For electric, a '59 Precision that left me cold - the neck was the size of a landing strip. On DB, my teachers ANCIENT DB, that was a treat.
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Oldest Bass you've played?
- Thread starter kombi
- Start date
A '64 Jazz bass in a Guitar Center. Good stuff, first time I ever tried a Fender with the ashtray pickup covers.
I have a 64 Hofner that I bring along for special occasion gigs. It always brings out the oh's and ah's if there is a bass player in da crowd. All original, and sounds great through my Markbass.
Oldest bass was a '56 or '59 Fender P, which was brought to practice one day by the original owner's son (he was the guitarist). I played it for a few minutes. It was pretty nice. He had EVERYTHING, including the receipt, that originally came with the bass. It was fairly worn, but it sounded and felt nice.
I have a '73 Ric and, I believe, a 1970 Univox 'Lectra. I am not sure of the age of the 'Lectra. Though I am pretty sure it is authentically pretty damn old, as I bought it in 1988 and it was old then. The Ric I am quite sure of . . . its serial number starts with MA, it has the checked binding and originally came with closed-back Grovers made of pewter (which were falling apart when I got it, and I changed them to Schallers in 1991 or so).
Old isn't everything, though. I visited a vintage guitar shop in Madison, IN a few months back. They definitely had a ton of vintage guitars, but they were all in horrible shape, and looking around the store I had this feeling I was in the middle of a bunch of driftwood that had landed on a beach somewhere. All of the guitars had that falling-apart look to their finish. It was just kind of weird -- I got the feeling that the guitars were not so much vintage as flotsam. Stuff that nobody really wanted -- though the prices were outrageous.
I have a '73 Ric and, I believe, a 1970 Univox 'Lectra. I am not sure of the age of the 'Lectra. Though I am pretty sure it is authentically pretty damn old, as I bought it in 1988 and it was old then. The Ric I am quite sure of . . . its serial number starts with MA, it has the checked binding and originally came with closed-back Grovers made of pewter (which were falling apart when I got it, and I changed them to Schallers in 1991 or so).
Old isn't everything, though. I visited a vintage guitar shop in Madison, IN a few months back. They definitely had a ton of vintage guitars, but they were all in horrible shape, and looking around the store I had this feeling I was in the middle of a bunch of driftwood that had landed on a beach somewhere. All of the guitars had that falling-apart look to their finish. It was just kind of weird -- I got the feeling that the guitars were not so much vintage as flotsam. Stuff that nobody really wanted -- though the prices were outrageous.
a 200 year old upright at the Guarneri House in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
It sounded like a cannon.
$100,000 + price tag
It sounded like a cannon.
$100,000 + price tag
the oldest ones i owned or played ? 66 fender jazz/67 epiphone embassy/67 fender coronado II/68 fender telecaster bass
plus a TON of early 70's basses....except they were NEW when i played 'em...heh heh...
as for now,the only older bass in my little collection is a '74 RIC 4000,and a 70's japanese jazz bass copy. everything else is post-2000 manufacture.
plus a TON of early 70's basses....except they were NEW when i played 'em...heh heh...
as for now,the only older bass in my little collection is a '74 RIC 4000,and a 70's japanese jazz bass copy. everything else is post-2000 manufacture.
I think it was a Mid-70's J bass. Just hanging out in a random music shop outside of Saint John, NB. I was about 14 and didn't want to piss off the music store guys by holding the bass for too long so I just picked it up, plays a note or two and put it down. Proceeded to ogle it for about 10 minutes.
I played a 1840's German Flatback Upright Bass in college. Thought that might be the oldest before I saw the post above.
The Flat back has a focused tone as opposed to a rounded back bass which has the big projecting sound.
I played a very early 60's Fender J that my theory teacher had acquired. Played nice enough, but not for the price he bought it for!
- Feb 16, 2008
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- John K Custom Basses
like i stated earlier, the earliest electric bass that i've played was a '51 P bass, serial #001.
the oldest guitar was an 1859 (New York) Martin and it was in near mint condition.
the oldest guitar was an 1859 (New York) Martin and it was in near mint condition.
Just played a 52 P today...white finish, still in great shape. Played it here if you're in the twin cities.. Invalid Link Removed I also played a 54 (or was it 57?) P, pretty great
- Sep 4, 2010
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- Endorsing: Martin Keith Guitars
I used to have an old Kay DB. No idea from when. Wish I still had it, solid bass with great punch in the tone.
A 50s kay bass. Short scale. Needed work when I got it. I fixed it up then sold it. Not my best bass by a long shot. Guy who bought it was happy.
My uncle's '63 precision with the original strings. The only reason he bought it was that he couldn't drag an upright around with him while he was in the army. I don't know how old his uprights are...
I've played on a friend's '63 Jazz (in non-original condition) and an early '60s Precision. I once held a mint '54 Strat. 
I just rewired a 59 Precision for a friend. Before you get worried about messing with that vintage of a bass, there wasn't much original left. Even the pickups had been rewound. the tuners had been gold plated. Leather pickguard. Still pretty cool.
The oldest bass if we include uprights, is the one in my avitar. It is about a 100 year old German Flatback. Almost like family.
The oldest bass if we include uprights, is the one in my avitar. It is about a 100 year old German Flatback. Almost like family.
