So my wife says to me the other day, as I am babbling on about this bass and that bass, what is you "holy grail bass". You know "The one" that bass that you would go the extra step to get, sacrifice a little more to have. I think she was trying to shut me up, and it worked for a minute, but she has a good point, why buy a bunch of cheap basses and not get the one you really want.
At first I said I don't know. I mean to put one particular bass up on a pedestal and say that is the one I have to have over all others. Not to say a bass that would replace all others. I have had that discussion in the past and know that there is very little chance that one bass can replace all others.
So I was thinking about it for a few days. Figured it had to reasonably affordable, no Roscoes in my financial future, and then it happened. I went to GC last night to A/B a couple of heads that I have been looking at buying. As usual I pick up a VM Jazz bass to play through. This is the bass I pick up everytime I try out new gear. For starters I have one and love it. It is my "main" bass, and in my opinion a very good bench mark for amps. The bass plays good, I like the feel and most everytime I pick one up in a shop they all feel and sound about the same to me. So this is where I start. Play on the amps in question for a bit and then it is time to see how they do with some others. Grab a Fender P bass and play for a bit. Not real impressed. I never really realized how different the neck on a P bass is compared to a Jazz neck. I have been playing my jazz for a few years now and don't own a P bass.
So I put the P back and look for something with active electronics in it. Up at the top sitting next to my old Warwick fretless corvet I sold them last year is a used Warwick 4 string bolt on Thumb. Now I played a 5 string neck through in the same shop earlier this year and was very under impressed, but had to try the 4 string just to see. There is something about this bass. I am not the best with words so it is hard to describe but this thing just worked for me. It fits in my hands just right and just sings as I play it. The small body on it makes the neck feel like it goes out a mile to the left and I love it. My arm extends out so far playing at the nut and it just feels great. I have been noodling for the past hour and nothing I played came out as smooth, fast and with such ease as it did on that Thumb.
Now I am not sure if it this paticular bass that Warwick made or if I could be this happy with any 4 string bolt on thumb, but I have to have one. I really think that this goes beyond GAS. not that I am going to sit hear and say that I "need" this bass, I have a bass that play great and makes good sounds and can continue to play, but I see no point in buying anything else until I have that Thumb. It is my Holy Grail!! I would have bought it johnny on the spot, but it is just a bit out of my everyday pocket money. Something to save for. I do understand that they are not for everybody and I think that is great, because I don't really want everybody playing the same bass as me anyways.
So I ask. Do you have a "Holy Grail"? What is it?
At first I said I don't know. I mean to put one particular bass up on a pedestal and say that is the one I have to have over all others. Not to say a bass that would replace all others. I have had that discussion in the past and know that there is very little chance that one bass can replace all others.
So I was thinking about it for a few days. Figured it had to reasonably affordable, no Roscoes in my financial future, and then it happened. I went to GC last night to A/B a couple of heads that I have been looking at buying. As usual I pick up a VM Jazz bass to play through. This is the bass I pick up everytime I try out new gear. For starters I have one and love it. It is my "main" bass, and in my opinion a very good bench mark for amps. The bass plays good, I like the feel and most everytime I pick one up in a shop they all feel and sound about the same to me. So this is where I start. Play on the amps in question for a bit and then it is time to see how they do with some others. Grab a Fender P bass and play for a bit. Not real impressed. I never really realized how different the neck on a P bass is compared to a Jazz neck. I have been playing my jazz for a few years now and don't own a P bass.
So I put the P back and look for something with active electronics in it. Up at the top sitting next to my old Warwick fretless corvet I sold them last year is a used Warwick 4 string bolt on Thumb. Now I played a 5 string neck through in the same shop earlier this year and was very under impressed, but had to try the 4 string just to see. There is something about this bass. I am not the best with words so it is hard to describe but this thing just worked for me. It fits in my hands just right and just sings as I play it. The small body on it makes the neck feel like it goes out a mile to the left and I love it. My arm extends out so far playing at the nut and it just feels great. I have been noodling for the past hour and nothing I played came out as smooth, fast and with such ease as it did on that Thumb.
Now I am not sure if it this paticular bass that Warwick made or if I could be this happy with any 4 string bolt on thumb, but I have to have one. I really think that this goes beyond GAS. not that I am going to sit hear and say that I "need" this bass, I have a bass that play great and makes good sounds and can continue to play, but I see no point in buying anything else until I have that Thumb. It is my Holy Grail!! I would have bought it johnny on the spot, but it is just a bit out of my everyday pocket money. Something to save for. I do understand that they are not for everybody and I think that is great, because I don't really want everybody playing the same bass as me anyways.
So I ask. Do you have a "Holy Grail"? What is it?
