Poll: Do you have a "beater" bass?

[BurningSkies]

I just want to let all know that have talked about insurance, the policy I have is $100 deductible and covers everything except fraud of course but states that leaving your car/ truck door unlocked. So, have pic’s , serial numbers, and value. If a police report is filled no issues on coverage. For a little less than $200 I think worth it. Homeowners ins might not cover your loss out of your home. Check it out.

Often times home/renters insurance won't cover instruments or gear if you've used them in a 'professional capacity.' There's I'm sure some way to parse that term or however people are couching it in their policies, but I take that to mean, if you get paid to play at all...they ain't covering you.

 

[Fuzzbass]

At one point, I had a playing situation where I chose which bass I thought would be best as a weapon in a fight. The answer was my 73P, but more in a sense of sturdiness and/or that it already had plenty of wear than in value. I figured it would be the least harmed if I needed to club someone with it.

Ha! Seventies basses were best for bar fights, for sure. My Sadowsky P5 would NOT work because of the chambered body, but the Fender Roscoe Beck fivers I was playing previously would have held their own!

 

[BurningSkies]

Ha! Seventies basses were best for bar fights, for sure. My Sadowsky P5 would NOT work because of the chambered body, but the Fender Roscoe Beck fivers I was playing previously would have held their own!

See? I wouldn't take my Dingwall (or at that time) PRS basses out for it...but the P-bass, yep. It was also at a time where I figured that a stock and somewhat worn Precision was less of a target than a bass that looked rare/fancy/new.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Often times home/renters insurance won't cover instruments or gear if you've used them in a 'professional capacity.'

That's been true for my homeowner and renter policies over the years. I would inform them that I wasn't a professional (true), I was merely a hobbyist that hardly made any money (relatively true ), but apparently their definition of 'professional capacity' is how you use the gear, not how much you earn from it. Bottom line: separate policy required to cover my music gear.

 

[Boomhowertx]

Question for the collective: do you have a beater bass? One that you would be okay with if it got stolen, lost, or damaged?

When I gigged frequently I had a beater, but I hardly ever used it. I ended up selling it a long time ago. Recently I picked up another beater, but not sure if I'm going to keep it. A good portion of my basses aren't in pristine condition, so a bump here or there won't bother me. I've never had a bass stolen, and my most irreplaceable basses aren't going to be gigged.

So, thoughts? Ever glad you used a beater?

 

[Boomhowertx]

My beater bass is my daily driver, a hot rodded '94 Peavey Fury. I own several much nicer basses. They only get played occasionally.

 

[MGCollis]

My "beater" bass is also my couch bass. It's a cheap pawnshop find, 1994 MiJ Fender Precision Lyte in the cheesy figured maple photo finish red and a neck that feels like my Geddy Lee Jazz.

I have replaced the active electronics with 920D custom VTVT passive setup and also put Seymour Duncan 1/4 Pounders in it. I had to do a finish fix up on with CA glue it as the heavy finish had cracked and chunks were popping off.

I'll even gig with it if my lower back starts acting up as it's about half the weight of the others in the collection.

And no, I'm not considering selling it, even if the finish is all cracked and broken. It's just about perfect as it is.

 

[ad9000]

In the 2000's I did lots of touring in Mexico, Central and South America. Because it was unknown how safe our gear would be on some of those trips, I wanted to take an instrument that was less valuable in case it was lost or stolen. My fears were mostly unfounded, although there was one incident where a truck carrying all or our gear and luggage temporarily disappeared en route to the airport in Medellin (it eventually arrived, the driver claiming he had a flat tire although he was suspiciously unsoiled). Amps were provided by venues or sound companies so I didn't have to worry about that.

This is the bass I used on those trips (now fretless): a Warmoth parts Jazz Bass with Fender '62 pickups and assorted parts. It sounded and played great, and it is probably worth more parted out than as an assembled instrument.

 

[fclef66]

Question for the collective: do you have a beater bass? One that you would be okay with if it got stolen, lost, or damaged?

When I gigged frequently I had a beater, but I hardly ever used it. I ended up selling it a long time ago. Recently I picked up another beater, but not sure if I'm going to keep it. A good portion of my basses aren't in pristine condition, so a bump here or there won't bother me. I've never had a bass stolen, and my most irreplaceable basses aren't going to be gigged.

So, thoughts? Ever glad you used a beater?

Absolutely! Schecter Diamond P5 I bought used about 8 years ago for "fly dates", dive bars and outdoor shows. Easily & inexpensively replaced but now I've played so many gigs, made $'s and so many memories I would definitely be bummed if it were lost. Budget friendly pro-quality instrument I really enjoy playing. But it Is my designated "beater"!

 

[DanGR]

Question for the collective: do you have a beater bass? One that you would be okay with if it got stolen, lost, or damaged?

When I gigged frequently I had a beater, but I hardly ever used it. I ended up selling it a long time ago. Recently I picked up another beater, but not sure if I'm going to keep it. A good portion of my basses aren't in pristine condition, so a bump here or there won't bother me. I've never had a bass stolen, and my most irreplaceable basses aren't going to be gigged.

So, thoughts? Ever glad you used a beater?

Yes I have a beater. It's an Ibanez SR505 in the micro thin poopy brown finish, so it has finish wear on it. It has been dropped and what was left of the chip out glued back in. This is the one I bring to practice or gigs were players who've consumed "spirits" might sit in. There's just something about it's tone and playability that I would dearly miss if ever stolen though.....

 

[vernay3]

Yes. A Toby Deluxe V. I bought it for fly dates where something wasn’t provided. I paid 90 bucks for it. String spacing is too close (16mm) and the pickups and preamp sound terrible. I keep thinking about changing the electronics but that defeats the purpose of having a cheap bass I don’t care about.

 

[reubart]

Question for the collective: do you have a beater bass? One that you would be okay with if it got stolen, lost, or damaged?

When I gigged frequently I had a beater, but I hardly ever used it. I ended up selling it a long time ago. Recently I picked up another beater, but not sure if I'm going to keep it. A good portion of my basses aren't in pristine condition, so a bump here or there won't bother me. I've never had a bass stolen, and my most irreplaceable basses aren't going to be gigged.

So, thoughts? Ever glad you used a beater?

I have my “camping” bass, a well-gigged SR505, that I take when we camp or vacation. My bride brings her book to the beach, and I bring my SR with my Tascam MP-BT1 trainer, and all remains right with the world.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Guess I really have two. That is if you mean playing the beach gigs.
Fretted Euro Spector NS2 and a fretless conversion Spector NS2a. My USA Spectors don't play on the beach.
Fretted Euro NS2

Fretless NS2a.

 

[A9X]

Mine is an Ibanez CR620. Basically an ash/maple P with a 2+2 headstock. Got it for about the same $ as a couple of large pizzas. It's in quite good nick, and though low cost, I'd still be sad if it were stolen.

I thought I should clarify this point; I didn't get the CR620 to be a beater, it came as part of a multi-instrument purchase I made, and it was take it or no deal.
Last time I played in a dodgy venue I still had and used my Alembic Series 1. Whilst setting up it was in the gig bag on my back and post gig dinner / drinks it sat between my legs so it wasn't going anywhere.
This is not mine, but you get the idea; mine has stock bridge, and one wrong tuner.