Funny! The only bass U haven't upgraded (yet??) is the Harley Benton!
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How many basses do you own? (Currently) Part 2
- Thread starter smperry
- Start date
Funny! The only bass U haven't upgraded (yet??) is the Harley Benton!
I’m sure this has been asked in the past but, just curious how many basses the average bassist owns. I usually hover around 5-6 max. Please let me know how many you own, and family pics are welcome. Thanks all and stay well!
At the moment, all five slots in the bass rack are full. And I'm trying to stay true to a moratorium on bass purchases in 2023, but I'm struggling a bit...
Same here man, some of mine are “lifers” and some come and go.. nice collection
I want to tell this to everyone I meet...
before I got my first HB , I had been looking at a Lakland Skyline DJ4 (Daryl Jones Signature Jazz Bass). With that bass I would have gotten a bass made in Indonesia that has some cool parts, weighs about 10 lbs, and costs $1600
The HB MV-4JB I got is made in one of 20 Factories in East Asia, has a few cool parts, a roasted neck. weighs about 10 lbs... and with one of the sturdiest gig bags I have owned, shipped, for under$ $300.
Does the Lakland feel/sound..smell(?) better? Maybe. Is it more than 5 times better? No way.
I think from now on if I'm not looking for handmade, my search will start with Harley Benton.
That's fair. I think the surprise is because a lot of folks around here use HBs as mod platforms, so it was different to see one entirely stock, while the "better" basses weren't.
I certainly meant no offense.
Absolutely no offense at all. Believe me it surprises me too!
4 Sadowsky NYC 24-5 Modern Basses
Black Ash Body 2004 Maple Board
Carmel Burst Flame Maple Top Ash Body 2005 Maple Board
Cherry Burst Quilted Maple Top Ash Body 2005 or 06 I believe chambered body Rosewood Board
59 Sunburst Quilted Maple Top Ash Body 2007 I believe chambered body Maple Board
1 59 Burst Sadowsky NYC Standard Jazz 5 Ash Body Rosewood Fingerboard No figured top
Single Coil Pups Pup Cover.
1 Sire Jazz 5 1st Gen Cherry Burst I think.
1 2016 MTD Kingston AG 6 String
1 1990 Classic Tobias 6 String Serial #1875. From my understanding it was made in California. Bartolini Pups and Bartolini TCT Preamp. Originally it was Vol Vol Bass Mid Treble. A few weeks after I got it in 1990 I had it switched to Vol Pan with Bass Mid Treble. Was my main gigging and Road Bass from 1990 to 2003-04. I believe the body woods are Walnut Wenge Walnut. It's incredibly heavy. How I dragged it all over the country I'll never know. I was young. I just pulled it out the case and I think I may need Tommy John surgery from lifting it with one hand.LOL It feels like it's 14-15lbs.
1 1978 Fender Jazz Purchased Brand New in 1985-86. $500. The story behind buying a brand new 1978 Fender Jazz in 1984 is that I had a mid 80's EB Music Man that I got buy trading in a 1977 Precision that was a birthday present in 1977. I had the P Bass P'Jay'd in maybe 1981. I wanted a MM so I traded the P Bass. The MM drove me crazy because it kept breaking G strings like every few weeks. So I decided to go back to basics and get a Fender Jazz. I went to 8th Street Music when it was still a brick and mortar strobe here in Philly in 1984-85 and said I was looking for a Fender Jazz. The salesmen went in the basement and came back with a brand new in the hardshell case still with original tags a 1978 Fender Jazz. I didn't know it was a 78 I don't think he did either. I paid $500 for it. Like a dummy I took out the OG PUPs and put in Alembic PUPS and PRE in sometime after 1985 SMH. Years later I tried finding the original PUPS bit couldn't find them. Eventually I'll get it going again. It holds a lot of sentimental value. Sometime in the 90's I found a cassette recording of a gig using this Jazz with the original PUPS it sounded incredible.
Side Story about the 80's MM Bass:
During this time I was playing with a local singing group that was comprised of drug dealers. 80's drug dealers . Flashy cars etc. They paid us well for gigs and since we were their band we had "protection" LOL. There's another story about the protection. LOL
Well we had a rehearsal one day at a local bar they ran. The rehearsal was cancelled because I think the drummer didn't show up. As I was leaving through the glass door of the bar I saw a gun being held up on the glass. It was the Police. They raided the bar. Everyone was thrown against the wall. One cop took my Bass the MM in a gig bag and threw it across the bar. When they came to search me the cop said. "What kind of Bass is that?" I said a "Music Man". The cop said "That's a piece of $hit. Get a Rickenbacker." LOL.
