Do You Own Your Perfect Bass?

[Smallmouth_Bass]

So, I am curious: do you own a bass that is perfect in every way to you? I really mean, you would change absolutely nothing on it. This would include, shape, weight, scale length, pickups, electronics, colour, woods used, string spacing, neck radius, fingerboard dots and side dots, etc...

If you do own your perfect bass, what is it and did it take you a long time to find it? Did you have to custom order to get it? Pictures welcome and encouraged!

If you don't own your perfect bass, what are things that you would change to make it a perfect bass?

For the intents of purposes of this discussion, the perfect bass for you, including warts and all is not part of the discussion (meaning, not a bass that you've come to accept its shortcomings).

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I'll be the first to say, that I am not sure a perfect bass exists. I think there are certain compromises that need to be made to have the best bass possible.

 

[r_bnks]

Yes,

Kramer Era Spector NS-2s. They're perfect in every way. And the 2 Euros are also perfect.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Yes My Stingray Special 4H meets all requirements you listed for me

I would add build quality and fit and finish

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Two of my basses that get me most of the way there:

1) Dingwall SuperJ 5 (P/J)

• It has 19mm string spacing at the bridge and a wide nut. My preference would be for 18mm spacing and a slimmer nut.
• Access to the upper frets is a little difficult.
• The body is on the large side (for me).
• Even though it is chambered (it's an older model), 1/2 pound lighter would be ideal.

2) Sandberg VM5

• The right forearm body bevel is a little sharp.
• The neck radius is a little too flat.
• The side dots could be a little bigger (I am getting older!).
• The bridge is beautiful, but adjusting it is more difficult than it should be.

 

[Swerve]

Just about any old passive P bass with a comfy neck, good pickups, and no neck dive is perfect enough for me. I'm not very particular about every detail.

 

[Iristone]

I've got a few basses for different music, so I may have more than one perfect bass (or no perfect bass at all, depending on how you look at it).
My Rickenbacker is just about perfect. It's been through some heavy repairs and mods, but it's reached a state that I just want to play it as-is. My Eart Steinberger copy with EMG HB pickups is also nigh on perfect - spare for a possible fret job.

 

[HardNHeavy]

my 83 p bass with maple neck....i wanted rosewood, but oh well........and it took a few months just to find that when there no internet...perfect otherwise for my needs way back then. Now i strictly use my J and its been modded, so my tastes have changed over the yrs.

 

[ics1974]

I voted No but I know what my perfect bass would be. A Stingray Special with a 2 band EQ and alnico pickups. That would be perfection.

 

[Mike Vee]

Yes, My American Original Precision bass. I thought it was perfect until I got the nut filed a bit, now it's beyond my wildest dreams.

I also had a perfect natural Stingray once but regretfully sold it. HOWEVER, I am happy to report I just caught it for sale on Reverb and it's on its way back to poppa as we speak! So then I will have a perfect P bass and a perfect Stingray.

 

[Moving Pictures]

These two are the closest I have and like you, I don’t know that there is a perfect bass for me. However the 60’s AVII is pretty darn close.

 

[Geri O]

Not just one perfect bass, but two perfect basses that I wouldn’t change a thing on.

One took a little experimenting with, but it’s there now.

One was perfect out of the box.

I’ve added Hipshot Xtenders to both.

 

[Discount Bassy]

I own 3 G.Gould basses, a five and six with frets and a six without. Whichever I am playing is easily my favorite of the trio.

 

[Derek Kay]

Yes,

Kramer Era Spector NS-2s. They're perfect in every way. And the 2 Euros are also perfect.
View attachment 7034617

I would happily play all your gear.

I would also include a 5er, or at least a D-tuner

 

[Petethebassman]

Late 1970s to early 1980s were a low point of Fender quality control, but still they managed to make great basses. I got very lucky with this one, I didn't even have to search for it, a friend had inherited it from her late father who bought this 1980 Fender Jazz Bass new in the early 1980s, and she asked if I might be interested in buying it. And it doesn't need any mods, it is a very good bass. 99.9% stock condition (the 0.1% = three bridge height adjustment screws had broken heads, they were rusty and stuck so I had to replace those).

Perfect balance, very comfortable and fast neck with the vintage 7.25" radius which I prefer, nicely applied 3-tone sunburst, nice grain pattern on the ash body, 1-piece maple neck, moderate weight for the era (9.9 lbs), classic punchy Jazz Bass tones, stable neck, very good tuning stability even considering it has a 3-bolt neck.

 

[pingvuiini]

I am severely enjoying my custom made KB Shmuke bass, which is a lefty four string fretless uke bass. I did make one small change, switching out the Dunlop two way Strap Loks for flush mount.

 

[SteveC]

I think I'm about as close as I can get. I've had my Roscoe Century 5 for over 12 years and it is my go to bass for sure. Plays itself, all that stuff. Would cover any gig I would have if it were all I had.

I also feel I have a Roscoe Century 5 fretless. It's not my main bass but it could be. I use it almost exclusively at church, and would work for almost anything else. It's just easier with a fretted bass when you're trying to put on a show on stage.

Last is a gift from my wife, and could also be my one and only perfect bass if I decided I don't NEED a B string and played stuff up an octave or whatever. I'm fortunate to have 3 "perfect" basses.

 

[el jeffe bass]

My instruments are all just tools to be used in the pursuit Of making music. They are all perfectly adequate for their intended purpose. I’m not one to romanticize or otherwise elevate inanimate things. That said, I enjoy every instrument that I own.

 

[Nolan Tremblay]

The bass I am playing right now is very nice (SR5006) and does a lot of what I need in a bass.

My perfect bass (I think) has a shorter scale length and is a headless multiscale bass. I have a headless shorter scale bass on order. If that does what I'm hoping it will do, I may invest the money needed to get what to me would be my perfect bass. The interim bass let's me get 85% of the way there for much less money. If I feel that the other changes are going to get me there then I'll go after that bass along with the aesthetic aspects that I think will make a perfect bass for me. Will it really? I'm not sure.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I am severely enjoying my custom made KB Shmuke bass, which is a lefty four string fretless uke bass. I did make one small change, switching out the Dunlop two way Strap Loks for flush mount.

View attachment 7034679
View attachment 7034680

That headstock reminds me of Tobias basses (the original Tobias that Gibson acquired). Very nice!