Let's see your "sleeper" basses

[TerribleTim68]

For me it's gonna be my bone stock, all original LTD F-104 -

I'm a Metal / Hair Metal guy and for whatever reason this thing just fits the bill for tone, playability and looks. I own several other basses, but none of them growl like this thing.

 

[tpaul]

1994 Mexican Squier Series "black label." They have a good reputation so I took a flyer on it. $337 shipped from a Reverb seller. It took a lot of cleaning (there's a whole thread about it) but it was worth it. Threw in a set of GZRs, new pickguard and knobs, and I'd put it up against most any Fender. That neck...

 

[rtslinger]

Going with my Charvel/Jackson 2b

 

[mongo2]

This one is hiding the best P bass tone I've ever owned...

Plus it's napping on the bed so it's a real sleeper.

 

[ianc_54]

My #1 bass for the last 12 years has been a Franken-P. Fender mex Jazz neck on an Ash eBay body with Fender US vintage pickup. Body is oil/wax finish and I built it for it £300, and that included the case.



 

[funkinbottom]

This little Teisco short scale from the 70's (??) I rebuilt looks harmless enough, but punches way above it's weight class. Bartollini pickups and preamp.

 

[maxschrek]

Zemaitis Antanus with DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pickups. Very light at 8.5lbs and the most aggressive sounding bass I've ever owned besides the Epiphone Genesis. This thing sings through big iron.

 

[Funkinthetrunk]

Disrespected and unloved, yet the best sounding and playing Carvin I've ever owned.

 

[outoftune]

I have to go with my Harley Benton PJ-74. I changed the bridge and pickups, killed the pickguard so I added stickers and away we go.
The bass is a rock. The neck is stable as heck and it just withstands anything you throw t it. AND it sounds amazing.

 

[Snaxster]

I don't really have a 'sleeper' bass, but I did find one...

Me, too.

 

[Spidey2112]

Me, too.

View attachment 4578321

My man.

 

[ctmullins]

My little Epi EB0, with a few small modifications.

Kicks hard.

 

[Dave Siff]

Reverend. If you know, you know..

 

[Novarocker]

View attachment 4576705

MIM 70's Reissue. Came poly sunburst. Wasn't a fan. Had it repainted. Liked it less. Stripped it and put a couple of coats of Aged Satin. Put in some Lollars and this will sing with any string, amp, style that I play.

Nice rigs!

Mines been through a similar story too. My trusty Jazz is my sleeper:

'91 IIRC MIM standard. All stock save electronics. Originally black, or atleast the neck pocket was. I was left this from a friend who didn't want it back. Was beat, mile high action, stickers all over and stained a gorgeous transparent blue and had those odd, but to me lovable strat knobs. As much as I liked the blue, it was bad mostly due to the stickers, tape, etc. Sanded it down, cleaned up the neck and bridge, then laid down some shellac over everything. Just enough to seal the wood. So damn comfy even with all the dings everywhere.

The neck is the slimmest Jazz I've ever seen from any Fender. And the frets are vintage sized, maybe original, IDK. Fastest Fender neck I've ever touched.

The body, which you might be able to tell, was in rough shape, and I kinda dig the overall worn look. Original white pickguard too, aged like no tomorrow from cigs and flourescent I'm sure. There's a massive crack from the bridge pickup to the bottom strap button. Hasn't grown since I got this bass 15 years ago, and likely occurred when some genius used a 2 1/2" deck screw for the strap button!!!

Either way. This thing plays better than anything I've got or tried. The only downside is the stock pups that are wound in the same direction so no humbuck when using both. The only mod I've done was installed a 5 way pup switch (middle knob, N, Both, B, Series, Series out of phase) and a push-pull tone that is normal down, but goes from mid pass to mid scoop when pulled up. Funny enough, that's how I found out that the pups are wound oddly. The series out of phase, humbucks. I've read that it may have been a cost savings for MIM to essentially use the same pickups for both. IDK and I've never measured either.

Anyway, absolutely love it, thing's a tank. My kids love it and my friends always like it when I bring it out. Definitely gonna pass this thing down, regardless of actual value.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

In the category of "punching above it's class" this has to be my sleeper bass.

The Squier Musicmasters from '96/'97 were greatly improved over the originals, and the Vista Tone pickups were a huge part of that. I originally got this off CL for around $100. The listing said "barely played" which may be true because the body looked like it had been used as a garden shovel, no marks on the headstock. Refinished in CAR by Guitar Paint Guys and new pickguard (orig was broken) were the only changes.

Never let me down, great tone every time.

 

[songwriter21]

Schecter Stiletto Studio 5 ltd edition...plays and is built almost as well as a Spector Euro 5, for over 1K less than what the Spector cost me (sold a while ago).

Carvin LB75 (2006)...impeccable build, and effortlessly low action like the Schecter. There's growl and bite to spare here.

Peavey GV...carbon-wrapped walnut neck, with proprietary VFL pickups, and aftermarket Pope Flexcore preamp. This sucker is fast and sounds BIG.

Carvin B5...consistent workhorse that has never let me down, and sounds as clear as a bell. Sound engineers at FOH have said stuff like, "I can hear every note", or "I have no problem getting you heard".

 

[Jxff]

For your ZZZZZzzzzzzz consideration, my 85 Peavey Fury Gen 1. $250 and a 45-minute drive.

 

[GTHintz]

another sleeper. A cheap as hell rogue bass. I just put a 3 band eq in there and I'm shocked how rich and deep this thing is. I'm litterally getting Rex Brown Pantera like tones. The pickups are not stock obviously but this thing is sounding too good to put down. I wish I could record it for everyone.

 

[shade_1313]

I suspect this one will be. I bought it on the cheap from Reverb, with fried electronics. I just got everything installed and wired up. Now it has Nordstrand “Dingstrand Nordwall” pickups (standard soapbar size shells, with Dingwall FD3 spec innards wound by Nordstrand), a Dingwall 2x pickup selector switch, and a Darkglass Tone Capsule. Also installed a Hipshot Xtender for drop D on the fly. I’m still tweaking the setup, but it sounds monstrous.

 

[tindrum]

I have to go with my Harley Benton PJ-74. I changed the bridge and pickups, killed the pickguard so I added stickers and away we go.
The bass is a rock. The neck is stable as heck and it just withstands anything you throw t it. AND it sounds amazing.
View attachment 4578293

That pickguard is seriously awesome!!!