My first bass is probably as close to a favorite as I’ll ever get. But my “favorite” really depends more on what I’m going to be playing it for. I try to match the instrument to the style and genre I’m playing. If one size fit all for me, I’d only own that one bass plus a duplicate of it for a backup. And as of right now I own more than that.
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Is your newest always your favorite?
- Thread starter Paulabass
- Start date
My two custom Drakes are my favorites and they get the important gigs because they should. The other 10 basses from the Starcaster to Jack Casady to MIJ Jag Deluxe are my second favorites and they get to go to the jams, grocery store gigs, outdoor festivals and such except when I want to play one of my two favorite so ....
What was the question again?
What was the question again?
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I've got the same one
... but ya probably know that already. P/G looks great on yours, I'm gonna keep mine as is though. Something about plain ol white on surf that's appealing to me.Something that I noticed that's making me like this bass even more - while I don't complain much on TB, this past year I've been having some pretty not so fun lower back problems. I played 2 parties and a wedding this weekend, and my back is in the best shape it's been in, in a while. I wonder if the shorter scale has anything at all to do with that, as I can't believe it to be the weight alone. I have some pretty light basses, and this one is only about a pound less than most. Whatever it is, I'm really liking everything about this bass. Looks great, feels great, sounds great. I'm even liking the switch which just simplifies things for me. I like having 2 volumes, but in a lot of venues the hum that can generate makes it useless anyhow. This bass seems pretty quiet, and all 3 switch positions are usable.
Sorry bout the slight Mustang derail, but it's actually still on topic with the OP
. These basses kick some serious butt.I'll add, also, that I go through lots and lots and lots of basses - and the newest usually is my favorite. A few though really stand out. The biggest standouts in about 100 basses I've gigged over the years are my Bongo, my Ric, and now this. Big Al had me going for a long time too, but I felt like I was turning into too much of a control freak with that
. I was getting very particular about my sound, and that started causing me problems. The less options I have these days, the happier I seem to be.
Quite a few basses here. I keep them rotating all the time so they all get played and I'll occasionally fixate on one for a while, but my favorites are basses I've owned for a long time and they haven't been dethroned as of yet.
I choose basses for gigs based on the needs of the gigs; musical style and an appropriate sound, mostly.
I choose basses for gigs based on the needs of the gigs; musical style and an appropriate sound, mostly.
My 6 string will always be my favorite. My newest bass always gets the most playtime for awhile because I'm getting used to it, making adjustments as need be, seeing how it will work with a ton of different songs. But after awhile, including now, I just pick up whatever one gives me the sound I want at that moment.
- Sep 14, 2009
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- Endorsing Artist: GullanskyLab pickups
1- no, not necessarily; last bass I bought was two years ago;
2- for shows, depending on what the show needs; rehearsals, sometimes I take one that I'd like to play, sometimes the same I'll play live;
3- two of them (MIM fretted J, MIJ fretless J) are the main players; for noodling at home, sometimes I go back to my old Ibanez Musician 2940 fretless;
4- Of course: I choose the instrument depending on sound needed, but sometimes also on look (my Longhorn for subbing in a Stones cover band);
A honeymoon period is inevitable but eventually you’ll play what you like best.
What I've noticed lately (3 acquired this calendar year) is as soon as I get a new one it becomes the main player for a bit then it actually encourages me to go back and rotate ones I may have neglected . I love them all for their differences and it would be hard to pick a favorite except the one I'm playing right now.
Sometimes it is and other times no.
Right now my latest (Sadowsky NYC in my avatar pic) is my all-time favorite & may always be.
I choose the bass depending on what style music I'll be playing.
Right now my latest (Sadowsky NYC in my avatar pic) is my all-time favorite & may always be.
I choose the bass depending on what style music I'll be playing.
I've got the same one
Something that I noticed that's making me like this bass even more - while I don't complain much on TB, this past year I've been having some pretty not so fun lower back problems. I played 2 parties and a wedding this weekend, and my back is in the best shape it's been in, in a while. I wonder if the shorter scale has anything at all to do with that, as I can't believe it to be the weight alone. I have some pretty light basses, and this one is only about a pound less than most. Whatever it is, I'm really liking everything about this bass. Looks great, feels great, sounds great. I'm even liking the switch which just simplifies things for me. I like having 2 volumes, but in a lot of venues the hum that can generate makes it useless anyhow. This bass seems pretty quiet, and all 3 switch positions are usable.
Sorry bout the slight Mustang derail, but it's actually still on topic with the OP
I'll add, also, that I go through lots and lots and lots of basses - and the newest usually is my favorite. A few though really stand out. The biggest standouts in about 100 basses I've gigged over the years are my Bongo, my Ric, and now this. Big Al had me going for a long time too, but I felt like I was turning into too much of a control freak with that
I agree totally. This bass is awesome. It’s super light and I love the simplicity of the volume and tone with the toggle. I also love the look of the body shape with the smaller horns. I can’t put it down, everyone needs to get one of these.
