HOW LONG HAVE YOU KEPT YOUR MAIN BASS ?

[J Wilson]

I think the longest I owned a bass was maybe 7 or 8 years. For me, it was more fun to own different things over time. I could never see me ever keeping one axe for 20 or 30 years, I'd be bored silly.

I also never get sentimental about them. They're wonderful tools, but that's all.

 

[Lo-E]

The bass I've had the longest (40 years) has not been my main bass in many, many years but I still have it and play it.

My basses sort of drift in and out of rotation as "main" basses so it's a little hard to say but my fretless five has been at or near the top for 25 years. I have several other go-to basses that I've had for over 20 years and a couple over 30. I guess if I had to assign one bass as the "main bass" it would be that fretless five.

 

[Pings Bass]

They're not my main basses anymore, but I still have my first two Fenders, a then-new '88 "Jazz Bass Special" (fretless MIJ P/J) and a then-used (not vintage! hah) '76 P in walnut. I got them both in '88. Neither have seen action in the wild since the 90s, but there's a good chance I'll get to use the P in the Americana act I'm currently gigging on upright with.

 

[darev]

Main squeeze is still a 1990 Fender Jazz Plus V I bought new.

 

[Slade N]

Since 1351. Got a great deal on it during The Black Plague when the previous owners died. The widow I bought if from was pretty hard up so I gave her a few extra silver pennies.

View attachment 7333018

I remember your bass solo in Bring Out Your Dead, it was sick

 

[BassicJazzy]

I bought this Ricky 4001 brand new in 1973 or 1974. It was my only bass for many years and I still have it. I had it modified in the early 90s though I still have a stock 4003.

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Wow, flashback city for me. Actually gave me chills. I kept the p'up cover on mine, a '72, and it was a maroon stain, but that fingerboard was same, exquisite. Looks like you're playing the mono output? I cannot remember, but seems the stereo cable went into the other jack, and that's what I always used.

Damn, why did I give that bass away? So nice.

 

[MrLenny1]

34 years with a Pedulla Series II 5 string.

 

[zubrycky]

I collect bass guitars and don't subscribe to the concept of a main bass because I like to vary my instruments and I really, really don't like to be tied to one sound or one instrument.

That said, I've kept them all. My first bass was purchased in 1992.

The photo below is of the second bass I purchased (also in '92). This is a Giannini made in the '70s, and I've done a lot with it.

 

[BassicJazzy]

Main squeeze is still a 1990 Fender Jazz Plus V I bought new.

Yes, mine too, a '90 but only 4 strings bought new in '91. Strangely I am now favoring the much less fancy Ibanez SR370EF fretless, but it may just be a fling, until I find a fretless I like even more?

I'm just hoping my main squeeze below doesn't find out I'm cheating on her?

 

[gtmalone]

'76 PBass since '88
'98 Carvin BB75F since '98 (new)
'99 Carvin BB75 since '99 (new)

They have all been the main bass at one time or the other. The PBass has been the most played over time.

A Yamaha SLB300 electric upright has been primary lately.

 

[MovingPitchers]

My 2018 Player P was originally 3TSB/maple neck. I had it in this configuration for 3 years.

It's currently rendition is MN/Polar white and it's been like that since 2023.

 

[chris_b]

I have a very low turnover rate. I bought my Fender Precision in 1969 and played it exclusively for 26 years. It's been "resting" in the closet for the last 29 years. I then played a wonderful Lakland 55-94 for 14 years. My current #1's, a Mike Lull PJ5,14 years, and a Sadowsky RV5 Jazz bass, 9 years, will probably see me out.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I bought/put together this bass in 1983 or so. The dtuner just crapped out after 40 years, so I'm buying a replacement. Repldtuner, not bass.

 

[micguy]

I build all my own basses, and there is a lot of experimentation that happens. I also don't have a "main" bass. But anyway, my oldest bass is about 7 or 8 years old (everything I had before that got donated when I moved to 5's). Or maybe 2. Or maybe 6 months - it all depends on what part of the bass you're talking about, or at what date the bass that exists today "came into existence" - does a pickup swap make it a different bass? How about if I route a slot and install another pickup? (or 2 more in some cases). Does a change in circuitry make it a different bass?

 

[Pauly 4001]

Wow, flashback city for me. Actually gave me chills. I kept the p'up cover on mine, a '72, and it was a maroon stain, but that fingerboard was same, exquisite. Looks like you're playing the mono output? I cannot remember, but seems the stereo cable went into the other jack, and that's what I always used.

Damn, why did I give that bass away? So nice.

I'm using the mono jack there because I'm competing in a live battle of the bands fundraiser through a SWR SM-400 and needed to get on and off the stage quickly and simply. We won again. Alan White of Yes was one of the celebrity judges.
At home I like to run it in stereo with two amps.

 

[rodak]

I bought this Ricky 4001 brand new in 1973 or 1974. It was my only bass for many years and I still have it. I had it modified in the early 90s though I still have a stock 4003.

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Mine's a '73, bought in '74. It's been my "main" bass most of that time. It's un-modified (well, I removed the treble pickup cover, but I still have it!) Spent some time with my EB3-5 string, and now I use my Squier Precision mostly, but the Rick is my very favorite, would NEVER get rid of it.

 

[cymbop]

Just three years.

 

[darwin-bass]

Sigh, I've kept my main bass as long as it has been my main bass. But my current main bass is my newest one and my main player from some 8 years ago is still in my possession but is #3 choice.

 

[ibass3000]

I bought this BB3000 in 1983, and I'm still playing.

 

[taliesin]

Had my Ken Lawrence for just about right on 30 years now and I don't think it's missed a gig since - it may have to share the time once in a while but it's always there.