Senior Bassist (55+) Appreciation Thread (Post Pics)

[nixdad]

Great bass! Looks like you used the Fender Black Tape Wound strings on it. Do you still have it? I bought a '65 Jazz in 1966 and used it through high school, some college, toured with it for 3 years and used for weekend gigs after that. Came to a screeching halt when our house was burglarized in 1976 and they stole all my touring gear. Miss that bass a lot! Amp too.

Here's a shot of me with it in 1972. That's my Standel amp peeking out between the guitarist an our girl singer's elbow. I used the Fender Black Tape Wound strings back thing too.

View attachment 4418017

And here's a picture of the whole group. We were crammed together on that stage and playing songs for pictures while the photographer did his things. Normally Tom, the guy on the right (congas), was off the stage on the floor at this venue, Steve (guitar) was over in front of his amp where Tom is, I was in front of my amp and Vera was where I am in this shot. We actually had a keys player on the other side of the drums but he had given his notice so he's not in any of the shots.

View attachment 4418021

Great photos & story @Rip Van Dan! So sorry for your equipment loss at the time.
Unfortunately, I no longer have that Jazz nor the nearly mint condition Ampeg B-15 that I had purchased from the same gentleman along with the Jazz Bass.
Here’s a photo of the amp and bass from around 1990 (I still own the rare MusicMan combo pictured in this photo, but that’s it):

Here’s the same amp as we used in the FCS James Jamerson Tribute Bass ad in ‘90:

BTW, although it appears the Jazz bass is strung with black nylon tape wounds, it’s actually strung with Fender flats (must have been a shadow.) Out of all of the basses I’ve had and strings I’ve tried through the years, I’ve never played on tapewounds! It’s on my list, I just haven’t gotten around to it as I’ve been thoroughly pleased using TI flats on most of my basses.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Great photos & story @Rip Van Dan! So sorry for your equipment loss at the time.
Unfortunately, I no longer have that Jazz nor the nearly mint condition Ampeg B-15 that I had purchased from the same gentleman along with the Jazz Bass.
Here’s a photo of the amp and bass from around 1990 (I still own the rare MusicMan combo pictured in this photo, but that’s it):
View attachment 4418055
Here’s the same amp as we used in the FCS James Jamerson Tribute Bass ad in ‘90:
View attachment 4418060

BTW, although it appears the Jazz bass is strung with black nylon tape wounds, it’s actually strung with Fender flats (must have been a shadow.) Out of all of the basses I’ve had and strings I’ve tried through the years, I’ve never played on tapewounds! It’s on my list, I just haven’t gotten around to it as I’ve been thoroughly pleased using TI flats on most of my basses.

Treat yourself to some La Bella White Tapewounds! I love the Black Tapewounds as well. Love the TI Jazz Flats. Between those three my basses are covered

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Great photos & story @Rip Van Dan! So sorry for your equipment loss at the time.
Unfortunately, I no longer have that Jazz nor the nearly mint condition Ampeg B-15 that I had purchased from the same gentleman along with the Jazz Bass.
Here’s a photo of the amp and bass from around 1990 (I still own the rare MusicMan combo pictured in this photo, but that’s it):
View attachment 4418055
Here’s the same amp as we used in the FCS James Jamerson Tribute Bass ad in ‘90:
View attachment 4418060

BTW, although it appears the Jazz bass is strung with black nylon tape wounds, it’s actually strung with Fender flats (must have been a shadow.) Out of all of the basses I’ve had and strings I’ve tried through the years, I’ve never played on tapewounds! It’s on my list, I just haven’t gotten around to it as I’ve been thoroughly pleased using TI flats on most of my basses.

Nice Pics! Sorry to hear you don't have the '65 any more. That had to have a great sound with that flip-fop Ampeg! I went from Fender flats that came with mine to the black Tape-wounds in 1971 and used those until 1976. My '82 that I bought in 1985 came with Blue Steel round wound strings. Replaced them with the same a number of times and then went to DR Black Beauty strings.

Unfortunately they became DR Speckled gray and black strings after about 3 years and about 4-years ago I tried out the LaBella White Tape Wounds. They are semi-opaque and you can see the steel or nickel core inside. I really like them a LOT! LaBella makes 4 different ones with the black being the darkest, the white being the brightest sound and the others are in between those sounds. They have the best balanced sound between strings of any I've used, so if you decide to try tape wounds, I'd highly recommend them.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Nice Pics! Sorry to hear you don't have the '65 any more. That had to have a great sound with that flip-fop Ampeg! I went from Fender flats that came with mine to the black Tape-wounds in 1971 and used those until 1976. My '82 that I bought in 1985 came with Blue Steel round wound strings. Replaced them with the same a number of times and then went to DR Black Beauty strings.

Unfortunately they became DR Speckled gray and black strings after about 3 years and about 4-years ago I tried out the LaBella White Tape Wounds. They are semi-opaque and you can see the steel or nickel core inside. I really like them a LOT! LaBella makes 4 different ones with the black being the darkest, the white being the brightest sound and the others are in between those sounds. They have the best balanced sound between strings of any I've used, so if you decide to try tape wounds, I'd highly recommend them.

Amen to that brother!

