Retiring your #1?

[Pet Sounds]

@GeneralElectric, you don't specify what types of music you play, but imo for cover bands there are some songs, bands and even genres that call out for a P-Bass. I have a lot of basses (many more than I need), but I almost always play out with a Precision with flats because it just works so well with our soul band.
That said, I can understand your love affair with the StingRay Special! I love mine, and they're a lot more versatile than the previous Rays.

 

[iiipopes]

I have had two previous basses that served as a #1, both now retired to occasional gigs:
1) The first #1, and for years my only bass: Mr. JH commented how Rickenbacker didn't make too many of my 4002 (yes, "2," not "1" or "3"), that they were "rare as hens' teeth," and the value skyrocketed to the point it was not viable or prudent to take it out;
2) The next #1, my P-bass style custom, served for several years, all genres of music; it still comes out occasionally, especially for blues jams;
2) In 2012 I re-joined a band I had played in years earlier that I needed a 5-string to cover the expanded repertoire. Now that 5-string, albeit with a new neck with a 33-inch scale instead of stock 34, is my current #1, and except for specific gigs where I use either my U-Bass or my short scale travel bass, is the #1 for the forseeable future.

 

[easyj]

That old P served you well for a long time. I say bring it out once in a while.

 

[HolmeBass]

There is no need to be so absolutist about it. Play whichever bass best fits the project.

Most of the time any bass can work, but some projects do demand certain sonic characteristics the might rule some basses out. You never know when your venerable P will need to be used. But for now, at least, play your new Ray as much as possible.

 

[bassbrad]

I had to retire the Unknown Blonde, one of my main basses after my years of touring and it was a bittersweet thing. The Unknown Blonde is a 1967 Fender Precision Bass that had belonged to a local touring C&W player who named her, he then sold it to the bass player for Little Joe y La Familia who toured North and Central America. I bought the bass while in college and played many gigs for nearly 20 years on the bass eventually touring most the world.
When I retired from touring but not from playing the Unknown Blonde developed several issues that rendered her unplayable. The maple neck had developed a twist and the body had began to warp, neither was deemed to be repairable. Luckily at that time I knew the agent purchasing instruments for the Hard Rock Cafe instrument collection, we had worked together at SHOWCO, so the Unknown Blonde was retired to that semi-luxurious lifestyle and I got a bit of money to buy my house.

 

[Matt R.]

My number one is a ‘74 Fender Jazz. It was forced into retirement in 2016, but I had a custom shop neck built for it so it’s back in bidness

 

[Bassinthemudd]

.. or does she get a well earned retirement where she lives in the closet?

What did your bass do to deserve to be put in the closet in perpetuity?

 

[GreyBeard]

Back in 1995 I bought a White on White StingRay SR5. Since then I have bought and sold 15 basses. With each of them there was a honeymoon period and then one day I would pickup my old and faithful SR5 and "THE HONEYMOON WAS OVER". My point is that you give yourself a chance for the honeymoon to end with your new bass. Then make your decision.

old faithful

 

[GeneralElectric]

I’ve been playing PBs almost exclusively for almost 45 years now. I have never had anyone suggest another instrument, (or telling me to put flats on them). Being honest, it’s not the only useful bass sound on the planet. I love the sound of MM basses, and I’m also fond of my Warwick Corvette 5 string when I need a 5 string bass.

Is it time to retire your PB? I would say no. I don’t quite understand the either or paradigm. Heck we got TBers here with 30 or more bases. You shouldn’t be retiring it, you should be buying more.

I don't have 30+ basses, I have a measly 8! 2 Stingray type, 2 jazzes, and 4 very nice P-basses (though one of them is technically a TB) If I do downsize, I'd keep this one for sure. It was my first good bass and has a lot of sentimental value.

I guess the question is do I keep trying to fit a round peg in a square hole concerning the bands I'm playing with.

 

[wvbass]

My #1 since the early 2000's is a Fender Hwy 1 Precision

Amen. I have a 2003 Hwy 1 that I have rarely played in the past year, but if I had to have only one bass, it would definitely be a contender. It is almost completely "stock." I think it has non-origianal strap pins, and one of the knobs has been replaced. At least I assume so, because the knobs don't match.

