• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Let's see those Work Horse Basses!

My #1 for the foreseeable future. Sub 8lb 1968 Precision w/ fresh oly white nitro refin and Lindy Fralin pickup.

Pictured in the studio two weeks ago. Those amps are just holding up the Rupert Neves Design DI.
20180204_091535.jpg
 
back in 2006, my senior year in high school, my dad told me he wanted to get me a nice bass as a christmas/graduation gift. i asked him for a price range and he just told me to find something and he would see what he could do. i spotted the 57AVRI in a fender catalog and just fell in love with the looks of the thing (my first bass was a P so i wasn't worried about picking it out only based on looks) circled it and showed my dad. again he just said he would see what he could do. i thought that there was no way i'd actually get it, it was $1400 and that was more than twice as much money as either of us had into any instrument at the time.

come christmas morning tho he surprised me with it (and my mom and i surprised him with a 4003) and ever since it's just been the one. sometimes i think about using another one of my basses as my main for a gig, but i always end up going with the 57. there's just something special about it. i play hard, and have a habit of throwing/dropping/kicking/standing on it on stage. nothing has ever broken on it, and i've only ever really had to make minor bridge adjustments over the years. it just stays set up where i want it. thank god, because i do not want to have to take the neck off for a truss rod adjustment.

yes, i know, it's very filthy.
Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass - Front.jpg
2017-02-01 19.04.39.jpg

also in case you're wondering, gregory was a stray cat that hung out at my friend's bar and he was my favorite.
 
Last edited:
IMG_0115.JPG

I use these two most of all, these days. 2011 American Special Precision and a 1998 Warwick Streamer LX. I also have an MIM Jazz which I love and which was a main player for a quite a while and is still a go-to bass around the house. I also have my 2013 Rickenbacker 4004L Jetglo which is great, but doesn't really qualify as a workhorse yet, as much as I love it. I'm trying to keep in in good condition.
I'm considering putting a stock Fender pickup back into the P bass. It's a great bass, though. Very comfortable neck.
 
Right now it's a tough call between these two:

VACCARO X-RAY
X-RAY (2).JPG


KRAMER VANGUARD
VANGUARD (4).JPG


I have seven other basses that fill various roles, but as all-rounder workhorses go, one of these two is gonna be the winner. The Vaccaro is the best-sounding bass of the whole bunch, but the Kramer is the most fun to play.
And both of them need new strings, but that has been postponed while they both are still awaiting the pickup and knob upgrades I have planned (all the parts are here, just been too lazy to clean up the workbench...)
 
I read lots of threads saying... “I’d never take a Wal/Fodera/Boutique/Whatever out to a gig just in case...”. Never understood that!

Since 1992 when I got it my Mk 1 Wal has gigged everywhere with me. From church to theatres to stately homes to hotels to clubs to marquees to prisons to seedy dive bars... And my Wal Pro Series bass has usually kept it company since I got it back in 2001.

View attachment 2919306

And in action rocking a local club...

View attachment 2919308

And the Pro in action...

View attachment 2919314
...wow
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nunovsky
1989 Fender MIJ PJ.
Bought it new as a thirteen year old and covered it in Bodega candles and threw the EMGs in and put the BADASS on...
I wanted a metal pickguard but couldn't find one in Mississippi back then so I just used a paint pen. Love this bass.

Currently has a Antiquities in it but is getting set up so no pics...View attachment 2919134
Amazing!
 
I have started a new band and we play some fretless and Drop D tunings so I purchased a Morley ABC switcher and use my Spector NS2 for the bulk of the songs and switch to the Spector NS4 fretless to cover those songs...the Drop D tuned songs work best using the Spector Coda 4P DLX. Hope you like!
NS2 Black Cherry Front Body w2.JPG

Spector NS2.
Spector NS4 fretless 2.jpg

Spector NS4 Fretless.
NAMM 2014-2.jpg

Spector Coda 4 P DLX, switched the pickup to a EMG active pickup and the preamp to an Aguilar Obp3.
VFW sept30_2.jpg

This picture is with the NS2
 
Last edited:
back in 2006, my senior year in high school, my dad told me he wanted to get me a nice bass as a christmas/graduation gift. i asked him for a price range and he just told me to find something and he would see what he could do. i spotted the 57AVRI in a fender catalog and just fell in love with the looks of the thing (my first bass was a P so i wasn't worried about picking it out only based on looks) circled it and showed my dad. again he just said he would see what he could do. i thought that there was no way i'd actually get it, it was $1400 and that was more than twice as much money as either of us had into any instrument at the time.

come christmas morning tho he surprised me with it (and my mom and i surprised him with a 4003) and ever since it's just been the one. sometimes i think about using another one of my basses as my main for a gig, but i always end up going with the 57. there's just something special about it. i play hard, and have a habit of throwing/dropping/kicking/standing on it on stage. nothing has ever broken on it, and i've only ever really had to make minor bridge adjustments over the years. it just stays set up where i want it. thank god, because i do not want to have to take the neck off for a truss rod adjustment.

yes, i know, it's very filthy.View attachment 2919462 View attachment 2919467
also in case you're wondering, gregory was a stray cat that hung out at my friend's bar and he was my favorite.

You win for best story, including Gregory. RIP Greg.