My first bass in 1976 was a late 60’s Guild Starfire. It really always a great bass, but I had to have a P-Bass, so a little less than a year after I started playing, traded it in on a brand new 1977 Fender Precision. I played that bass for almost 10 years before I traded it in on a used 1983 AVRI Jazz Bass. I have owned a couple of dozen basses over the years, but I still have the 83 Jazz (and a couple more).
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How bad (or good) was your first bass?
- Thread starter CochinoBass
- Start date
Mine was a Fender Musicmaster new in 1977 ish . It played awesome compared to my friends Kay EB copy and the plywood Les Paul I had. I can't recall how it sounded but I imagine it was pretty bad going through a Musicman HD130 and a homemade cab with a Peavey 18. Looked like this one at CME.
Ibanez Axstar. My father bought it for my 16th birthday.
Nothing wrong with it. Excellent fast neck. Sustains forever. Never gets out of tune.
Only little thing is I find it lacks personality somewhat. I sometimes think I'll try different pups in it one day...
Nothing wrong with it. Excellent fast neck. Sustains forever. Never gets out of tune.
Only little thing is I find it lacks personality somewhat. I sometimes think I'll try different pups in it one day...
Extraordinarily bad.
Purchased at E.U. Wurlitzer in Framingham Mass, 1987. A black p/j with a maple board, brand “Rock Star Guitars” - it was atrocious in every possible way, but I could afford it, and it let me learn.
funny thing, I have no idea where this bass is, I gave it to my sister many years later, and she may have left it at a house my parents moved out of. Not worth keeping track of. But, that’s same day I bought a nice black woven 3” strap, and I use that all the time to this day.
Purchased at E.U. Wurlitzer in Framingham Mass, 1987. A black p/j with a maple board, brand “Rock Star Guitars” - it was atrocious in every possible way, but I could afford it, and it let me learn.
funny thing, I have no idea where this bass is, I gave it to my sister many years later, and she may have left it at a house my parents moved out of. Not worth keeping track of. But, that’s same day I bought a nice black woven 3” strap, and I use that all the time to this day.
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My first bass was a brand new 1977 Ric 4001. It was playable, and the best bass ever, until I bought a Kramer lumie - which, in most ways, was a much better bass. Over the years, I’ve figured out what I do and don’t like in basses.
Recently, I built a bass that was “inspired” by my Ric - kinda. I listed the things I didn’t like about my Ric, and didn’t do those. A pretty long list. The list of things I did like was 2 items: Pickup location (only one pickup, I didn’t like the neck pickup on my Ric) and fretboard wood. Those I did. My new bass is a much better bass.
Recently, I built a bass that was “inspired” by my Ric - kinda. I listed the things I didn’t like about my Ric, and didn’t do those. A pretty long list. The list of things I did like was 2 items: Pickup location (only one pickup, I didn’t like the neck pickup on my Ric) and fretboard wood. Those I did. My new bass is a much better bass.
It came from Sears ( as did the Silvertone Amp ). Today, I would use it as a door stop.
But it was the best bass I ever had in my life, because it was my first.
But it was the best bass I ever had in my life, because it was my first.
I bought my first bass in 1965, when I was 15-yrs. old. It was a green, short-scale bass that was made in Japan before the Japanese figured out how to make a decent bass and it was terrible. I didn't realize that for a few months though because I didn't have an amp. I would press the back end of my bass against the door of my closet to hear it without putting my ear on the body of the bass itself.
In 1966 I bought a 1966 Fender Bassman amp brand new. Great amp, terrible bass. Plugged my bass into it and immediately knew I needed something better. Started playing with a group called "The Warlocks" and we learned about 5 songs before signing up for a Battle of the Bands by our local movie theater. We played 3 songs but didn't win. We each got a 2-year free pass for 2 people per week as payment by the theater. My girlfriend and I made good use of that.
Some of my buddies who were in a different band were also there and after we played they asked if I'd like to play bass for them - they were already playing high-school dances. So, YES. I was replacing the Bass player who was replacing the organ player for the band. Bass player came over to show me the bass lines on a number of their songs. As I was playing them with my bass, Craig (bass player turning keys player), said, "here, why don't you try my bass?". And he handed me his 1965 Fender Jazz Bass. Next thing I know he's offering me a good price on it and said he'd take payments. At the end of it all I ended up with a one-owner, 1-year old 1965 Fender Jazz Bass for $175.
I played that bass until all my touring gear was stolen in early 1976. I now have a 1982 Jazz with maple-neck that I bought in 1985 and have been playing ever since. So, one bad bass to start with that still DID get me started, and two great basses since.
What a great first bass these still hold their own today. I bought one 5 years ago and sold it after a couple years because I wasnt playing much anymore. But man super light weight with a comfortable neck. The clarity on the emgs are insane. I regret selling it big time if I start playing enough to justify another bass it will probably be one of these although they have almost doubled in price now. Got mine not long ago for only 450ish. There was one on reverb a month of so ago that was cherryburst with a quilted top and fingerboard inlays pimped all out probably the nicest example I have seen and they only wanted 700ish for it. Around what all the standard blue ones with tons of wear are marked at now. I almost jumped on and it and of course someone snatch up that awesome example quick.
