How special is YOUR bass?

[superchicken_VI]

I have an old 70s Hondo P-bass copy that my late father bought me as a young teen at a pawn shop as my first bass. It has had a lot mods over the years--3 necks, new tuners, 3 pickguards, rewired 3 times, and sports an Eeyore sticker that this cute chick I was dating in college stuck on there. Since she married me, I've kept Eeyore on there.

My red MIJ Fender Precision Bass Lyte and agave blue MIM Fender Standard Jazz Bass V were both my late father's basses. The JBV matches the agave blue MIM Standard Telecaster that my wife bought me as our 10th wedding anniversary gift. My dad bought his bass the same week that my wife bought the Tele--unbeknownst to any of us--and they bought the same color. It makes for a perfect pair, and a great story. He and I were playing in a blues band together, and showed up at rehearsal with an unplanned matched pair.

I also have his first bass, a mid-60s Domino surf bass, but it's not in playable condition because of a warped neck and a broken truss rod. One day, when the cash is there to do it, I'll have a luthier rebuild that neck and put that back into the playing.

Other basses may come and go, but those four are special to me and will always be in the family.

 

[Matt Dean]

My bass is somewhat special. It's a very well put together 1973 sunburst Precision with killer tone.

 

[organworthyplayer337]

This one's special because I play the hell out of it!

I have that bass as well. It's special for the same reason.

 

[organworthyplayer337]

My special bass is my Squier Affinity P-Bass. It was my first; I cut my teeth on it and I still enjoy playing. Even more now that it has been resurrected and I finally fixed the neck and made it playable again

 

[pica]

This is my bass. There are many like it but this one is mine. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me my bass is useless. Without my bass, I am useless.

 

[organworthyplayer337]

Each of them are special for a reason and some of them I just didn't bond with. But I don't want to let 'em go for some reason.

 

[iriegnome]

I have a couple that are 1 of 1. I love playing them as much as I can. I also have some that are high production common basses that I just really like.

 

[mark beem]

My Mike Lull M5V is very special because I got it from Adrian Garcia (RIP brother!) who lost his battle with cancer on June 9, 2008 (will be seven years tomorrow). He was a great individual, a helluva nice guy and a stellar bassist! Ran a shop out of Las Vegas called AccessBass.

These were the actual pics from the Access Bass website that Adrian ran. When I saw it, I knew I had to have it!

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

I have a very nice 66P that is special because
someone in the 70s sanded off the LPB and
with it about 4K of collectors value,
which allowed it to become mine.
Every one that plays it stops and says the same thing;
'Wow! That thing sings!'
The natural finish and brass nut are so 70s,
but work well together and look so right with the repo gold
PG that I added.

My 07 Affinity J5 is special, in that it is good enough to share
a stage with the P and not need to feel embarassed.

My SD Curlee is special in that it is so punchy and mid rangy,
it's like a P on steroids!

 

[mojomike001]

My current special basses are my three most recent builds, a '54 relic, a fretless J, and a fretless P. Each of them exceeded my expectations. They all play well, sound good, and are lightweight. What more could I ask of them?

 

[LowEndOperative]

I have no "special" basses but there are special moments with them --for instance, at a recent gig, I found myself tweaking the tone just a bit only to have the guitarist say from the other side of the stage, "man, that tone is sweet!!"

 

[wraub]

Special? Which one?
The SQ serial MIJ P, with the natural refin, detuner, threaded saddle bridge, and ano gold pickguard?
The SQ serial MIJ J, which is rare on its own, also with threaded saddle bridge, but without pickguard?
Or the 2 Ibanez MIJ RB885 5 string basses, one of the first 5 string basses from a big maker (the fretted one I gigged, toured, and recorded with for over a decade- sanded finish, replacement bridge, and all. I actually got the second one just to make fretless.)

 

[ofajen]

My Ripper is special because it is my first bass and because it has had non-stock wiring including the wonderful, non-stock neck-only setting since I got it 30 years ago.

The Wishbass in my avatar picture is special because it is made of Bubinga.

The SX P-Bass is special because I changed the headstock shape slightly.

The SB14 isn't particularly special, but with EB flats on it, it sounds wonderful in so many ways, it's just crazy.

Otto

 

[/\/\3phist0]

This one is very, very special. An explanation is not necessary. Pictures should suffice.

M. M.

Faint... gorgeous

 

[jjmuckluckjr]

My bass attracts interspecies players. This girl can slap and claw. Her singing is a bit rough though.

 

[StyleOverShow]

As stated in the title, How special is YOUR bass?

Could tell you about the time in Nam when it saved my life....playing it with a college deferment, or the time I used its 9 volt battery to start a fire that saved my band mates' from frostbite but those are stories for another time.

I communicate through it. I spend an awful lot of quality time with my basses.

BTW, how important is color in choosing a bass....I never thought it mattered until I noticed that I've 3 black body basses.

 

[Kaden Daniels]

I know its not Unique But My speacial bass is my 78 Peavey T-40 its is speacial to me because it was my first US built instrument combine that with a 1974 Sound City All tube Amp Its a dream sound

 

[DredFetus]

I was thinking this thread was going else were. Was going to say everyones bass is special for them because of all the littlw things you do to it. Like out your fav strings on. But dam there are some very beautiful bass in the first page, left me drool

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Oh my B...ass
(Original post deleted).......

 

[TheBassWizard1]

Mine is very special to me because, although it's an ordinary Musicman Stingray 5 (but in a very rare color), it has been all over the world with me. We've played Stadiums, Arenas, State Fairs, Club gigs, etc... Many that have tried it say it's magical and plays unlike anything else, and I would have to agree! It's one of those that I will never sell. Or let anyone borrow