The Bass You've Had the Longest

[BSatt]

Warwick Thumb 5 string, neck-through. Bought it new in 1989. It was my number one for over two decades. Has since been replaced by a Warmoth build. But nothing comes close to the way that neck feels. I love and miss that neck. I don't miss the 11 pounds, the smaller body, or the very distinct Warwick tone, but I'd love to have a builder build me a bass with those neck specs.

 

[Toolmybass]

Custom ordered in 2001 SR5

 

[juancaminos]

I got this Tele bass around 1970 when I was 15 years old. Had a Bill Lawrence pick up installed when the old one gave out in 1977. Put a black pick guard on when the old on fizzled.

 

[Bluesrock]

Easy one...my 1973 Rickenbacker

 

[Artman]

These two bought new a day apart.
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The blue currently has a black bridge and tuners.
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Both are work horses.

Very interesting finishes. Which models of Fender J and P are those?

 

[India_Sierra]

Probably my Ken Smith, if there's room in the pine box

I bought it new in the '80's and travelled NA for years, playing for a living.

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That is the life a Smith should lead!

 

[MrLenny1]

1991 Pedulla Series ll 5 string.
31 years and counting.

 

[6stringfretless]

Got rid of every bass with a wooden neck (multiple Fenders, a Pedulla and Rickenbacker among them) 15 years ago. Loved all those basses but haven't looked back, or had to adjust a truss rod once since then, including 3 years spent in the hot, humid Carribean …

 

[QweziRider]

What is that one bass you will go to the grave with, that you will never sell, that you will always love...

Three of them, actually. 1) my very first, a Gibson Ripper that I started on in '81 (no longer being used, needs a lot of work); 2) my longest running functioning bass, a '91 Heartfield DR5; 3) my Pensa seafoam green bass that I lusted after for 7 years before the very one I had first seen in '05 came up on Ebay in '12.

All the rest can and have come and gone.

 

[Steve59]

My 2008 Sterling Bass.

 

[Burwabit]

Sadowsky Metro Will Lee 4 that I got second hand in 2015. My first of 4 Sadowskys. Still have this and one other.

 

[P-Belly Evans]

My 83 Thunder II version 3, bought in 1990. Only seen one other online and that was a stock colour. Mine appears to be a custom colour with the optional xlr. Funnily enough I have just been playing it. It is wonderful - heavy (and slightly battle scarred by a foolish younger me) but wonderful. The super boomer pickups are dangerously good. Will be with me when I burn.....

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

My 2011 Roger Waters Pbass. I literally sold all my other basses in 2012 because i wasn't using them, and the P was my only bass for ~5 years before i bought another bass.
Roughly 100 dates a year back then, then ~150+ when i went fulltime in 2014.
I was having this conversation with some friends and decided to document some of this bass's battlescars.
I was not kind to this thing for a long time, but it never let me down.

 

[Erik Stokley]

I've been a serial buyer/tryer/seller of basses since I started playing. I've owned dozens of classic, vintage, weird and custom basses. I ultimately ended up finding what really works for me, Which is essentially just a p bass with an aluminum neck. Here are my two, first (which I've owned the longest) is one I made. EGC neck, black limba body, kickass bridge and avedissian pbird pickup. The second is a random cheapo rogue body given to my by a friend, EGC neck, omega bridge and DiMarzio model p. These things sound soooo huge.

 

[Mr Matt]

This '72 Rickenbacker 4001 is my 1st bass ever, I got it in '76, many have come & gone since, but it will stay with me until the end.

 

[Symphony2040]

I've now had this bass for about 4 years now (which is crazy to think). I think before, the longest that I had a bass was for 2 years, as I had a tendency to buy and sell often. To be honest, I don't think that I will ever sell or trade this bass.

 

[RickBlair]

My 1965 Mosrite Ventures Model. My parents knew I was a big Ventures fan and somehow my father found this bass in a music store 60 miles from where we lived. It was the only bass I played for almost 30 years. I don't play it out much anymore because the pickup hates florescent lighting but I have always taken very good care of it. I have never played it without covering my belt buckle so there are no marks on the back. The finish has gotten a little thin in some spots.

Rick B.

 

[definenredefine]

My 83 Thunder II version 3, bought in 1990. Only seen one other online and that was a stock colour. Mine appears to be a custom colour with the optional xlr. Funnily enough I have just been playing it. It is wonderful - heavy (and slightly battle scarred by a foolish younger me) but wonderful. The super boomer pickups are dangerously good. Will be with me when I burn.....
View attachment 4705902

I have a Thunder I guitar that I absolutely love, except the pickups are SO HOT that I can barely turn up without getting a crap ton of feedback.

 

[definenredefine]

I've been a serial buyer/tryer/seller of basses since I started playing. I've owned dozens of classic, vintage, weird and custom basses. I ultimately ended up finding what really works for me, Which is essentially just a p bass with an aluminum neck. Here are my two, first (which I've owned the longest) is one I made. EGC neck, black limba body, kickass bridge and avedissian pbird pickup. The second is a random cheapo rogue body given to my by a friend, EGC neck, omega bridge and DiMarzio model p. These things sound soooo huge.View attachment 4705921View attachment 4705922View attachment 4705923

What kinds of cabs are those?

 

[Erik Stokley]

What kinds of cabs are those?

Custom cabinets made by Atlas. The one the basses are leaning on is a 215/118, the one next to it is an 810