Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
- 12,122
- 16,793
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- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
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Have you found the one?
- Thread starter BassJuju
- Start date
I found “the one” in about 1993, my 1985 Mk I Custom Series Wal. I found “the one and a half” in around 2001. My Wal Pro Series IIE.
Been with me ever since and not being sold... ever!
C
Been with me ever since and not being sold... ever!
1. How did you know you’d found your one?
She could cook, and she thought the bass player was hotter than the Lead Guitarist.
2. What did you do with the rest once you knew?
Broke their hearts.
Oh you're talking basses.... In that regard I'm a slut that could never commit to a monogamous relationship.
She could cook, and she thought the bass player was hotter than the Lead Guitarist.
2. What did you do with the rest once you knew?
Broke their hearts.
Oh you're talking basses.... In that regard I'm a slut that could never commit to a monogamous relationship.
<---- The one on this pic.
When I saw it in a second hand store, I felt immediately that this '73 Precision was mine, this was obvious. Playing it confirmed she was The One, the price as well, I could afford it despite I was not rich, was quite cheap thanks to the finish not original.
All the basses I owned before this meeting are long gone. I acquired a few other ones afterwards, but none has dethroned her and only a few remain ('79 MM Sabre, Ampeg AEB-1 and Cort B4-FL) although I don't play them as much as The One.
When I saw it in a second hand store, I felt immediately that this '73 Precision was mine, this was obvious. Playing it confirmed she was The One, the price as well, I could afford it despite I was not rich, was quite cheap thanks to the finish not original.
All the basses I owned before this meeting are long gone. I acquired a few other ones afterwards, but none has dethroned her and only a few remain ('79 MM Sabre, Ampeg AEB-1 and Cort B4-FL) although I don't play them as much as The One.
She made my heart swell and I just needed to be around her all the time.
Too funny! You look very much like I did in that first picture. Same hair, same guitar strap, same progger look. Only difference was my "stage silks" were white instead of gold.
Guess we lifelong Ripper players share the same DNA and go through a similar larval stage.
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Yes I have found the one...well the ones to be exact. I do like to have a little variety. I have been trying and buying many different basses though out the years and about 3 years ago, I have settle with 3 brands of basses. from there my gas for different basses has ended. those brands in question are schecter, Ibanez, and Yamaha. these are the bass guitars I have decided to stick with.
to answer the first question, I knew they were the ones because they have certain sound qualities that I have been looking for. they work well with the music I play and they sound phenomenal with my effects.
to answer the second question, what I've done with the bass guitars I've previously owned and thought were the ones I ended up selling them to save money on the next one. after finding the ones I truly like, I ended up keeping them. they will stay in my arsenal for good.
to answer the first question, I knew they were the ones because they have certain sound qualities that I have been looking for. they work well with the music I play and they sound phenomenal with my effects.
to answer the second question, what I've done with the bass guitars I've previously owned and thought were the ones I ended up selling them to save money on the next one. after finding the ones I truly like, I ended up keeping them. they will stay in my arsenal for good.
Taz my 1982 Carvin LB50 Koa was ordered from the factory and it was an instant bond from first sight and strum. Taz has been my constant companion since on stages world wide, crowds large and small and has been on every record I have played. At one point he developed a serious back bow from touring but I was fortunate to find a willing surgeon after several hacks dismissed the patient. Michael Stevens pre-tensioned then neck and re-planed the fingerboard to a compound radius (a rare and dangerous procedure in that day and time) and Steve Crisp did a most worthy fret job. A bit later the bridge pickup went a bit microphonic and Jon Bessent hand wound the repair and wax potted the coils and replaced the capacitors and point to pointed the wiring.
There have always been other basses that have come and gone some were work horses that had to be retired like my 1967 Precision that was my other companion for touring, sadly the neck developed a fatal twist and the body started to cup, he is in retirement in residence in a Hard Rock Cafe somewhere and I got a nice check.
Taz has always enjoyed having other companions and rarely complains about my playing other basses as long as he has his place of honor.
There have always been other basses that have come and gone some were work horses that had to be retired like my 1967 Precision that was my other companion for touring, sadly the neck developed a fatal twist and the body started to cup, he is in retirement in residence in a Hard Rock Cafe somewhere and I got a nice check.
Taz has always enjoyed having other companions and rarely complains about my playing other basses as long as he has his place of honor.
To answer the OP #1 It took some time to know there could be nothing to top it. It keeps proving itself.
#2 I'm still rotating the stock but it's losing it's lustre
What a beautiful collection of basses and answers. The one, some not the ones, and bass promiscuity on display. I certainly identified with many of the responses on several levels. I too have thought that there was no mythical “one” and that I was always needing a different this or that to get a new tone. I have many basses and all of them are special to me in some way. I have a few that are favorites and will most likely never go anywhere. I have a few that have a low resale value and so I will keep them too. I have a few that may get sold.
However, I’m guessing that some of you are thinking, but why did you start all this oneness?? Well, I think I may have found it. It is not the one I thought it would be. I mean have had favorites... co #1’s if you will... and then extras that fit a niche. Or that I bought because I liked it. I buy things that make me smile and that may never changed.