 

[nixdad]

Treat yourself to some La Bella White Tapewounds! I love the Black Tapewounds as well. Love the TI Jazz Flats. Between those three my basses are covered

Nice Pics! Sorry to hear you don't have the '65 any more. That had to have a great sound with that flip-fop Ampeg! I went from Fender flats that came with mine to the black Tape-wounds in 1971 and used those until 1976. My '82 that I bought in 1985 came with Blue Steel round wound strings. Replaced them with the same a number of times and then went to DR Black Beauty strings.

Unfortunately they became DR Speckled gray and black strings after about 3 years and about 4-years ago I tried out the LaBella White Tape Wounds. They are semi-opaque and you can see the steel or nickel core inside. I really like them a LOT! LaBella makes 4 different ones with the black being the darkest, the white being the brightest sound and the others are in between those sounds. They have the best balanced sound between strings of any I've used, so if you decide to try tape wounds, I'd highly recommend them.

@EatS1stBassist & @Rip Van Dan - What is the difference in the feel between the white & black? I prefer the supple feel of the TI’s, so which tapewound set would be the closest match?

 

[EatS1stBassist]

@EatS1stBassist & @Rip Van Dan - What is the difference in the feel between the white & black? I prefer the supple feel of the TI’s, so which tapewound set would be the closest match?

Of the two, I’d go with the White.

 

[bassicmike]

A week shy of 64 when taken. Our return to live playing.

 

[BrickBatMansion]

The left handed Ric grants superpowers. Everyone knows this.

Thank you fellas for the kind words. A true little story:
As my grandmother lay on her death bed in 1995 smoking one of her last cigarettes she looked at me and croaked “Thomas, that heavy metal has kept you young. “
She was so right!
I had a snotty student teacher in my Sr year of HS who informed me one day that if I “quit listening to BOC and Black Sabbath I might ‘amount’ to something”. I just looked at him and said “like a substitute teacher?”
We didn’t speak much after that.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

@EatS1stBassist & @Rip Van Dan - What is the difference in the feel between the white & black? I prefer the supple feel of the TI’s, so which tapewound set would be the closest match?

The feel is the same.

The black has a darker sound to it while the white has a brighter sound. A lot of flats seem to have no upper harmonics and the white tape wounds do. They are not as bright certainly as the Dean Markley "Blue Steel" strings or the DR "Black Beauty" strings that I used for years, but they are not dull by any means and the balance of sound from string to string is really good.

If it's more convenient for me to play the octave E on the 2nd fret of the D string instead of on the 7th fret of the A string, I don't hesitate to do that. With my round wound strings I used to go up and play those octaves on the 7th fret instead of over a string on the 2nd fret because the second fret note sounded weaker or thinner. Now I just play the notes where ever it is convenient without shifting my hand position on the neck. And over the last 4-years they still sound great.

 

[nixdad]

The feel is the same.

The black has a darker sound to it while the white has a brighter sound. A lot of flats seem to have no upper harmonics and the white tape wounds do. They are not as bright certainly as the Dean Markley "Blue Steel" strings or the DR "Black Beauty" strings that I used for years, but they are not dull by any means and the balance of sound from string to string is really good.

If it's more convenient for me to play the octave E on the 2nd fret of the D string instead of on the 7th fret of the A string, I don't hesitate to do that. With my round wound strings I used to go up and play those octaves on the 7th fret instead of over a string on the 2nd fret because the second fret note sounded weaker or thinner. Now I just play the notes where ever it is convenient without shifting my hand position on the neck. And over the last 4-years they still sound great.

Good to know - thank you.

 

[Bonecat]

65, shot at an outdoor bike night gig a couple weeks ago…

 

[nixdad]

@Rip Van Dan -
Which gauge of the white's do you use, and do you buy the Gold White or Copper White? If you've tried both, what is the difference between the two?

 

[Rip Van Dan]

@Rip Van Dan -
Which gauge of the white's do you use, and do you buy the Gold White or Copper White? If you've tried both, what is the difference between the two?

It's the 760T pack, which are the white tape-wound. The gauges are .060, .070, .094, .115. which is their standard gauge. I have not tried either the gold-white or the copper-white. They supposedly have slightly different sound than each other but are brighter than the black tape wound and darker sounding than the White Tape Wound. I bought them here at the TB store. Price is $38.95 and if you are a supporting member there's another discount on top of that. Here's the link:
La Bella 760T White Nylon Tapewound Bass Guitar Strings, Standard 60-1

 

[dave64o]

Why not? Just turned 57 a few weeks ago. Picture was taken not long before the pandemic.

We had two members quit during the pandemic and finally filled those spots. Now we're working on songs as quickly as possible so we can get back out there. So hopefully I'll have some new pictures soon.

 

[JRA]

me at a hot juneteenth jam, 2021 (855 months):

 

[JRA]

nice!

 

[Ostie]

Here I am at our most recent gig. I’m playing mandolin in this photo, but I play a lot of bass too. 66 Going on 16.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

@Rip Van Dan -
Which gauge of the white's do you use, and do you buy the Gold White or Copper White? If you've tried both, what is the difference between the two?

I use the 105’s

 

[QORC]

Double-nickels for me!View attachment 4407120

Stan Mikita!

 

[QORC]

I am in my late 50s. Won't post a pic, though (I value my privacy and I learned the hard way here years ago that what you post can come back to haunt you, but that's a different story)

I've never been a better bass player. I'm reliable. I learn fast. I play well. I don't get drunk on stage. There is something to be said for maturity.

but now it takes me two days to recover from a late night gig instead of just one! ha! and I'm even more intolerant of band buffoonery and General Lead Singer Douchebaggery.