Great story, but speaking only for myself, there are several reasons why I wouldn't have let it go...history, provenance and the family connection. That's more than a bass, it's a family heirloom.
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Most expensive 1st bass to learn on ? ?
- Thread starter Danger McLovin
- Start date
I started in 1988 on an early 1977 Music Man Stingray white-pickup that belonged to my dad. At that time, the pre-EBs were already sought after instruments, and had high value in the market. Nowadays, they are worth thousands of dollars, if they are nice and original.
I still have the bass; I inherited it from my dad when he died in '07. It always has been the most valuable bass that I own.
I still have the bass; I inherited it from my dad when he died in '07. It always has been the most valuable bass that I own.
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How about a cirrus must be like almost 10 years ago?
MusicMan StingRay for me. Technically had a Yamaha prior to the Ray, but I never played it. The StingRay was with me through everything - first gig, first lesson, first BOTB, first recording, etc…
Wait-- you had a Matsumoku-manufactured Univox Hi-Flyer bass? Please tell me you didn't sell it...
My first bass was a Cort manufactured clone of a Fender Precision bass I bought for $100 in 1998. I still have it.
My first *new* bass was an Ibanez SR-300 I bought for about $400 in 2011. I still have it.
My first professional quality American-made bass is a G&L LB-100 I just bought this year. It doesn't replace any of my cheap basses, but provides a contrast or counterpoint to them, as I spec'd it to be more "old school", where my other basses are decidedly modern.
You'll be surprised how far you can go with a cheap instrument, if you know what to look for.
My first *new* bass was an Ibanez SR-300 I bought for about $400 in 2011. I still have it.
My first professional quality American-made bass is a G&L LB-100 I just bought this year. It doesn't replace any of my cheap basses, but provides a contrast or counterpoint to them, as I spec'd it to be more "old school", where my other basses are decidedly modern.
You'll be surprised how far you can go with a cheap instrument, if you know what to look for.
Probably the most expensive 'first bass' is one that has a small niggle, that makes you 'look for a solution', inadvertantly end up here on TB... and then meet this wonderful gang which will enthusiastically support/encourage you to acquire whichever N+1 bass you're after 
My first bass was a cheap, beat up, no-name kind of bass that was on loan - so about as far as you can get from an expensive bass. I was about 14 and trying to learn 6-string guitar. A kid at school loaned me the bass and said if I could play it I could join the band he was forming. The next day I played the Undertones "Teenage Kicks" for him and was in the band! 
The six-string I was learning on was my grandfather's, a 1930's Epiphone f-hole. At the time just an old, unfashionable thing, my nephew (a classical guitarist) has it now and it's quite desirable. That said my grandfather was playing it in the 1940s, me in the 1980s, and nephew in the 2020s so a shocking amount of time has passed.
The six-string I was learning on was my grandfather's, a 1930's Epiphone f-hole. At the time just an old, unfashionable thing, my nephew (a classical guitarist) has it now and it's quite desirable. That said my grandfather was playing it in the 1940s, me in the 1980s, and nephew in the 2020s so a shocking amount of time has passed.
In my experience, a big majority of people who acquire any instrument give up quickly and never really learn to play it. There are many homes out there with guitars, basses, keyboards, drums et cetera that have never been touched by anybody who could actually play them. Some of them are expensive! Others less so. Sad, really, but true.
"Most expensive?" The sky is the limit, right? But... I'll "chime in" with this. At 14, in 1982, as a HUGE Rush fan... all I wanted was that bass that Geddy Lee played. My father went to a music store to get me "THAT BASS" for my birthday. I don't know what store it was. I was a straight A student, jock, popular, nerd, polite, pretty much every member of the cast of The Breakfast Club, all rolled into one (without "most" of the issues). The Salesman at the store talked my Dad out of the 4001, and I got a brand new, '82 Gibson Victory. It cost 900 bucks new back then. I was grateful, but BUMMED. Although, I cut my teeth on it, played a ton of back yards/clubs with it. I've since had 5 RIC's. Sold them all. Still have the Victory. I never play it anymore, and it's a nice bass. Sentimental, and all. Sounds great. Heavy. Beat up. Tons of memories in it.
But... had He gotten me the 4001 that I originally wanted... I may no longer own my 1st bass 40 years later.
I know that Y'all aren't reading this, but... "Thanks Dad, and Salesman Guy."
Oh... You too Geddy. I have a few Jazz Basses now.
Peace,
Marc
But... had He gotten me the 4001 that I originally wanted... I may no longer own my 1st bass 40 years later.
I know that Y'all aren't reading this, but... "Thanks Dad, and Salesman Guy."
Oh... You too Geddy. I have a few Jazz Basses now.
Peace,
Marc
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I guess my first bass falls into this category. I got it for my 18th birthday in the early 80s. An Aria SB700. My mum and dad made me wait literally a couple of years to test my resolve and whether or not it was just a fad. Eventually they were convinced and they took my to a music shop in town. It so happened that the guy there had been in a few bands my brother drummed in -so we knew and kinda trusted him. He convinced my mum and dad that starting with a cheapo was a false economy and it end up selling it for nothing in a few years when I grew out of it. A decent instrument would last me for the foreseeable future as I got to be a better player and have better resale value if I did ever sell it.
I guess it was good advice as 40 years on I still have it, still play it a bit and still love it! It cost them £250 which equates to about 750-780 bucks today.
I guess it was good advice as 40 years on I still have it, still play it a bit and still love it! It cost them £250 which equates to about 750-780 bucks today.
A tab of acid manufactured in 1966 and ingested in 1966. I'm not trying to condone using acid but that must have been the "real deal" as far as quality is concerned. It was a legal pharmaceutical (Sandoz) until 1966 and then there was Owsley - among other things in charge of sound for the Grateful Dead.
That’s accurate. Owsley made quality acid. A lot of others didn’t. Then there were the tabs laced with strychnine. I stopped doing anything by the mid-70s.
