Hey, she's looker too!!As laughable as it might be to have a Squier as my "one", that's exactly the case. My 2008 VM 70's Jazz Bass will probably stay with me forever. Simply the best playing and sounding Jazz I've come across.
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"The One"
- Thread starter HankHillWaluigi
- Start date
After about ten years off, I got back into playing in 2002, and the following year I bought a Chrome Red/maple American Series Jazz, one of the first 2003 models with the S-1 switch. I absolutely loved it, and it immediately became my number one. It got even better with some upgrades.
First, the neck developed a twist after a few months, and Fender replaced it under warranty. The new neck had better playability and was much more resonant, so it was like getting a new and better bass. Second, I added Lindy Fralin's noiseless Split-Jazz pickups in 2005, which were expensive but worth every penny. (I added a Fender Black Sparkle pickguard recently.)
This bass has always gotten the job done at auditions, gigs, and a few recording sessions, and even though I've developed a preference for G&L basses, I'm still most attached to this one and plan to keep it as long as I'm playing.
First, the neck developed a twist after a few months, and Fender replaced it under warranty. The new neck had better playability and was much more resonant, so it was like getting a new and better bass. Second, I added Lindy Fralin's noiseless Split-Jazz pickups in 2005, which were expensive but worth every penny. (I added a Fender Black Sparkle pickguard recently.)
This bass has always gotten the job done at auditions, gigs, and a few recording sessions, and even though I've developed a preference for G&L basses, I'm still most attached to this one and plan to keep it as long as I'm playing.
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My Hondo. My sister gave it to me about 15 years ago. It might be worth $50, but I wouldn't sell it for $500.
Maybe $1000. Anybody?
Maybe $1000. Anybody?
My Mustang might be the one. I've owned it longer than any other bass (3.5 years) and I keep picturing myself playing it as an old man. I always say this bass never let's me down, and I groove hardest on it.
As a junior in high school, in 1976, I saved up my gig money and bought this bass. A Kramer
450 B ( I think). I still have it and occasionally still play it on recordings. With the bridge pickup solo'd
and the tone rolled off, it really sings.
The materials and craftsmanship are top drawer, and at the time, I felt far superior to anything Fender was putting out.
The Kramer is maybe worth what I paid for it in 1976 (about $700 dollars) while a '76 jazz would go for quite a bit more.
The aluminum necks ended up being more of a novelty than anything, so I understand - but I still love this bass!
450 B ( I think). I still have it and occasionally still play it on recordings. With the bridge pickup solo'd
and the tone rolled off, it really sings.
The materials and craftsmanship are top drawer, and at the time, I felt far superior to anything Fender was putting out.
The Kramer is maybe worth what I paid for it in 1976 (about $700 dollars) while a '76 jazz would go for quite a bit more.
The aluminum necks ended up being more of a novelty than anything, so I understand - but I still love this bass!
2000 USA Peavey Millennium 5 plus is "The One" for me. I purchased it new in early/mid 2001. I had been dreaming of this bass for months as it hung on the wall at my local Sam Ash. Went to a Ted Nugent concert, "Full Bluntal Nugity Tour" if I recall correctly and it was Ted with Tommy Aldrige on drums (one of my favorite drummers) and Marco Mendoza on bass (very under rated player in my book). Well turns out Marco was playing a USA Millennium for that tour. The bass looked and sounded awesome so the following day I went and worked a deal on the Millennium 5er I had been eyeing. It's been my go to ever since and my only bass for at least the last 12/13 years or so.
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The "one" for me is not so much a bass as it is a neck. A 1984 Squier P-Bass neck that has been attached to a lot of different bodies over the years. Bodies that have come and gone, but the neck has always remained with me. I bought in 1984 and I can't see ever getting rid of it.
let me see if i can narrow it down...
...nope, sorry, can't do it...
...nope, sorry, can't do it...
I special-ordered this G&L L-1500 for my birthday in 1997. Sixteen years later, I modified the circuitry to kill the treble boost when I switch from passive to active and to increase the amount of treble cut when I roll off the treble. I've been even happier with it ever since. Now my main bass for nineteen years, it remains so awesome a musical instrument that I intend to continue playing music with it til the day I die.
Bought it new in '67 I think.
Modded it in '68 or '69, played the heck out of it for years and years and then started to stray through dozens of other nice basses, but this one has the BEST neck ever and always gets compliments on the sound - and it has had lots of adventures and happy memories.
