The Stable - What do you play and why?

[incubus2432]

I have only one. It’s a ‘15 Ric 4003s refinished as a faux-Blackstar with JBE pickups. I’ve played a huge assortment or quality and boutique basses yet I always prefer a Ric. In my hands and to my ears it is just right. The only other that almost won me over was a Wal MKIII/5 that I owned for a bit.

 

[2saddleslab]

Man I love those single pup teles, every time you post a picture of them!

Thanks, pal! I have many years, lots of sweat equity, and parts made by my dad [bridges, control plates] over 30 years ago that make these 4 basses a thrill to own & play.

 

[ChetChetney]

It's so interesting to see the dichotomy between guys whose stable is variations on one theme, versus a more varied approach for others. Different strokes for different folks.

For a very long time I had an array of styles of basses and guitars - it took me a long time to come to grips with the sound I really like. That’s a P Bass - a working man’s bass that’s simple, great for recording and can cover any type of music. Then I just started going after variations of that sound. So I’m definitely in the “variations of 1 theme” camp and suspect I’ll stay there for good. Really makes my music life easier knowing exactly what I’m chasing and how to apply it

 

[marchone]

My long term plan was these five basses. Three classic Fenders, a Sadowsky Will Lee and a Spector NS-2. Three passive and two active. I’ve had the Telecaster the longest. The variety and versatility between them is outstanding.

 

[Blues Bass 2]

I have 4 .
Number one ,
Sire V3-5 .
My lightest bass at 9.5 pounds and it just plays great . It has Nordstrand 60's single coils and I changed the great Sire preamp for an Audere 4 band with a passive type control . The Audere is easier for me to get my sound on the fly . Changed the bridge to a Fender high mass that is easy to space the strings right . I also changed the tuners to Gotoh resolites , very nice tuners .

Number two ,
Ibanez Talman TMB 605
The Talman is my nod to a P bass . The Nordy pickups have been a source of debate on Talkbass as to whether they sound as good as American ones but they sound very good to me . The Big Single does get noisy because it is a single coil but playing live I don't notice it at all . I put an Audere 2 band pre in it and a Hipshot aluminum A style bridge and US Hipshot ultralite lollipop style tunes . It balances great now and also plays great and if I need a bass that I can hear no matter what the gig this is it .

Number three ,
Squire Contemporary Jazz 5 HH .
This one I call the Beast . The body is Ash and the neck Maple ant it weighs 10.5 pounds . It plays wonderfully and has a ton of bite and sustain . I didn't like the stock preamp and pickups but like the bass so much I changed them out . Nordy Big Blades and an Audere Classic 3 band pre . The bridge and tuners work just fine but I may change them to lightweight Hipshot tuners and bridge at some point . This is probably my best sounding bass and I used it last summer for our only gig at an outdoor concert .
Love it!

Number four .
G&L JB Tribute
I saw this bass in a Musicians Friend stupid deal of the day and showed it to my wife . To my amazement she said I should buy it ! I pretty much only play 5 strings but I couldn't resist when she said go for it . This one is the only one I didn't want or need to mod , it was perfect right out of the box . I put Nordy Big J Blade pickups in it but it really dodn't need upgrading , the stock pickups are great too . I have been playing this one a bunch just because It's harder for me mentally to play fours since I've been only playing five strings for about fifteen years .

Any of them could be my number one , I love them all .

 

[Gyver]

View attachment 5013169

On the right, my Ken Smith burner, backup and house working bass following the context (main bass from april 2012 to april 2022)

I used to own one of these Burners, it is one that I really regret selling...

 

[Gyver]

At this point, I only play Carl Thompson or Carl Thompson family related Basses. View attachment 5013554

I have wanted a Carl Thompson since Claypool made them famous 30+ years ago. They are so unique.

 

[msb]

Friday will be the first night for a little mostly instrumental project. I plan to pack a couple of classic Japanese surf basses.
Looking forward to it!

 

[eriky4003]

Five basses in this guy's stable. The 5string SBMM Ray 25 and Yamaha BBG5S get the gigs due to having five strings and being able to play every song I need to cover. The Rick sometimes gets a set live (I write the set lists for my main band). Yamaha BB300 sounds magical for recordings so that is it's calling. The Kramer Spector fretless doesn't see much action and has spent most of it's time in the basement. It was it's former owner's parts bass so he had stripped off the frets, filled the fret-holes and had stripped off any finish on the bass up to the headstock.