As an aside, while I understand the attitude of "if you aren't going to play it, sell it," I don't subscribe to it. I believe in "do what makes you happy." In my case, you might (objectively, lol) call me a hoarder, but I enjoy having a very large bass collection, and the knowledge that I have access to any of them at any time.

I just got my 1997 American Standard Jazz V out of the case and back in the practice rotation for the first time in...geez, probably more than fifteen years. I stopped playing it because I'd become dissatisfied with it, particularly the B string and the relatively wide nut. I've checked in on it from time to time, played it for a few minutes, and cased it back up. This time, though, it played and sounded right again, so it stays within arm's reach again in my living room.

This is the bass I bought when I jumped off the five string cliff - I had been exclusively a four string player, but my #1 (an Urge I) at the time got taken out of commission by a truss rod problem. I started gigging with the V exclusively the day I picked it up. I fumbled through all kinds of wrong note/wrong string problems until I got to the point that I could play it without thinking. That bass actually helped me land me a spot in a high-dollar band at one point - my audition consisted of asking me if I was the guy that played that "big jazz bass" at a local festival.

With a history like that, why would I sell it just because I don't want to play it for a while?

 

[GeneralElectric]

What did your bass do to deserve to be put in the closet in perpetuity?

Many years of hard and reliable service! I don't really hang stuff on the wall to look at as it not so great on the instrument in terms of temperature and humidity changes. I don't have a way to control those things in my space as its set by the building.

Pretty much the only thing that is out 24/7 is my practice bass which is also a P-bass (though it has flats)

 

[Isaac_James]

My 20 year old P bass special (one of the guitar center exclusives with a PJ configuration and a narrower nut) has been my #1 since I bought it. For a while, it was my ONLY bass, but I got my brother's old Ibanez SR800 as a backup a while ago. That one feels great to play - the craftsmanship on it is impeccable, it's a '98 made in the Fujigen factory - but I never really was able to get it to make the tone I wanted.

I've now had a Yamaha BB735 for just under a month and it's well on track to replace the Fender as my #1. I'm keeping the Fender up on the wall, but the Yamaha does pretty much everything that one does plus a little more.

 

[GeneralElectric]

@GeneralElectric, you don't specify what types of music you play, but imo for cover bands there are some songs, bands and even genres that call out for a P-Bass. I have a lot of basses (many more than I need), but I almost always play out with a Precision with flats because it just works so well with our soul band.
That said, I can understand your love affair with the StingRay Special! I love mine, and they're a lot more versatile than the previous Rays.

I consider myself a semi-pro. My regulars are a working cover band, a punk rock cabaret, and I'm backing up a singer guy who plays whatever this is:



Next month I'll also be doing a gig with a country guy and a soul/jam band.

I have a P-bass with flats (not this one) that I love playing but its sometimes hard for folks to hear it clearly in monitors as opposed to the Ray.

 

[tvbop]

Interesting. My #1 bass has always been different P basses., tho I played a Ray thu the early 80's but never really liked it. I wager you'll be back on that P bass before you know it.
P bass. The antidote for endless frustrating knob twiddling.

 

[31HZ]

My old Number One -- my first ever "good" bass -- is a Carvin LB70 (4-string) that I ordered out of their catalog in 1994 (I don't name my basses, but somehow this one came to be called "The Pillow"). Maple neck-through, koa wings, ebony board, stainless frets, 2+2 headstock. Probably put 500 gigs on that thing, mojo'd the heck out of it.

And it never stopped playing like a champ, but it went into the closet when I started playing 5s, and it never came back out.

So last year I gave it to someone I didn't know, because it seemed like they needed it more than I did. Packed it up in a box and down the road it went, hopefully to be enjoyed.

Long may you run, old friend. You deserve to be played, not sitting in a closet. Be well and make beautiful music.

 

[Yellow Bang66]

For most of my 20 year bass playing career I've been playing an early Fender 57RI bass. Its the bass from which all other basses are judged and has seen hundreds of shows, jam sessions, and studio time. Pretty much every musical milestone I've had was with this in my hands. Over time I've had all the electronics replaced multiple times. I think this is the second or third bridge this has had. Currently sporting EMG Geezer Butlers and a Hipshot brass A bridge.