Part of the reason I started this thread was to see how many people felt compelled to sell all the non-ones. Turns out, not so many. I am ok with that. I will probably never be the guy with one bass and a backup. I just like things a bit too much I suppose.
The other reason is that I think I have found the one. I suppose that really can’t be decisive until some time has past, but there are signs. Of all my favorites, this one is different in that it feels like it’s simply an extension of me. It also has tone for days. Days. Mix-flaying tone. Tone that makes the room move. Authoritative bassiness that asserts itself firmly into the mix. I’ve played mellow round warm whole notes to support ballads and then rolled the tone up a bit, move my hand, and played driving rhythms on up tunes. Then, hit an OD pedal, pulled out a pick, and rocked out.
I certainly don’t dislike the others just because this one is home. Although, there are few basses that have been in the regular rotation that will probably be bit players going forward. I’m OK with that and I am looking forward to seeing where this goes. I also hope everyone here can find their one or ones as the case may be.
Thanks for playing along!
However, I’m guessing that some of you are thinking, but why did you start all this oneness?? Well, I think I may have found it. It is not the one I thought it would be. I mean have had favorites... co #1’s if you will... and then extras that fit a niche. Or that I bought because I liked it. I buy things that make me smile and that may never changed.
Part of the reason I started this thread was to see how many people felt compelled to sell all the non-ones. Turns out, not so many. I am ok with that. I will probably never be the guy with one bass and a backup. I just like things a bit too much I suppose.
The other reason is that I think I have found the one. I suppose that really can’t be decisive until some time has past, but there are signs. Of all my favorites, this one is different in that it feels like it’s simply an extension of me. It also has tone for days. Days. Mix-flaying tone. Tone that makes the room move. Authoritative bassiness that asserts itself firmly into the mix. I’ve played mellow round warm whole notes to support ballads and then rolled the tone up a bit, move my hand, and played driving rhythms on up tunes. Then, hit an OD pedal, pulled out a pick, and rocked out.
I certainly don’t dislike the others just because this one is home. Although, there are few basses that have been in the regular rotation that will probably be bit players going forward. I’m OK with that and I am looking forward to seeing where this goes. I also hope everyone here can find their one or ones as the case may be.
Thanks for playing along!
I've been through several #1's. They all fall out of favor over time. My current #1 has been in that role since last August and I haven't wavered so far. I still enjoy a good P bass, and will play one on certain shows.
I have a fairly large collection...approaching forty basses. Right now, I'm having fun going through my collection and looking for a solid #2. I'm also wondering when I'm going to turn back to five string basses.
I have a fairly large collection...approaching forty basses. Right now, I'm having fun going through my collection and looking for a solid #2. I'm also wondering when I'm going to turn back to five string basses.
Same here. Took a long time to find The One, and I grabbed up what I could here in this rather remote location. Just found a very old Artist a couple of weeks ago, waiting for a replacement pickup to show up in the mail. Dunno what model it is; candy apple red with that rather weird triangular pickguard. That neck though...
I had The One for 27 years, and then it suddenly got very heavy. Since it was customized, it took a LOT of buying, selling and trading to find the one again. It turned out to be an MTD Kingston which the salesmen asked me to try despite my protestations against maple fretboards and the price tag. "You don't have to BUY it!...I'm just asking you- as a bass player- to just TRY it!" I picked it up and noodled a moment and knew I was in trouble and wondered how I was gonna explain bringing this one home. The neck is amazing for me, and now everything else is a struggle to play. Found a second and a third through serendipity.
I just found the one last month, a lefty Fender MIJ '62 Reissue Jazz. Been wanting a MIJ J bass for years but had never found one that I could play (music shops around here average 1 Squier Strat & an EPI LP). The first time I played it I knew it was the one.
I have been privileged to play and own a considerable number of quite special instruments over the years. I began playing string instruments in 1977. I've owned several vintage pieces oozing with mojo, some nice high end and custom instruments as well as plenty of really cool, fun, good-sounding and playing cheapies.
Also, I do believe there can be a symbiotic, even mystical sort of connection between a musician and his or her instrument. I have felt that myself.
All that said, at this point in my life I'm not chasing the tone dragon. I'm not trying to impress anyone, only please myself. I don't care to own a lot of music gear (or anything else.)
Essentially, if the neck is straight, it holds tune, is passive, has four strings, is comfortable for me to play, and if, when I plug one end of a cable into the jack on the bass and the other end into an amp and sound comes out, any bass can be "the one" at any given time.
Also, I do believe there can be a symbiotic, even mystical sort of connection between a musician and his or her instrument. I have felt that myself.
All that said, at this point in my life I'm not chasing the tone dragon. I'm not trying to impress anyone, only please myself. I don't care to own a lot of music gear (or anything else.)
Essentially, if the neck is straight, it holds tune, is passive, has four strings, is comfortable for me to play, and if, when I plug one end of a cable into the jack on the bass and the other end into an amp and sound comes out, any bass can be "the one" at any given time.
