Got my first bass in 1997 (I think). Still have it. Cruise created for VMI p bass clone with a pointy headstock. It plays surprisingly well for as cheap an instrument as it is.
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What’s your oldest bass?
- Thread starter Dlew919
- Start date
Pretty sure my Aria Pro II SB1000 is from '79. My Wal is from '84. My 2nd bass, which I no longer have, was a '78 Guild B301.
Oldest unadulterated bass is 86 MM bought new and oldest bass is 73 but it's not all original.
Nov '85 Kubicki purchased factory direct. S/N 112.
The oldest bass I have is a 63 year old Jazz.
I still have the 1st 4 basses I acquired (all 2nd hand, which is evident by the dates)
1st Bass 43 years '78 fretless P
(Bot from my old mentor)
2nd 40 years '67 Jazz
($400 from Ward Brodt Music)
3rd 38 years '78 Antigua P
(3rd owner - know both previous owners)
4th 33 years '66 Jazz
A photograph of a Polaroid ~ 1986
~ 1993 - the 2 in the middle are now gone (don't worry - they were replaced / upgraded)
I still have the 1st 4 basses I acquired (all 2nd hand, which is evident by the dates)
1st Bass 43 years '78 fretless P
(Bot from my old mentor)
2nd 40 years '67 Jazz
($400 from Ward Brodt Music)
3rd 38 years '78 Antigua P
(3rd owner - know both previous owners)
4th 33 years '66 Jazz
A photograph of a Polaroid ~ 1986
~ 1993 - the 2 in the middle are now gone (don't worry - they were replaced / upgraded)
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My oldest bass is the 1977 Aria Pro II P Bass I'm playing in my profile pic. The one I have owned the longest is my Midnight Blue 2001 Rickenbacker 4003 that I found on Ebay in 2007.
My oldest bass is a Harmony H22 Bass from the 60's.
The longest I've owned a bass is 40+ years my Carvin LB50 Koa that I bough new and has been played every day since. Taz is my memory holder from all my years to gigging, touring and recording.
The longest I've owned a bass is 40+ years my Carvin LB50 Koa that I bough new and has been played every day since. Taz is my memory holder from all my years to gigging, touring and recording.
The one I've had the longest, though not my oldest, is a 1993 SSD USA NS-4(NS-2) s/n 034 that I bought brand new from PJ Rubal when he worked in the Bass dept. at Veneman's Music in Rockville, MD..
Next up is a 1994 SSD USA NS-4 that I bought brand new from my local dealer.
The only other Bass I still have that I bought new is a 2018 RIC 4003SW.
The oldest bass that I own is actually a recent acquisition. A 1985 Kubicki ExFactor #072.
I've had older basses over the years, but they don't count in this discussion.
Next up is a 1994 SSD USA NS-4 that I bought brand new from my local dealer.
The only other Bass I still have that I bought new is a 2018 RIC 4003SW.
The oldest bass that I own is actually a recent acquisition. A 1985 Kubicki ExFactor #072.
I've had older basses over the years, but they don't count in this discussion.
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I bought a new Yamaha RBX765A in 1998 that I still use occasionally, so going on 25 years. In fact, I just recorded a track with it yesterday. Has a warm, even, "no drama" tone that producers like.
I acquired this 1962 Jazz Bass in 1987 for $275.
When I found it through the local newspaper Classifieds, the body was stripped, truss rod was non-functional, the frets had been removed, and the bridge pickup didn't work. But, there was enough there to take a chance and make a lower offer than the $475 asking price. And, in spite of all the issues, it sounded amazing.
I took the bass to Bryan Galloup at the Guitar Hospital in Big Rapids MI. Bryan shot the body with Nitro, leveled the fingerboard, installed frets, and replaced the truss rod nut.
Through the years I had several adventures with the bridge pickup. At first, I spent about four hours under a microscope finding the broken winding and resoldering it; which then worked for another 6 or 7 years. When it went out again, I had the bobbin rewound after spending at least another 12 hours trying to restore the original winding. Long story.
My kids, now adults, nicknamed the bass "Bucephalus," which I used with mis-spelling for my TB name; because I used to play the bass while we watched VHS movies as a family, including the Black Stallion.
I still gig it. Here is a video from 2011, which is now obviously a bit dated. Rock on.
When I found it through the local newspaper Classifieds, the body was stripped, truss rod was non-functional, the frets had been removed, and the bridge pickup didn't work. But, there was enough there to take a chance and make a lower offer than the $475 asking price. And, in spite of all the issues, it sounded amazing.
I took the bass to Bryan Galloup at the Guitar Hospital in Big Rapids MI. Bryan shot the body with Nitro, leveled the fingerboard, installed frets, and replaced the truss rod nut.
Through the years I had several adventures with the bridge pickup. At first, I spent about four hours under a microscope finding the broken winding and resoldering it; which then worked for another 6 or 7 years. When it went out again, I had the bobbin rewound after spending at least another 12 hours trying to restore the original winding. Long story.
My kids, now adults, nicknamed the bass "Bucephalus," which I used with mis-spelling for my TB name; because I used to play the bass while we watched VHS movies as a family, including the Black Stallion.
I still gig it. Here is a video from 2011, which is now obviously a bit dated. Rock on.
My oldest bass, my regular player is a 90's N series MIA Fender PBj with VVT controls. I traded for it from my son with a JB of which he had a sentimental attachment. He with bought it while he was deployed in Iraq with his combat pay ( So I very much have a sentimental attachment to this bass). I've had it for 19 years now. It's a great bass with an outstanding voice.
I also have a MIG active Warwick Corvette 5 string that dates to 2006 that doesn't get much play time since I'm not playing in the band I was with living in Virginia. I bought it about 2014.
I also have an N Series MIA Fender Strat I bought new in 1994. Never had this thing called gas, I just buy the tools of the trade. As long as I can drive the required note straight as required, I'm fine with what I have.
The one I've had the longest is a '72 Ric 4001 that I've had since 1983. My oldest bass however is a '57 Kay Pro that I've had for just several years now.
My oldest bass is a 2007 Birdsong Mesquito fretless with a mesquite body with fissures filled with torquoise, maple neck and single bridge mounted hot Lace pup. Has a wonderful inherent distortion sound.
Home recording "Tears in Heaven" featuring a ukulele
Home recording "Tears in Heaven" featuring a ukulele
The poll isn't really covering the bases [edit originally wrote basis. which in maths speak kind of means the same thing!]... I think I only have one bass less that ten years old. I've got several that are about 35 years old, that are my mains.
My oldest is 63 Hofner solid body I bought it as a project about 10 years ago. It's missing some of the hardware, and the period correct parts are probably worth more (as parts) than they would be assembled into a bass.
I'd consider anything after 2000 as "modern era".
My oldest is 63 Hofner solid body I bought it as a project about 10 years ago. It's missing some of the hardware, and the period correct parts are probably worth more (as parts) than they would be assembled into a bass.
I'd consider anything after 2000 as "modern era".
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My oldest bass is a 1971 Gibson SB-300 which I lucked into in 2017.
The one I've owned the longest is a '74 Gibson Ripper bought new in 1974.
The one I've owned the longest is a '74 Gibson Ripper bought new in 1974.
I've over a dozen basses. The youngest is 12 years old.
I bought my first bass at 15yo in 94. It was a 83 or 84 Aria ProII RSB standard. And still play it regularly.