No, newest is not my fav. I'm actually getting ready to post my newest in the classifieds.
Musician SR5 is my favorite. About the most versatile all around, easy playing bass I've ever found.
Musician SR5 is my favorite. About the most versatile all around, easy playing bass I've ever found.
I've bought a fretless once, because it was too much of a steal not to buy it.
Apart from that, every single bass I bought was my absolute favorite for at least a couple of months (and in one particular case, for more than a decade).
When I leave for rehearsal, I pick the bass I feel like playing the most.
When I'm playing a show, I sometimes prefer the bass I practiced on most in the weeks before. I sometimes play small shows in a venue close by on very short notice (sometimes two hours before the show starts) where I have zero prep time and need to wing it on stage - that's when I don't want to play a 4 or 5 when I've practiced on the 6 a lot and am most used to the fretboard.
Other than that, same as rehearsal - I pick the one that feels best for the day.
I have one bass that excels when mud comes in to play. That's my choice when I play loud rock and use a Fuzz.
Other than that, my main players are all strung with the same strings and have active electronics. They pretty much all do what I ask them to and there's no restriction there.
Apart from that, every single bass I bought was my absolute favorite for at least a couple of months (and in one particular case, for more than a decade).
When I leave for rehearsal, I pick the bass I feel like playing the most.
When I'm playing a show, I sometimes prefer the bass I practiced on most in the weeks before. I sometimes play small shows in a venue close by on very short notice (sometimes two hours before the show starts) where I have zero prep time and need to wing it on stage - that's when I don't want to play a 4 or 5 when I've practiced on the 6 a lot and am most used to the fretboard.
Other than that, same as rehearsal - I pick the one that feels best for the day.
I have one bass that excels when mud comes in to play. That's my choice when I play loud rock and use a Fuzz.
Other than that, my main players are all strung with the same strings and have active electronics. They pretty much all do what I ask them to and there's no restriction there.
Nope. Many newest since I purchased A custom build XB75 From Carvin in 2001. It is amazing "to me". Consistent, reliable, great tone. I have had a host of newest. The only one that has come close is my Ibanez SRFF805 with "custom Mama pickups" out of Italy. It is a beast now. The Mama pickups are amazing and bring a whole new life to the Ibby.!! Unfortunately it needs a fret leveling. High frets from the factory and can't get it as low as I like. I called the closest PLEK shop in Ottawa Canada. Not multi-scale support for the PLEK machines yet.
Nope my oldest is my favorite out of all my 14 basses my 1975 L9-S The Ripper
No, any new bass is generally a crap shoot for me and the newest is not necessarily my favorite. I do some internet research, if the planets align I might get to play it first, but generally it’s a shot in the dark. My biggest surprise was the mij medium scale fender jazz. My SX mediums are good. The fender is just that little bit better - but then again, it cost four times the cost of the SX basses. Each bass has it’s strong points. I love my latest - an SX pj, $ 100 and it plays great and pickups are not bad at all. What I really love about the SX basses is that if they cost twice what they did, I would still think I got a good deal. I could not say THAT about the fender.
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No. My favorite bass for gigs for the last few years is a 1979 Fender Precision Bass that was a real fixer-upper when I got it. It was stripped with a Kahler bridge (!), an active EMG and rusty roundwounds that were a mile off the fretboard when I bought it, but it was cheap. It sat in the closet for a year until I had a local tech rehab it with DiMarzios, a Fender AmDeluxe bridge and Fender flats. Now it's perfect for my soul band.
I'm very enthused about several other recent purchases, but they aren't my favorites for gigging.
I've been taking my new-to-me Sadowsky Metro MS4 to practice to see if I can work it in to the soul band for certain things. I don't think it will totally replace the P, though.
I keep going back to P Basses, even though I'm very fond of my Rics, J's, Stingray and Hofner basses.
I'm very enthused about several other recent purchases, but they aren't my favorites for gigging.
I've been taking my new-to-me Sadowsky Metro MS4 to practice to see if I can work it in to the soul band for certain things. I don't think it will totally replace the P, though.
I keep going back to P Basses, even though I'm very fond of my Rics, J's, Stingray and Hofner basses.
Yes usually.
new p-bass by TOM STRAIGHT, on Flickr
but, I think my white on white SR5 will always end up as my favorite as soon as the newness wears off.
SR5's by TOM STRAIGHT, on Flickr
but, I think my white on white SR5 will always end up as my favorite as soon as the newness wears off.
SR5's by TOM STRAIGHT, on Flickr
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which ever one I pick up is my favorite....until I grab one
of the other ones and then that's my favorite.
of the other ones and then that's my favorite.