<-- on the left is part of the neck of my '68 Tele, which represents probably 98% of my playing. Took such a gig slapping I had to start rebuilding it late last year. If I ever get it completely done I'll probably take a snap of the whole thing. Right now it's undergoing some body work. Except for a few early shows it's the only thing I've ever played in public (had a Hofner for a couple of years before that. Fine instrument but just not for me). Tasty frets.
I know there are lots of technically better basses out there but we went through the wars together so that's that.
I know there are lots of technically better basses out there but we went through the wars together so that's that.
1985 Ibanez Roadstar II 5 string bass. I have had it since the late 80s, and have toured with it, played hundreds of gigs and recorded many songs with it. I have another just like it, made a couple months earlier, and it is nice, but not the same bass at all.
It is not currently my main player, but it will always be near me.
It is not currently my main player, but it will always be near me.
I bought my Ric 4003 and it's the best bass I've played on. Well setup, and Primarily use the Bridge PU, with a little of the Neck pickup in there, tone pot pulled out and opened up quite a bit. Real Rickenbacker sound right there! I've only had it for a week, but I won't be able to sell it. It's too precious, and too sentimental. It'll be the bass to age with me.
My 82' APII SB R80 has been "the one" since 1990..
In my case, yes. There is "The One."
A 1974 Gibson Ripper purchased brand new in 1974. My constant companion and goto bass to this very day, even though I own and enjoy playing a few other fine basses I've since acquired. But this tall blond will always be the one for me.
I've had my 76 Ripper for over 30 years. It's my first bass and was the only one for most of that time. Still the first among several. Not at pretty as yours though.
Otto
The Lakland skyline DJ4 in my avatar was the closest I got to "the one", but she got away...
About 10 years ago, I figured out I'm a passive bass kinda guy, and was looking for a nice P-bass... There wasn't much available locally for months, and I couldn't get myself to buy one online... Then I saw the ad for the DJ4, which came with a couple of recommendations I trusted. So I call the seller and set up a meeting to try the bass on my amp. I did not like how it played and sounded, but I pretended I was still interested for about 20 minutes. The seller and I went our separate ways...
after a few days, my mind kept getting back to the Lakland. I didn't like the bass, but there was this strange attraction... I call the guy again, we meet again, and I still don't like it. I said I'm sorry, can't do it, and went home... On the way home, I became a bit restless, and I pull over to the ATM, get the cash, call the guy again and we meet at some gas station... I bought the bass I knew I didn't like, for more money than I could afford, without even looking in the case again until I got home
Fast forward, over the next few days, l learned to appreciate the sound of the bass (2002 model with fat-sounding Aeros), and things really took off after a string change and a setup. Became my main player for 3 years... Than I had to leave my home country for school, so I gave the bass to my friend to play and keep for me until I returned. He was robbed a few months later, and I never saw her again.
I guess it was not meant to be, but I really enjoyed our time together. Now I have her cousin, a 2002 Skyline Glaub Its an open relationship, I'm still looking, but not for the "one" anymore...and I'd be perfectly happy if the Glaub was my last bass!
About 10 years ago, I figured out I'm a passive bass kinda guy, and was looking for a nice P-bass... There wasn't much available locally for months, and I couldn't get myself to buy one online... Then I saw the ad for the DJ4, which came with a couple of recommendations I trusted. So I call the seller and set up a meeting to try the bass on my amp. I did not like how it played and sounded, but I pretended I was still interested for about 20 minutes. The seller and I went our separate ways...
after a few days, my mind kept getting back to the Lakland. I didn't like the bass, but there was this strange attraction... I call the guy again, we meet again, and I still don't like it. I said I'm sorry, can't do it, and went home... On the way home, I became a bit restless, and I pull over to the ATM, get the cash, call the guy again and we meet at some gas station... I bought the bass I knew I didn't like, for more money than I could afford, without even looking in the case again until I got home
Fast forward, over the next few days, l learned to appreciate the sound of the bass (2002 model with fat-sounding Aeros), and things really took off after a string change and a setup. Became my main player for 3 years... Than I had to leave my home country for school, so I gave the bass to my friend to play and keep for me until I returned. He was robbed a few months later, and I never saw her again.
I guess it was not meant to be, but I really enjoyed our time together. Now I have her cousin, a 2002 Skyline Glaub
Its an open relationship, I'm still looking, but not for the "one" anymore...and I'd be perfectly happy if the Glaub was my last bass!
