A Tacoma CB10E4 acoustic bass guitar. It was a gift from my wife many, many years ago and it is still lovely today, just as she is.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
The Bass You've Had the Longest
- Thread starter light blue bass
- Start date
-
- Tags
- bass collection longest love oldest
I've had my '74 Precision since 2011 or so. I doubt I'll ever sell it, but one never knows.
73' P bass (natural finish / maple neck) I bought new in 73' with lawn cutting money.
Pretty sure it was $235 out the door.
Pretty sure it was $235 out the door.
It must be wonderful to be that settled with a given axe, but if I had to play the same bass for 10 or 20 years, I'd get bored stiff. Too many other things I'd like to buy, own for a while, then move to something else again. They all have their things to teach me, then it's time for them to move on.
'69 Jazz bass which I bought in 1979. I don't play it much, but the two I most often play have identical neck profiles:
My 1989 Jack Casady bass, because it's perfect.
Still got my first bass, an Aria SB700 bought new in 82. Still love it and it's going nowhere…
Similarly my two Wals - bought in 1992ish and 2001 respectively.
Similarly my two Wals - bought in 1992ish and 2001 respectively.
I bought my 2007 Stingray 5 HH in honeyburst from another TB'er when it was about two months old, so I've had it for nearly 15 years. The original owner apparently conceded that he wasn't a five string player just after his 45 day return window closed and decided to just sell it. It's been my favorite bass since buying it, it still looks brand new, and it has fit into any playing situation I've been in. The only real threat to its #1 position has been a 2019 Stngray Special 5 HH that I just got last weekend. But, even if it gets unseated as the clear #1, I suspect these two with have more of a cooperative relationship than an adversarial one. They're different enough that I can see both sharing the top spot.
It's a keeper.
It's a keeper.
Last edited:
'76 P bought new in '77. Modded in '78 or '79 with routs for a Badass v1 and a J bridge pu. Was my only bass until 2019.
My first bass, a '62 Fender Bass VI bought from roommate for $250 while in college (theory/comp major) in '75, a nosebleed to learn on from scratch and until recently my main bass after several decades of epic sessions and great memories. The 'antique' is my forearm wearing through the sunburst layers over 40+ years.
Original pickups, a drop-in Dan Armstrong hotwire for series/parallel, a drop-in Staytrem bridge, had the neck re-planed once and a couple of re-frets.
Recently retired as my daily driver, as I just can't justify hauling a precious 50 yr old bass to play out.
Original pickups, a drop-in Dan Armstrong hotwire for series/parallel, a drop-in Staytrem bridge, had the neck re-planed once and a couple of re-frets.
Recently retired as my daily driver, as I just can't justify hauling a precious 50 yr old bass to play out.
My avatar, a 65' Gibson EBO short scale. 1st bass, bought @ 83'. Gets zero play but super sentimental. Played it regularly back in the day.
I tell this story often, I guess it ticks alot of boxes. The bass I've owned the longest also happens to be my cheapest and most treasured: a black holo-flake Squier Jazz bass. It cost about $300 some 20 years ago, boughten for me by my dear friend Dan (RIP) when I was way down on my luck and just about outdoors. I will never, ever part with this bass for any reason. It mainly lives in its case in my tornado safe room, but I do pull it out every once in awhile when I'm missing my bro.
I am fortunate to have owned some really nice basses, Wals and whatnot. But they mean eff all to me compared to this lowly Squier.
The v1 is probably 3/8" to 1/2" taller at the saddles than the later models, and would have required the neck to be shimmed that much to keep the string height playable.
Teenage me didn't know about a neck shim at the time, and foolishly had the v1 sunk into the body so the saddles were at the proper height.
I've apologized to that bass many times for the poor judgementS I made in doing mods in those first 2-4 years after I got it.
- The idiot (not me) who did the J pu rout, came out the back when they made the wiring channel.
- The supposed professional "luthier" who I had refinish it, sanded the headstock decal off, which in '76 was one of two places the serial number lived.
- The idiot (also not me) who installed a brass nut, did a butcher job of that.
Poor judgements by me in selecting people to alter my lovely Precision. Teenagers. A wonder they survive to adulthood, isn't it?
My Ibanez ATK305 and me, back around 1995 …
… and in 2022.
If I've ever really had a "#1," this was it.
… and in 2022.
If I've ever really had a "#1," this was it.
