The Bass You've Had the Longest

[elillywv]

Not just bass players though I also recall a '60 flame top Les Paul that someone made into a double cutaway - with a hacksaw. That mod cost many times what that P bass was worth even in perfect condition. And vintage Strats with Floyd Roses....

(facepalm)

 

[Watchootognbout]

My recently self-defretted Tune TWB63.
Bought in 2014.

 

[TheBassPreacher]

I have an Ibanez Blazer Bass from 1982-83 from when they sported the Precision type pickup. I got it for $175 off Craigslist 11 years ago.

 

[Bass Blender]

My 2008 Epiphone Les Paul bass given to me by my wife the night before we got married in 2009. Although it's not my main bass, I'll never let it go even when I get too old to play.

 

[JMarkD]

Thats a beauty, what year?

It has a neck stamp of March 1964. I purchased used in 1971.

 

[OldSoulDownLow]

My avatar. '72 P given to me, by my parents in Feb '73, as a birthday present. It has served me well.

 

[jivetkr]

2003 Ken smith. Owned it since 2005.

 

[Spidey2112]

You might be surprised how many vintage Fenders this was done on... I worked at a repair shop in San Francisco and this was particularly a local thing as Glen Quan was local (the "Leo" being for Leo's Music in Oakland - great store - and Glen worked out of the back of Satterlee and Chapin in the Tenderloin). The Badass II was sort of an answer to this as it was meant to better retrofit on Fenders but a lot of basses had the first version countersunk just like this. I remember one guy with an otherwise all original and near mint '63 Candy Apple Red/'green' guard P bass with that mod...

But that was mild compared to some of the bridges from Stars Guitars (also in SF) which were specifically designed to be countersunk:

Thanks for sharing, breaux! For some reason I can't see the pic.

The only bridge countersunk on any of mine is an Ibanez, probably more due to the non-flat top design, I guess.

 

[JimB52]

1971 Telecaster severely modified. My third bass, 1st good one. Spent $130 with case in 1973. Earned the money mowing lawns.
I stripped contoured and finished the body pulled out the Frets and put hand whittled graduated with Walnut strips in as fret markers. Coated the fretboard in Ultra Spar marine varnish. I used her for many years she is mostly retired now but I will never sell her.

 

[Dynacord]

Thanks for sharing, breaux! For some reason I can't see the pic.

The only bridge countersunk on any of mine is an Ibanez, probably more due to the non-flat top design, I guess.

Here's the pic of the Stars Guitars bridge - most were in raw brass:

Pretty significant mod - from before the time that "weight?" was the first question with basses - though would certainly help alleviate neck dive.... And, yes, I have seen these on pre-CBS Fenders. Ouch.

 

[Spidey2112]

And, yes, I have seen these on pre-CBS Fenders. Ouch.

The route itself looks significant, not to mention the fact the bridge itself sits higher in the pocket.

Standard question... weight? Lol!

 

[chris_b]

I bought my Fender Precision, with A neck, in March 1969. It's gone through some changes since.. . . ! The original bridge was put on out of line and the pickups were pretty bland, but I was 19. What did I know?

It served me well into the mid 80's when I installed Schaller hardware and Bartolini pickups and pre amp. That was a massive tone injection that made me sit up and realise how great a bass could sound.

 

[vmas]

G&L ASAT bought new in early 90's

 

[elillywv]

Pretty significant mod - from before the time that "weight?" was the first question with basses - though would certainly help alleviate neck dive.... And, yes, I have seen these on pre-CBS Fenders. Ouch.

Ouch, indeed! Same thing with Glen's Badass 1... adds several extra ounces! My '76 P never thought once about a neck dive!

 

[bassdude51]

The bass that I've had the longest ever since 1983 is a Carvin LB50. (No less that 12 different pickup combinations!) I bought it brand new and still have it. But, it's probably not a keeper. I'm wanting to reduce my bass collection and I'm thinking of selling it. (Photo is from Google Images.) There were other basses that I owned before the Carvin but they are gone. My first bass was purchased back in 1967. A Hagstrom. Wish I still had it!

My "to the grave bass" I bought back in 2017. A real deal 1953 Fender slab body. I've posted this bass multiple times here on Talk Bass over the years. And so, I'll post it again. (Actual bass photo.)

My future coffin will really be quite crowded as there are other basses that I own that are of the "to the grave" category. But I'll not bore this thread with more photos.

(I actually plan to be cremated.)

 

[Wesley R]

1974 or 5 Guild JSB II or some such. Double pup solid body. Deep, thounderouse tones were possible, along with almost total mud, to the almost perfect blend of smooth depth with more than a hint of more definition.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

1994 Stingray 3-band, bought new for $900.
View attachment 4705279

Wow! I've never seen that color!
I bought a '94 SR new off the rack at the Sam Ash Queens store (actually 2 of them a year apart). First one was $899 and the 2nd was $849 because it was last year's model. Both Natural finish, 2nd one was fretless.

The fretless I traded for my L2500 in '97. The fretted I sold in 2012 for $850, and I am kicking myself in the @$$ ever since and I'm scouring the internet to see if I can locate it to buy it back- no dice. I have the email address of the buyer, but it looks to be a dead email (or the buyer's dead…).
If I hadn't sold it, it would have been my longest keeper…

 

[packhowitzer]

my 1998 stingray in honeyburst w/ maple (not my pic, but a good representation of what my bass looks like).

That bass put food on my table and a roof over my head for about 5 years. I played hundreds of good paying gigs with it. It doesn't get much stage time these days, but I still record with it from time to time and I'll never sell it.

Link Removed

 

[Ostie]

I've had this MIM Jazz for 21 years. I never play it, but my wife bought it for me. Sentimental value, although said it's mine and I can do what I want.

 

[bassdude51]

View attachment 4705445
1982 Ernie Ball Earthwood. Custom Inlays by luthier Bill Badeaux of La Porte, Texas. It was a Christmas gift from my late wife in 1982.

As good as it can get! God bless your wife. (Rubbing tears from my eyes!)