my current number one bass is...

[Bliff Curton 2]

1993 Aria Pro Custom Shop SB-025.
A literal one of a kind.
Mahog body, sandwiched between beautiful Black Walnut and laminated maple neck.
Bart P/U's and TCT preamp with coil taps for each p/u - i haven't seen a single other 025 with coil taps.

10.5 pounds so i do t play it for hours. But when I do play it, its unmatched. The notes jump out and zing clean and clear.
Needs more low-end around 30-40Hz, so Im considering either a filter (likely a pedal) or an add-on box like Sanamp DI or Tonehammer.
Also, needs better shielding, even series/series will make some noise, but out-of-phasing the single coils solves the problem for now.

9.5/10

So perfect, Im not toughing it for now. Now string or bridge adjustment, no trussrod adjustment. Only changing the battery til a string breaks. Its too perfect to mess with.

 

[SheaNC]

CF Martin EB 18

 

[logdrum]

It's a toss up, and very soon I'll have to decide on which one to keep, since bass is no longer my principal instrument and probably never will be again

What's the primary now and for the future?

 

[C Stone]

I rotate regularly but lately it’s just Jazz basses and this month’s been a CIC CV.

 

[Snert]

1993 Aria Pro Custom Shop SB-025

That Aria is sweet.

 

[logdrum]

I don't have one. Rotate once I satiate. Otherwise to serve the musicI should have no more than 2. A primary + backup to ensure 99.9% uptime. As far as I am concerned and no -- I don't care about others, multiple basses over 2 means I collect and hoard and I do this to compensate for something I am not. I am a victim of option paralysis something that I let myself into. This only applies to me because I know myself. Same old turd different commode.

 

[Snert]

I’ll bear that in mind should I decide to sell it

Thanks for the thought, but I hope you keep it for ages. If I can only get a black one, or some other colour, then so be it.

I watched in another thread about installing the EMGs, and I already gave a few of them on hand.

 

[ectoflanger]

Thanks for the thought, but I hope you keep it for ages. If I can only get a black one, or some other colour, then so be it.

I watched in another thread about installing the EMGs, and I already gave a few of them on hand.

If you decide to install the 35’s you’ll need the 8 string pickup rings as trim since they are slightly shy of the full width of the cavities. Otherwise 40’s will work if you trust your routing and woodworking skills-

 

[Frank Kreber]

I use the Ibanez SR (with DR Hi Beams) for modern stuff; the Sadowsky ( with Sadowsky Flats) is my choice for traditional settings
like acoustic Jazz, Blues or Soul. They are everything I need as a bassplayer; after years of trial and error I need nothing else

 

[Passinwind]

What's the primary now and for the future?

Right now I'm concentrating on a dobro/banjo hybrid I picked up in July, mostly doing Americana/bluegrass for the moment but looking to get into Gypsy Jazz and maybe Ambient/World Beat:

But l used to gig regularly on guitar doing original alt. rock/fusion/jam band stuff in the 90s and 00s, and if the dojo doesn't take I could easily see porting back to that. I'm just kind of ready to put myself up front onstage one more time, and it was always a ton or work to do that while playing fretless bass or my EUB, plus singing and doubling on lead guitar. The dojo is really fun to build electronic widgets for too, it has a TRS output with the mag pickup and a piezo on the resonator on two channels, so I'm doing an Alembic-ish two filter preamp box plus more processing on the mag side.

 

[Wyrdlow]

They are my own work. After owning a Fender 5 string Precision I discovered that the wide string spacing and wide neck wasn’t what I wanted. I decided to make my own. Both are passive with Fijian mahogany bodies, hipshot hardware and Nordstrand pickups. The MM5.2 pickup now has a series/parallel switch installed.
The one with the Big Split pickup has an Allparts neck. It was my first build and took a long time. I had never done anything like that before and I was pretty nervous about getting it right so I watched lots of Youtube videos to learn what to do and what not to do.
The one with the MM5.2 pickup has a cheap Chinese neck that was unusable when it arrived. The heel was not flat so I took it to the local Mens Shed in our village. They have a bench planer and we were able to get it flat. It’s a great neck to play.

Blimey! Kudos to you mate! They look great.

 

[2112]

This JB5 with an East pre and Fender Noiseless pups. Why? Because it sounds, plays, and looks fantastic!

 

[foal30]

Right now I'm concentrating on a dobro/banjo hybrid I picked up in July, mostly doing Americana/bluegrass for the moment but looking to get into Gypsy Jazz and maybe Ambient/World Beat:

View attachment 5276491


But l used to gig regularly on guitar doing original alt. rock/fusion/jam band stuff in the 90s and 00s, and if the dojo doesn't take I could easily see porting back to that. I'm just kind of ready to put myself up front onstage one more time, and it was always a ton or work to do that while playing fretless bass or my EUB, plus singing and doubling on lead guitar. The dojo is really fun to build electronic widgets for too, it has a TRS output with the mag pickup and a piezo on the resonator on two channels, so I'm doing an Alembic-ish two filter preamp box plus more processing on the mag side.

Enjoy mate

But Bass is boss eh

 

[Wyrdlow]

my current number one is,,,

* a drum roll, please *
Great thread, pcake! I'm enjoying looking through these.
my black bronco with reddish tort pickguard.

View attachment 5275174
why such a cheap bass, you ask?

i love the black with that pickguard, the neck is comfy and fast, unlike some broncos, this one arrived intonated, the size is super comfortable but with more fingerboard room than a 28.6" bass, and the pickup... well, something's up with it. i've owned 3 broncos and played many. the rest have your average single coil noise, which makes sense as a bronco has a single single coil pickup. but for some reason, this one is pretty much silent. and that stock pickup sounds better to my ears than any of the others i've played including the other bronco i played through the exact same rig.

what's your current number 1 and why?

 

[Bliff Curton 2]

I use the Ibanez SR (with DR Hi Beams) for modern stuff; the Sadowsky ( with Sadowsky Flats) is my choice for traditional settings
like acoustic Jazz, Blues or Soul. They are everything I need as a bassplayer; after years of trial and error I need nothing else View attachment 5276493

2 absolute gems right there.

I always loved what Peter Iwirs did with SR Prestiges.
And Jason Newstead on Cunning Stunts and S&M with those Sadowskys made both of those a someday-musy-have for me.

I al

 

[MochaFiend]

I'm not a collector, so having a highly versatile main with loads of tonal options is key. Otherwise I'd be constantly selling and buying basses as my tastes changed
View attachment 5275182

That top is FILTHY good. What a stunner. I am making bass face just looking at this.

 

[MochaFiend]

Been my main bass since I bought it. Would love to pair it with a Sterling.View attachment 5275558

Gorgeous.

 

[MochaFiend]

Numero Uno. I think you can figure out why

Hooooo leeeeee shiiiiiii

 

[MochaFiend]

View attachment 5276412

Love those inlays. Very whimsical. Great themed bass.

 

[Arjank]

I used to call my Pbass my #1 and thought it would be forever.... until I got the Ibanez which is light, perfectly balanced

Yes, I also own a SR1200VNF, it's indeed light and very well balanced. It's also very easy to play and the tone is great. It's tone is only surpassed by my '81 Ibanez MC9240LE and '86 MC2924.