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Does anyone have "the one", yet you keep searching?
- Thread starter CaptainWally
- Start date
I’ve branched out and back over the last 15-20 years. Tried and owned a decent range of non-boutique basses.
Been paring back for a few years and just last month pared back to “the one”. I’ve had this bass for about 10 years and has weathered my fickleness. It’s a ‘62 Fender RI P mongrel - MIJ body and possibly neck. Customized a bit - active PJ BassLine P/U, BadAssII bridge strung with half-rounds. Can get that thumpy passive P sound and that zingy active J sound. Neck suits me great, not heavy and hangs nicely when I play it. Just easy to play, really.
In my favourite livery - vintage white with red tort pickguard, rosewood neck and a vintage tint on neck and headstock. And it’s starting to show some natural relic after years of being gigged.
Been paring back for a few years and just last month pared back to “the one”. I’ve had this bass for about 10 years and has weathered my fickleness. It’s a ‘62 Fender RI P mongrel - MIJ body and possibly neck. Customized a bit - active PJ BassLine P/U, BadAssII bridge strung with half-rounds. Can get that thumpy passive P sound and that zingy active J sound. Neck suits me great, not heavy and hangs nicely when I play it. Just easy to play, really.
In my favourite livery - vintage white with red tort pickguard, rosewood neck and a vintage tint on neck and headstock. And it’s starting to show some natural relic after years of being gigged.
Until I have the $ to find “MY” Pre-CBS Fenders, these are my #1 live basses.
1980-84 Japanese Tokais all day!!
1980-84 Japanese Tokais all day!!
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For me: 2012 Fender American Standard limited edition red wine stain with LaBella thru body DTFs - no mods other than an OEM pickguard replacement. I own and have played others, but that is my Number One - it’s effortless for me to play and sounds perfect to my ears.
Same here. I have never wanted a Gibson enough to buy one but I would preorder one of these if I could. I just am keeping my fingers crossed I can get one in Black or Blue (if it is colored like the guitar version).
I had the one and then I built myself 2 more ones then I bought The Ric I always wanted. Still want that Gibson.
I had the one (G&L JB) and kept looking. Now I have the 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. And I play my Road Worn P bass at most gigs so I don't worry about hurting it (also sounds great!).
But really I just wanted to post this picture:
Wait, you're not really K.R., are you?
Maybe it's the angle of the photo or something, but that thing looks comically thick/slabby....
I wish my #1 was some beat to heck old 60’s Jazz Bass but I found a lifelong player in this, a Lakland 55-02 Deluxe. I still look and have bought a couple others since acquiring it but this one sits in the pole position on nearly 100% of my paying gigs.
Yeah, but that's exactly the point. If you're in 99th percentile already, it's extremely time and/or money consuming to find something that will provide very little improvement....if you ever find it at all.
I guess the thrill is in the hunt. But one could call the hunt a fool's errand.
I think I found it, a Warwick Starbass II, but I'm still on the honeymoon phase, so let's see what happens.
Except we don't know for sure if we're already in the 99th percentile unless we keep looking.
Both MIM, but the 2015 sunburst is my "one." It's also a Standard, whereas the Tidepool one is a Player. Something about the neck—and also the rosewood fret board—feels better to me.
Still constantly searching though. I sold a US G&L L-2000 and I've always regretted it. If I'd given it more time it might've been the one. Right now I'm convinced the Stingray Special HH is my new one, but I've yet to try one.
For ten years my #1 was a Modulus Q4 (in orange flame maple...oooh). Then I decided I needed a 5 string, so #1 became a Modulus Q5 in trans black. Felt very familiar and comfortable. Just like home.
Then a near fatal case of GAS saw the acquisition of a fair handful of 5 Alembic basses, including two five strings and culminating in a Series 1 four string.
Now I have 1A (mod Q5) and 1B (Alembic Series 1).
Or is it the other way around?
And without question, I am still looking for 'the next one'.
Then a near fatal case of GAS saw the acquisition of a fair handful of 5 Alembic basses, including two five strings and culminating in a Series 1 four string.
Now I have 1A (mod Q5) and 1B (Alembic Series 1).
Or is it the other way around?
And without question, I am still looking for 'the next one'.
Lets see... 300-odd basses later and I'm down to just 14 at home now.
But I'm pretty sure I have finally pinned down "the one".
It was really really close at the end: in fact it was "neck and neck"
with my brand spanking new custom-order Status Streamline; but in the end the best bass won, and it was the 1981 Aluminum-necked Kramer Vanguard. WHOOODATHUNKIT?
But I'm pretty sure I have finally pinned down "the one".
It was really really close at the end: in fact it was "neck and neck"
with my brand spanking new custom-order Status Streamline; but in the end the best bass won, and it was the 1981 Aluminum-necked Kramer Vanguard. WHOOODATHUNKIT?
