How bad (or good) was your first bass?

[chris_b]

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.

The tuners have already been replaced with some really nasty plastic ones. . . .

 

[mongo2]

It took me a long time to be able to afford anything with a Fender name on it, let alone, an Ampeg name .

I paid my friend $10 a week for the Jag and amp from my job as a clerk at a pharmacy then another job as a laborer building clay tennis courts. My parents were less than pleased with that purchase.

I never bought the Ampeg but the owner let me use it for about 3 years. That bass taught me the meaning of the word heavy.

I bought my first Silvertone 1444 cheap at a yard sale. I traded that one but I've since bought three others oddly enough also cheap at yard sales. They're a favorite of mine and nostalgic to me because I lived in a town near the factory where they were made and Danos were all over around here.

 

[TerribleTim68]

My first bass was an Aria Pro II RSB series just like this image -

I regret selling it to this day. If I could find another one for a realistic price, I'd grab it.

 

[MacaroniShrek]

The first bass I played was my teacher's Rickenbacker 4003. I'm not sure what year it was, but that's what made me get into playing the bass.

I quickly bought an Epiphone EB-0 from Guitar Center Used for $99.99

Man, I HATED that thing. No matter what I did the buzz was insane. I sold that to buy a Yamaha RBX 374. Fantastic bass. It has served me well being my only instrument for 10+ years.

 

[jd56hawk]

Dean Hillsboro
$135...sharp fret edges top to bottom.
Bought an $11 file, took my time, and as good as new.
Very comfortable neck, sounded good with flatwounds.
Really paved the way for me...nearly played itself.
If I saw a nice one for the right price, I'd buy it.

 

[Jeff Scott]

How bad (or good) was your first bass?

For the record, late '60s Jazz Bass in 3TSB with tort PG.

I feel real shameful that it was used, not bought brand new.

 

[5StringBlues]

Early 80s Memphis copy. It was okay for about a year, and then mom bought me a new Gibson G3 which I much preferred.

 

[GroovyBaby]

I was a guitar player first and loved the G&L stuff so when I got my first bass, I got a G&L L1000. Wish I still had that one!

 

[ThaCoast]

My first was a squier affinity precision, in artic white. From the first runs of fenders squier pak series. Traded that bass few years down for an ibanez gaxb (cause i was still into Kiss at the time).

Would love to have similar affinity pbass, just to compare & keep in my rotating arsenal of precisions.

 

[DwaynieAD]

Cort p bass and it was great

 

[sylvanbass]

Washburn B2 in black. My parents bought me that bass and a Crate amp for my 12th birthday in 1990. They thought I'd just give it up real quick so didn't spend much. I remember I loved it, but it was probably just terrible. I upgraded to an Ibanez RD707 next. I had a thing for pointy headstocks.

 

[baileyboy]

First bass in the early 80s was a Hohner. I remember very little about it, except that I traded it in soon after for a Vantage.

 

[Hop Jam]

I could say Peavey Foundation c. Christmas 1986, OR I could point out the “who was your first?” appeal to this thread . . .



(I hope this isn’t too controversi)

 

[scott sinner]

I started on a no name loaner that was awful, twisted neck awful.
The first I owned was and is awesome. 1984 Ibanez. Sister’s boyfriend, also a bass player, found it for me. Id been complaining about my action etc. This one spoiled me off a lot of other much more expensive basses for years. No fret buzz unless you dig in at 1 to 1.5mm. Granted, it has been refretted twice.

 

[capnjagg]

My first was a black Squier Affinity P from one of those beginner packs that came with a little combo amp. Eventually replaced the pickups with SD Quarter Pounders, and replaced the white pickguard with a 3-ply black. Learned how to do my own setups on it too! It was never a great bass, but always reliable. I eventually sold it to a friend who needed a bass for touring. 17 years and many basses later and I’m coming back around on that Precision sound, it just sits so well in the mix. I’d probably wait it out until I find one with a neck I really like though, I’ve been burned a few too many times on internet buys where I’ve been super excited for a new bass until it gets here and I realize I hate the way the neck feels in my hands.

 

[mike buzzetti]

Mine was made from an old crap 12 string guitar !!!! my buddys bro just cut slots for bass strings

 

[Spidey2112]

It was bad... very bad. I think I actually suppressed what I did to it with it.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

My first bass was a fretless 1992 Peavey foundation. It was my dad’s, long neglected in the basement after he got a Carvin, that I commandeered as my own when I started playing in 2003. The neck had a ski jump that would make olimpians drool, and I couldn’t get the action lower than “medium-ish”. I still have it, though it doesn’t get used much. I did get the fingerboard trued, so the bass is much more playable, ultra low action….but then the electronics died. I haven’t gotten around to replacing them yet.

 

[perfektspace6]

Mid 90's Fender Mexican P bass. It had really bad action but probably just needed a set up. Did the trick for my first year or so of playing.

 

[Winton]

MIJ Fender Pbass from the 90s.
My dad got it for me from this tiny music store in Yokosuka. I still remember how the neck was so difficult to play on. It makes me think it was the 50s style maple neck where it’s wide at the nut. I was so into Jaco at the time so I wonder why my dad didn’t get me a jazz bass instead.