I like discontinued basses. Am I alone?

[dabbler]

I do kinda like having things you can't buy anymore, and being old myself I guess I have an affinity for old stuff.

But most the most significant discontinued stuff I buy are SDOTD from MF, 'cause, well, I'm also cheap. So, yeah, I was fortunate enough to get an Ibanez ATK305 and a Fender Dimension.

 

[matthewbrown]

Just out of curiosity, I checked to see if the electric basses I play are still in production. None of the three is: Ibanez BTB33 Volo; MTD Kingston Heir; Michael Kelly Club Deluxe 5.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

I'm waiting for another Roscoe Beck 5 to pop up stateside…when it does, I'm going to do something pretty irresponsible…

 

[r_bnks]

I only have discontinued basses except a new Jackson JS1M.
The Spector is an Korean NS2A which isn't in production anymore. Here's so far what I have and an additional NS2A is still waiting for a refinish. The reissue of the Fender Boxer just landed last year but still...



I holoflashed the black Kramer Forum III. The holo is stunning.

 

[Matty Koff]

EBMM Big Al 4SSS with all rosewood neck. Here's another pic with my other EBMMs, though I just sold the 30th Anniversary Stingray. The Bongo may also count as discontinued since you can't get the HSp pickup configuration any more.

View attachment 4310453

Quite a lovely collection you have there.

 

[GretschWretch]

If you buy used all the time you're guaranteed to get a lot of discontinued instruments

I like to buy unpopular basses that I think are great, because they're cheaper.

Then no doubt your favorite bass color is canary yellow. Cheep. Cheep. Cheep.

 

[FunkyFlashFive]

I don't care if it's discontinued or not, but does it have the features I like and can I justify the price?
That's how I ended up with a Reverend BH5, the features fit my needs and I just kept looking for years until one came up at a reasonable price in a finish I liked.

 

[GretschWretch]

Have I become that predictable in less than two months here? Heck, I didn't even set my avatar up until this past weekend.

Have I become that predictable in less than two months here? Heck, I didn't even set my avatar up until this past weekend.

Nah. I was just noticing the consistency. When it comes to finish preferences, you'll find a lot of us are "predictable." Like, I prefer translucent over solid colors 'cause I like to see the grain. And I prefer hippie-stripping to salesfloor immaculateness.

 

[GretschWretch]

I do kinda like having things you can't buy anymore, and being old myself I guess I have an affinity for old stuff.

But most the most significant discontinued stuff I buy are SDOTD from MF, 'cause, well, I'm also cheap. So, yeah, I was fortunate enough to get an Ibanez ATK305 and a Fender Dimension.

View attachment 4310975 View attachment 4310976

I do kinda like having things you can't buy anymore, and being old myself I guess I have an affinity for old stuff.

But most the most significant discontinued stuff I buy are SDOTD from MF, 'cause, well, I'm also cheap. So, yeah, I was fortunate enough to get an Ibanez ATK305 and a Fender Dimension.

View attachment 4310975 View attachment 4310976

So perhaps we should form a Parsimonious Bass Club? You and Brian can be #1 and #2.

 

[Lownote38]

I love my 1995 Fender MB-5. Super short run on those (2 years), and it plays so well! I also have a 1988 Fender Japan Precision bass that sounds like no other P-Bass. I miss the peak years of MIJ Fender basses!

 

[Clark Westfield]

I have 2 discontinued basses.

My American Special Jazz and Sadowsky NYC Satin.

Both are spectacular instruments and would sell immediately if I put them for sale.

But that will NEVER a happen!!!!!!

 

[BluBasPlr]

Never really thought about liking out of production Basses. Have 37 Basses. All but two were out of production when I acquired them. Here are most of them.

 

[fourstringdrums]

Funny enough, my only two basses at the moment are now discontinued:
Ibanez SR506M (version with maple neck and fretboard)
Yamaha TRB 1005
View attachment 4310917



The Bongo has been around for a while, though. What they really discontinued a while ago were low prices lol.

Oh right I forgot about the Bongo

 

[Gsnorgathon]

I managed to be able to afford one shortly *after* Music Man quit making the stealth fretless ("none so black") Rays 'n' Sterlings. Sigh. Keepin my eyes peeled (ow) for one of those unicorns if it should ever put in an appearance.

 

[Maxdusty]

I love my 1995 Fender MB-5. Super short run on those (2 years), and it plays so well! I also have a 1988 Fender Japan Precision bass that sounds like no other P-Bass. I miss the peak years of MIJ Fender basses!

I love my MB5, really the only five string I've found that checks all my boxes, it just took me a few years to actually find one. If I'm reading it correctly, the 4 string Fender version MB4 had an even shorter production run, and used ones are usually higher in price from what I've seen. Squier did make their own versions of both but really aren't anything like the MIJ Fender ones.

 

[lowendblues]

I think the better question here is "Why do they discontinue all the good basses"?

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I think the better question here is "Why do they discontinue all the good basses"?

My thoughts exactly !!

 

[cm3ohana]

My favorite discontinued basses are the Ibanez Musician and Roadstar series basses. I wish I never sold my polar white Ibanez Musician MC924 bass. I bought it brand new and owned it for about two decades. It was the heaviest bass I ever owned but I loved it.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I seem to like them discontinued as well, especially the Ibanez ATK.

View attachment 4309998

I would love to see Made-in-USA Peavey again, too.

nice. Like the Mark series head as well.

 

[Lownote38]

I love my MB5, really the only five string I've found that checks all my boxes, it just took me a few years to actually find one. If I'm reading it correctly, the 4 string Fender version MB4 had an even shorter production run, and used ones are usually higher in price from what I've seen. Squier did make their own versions of both but really aren't anything like the MIJ Fender ones.

Nice to hear from someone who appreciates the MB-5! There really is no other 5 string like it.
I've always wanted a matching MB-4, but like you said, they are rare, and more expensive.
I got my main MB-5 new in 1995. I've had a few others as backups, but the original sunburst one is the one I keep.