I think it might be time to retire the bass I've affectionately called "the Wife" as I move away from playing P-basses and more into active/modern territory. In August I acquired a new Stingray Special HH. The modern playability, range of tones, and piano like clarity. The volume knob only changing volume. This bass has it all!

But this isn't my first Stingray or my first active bass. Usually when I get something new, I'll play with it for awhile and then go back to my P-bass. I've had a regular 4H ray for a couple of years now and have had it modded with aguilar electronics and converted to 18V for when a P-bass didn't have the articulation or depth I wanted.

The new Stingray Special has not just smitten me, but every group I play with. I've never had anyone ever tell me I needed to play a Fender but I've had folks tell me to not use whatever it is that I was using. So now the Ray is #1. Do I try and keep the old P in rotation or does she get a well earned retirement where she lives in the closet?

Hah! never had anyone say "dont playa__x bass!" My old reliable #1 was a trusty Fender Jazz Bass Special that is a P/J, last band I was in, Guitar player was very impressed by the tone of that bass & was Happy it was a P/J! "Its the best of both!"their Last bassist played a gibson EB-0?( SG bass) both drummer & him agreed it was a Bad Fit/Tone!
I kinda got tired of people coveting that bass, Always wanting to play or touch it!(all Black, & Glossy AF) Ugh after answering too many Questions one gig. I decided to get a "Beater" to replace it because it felt like it was gonna get stolen, if I didnt! You know that sneaky suspicious feeling (paranoia). I found a reasonably priced FJBS on ebay, so i scooped it up! it was in rough shape, so it was the perfect candidate! A true "Beater"! I t needed a refin & new PUps! so I got to rebuild it the way I wanted! it came out great & sounds amazing! So i retired the former & promoted the newer, Its nice knowing I have a great back up to the "New"#1! get ALOT of compliments on both whenever they get played out!! the New#1 is modeled/styled after the old Tele basses! complete with Reverse Telle headstock(think Dusty Hill). looks like a hot rod & sounds like an Angry Lion!!

 

[chris_b]

My #1 bass gets superseded when I find one that's better. Maybe it will become #2, or it could be sold. There are no hard and fast rules.

 

[SteveC]

I've been playing the same bass for 36 years, and same acoustic guitar for 45. My wife has had the same violin for 50. Sounds like an excuse for GAS.

Not necessarily. Sometimes tastes change. Sometimes you just want to try something else.

A good P bass is a good thing to have. I'd put it in the closet and bring it out occasionally. Nothing wrong with spending most of your time with a different bass.

If I think over the past 25 years and 30 instruments, there were 5 that were definitely the main favorite for a significant amount of time. I only have two still in the collection. My first (also a much modded PBass) and my current, which shares roughly equal time with two others.

I've had a bunch of instruments over the years. I can think of maybe 4 that were "favorites" of which one I still have - my Roscoe Century 5. Before that was a Yamaha BB605. Before that, probably a modded jazz.

Take whatever bass is most appropriate for the gig. Don't worry about which one is "#1".

This is pretty good advice if you have more than one bass.

I find it interesting that I have played active 5's for YEARS and am now preferring a passive 4 string P with TI flats. Like I said above, sometimes tastes change. My #1 has been "retired" for a few months. I still use it from time to time as I need a B string once in a while.

 

[bolophonic]

I just play the bass that I want to play. I don’t try to assign seniority, and I can’t imagine asking anyone else to decide which one I’m supposed to give priority to at any point in time.

 

[fabubass]

Stupid question:
Why do you need to 'retire' a bass? It is an object. You can put it away and never play it again. Or you can put it away and play it sometimes. Or you could not put it away and play it often. The bass won't get a golden watch. It will not sit on the front porch and yell at kids to get off its lawn. There is no retirement home for bass guitars.

Right now, playing the ray is more fun, so play the ray until playing something else (acquisition of a new one or returning to the P) will be more fun. No need to dwell on it.

Agree!!! Retiring a Bass, Give me friggin' Break!!