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Nostalgia & Collecting

Dr. Cheese

Dr. Cheese

Supporting Member
Mar 3, 2004
57,285
120,415
Metro St. Louis
#1
The other day I was talking about getting a Fodera when I get my retirement bump (assuming the pension is still viable.) During that thread, I got the idea of collecting a Music Man trilogy of a Stingray, Sabre, and SR5. The idea of collecting a few instruments that really mean something to me just makes a lot of sense. If I can eventually have maybe five or six basses that I either used to play, or who were used by players I really admire, I think I would have the perfect collection.:)
 
#2
I went through a period of 10-20 years of collecting vintage instruments from the 60s; some were pretty rare. Eventually I sold every one of them. I now own basses with which I have a personal connection, I know where you're coming from.
 
#3
Me too. I went through a period where I sought out and re-purchased the basses that looked like the ones I played when I was first starting out. Then I collected basses that looked like the basses of bassists I admired (Hofners/Rickenbackers, etc). Then, when my income grew, I collected "classic" vintage basses that I thought I should own at some point in my life.

They have all came and went and I have no regrets. In the end, its the memory of those old gigs and your first bass and the concert you saw Larry Graham or Jaco that matter. Not having a bass that looks like that one.

Right now, my three favorite basses were each given to me as gifts - a 2010 Fender American Standard Jazz; a 2007 Gibson SG and a 2006 Hofner Icon. I have set them all up to my personal taste and can cover just about any sound or type of music with just these three. I am at peace.

Does this mean that I will never buy another bass? Of course not. But, for me, I no longer feel the need to chase basses. The music is in your hands and your heart. Truth is, most bassists won't sound alot better on a Fodera than on a Squier. Find a bass that has some sentimental attachment for you and that can reproduce the sounds in your head. Once you have that, you have everything.

Sorry for the ZEN tone of this post. But this is something that I have come to accept after 33 years of performing and recording.

Doctor -- Get the bass (or basses) that make you sound the best you can sound. After that, it really does not matter.
 
#4
funkytoe said:
Me too. I went through a period where I sought out and re-purchased the basses that looked like the ones I played when I was first starting out. Then I collected basses that looked like the basses of bassists I admired (Hofners/Rickenbackers, etc). Then, when my income grew, I collected "classic" vintage basses that I thought I should own at some point in my life.

They have all came and went and I have no regrets. In the end, its the memory of those old gigs and your first bass and the concert you saw Larry Graham or Jaco that matter. Not having a bass that looks like that one.

Right now, my three favorite basses were each given to me as gifts - a 2010 Fender American Standard Jazz; a 2007 Gibson SG and a 2006 Hofner Icon. I have set them all up to my personal taste and can cover just about any sound or type of music with just these three. I am at peace.

Does this mean that I will never buy another bass? Of course not. But, for me, I no longer feel the need to chase basses. The music is in your hands and your heart. Truth is, most bassists won't sound alot better on a Fodera than on a Squier. Find a bass that has some sentimental attachment for you and that can reproduce the sounds in your head. Once you have that, you have everything.

Sorry for the ZEN tone of this post. But this is something that I have come to accept after 33 years of performing and recording.

Doctor -- Get the bass (or basses) that make you sound the best you can sound. After that, it really does not matter.
Click to expand...

Thanks! That's some great advice! As far as oldies are concerned, I would like an old BB series Yamaha and a Music Man Sabre. A 1980s or 1990s low end Alembic five would be cool too. I guess I'm really feeling nostalgic lately.
 
#6
lamarjones said:
Cheese, the hard part is holding on to them when you got a few 'extra' basses and then something comes along you kinda want. It was hard for me, and your GAS is pretty legendary :D
Click to expand...

That's very, very true.:o Still it would be cool to gradually build up a small collection. My point is that I will always be full of GAS, so it sort of makes sense to at least have a plan and some goals, instead of just falling victim to random GAS attacks.;)
 
#11
I don't really have any nostalgia for instruments other than the '65 Strat that I shouldn't have sold many many years ago. But even that is likely better in my memory than in reality. While I love the look and vibe of vintage stuff, and I certainly have personal ties and associations with gear from the 60's and 70's, for whatever reason I really don't want to own any of it. Not quite sure why. Maybe it is like old girlfriends - there are some great (and not so great) memories but trying to go back in time just doesn't work. I am where I am, have the basses I have that get (mostly) the sound that I want, and have slowed down on the gas front. Going to BNC certainly helped with that.
 