76 Fender Musicmaster. Sold it to buy my '78 Jazz. Seriously wish I still had that Musicmaster...
First one was Fender P-Bass I bought new in about 1972. I didn't bond with and sold it off. It was very heavy and the ergonomics didn't suit me. A bass player friend at the time didn't like it either, but he had small hands and was a J-Bass devotee. I was primarily a guitar player at the time but mostly play bass now, so maybe I'd react to it differently today.
Bought my next bass (an MIJ Mustang) about 9 years ago when I first got serious about learning to play bass. It was real nice and served me well in the beginning, but is no longer my "cup of tea". Guild Starfires are what I favor now. I've tried several others but, at least so far, nothing checks my boxes the way a Starfire strung with flats does.
Bought my next bass (an MIJ Mustang) about 9 years ago when I first got serious about learning to play bass. It was real nice and served me well in the beginning, but is no longer my "cup of tea". Guild Starfires are what I favor now. I've tried several others but, at least so far, nothing checks my boxes the way a Starfire strung with flats does.
Really bad. Probably '87 or so a friend had it laying around and gave it to me. No idea what it was but from memory it was a P-Bass shaped thing, frets removed [and not filled in or finished] no electronics or pick guard. Really beat up, probably mile high action and a C shaped neck [Not talking about the profile. It probably would have been better at shooting arrows.] When the E string broke near the bridge, I loosened it a bunch, curled the broken end around the grub screws and back over the saddle. Meh, worked fine. Then another friend taught me how to tune the strings relative to each other, and now I'm here.
Guild B301A, late 70s (thanks, Dad). No complaints apart from the thing was almost as big as me. Would buy it back if it ever again crossed my path.
In 1976 I needed an electric bass to practice stage band music at home as I was using the school's Gibson EBO. A guy I knew had a Gibson EBO for $50 that I got for $40 and played for a while. The action was atrocious as the head stock had been snapped off and poorly repaired and there was no nut on the truss rod. When I started to get more serious about playing electric bass I went to trade it in only to discover all the issues and that the boss was stolen. I returned the bass to the owner and got a $50 reward that went towards my second bass a Hagstrom H2BN in red, I often wish for that bass back.
My first bass was the equivalent of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.
My first bass was a Framus Star bass, small body, 1 pickup. It managed to be good and bad at the same time.
Good because it was short scale, very easy to learn on and sounded good. Bad because everything started to fall off it. First the tuners, then the electrics. I ended up with replacement tuners and the pickups directly wired to the jack socket!
I didn't know any different. Thinking back, it was a great first bass.
Good because it was short scale, very easy to learn on and sounded good. Bad because everything started to fall off it. First the tuners, then the electrics. I ended up with replacement tuners and the pickups directly wired to the jack socket!
I didn't know any different. Thinking back, it was a great first bass.
Absolutely terrible. Particle board body hacked into shape by hand and painted with rattlecan spray (matte). No name neck with very low frets. The tension of the strings eventually tore the neck from the body as the particleboard wasn't strong enough. This gave it a mile-high action. The strings were probably worth more than the bass itself.
Still, it gave teenage me immense joy, and sparked a journey of delight and GAS that endures for decades.
Still, it gave teenage me immense joy, and sparked a journey of delight and GAS that endures for decades.
It was pretty bad. Kay KB-100 I think. Plywood body, super chunky neck, weak pickup. Bought new at a pawn shop in 1978. I played it for a year then bought a Peavey T-40 (which I still have). Passed it on to a guy a couple years younger than me that still lives in my old hometown. We reconnected about 12 years ago on social media and I asked him what happened to it. He said it was in a closet at his mother’s house and I said I’d like to see it again sometime. A couple weeks later he delivered it to my mother’s house and said he wanted me to have it. What a great guy!
Gibson EB3's ruled the roost when I was starting. A sprinkling of Fenders and Ric's, a few Hofner's and the rest was junk. Junk was dominant because parents were usually buying the first guitars and the learners struggled. There was absolutely no discussion of tone or quality, as the influence was price and looks, meaning "new".
Once the learner evolved to the point of recognizing the struggling with the cheap guitar then better instruments were sought. Back then 50's instruments were less desirable because they were scuffed and had rusty parts and 60's instruments had to compete with shiny new ones. Parents made bad choices in hindsight.
Once the learner evolved to the point of recognizing the struggling with the cheap guitar then better instruments were sought. Back then 50's instruments were less desirable because they were scuffed and had rusty parts and 60's instruments had to compete with shiny new ones. Parents made bad choices in hindsight.
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My first was like this Lyle. My parents got it for me for Christmas 1975 with a Premier 1× 15 combo. I was 14 and a punk ass kid with no appreciation for either...
