One bass to keep: Which would you choose?

[Tampabass]

Let's say that financial circumstances, or just a desire to simplify, led you to limiting yourself to just one bass.

Would you choose a 4, 5 or 6? Active or passive? Fretted or fretless? Body style?

Be as specific - with make, model, color, year of manufacture, place of manufacture, weight - as you'd like.

Just curious.

 

[pacojas]

Fender!

AV62RI JAZZ

 

[Marial]

Four string Fender jazz, passive pick ups. Why? It's what I've been using for some time and it's a bass that works for me in every situation I've been faced with thus far.

 

[theduke1]

G&L L2500 Kmod

 

[RaniBrandt]

Wouldn't have to be Fender, but probably something with passive jazz-type pickups. 4-string, fretted, maple board. On second thought, I might just add a jazz bridge p'up to go with the reverse-P in my Washburn Force 8 and call it a day.

 

[Dave W]

Let's see. My Sadowsky NYC PJ5 w/ VTC. It's black, made in 00', and is a very versatile bass. I've got a few other really nice instruments, but this one usually gets the lion's share of the work these days.

If I was going to pick a 4 string, it would probably be a MIA P bass or an MIA G&L L2000/ASAT. Black & Maple.

 

[Tampabass]

Let's see. My Sadowsky NYC PJ5 w/ VTC. It's black, made in 00', and is a very versatile bass. I've got a few other really nice instruments, but this one usually gets the lion's share of the work these days.

that'd be the one I'd keep. maybe someday ...

 

[camiloochoa]

I did that two years ago, i sold everything i had (basses) and got a Sadowsky jazz 5 string, fretted, with alder body, rosewood fretboard, single coil pickups, i have the chance of playing it with the preamp on for a more modern sound or simply bypassing it for a more classic vibe, so it's a very versatile bass.

 

[jim777]

6 string
active pre (3 or 4 band)
soapbars (as there are so many replacements available in that size both single and dual coil) but I could start with Bassculture.de, Bartolini, or Nordstrand hums to start
34" scale, 24 fret
16.5 or 17mm spacing.
bolt on or neck through, I don't care
I like a ton of woods so basically anything would go in that regard

Either a W&T Chronos 6 or an Ibanez SR5006e would fit the bill for me off the shelf.

 

[meatwad]

Post-2008 Fender American Deluxe Precision Bass... Four-string, sunburst, rosewood, flats, add thumbrest. Plug into an SVT, all set.

 

[dcr]

Of my basses, it would prolly be either my Roscoe SKB 3005 with Nordy DCs and Aggie preamp or my Roscoe Century 3005 with Barts and Demeter preamp. The split coils in these basses really add versatility. Plus they play great and are the lightest of my basses.

If I had to sell them all and buy just one, it would be a Sadowsky NYC in PJ5 with a VTC. I could go and do just about anything that I'd ever consider with that bass.

Or maybe a Sado Modern 24-5.


dcr

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

A very difficult financial situation would be the only reason why I'd sell my basses. In that case, this is the instrument I'd keep with me.

 

[Dave W]

that'd be the one I'd keep. maybe someday ...

I only own because I got a really good deal on it. It was still expensive, but it was less than Metro pricing for an NYC. The last few I saw in the classifieds went for roughly $1000-$1500 more than I paid for mine! That's a lot of money!!!

 

[Tampabass]

I only own because I got a really good deal on it. It was still expensive, but it was less than Metro pricing for an NYC. The last few I saw in the classifieds went for roughly $1000-$1500 more than I paid for mine! That's a lot of money!!!

nice...

 

[Nedmundo]

I play my fours almost exclusively, but a five is just useful enough that if I were forced down to one, I'd go with a fiver. I'd want a high quality 34" scale J-type with noiseless pickups. An American Deluxe Fender Jazz V would probably fit the bill. Let's make it black/maple.

 

[klejst]

My '98 Fender Precision, it's my only bass so of course that is the only one I would choose

(It's a passive, fretted, four stringer)

 

[StuartV]

Definitely 5 string.

For me, it would be a toss-up between my L-2500 with K option, my Peavey Millennium Plus 5, and my Peavey B Quad 5.

The G&L is the most versatile and most likely to provide a good fit, no matter what gig comes along.

But, my Mill is the prettiest Peavey (and as pretty as any bass of any brand) I've ever seen (to ME, IN MY OPINION ) and would be really hard to replace. And the B Quad 5 would be almost impossible to replace just because of how rare they are. And both Peaveys are just as "good" as the G&L, just not as "Swiss Army Knife" versatile as the G&L. I like the way the Mill plays, the best of them all.

 

[osuok88]

Get the Sadowsky P/J

 

[T. Alan Smith]

Let's say that financial circumstances, or just a desire to simplify, led you to limiting yourself to just one bass.

Would you choose a 4, 5 or 6? Active or passive? Fretted or fretless? Body style?

Be as specific - with make, model, color, year of manufacture, place of manufacture, weight - as you'd like.

Just curious.

based on the criteria above-
4 string, passive, fretted, Fender-esque...basically, a G&L SB2...black on black w/maple fretboard.

based on what I've already got-
I'm thinking my Skjold fretted 5 string, active in natural finish would just barely edge out my Bongo 6HS fretless in Olive Gold/vintage pearl

 

[StuartV]

based on the criteria above-
4 string, passive, fretted, Fender-esque...basically, a G&L SB2...black on black w/maple fretboard.

Funny, I just bought that exact bass today. Should have it next week. Can't wait! (But, I still believe I would keep my L-2500 over an SB2 - it does Passive and single coil, has tone adjustments, and has a B string, which I would definitely want in a One and Only)