#12
I don't really "get" the vintage bass craze. To me, basses are much nicer now than they've ever been. So many more choices and the consistency is so much better. Old basses are just old to me. No nostalgia really involved. Maybe I feel like that because when I started playing, 60's basses were all the rage. When I got to play a few of them, I was surprised that they weren't "all that," even though they were nice basses.
 
#13
Having one of leos basses when Leo was working there would be cool, but my permanent ones are my r bass (wedding gift), Roscoe thunderbird (bought with money from a specific gig) and when this fodera gets built that. I used to want am older smith and Tobias but after having one they just don't feel right to me so can't see that happening.
 
#15
EagleMoon said:
I don't really "get" the vintage bass craze. To me, basses are much nicer now than they've ever been. So many more choices and the consistency is so much better. Old basses are just old to me. No nostalgia really involved. Maybe I feel like that because when I started playing, 60's basses were all the rage. When I got to play a few of them, I was surprised that they weren't "all that," even though they were nice basses.
Click to expand...

I wonder which basses you played that you weren't terribly impressed? I love the 60's basses that I hear on 60's recordings. :D I'd love to get my hands on vintage gear, actually.

True, more choices and more consistency now but there is always that segment of the market that's trying to recapture some of the warmth and old-school vibe of the classics. Even with all the flaws gear of yesteryear might have had, it still came through sounding awfully good.
 
#16
nocontrols said:
I wonder which basses you played that you weren't terribly impressed? I love the 60's basses that I hear on 60's recordings. :D I'd love to get my hands on vintage gear, actually.

True, more choices and more consistency now but there is always that segment of the market that's trying to recapture some of the warmth and old-school vibe of the classics. Even with all the flaws gear of yesteryear might have had, it still came through sounding awfully good.
Click to expand...

There's also something special about owning something like one of the original reverse-body T-Birds of which less than 200 were made. That said, like others I have no regrets about letting them all go. It was fun while it lasted but it was time for someone else to enjoy them.
 
#17
Dr. Cheese said:
The other day I was talking about getting a Fodera when I get my retirement bump (assuming the pension is still viable.) During that thread, I got the idea of collecting a Music Man trilogy of a Stingray, Sabre, and SR5. The idea of collecting a few instruments that really mean something to me just makes a lot of sense. If I can eventually have maybe five or six basses that I either used to play, or who were used by players I really admire, I think I would have the perfect collection.:)
Click to expand...

Collector's GAS! The best kind!

I'm looking for a Precision that is a mate to one of my favorite Jazzes at the moment. Purely nostalgic, aesthetic, superficial, and self-indulgent. No practical purpose whatsoever. If it makes you happy, and won't get you in trouble, go for it. We only go around once, and it's a short ride.
 
#18
EagleMoon said:
I don't really "get" the vintage bass craze. To me, basses are much nicer now than they've ever been. So many more choices and the consistency is so much better. Old basses are just old to me. No nostalgia really involved. Maybe I feel like that because when I started playing, 60's basses were all the rage. When I got to play a few of them, I was surprised that they weren't "all that," even though they were nice basses.
Click to expand...

i agree with you EagleMoon.

the money spent on a 60's or 70's J could be spent on a newer better bass. i was into the "vintage" thing for a while, and while they are great basses I just can't see spending that much cash on something that's not as good as i can get today.
 
#19
nocontrols said:
I wonder which basses you played that you weren't terribly impressed? I love the 60's basses that I hear on 60's recordings. :D I'd love to get my hands on vintage gear, actually.
Click to expand...

I think the tone you hear is more from the amps that were around at the time, and the recording process rather than the basses themselves. There's really not much difference in an old bass and a new one, except the old one is old. They're still made the same way, though much better now, in the case of Fender, since '08. IMO.

I've played quite a few 60's basses. I can't remember them all, but my best friend growing up had one of the slab P basses. She still has it today. I started playing in the mid 70's so 60's basses were pretty easy to find back then.
 
#20
I think we all lose sight (hearing?) of the fact that those 60s 70s 80s 90s basses were all recorded and projected through gear of the same era! So the sounds on recordings or live shows reflect more than just the sound of the basses. OC then you have to "be" Jamerson, Jaco, Stanley, Flea or whoever to get THAT sound !
Wait a sec this line of thinking could lead to even more GAS! Gotta score the fliptop and a vintage SVT, 360 and a Neve board and those tube compressors.....what have I done!
 

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