If you could have only one bass...

[Batmensch]

It would have to be some sort of P-bass. I would like it to be a current model MIA, with a natural/amber finish, black PG and maple board, with maybe some kind of vintage type p'up.
Update : Thought about it some more and I think I might go with the Fender Tony Franklin fretted P-bass.

 

[OmnitzGarima]

Yes, Rob Allen Deep 5. I also have a fretted Mouse, and in a mix you have a tough time hearing a difference - example:

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Beautiful bass, great tone, terrific playing. Maybe I should go back to playing guitar .

 

[Big chicken]

A good ol' P bass made in the good ol' USA

 

[Hoover]

Easy, that would be my JagBird

Whoa! What the...?!?! WOW! That's...whoa! Holy crap, I'm speechless.

What is that?!?!

 

[daflores]

Is this thread still going on? Well, anyway, I've thought about this a bit because I'm trying to psych myself into selling all my Fenders...and so far no luck. So, I don't think I could only have one bass. I think I would rather kick the bucket.

 

[osuok88]

G&L L-1000

 

[Catbuster]

Aerodyne Jazz.

I would easily live with a J- In V form.

Ric 4K series would be cool.

 

[pit7]

That's a no-brainer...my P-Bass:

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It was my first Bass and it will be my last.

 

[pudgychef]

The BEST P I could fine....will handle anything that need be handled...

 

[BartmanPDX]

Someone once said in response to the OP's question of which bass you'd want if you could only have one bass:

"I'd kick the ass of whomever made that stupid rule."

I'm pretty much in agreement with that statement.

I'd have a real hard time parting with one or two of my basses, but in the end, if I could only have one, it would be one of these two, and more likely the one on the right:

I could get by just fine with the PJ, but the WL gets all the playing time these days, so it would probably be the WL. The PJ does get some consideration since it can do the P tone quite well in addition to being a great PJ.

 

[Kwesi]

Probably this one:

Brad Johnson's Brubaker JXB-6 . It has basically all the tones I could ever want in a fretted bass and they all sound amazing.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

I have about 6 basses that I just couldn't part with but if I had to pick JUST ONE..........

 

[Nedmundo]

For better or worse, I've found a five string really useful, so I'd probably take a new American Deluxe Jazz V.

If I had to choose one of my herd, it would be my 2003 American Series Jazz, which has noiseless Fralins and a Hipshot drop-tuner. My SB-2 is actually numero uno in my current band, but over time I've found a great J slightly more useful:

 

[timmus]

my 66 P-Bass back....the guy that bought it from me in 81 is a friend of mine and he said I can use it anytime I'd like except he lives in Arizona and I live in NH...probably not going to happen any time soon...

There is a possible upside to this though (at least in my case)...he has it in his will that if he passes on to the great gig in the sky before I do, I get the P-Bass back...I will live longer than him, darn it!

 

[martybernal]

This has been an interesting thread. A couple of you mentioned that you would refuse to ever live with only one bass. But it does make you think if the hard realty of such a decision ever came true. There's no such thing as too many basses.

 

[CapnSev]

Stingray Classic 5 Powder Blue/Rosewood with some TI flats and I would be set for good. In fact, that's may well happen in the near future.

 

[bostrowskij]

Easy, that would be my JagBird

Wow...

/thread

 

[Basso Gruvitas]

My Skjold Lion's Pride - it's on Pete's homepage!

www.skjolddesign.com

It does EVERYTHING!

 

[JohnnyB53]

Easy, that would be my JagBird

For a fretted 4-string, I call "Game Over."

I think there are already a half dozen TB-ers who'd line up w/checkbook in hand for one of those. What is it? Body wood? Components?

 

[Baird6869]

Likely my new Fender 50th Anniversary American Jazz.

I am really a P guy, but I love this bass.