

No urge for a tone control? I sure liked that change on my sb2

Actually no! I had written this bass off because of that; but once I tried one in person I really liked it. I’ve got lightly broken in DR pure blues on it now, and just a little treble cut at the amp is all I need.

But… I’ll probably have to take this out of the running for a “perfect” out of the box bass. I’m going to try lighter tuning machines to combat the slight neck dive. I could probably get used to it, but I just think it would be more comfortable with the swap.

 

[bottomzone]

The only close to perfect basses that I've ever basses owned, but sadly don't anymore, were an Alembic Spoiler 4 and a Ken Smith Black Tiger 5. The only thing I changed was the strings.

 

[PrairieThunder13]

Hm... if repairs don't count, my 1980 4001 is "perfect" and as stock. I had to do a bunch of work refurbing the truss rods, but they work again and are the originals. Other than that, everything else i own and have owned has been modified or i have thought about modifying or is in the "waiting room". Mostly bridge swaps closely followed by pickup/electronics stuff followed by pickguards and other cosmetics. I have modified stuff to my perception of "perfection", though.

the only basses i have ever played and thought were perfect "as is" are alembics.

 

[Marlon Carbone]

My Kiesel VBM7. It's multi-scale, got a chambered ash body, and roasted maple neck & fretboard. By far, this is the most dynamic bass I own (I have 4 others... all 7 string). Playing lightly gets you a very smooth to articulate sound like you would expect from any bass. Attack the strings more aggressively and this bass jumps up and punches you in the face.

I don't ever use it in active mode (actually... all of my basses are passive or active/passive in passive mode). I've come to dislike the active tone and response. The pickups really translate the tone of the wood, strings, and my fingers.

 

[Bill Murray]

View attachment 4415908
My Kiesel VBM7. It's multi-scale, got a chambered ash body, and roasted maple neck & fretboard. By far, this is the most dynamic bass I own (I have 4 others... all 7 string). Playing lightly gets you a very smooth to articulate sound like you would expect from any bass. Attack the strings more aggressively and this bass jumps up and punches you in the face.

I don't ever use it in active mode (actually... all of my basses are passive or active/passive in passive mode). I've come to dislike the active tone and response. The pickups really translate the tone of the wood, strings, and my fingers.

that’s nuts! Probably my favorite Kiesal I’ve seen.

That’s funny about the passive/active thing because I’ve gone the exact opposite route haha. I don’t like passive anymore but its nice that it’s there if I forget to change the battery.

 

[Free Bassing]

I don't know if it's a perfect base but I always thought the 80s BC Rich Mockingbirds were really cool looking