How bad (or good) was your first bass?

[mongo2]

I saw one of those amp-in-the-case jobs at a store in Portland a few years ago. I was floored that it was a TUBE amp.

Yes, it was. For those interested, below is a link to the Owner's Manual/Service Data with schematic of the Silvertone case amp model 1449 and 1457.

https://www.silvertoneworld.net/schematics/schematic_manual_1449_1457.pdf

 

[Lownote38]

My first bass was a 1987 MIJ Fender Precision. It was an incredible first bass. I sold it, but bought it back in 2019. It's staying with me this time.

 

[Ostie]

Mine was a Kalamazoo KB-1 that I got in a trade in 1978. I didn’t play it much as I was playing guitar in a band at the time. It wasn’t a bad bass, much better than the Kingston that I later borrowed from my GFs brother. That one had a crappy laminated neck and super high action.

 

[Tony Bassplayer]

My first bass was a St. George. No clue as to the year or model of the bass, my Dad bought it in 1977 or '78. The A-string kept breaking on it for some reason. I was also too naive to carry spare strings to a gig, so of course one night the A-string snapped about 3 songs in and I had to play the rest of the night on the other three strings.

I just found photographic proof.

 

[CletusMarley]

Mine was a Sterling Ray 24.

 

[Oldboy]

I was the lucky owner of a Rosetti Bass 7 as my first bass back in '67.Complete with TV coax connector and neck pup o/s.My father bought it for me.The action was really bad and the tuners were made of plastic,but I was proud of it.Wish I'd kept it.It was replaced soon after with its younger brother the Egmond Lucky 7 bass.

 

[BassyBill]

My first bass was a P bass copy by “Satellite” (Korean, I think). It cost me £84 back in 1978. It was plenty good enough for me to start earning £10 a night on reading gigs with my Dad’s band just a few months later. Here’s a pic of the same bass that I found online, just recently.

When I bought my second bass about four years later (a Westone Thunder 1A (tremendous), I defretted the P bass, filled the slots with car body filler and it became my first fretless. I loved that bass!

 

[definenredefine]

I just found photographic proof.
View attachment 5099608

That's pretty.

 

[HHudson]

When I was playing bass right handed the below colossal piece of crap was the worse bass geetar my hands had the displeasure of playing. I think it's a 66-67 Hofner and once I got all the parts put together, the action was just too high and it now sits in one of my brothers closet with a few other of my guitars. Maybe someday I'll go get it and sell it..... Maybe..

@duanev3 , probably 1967 if those surrounds are original & if that bridge SC Bar PU is the original [ask the guys in the Hofner thread, they know this stuff well]. Neck re-sets are one of the "joys" of owning a 60's Hofner.... they like to tilt below the PUs and give you that enjoyable high action. They have a really simple neck joint which is not the most stable in the world. As long as the truss rod is OK (if not that gets expensive - requires ungluing the FB & binding) and the neck not twisted, most luthiers who work with Hofners or even just acoustics should be able to do it quickly and for not too much, for the luthier they are easy (have them set the break angle a little bit higher than standard if you do.... lasts longer until the next time ) . It doesn't sound like you particularly bonded with it, one or both of the pickups were swapped (probably the "staple" HB PU @ the neck), if the electronics are otherwise stock, you could probably still get a decent price for it as is.... with a neck reset & bridge & strings & playable .... much more. People pay crazy prices for them. I had the neck on my (when bought dirt cheap) ultra light 1963 Hofner Club 6 string reset the last time ~20 years ago, it's getting due again.

PS: unlike mine, yours may have the flat heel?... best to ask in the Hofner thread here @ TB if there is anything to watch out for otherwise (the luther did not drill mine at the 17th fret btw ..).
e.g. DIY Workshop: Höfner Violin Bass restoration

-Henry

 

[franklindayala]

My first bass whas a red P bass. It was so cheap it didn't have a truss rod. And I loved it.

 

[leftybass54]

I’m surprised to hear that a bass as young as ‘72 would have tuner slots. Can you confirm the date? Also, there is a vintage Gibson thread on here somewhere with lots of experts if you’re interested. Post a pic!

I bought the bass in 1974 and never saved the serial number, so my guess on the origin date may be off. Here is a reference I found, so your observation may be right:
1969 EB-0L specs: 34.5" scale length introduced.

 

[bigjames]

The first bass I played was lent to me for about a year. It was a WEM Sapphire with insanely high action, no sustain, a volume pot and an ABCD knob that had different EQs for each position. I learned the basics on it and then when the time came, my parents bought me a Samick neck-thru passive PJ 4 string. That bass had insanely low action and looked and played incredibly. I honestly regret parting with it. Here it is, circa 1991?

View attachment 4689699

I know this is an older thread, but I found another picture of this bass while digging through some old photo albums...

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

I have no idea how good or bad it was. It was a mid-80s Fender Bullet. I do not know where it was made. This is the only photo I have of it.

There were two pots but only one had a knob on it. I think it was bought in a Simi Valley pawn shop.