 

[Marko 1]

I'm not sure what's going on with me lately...

maybe I'm more frail in my old age, I'm pretty sure my hands (at least my fretting hand) isn't working as well as it used to...

I used to enjoy switching basses (see sig below), but now I just want to play only narrower-neck 5ers, weight is more of a thing, and I just plain got tired of active basses as just another thing to worry might go wrong. Oh, and VVT has just become tedious.

Of my six functioning basses, my go-to has become my Yamaha BB415.

Weight is tolerable, narrower neck/string spacing, simple pickup selector switch to quickly vary the tone for the song...

Unless this is just a phase I'm going through, I may buy another one similar to use for a backup, and leave the others as artwork on the wall, or to noodle with occasionally in my music room.

 

[JangoMike]

I have wanted a Carl Thompson since Claypool made them famous 30+ years ago. They are so unique.

Ive noticed there are two kinds of CT fans:

1. People that found them thru Les Claypool
2. People that found them thru Stanley Clarke

Lol
Cheers!

 

[Nidan]

Being a luthier, what I play changes from time to time. For basses I play a 1985 Alembic Persuader,

and two I made. The Koa / Walnut fretted in my avatar, it has been my main fretted bass until recently .24 fret neck through Ebony fb, Bartolini Soapbar / TV Jones Thundertron in the bridge . 2 vols, Stellar tone 5 way.

My lined fretless is my #1 . I've been playing fretless for 40 years and this one is my baby . Mahogany/Ebony neck through , the top is Birdseye Redwood Burl, the center is chambered Claro Walnut . the back is Lacewood. Bartolini Soapbars, with a narrowfield at the bridge , 3 band EQ /Master/ Blend.

 

[cronker]

I only have two. Being a lefty and living where I do, lefties are unicorns.
I was shocked when I went to a local guitar shop and saw a mint 97 MIJ Anniversary Jazz on the rack and bought it right there. Lovely bass and a really great sound.
I decided I wanted to go with a 5er and after looking at many various options (few of which offered lefty) I decided to get a EBMM Ray 5 with my specs.
Both have different places within my music sphere but they give me all the tones I need

 

[cronker]

Edit to add that I really really want a Status S2 lefty, but the new 40th Anniversary run is very limited and at 7000 UK pounds, a very big investment. Add to that no lefties, so it’s still just a dream unfortunately. Even very rare as second hand.

 

[pepj]

All FSO 5 strings.
34 scale, 21 or 22 frets, 19mm at bridge.
All singles bar 1 set of soap bars which stops me playing it as much as I should. All active.
Mix of Alder and Ash bodies with rosewood, Ferro and Maple boards.

Its all I need and I've thought about a Smith or Fodera recently but not really driven to invest down that route

 

[Alan Ace Cooper]

Its all I need and I've thought about a Smith or Fodera recently but not really driven to invest down that route

A local (Washington DC are) music store had a Used, Fodera Emperor 5 string for $4500 about 5 years ago. I thought it felt amazing and thought about owning it. To trade for it, I would have to give up a 78 Fender Jazz Bass, one of my Devon 5 String basses, my Mesa Boogie Subway 800 head and about $600 in cash

 

[shadven]

Primitive, but effective.View attachment 5013479

But sometimes only a hollow body will do.
View attachment 5013482

I’m a cave-man too!

 

[pepj]

Yep, its tricky.
I believe you get what you pay for, and I have no doubt you need to pay a certain amount..simply for quality hardware, let along luthier skills, but for $5000 plus, I'm reluctant to take a punt.
(I've played Smith and Fodera before and I didn't buy them so I have a ball park recollection from those experiences, fwiw but I'd have to convince myself I'm not dropping much if I resell)

A trade would actually be easier but along with Alleva, its all needs to come together, and it hasn't so far.
I can actually see the right AC being one I'd buy..maybe... rather than the Fodera or Smith currently.

 

[chris_b]

I own 2 basses a Mike Lull PJ5 and a 5 string Sadowsky Jazz. I play these basses because they make me sound better than I am. I stand on the shoulders of the geniuses who made them.

They even sound fantastic when they are in the cases.

 

[andvari7]

My sole bass is a Basslab STD-VI, which is the bass I had wanted since my sophomore year. It does everything I want it to do, except for fretless.

I don’t like the term ‘stable.’ A stable is a place where you keep a bunch of fly-infested horses. I have a family.