Black Ash Body 2004 Maple Board
Carmel Burst Flame Maple Top Ash Body 2005 Maple Board
Cherry Burst Quilted Maple Top Ash Body 2005 or 06 I believe chambered body Rosewood Board
59 Sunburst Quilted Maple Top Ash Body 2007 I believe chambered body Maple Board
1 59 Burst Sadowsky NYC Standard Jazz 5 Ash Body Rosewood Fingerboard No figured top
Single Coil Pups Pup Cover.
1 Sire Jazz 5 1st Gen Cherry Burst I think.
1 2016 MTD Kingston AG 6 String
1 1990 Classic Tobias 6 String Serial #1875. From my understanding it was made in California. Bartolini Pups and Bartolini TCT Preamp. Originally it was Vol Vol Bass Mid Treble. A few weeks after I got it in 1990 I had it switched to Vol Pan with Bass Mid Treble. Was my main gigging and Road Bass from 1990 to 2003-04. I believe the body woods are Walnut Wenge Walnut. It's incredibly heavy. How I dragged it all over the country I'll never know. I was young. I just pulled it out the case and I think I may need Tommy John surgery from lifting it with one hand.LOL It feels like it's 14-15lbs.
1 1978 Fender Jazz Purchased Brand New in 1985-86. $500. The story behind buying a brand new 1978 Fender Jazz in 1984 is that I had a mid 80's EB Music Man that I got buy trading in a 1977 Precision that was a birthday present in 1977. I had the P Bass P'Jay'd in maybe 1981. I wanted a MM so I traded the P Bass. The MM drove me crazy because it kept breaking G strings like every few weeks. So I decided to go back to basics and get a Fender Jazz. I went to 8th Street Music when it was still a brick and mortar strobe here in Philly in 1984-85 and said I was looking for a Fender Jazz. The salesmen went in the basement and came back with a brand new in the hardshell case still with original tags a 1978 Fender Jazz. I didn't know it was a 78 I don't think he did either. I paid $500 for it. Like a dummy I took out the OG PUPs and put in Alembic PUPS and PRE in sometime after 1985 SMH. Years later I tried finding the original PUPS bit couldn't find them. Eventually I'll get it going again. It holds a lot of sentimental value. Sometime in the 90's I found a cassette recording of a gig using this Jazz with the original PUPS it sounded incredible.
Side Story about the 80's MM Bass:
During this time I was playing with a local singing group that was comprised of drug dealers. 80's drug dealers . Flashy cars etc. They paid us well for gigs and since we were their band we had "protection" LOL. There's another story about the protection. LOL
Well we had a rehearsal one day at a local bar they ran. The rehearsal was cancelled because I think the drummer didn't show up. As I was leaving through the glass door of the bar I saw a gun being held up on the glass. It was the Police. They raided the bar. Everyone was thrown against the wall. One cop took my Bass the MM in a gig bag and threw it across the bar. When they came to search me the cop said. "What kind of Bass is that?" I said a "Music Man". The cop said "That's a piece of $hit. Get a Rickenbacker." LOL.
I've joined the 5 to 9 club last year by adding a Markbass Kimandu 4 strings to the 4 basses i've before. And i think i'm done. I hope. 
I have the following 3:
Rob Allen Deep 4
Rob Allen Mouse
Fender American Original 60s Precision (in lake placid blue)
I would also like a Jazz-type bass.
Rob Allen Deep 4
Rob Allen Mouse
Fender American Original 60s Precision (in lake placid blue)
I would also like a Jazz-type bass.
As @blacktocomm so succinctly put it: Less than I want, more than I need. Here’s a recent family photo:
I had been pretty disciplined with "1 in 1 out", maintaining at 10 bass guitars for years.
Then I finally sourced the right neck for an old project body. Then a retiring buddy made me an offer I couldn't refuse for his Gretsch hollowbody. So now suddenly I'm at a dozen!
This would be a little easier if I were still playing 6 nights a week... or if I could still ship a bass for $30!
Then I finally sourced the right neck for an old project body. Then a retiring buddy made me an offer I couldn't refuse for his Gretsch hollowbody. So now suddenly I'm at a dozen!
This would be a little easier if I were still playing 6 nights a week... or if I could still ship a bass for $30!
