What’s your oldest bass?

[spector_boogie]

1988 Charvel/Jackson 3B bass, Japanese made, with Jackson 'firecrackle' finish (which is all of a sudden back in vogue, funny enough lol), black hardware of unknown make, but good Lord, does this thing hold tuning. Neck-thru, probably weighs 12-13lbs.
Originally had old school active EMGs but V/V/T controls, no preamp, and a 3-way switcher. Just last month had some S-D Quarter Pound P/Js put in, so is totally passive, and it just changed the bass altogether. It definitely can keep up with my Dingwall in terms of sheer gnarly growl and attack.
The neck isn't 'the' best one I own, but, it works!
I got this as a 16th birthday present, and I can't even count how many gigs and thousands of miles it's seen before I switched to 5 strings around 2001-2002.

I absolutely love it, never will get rid of it!

 

[pineweasel]

Took up bass in 1983. I couldn't afford my dream instrument, a Wal fretless, so I bought a new Westone Thunder 1-A, had it defretted, and played it for the next decade. In the mid 90s I finally got a Wal, with great deal on a 1980 fretless.
I still have both of them today, but mainly play a fretted five string now.

 

[FishDub]

The one you've had the longest? Are you one and done? Do you flit? Do you have an arsenal?

Tell us your stories…

The one on the right..1983.

 

[Rebel Rocker]

My 1976 Gibson Grabber. My parents bought this for me new in 1976, $369.00 plus $50.00 for a Gibson hard shell case. My parents always got us good gear. They said if we were somewhere playing music we weren't out getting in trouble.

 

[Jotha]

My 1997 Zon Sonus 5st...!!!

 

[Ron Berenato]

1993 Ernie Ball MusicMan Stingray. Bought new at Nuncie's Music in Birmingham Alabama. It was an emergency purchase as my band at the time threatened to fire me if I didnt get rid of my fretless Jazz bass. This IMO is the ultimate workingman's bass. I call it a magnum precision. The three band EQ makes it very versatile.

 

[VeryTallBassist]

I had a 1983 Music Man Cutlass I that my father gave me when he stopped playing. This would have been about 1987. I had it until last year when the Modulus graphite neck had warped to the point it was no longer playable and I traded it to another TBer who specializes in those graphite necks and has a relationship with Jerry Dorsch. My new oldest bass is a Spector (SSD) NS5CR that I *think* is from 1994, although I just messaged PJ Rubal to confirm.

 

[Trailertrash74]

1971 Gibson SB300

 

[bon viesta]

i technically own a 60s bass now, so i'm
part of that cool little club of vintage instrument owners. it's just not one of the fancy ones.

 

[Warhawk]

One I've had the longest is a 1981 G&L L-1000. Bought it in 1990. Oldest bass I have is an early '70s Electra jazz that I picked up here.

 

[sheltjo6]

The Jazz bass on the left is my current oldest bass I own.
I assembled it 10 years ago.
The other two basses are approximately 8 years old.

 

[sheltjo6]

One I've had the longest is a 1981 G&L L-1000. Bought it in 1990. Oldest bass I have is an early '70s Electra jazz that I picked up here.

I had an '81 L-1000 also for a time.
I still regret selling it.

 

[Bassman822]

Early 82 G&L L2K

 

[groovaholic]

Until Friday* my newest bass was a 1999 Dingwall that I've owned since 2016.
The one I've owned the longest was built by a luthier in my hometown and I've had it since 1988.
(*This past Friday, I impulse-purchased a new Epiphone Embassy Pro that I've been sniffing around for months - it's a great bass...fantastic when you consider the price, but I don't think the ergonomics are going to work for me)

 

[Jackie Clark]

My mom bought this '74 Jazz in '78...mint condition at the time for only $250! It's still the best bass I own!

I don't use it live anymore, but I record with it all the time!

My tech changed out the stock pups for Duncan qtr pound jazz(because the coil windings were separating and losing singal), but I still have all the original hardware and pickups.

 

[Warhawk]

I had an '81 L-1000 also for a time.
I still regret selling it.

My main bass is a 2007 L-2000 but there's just something about the L-1000's that make them stand out. Leo's perfection of the p-bass.

 

[Warhawk]

My mom bought this '74 Jazz in '78...mint condition at the time for only $250! It's still the best bass I own!

I don't use it live anymore, but I record with it all the time!

My tech changed out the stock pups for Duncan qtr pound jazz(because the coil windings were separating and losing singal), but I still have all the original hardware and pickups.






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So cool! Who all signed it?

 

[Chris Laarman]

They said if we were somewhere playing music we weren't out getting in trouble.

How mistaken they were. Take this song. (Spotify) ;-)

Oh, it brings back memories:
1) When my newly formed rock band started (in 1979, in my parents' apartment in Amsterdam), a neighbor came reporting that "the wallpaper was coming down".
2) That event inspired me to write a certain song. (A gentle song from "my" mother's point of view, and later another set of lyrics and a heavier rendition from "my" point of view.)
3) So we found some place where we could hire a room and rehearse. We were the latest users, so we had to respect others' claims. On one occasion, the person in charge overlooked the user of another room in this flimsy temporary building: a yoga course. The participants were thrown up by the floor they were seated on.

 

[basspraiser]

The one I've had the longest would be my '76 Fender Musicmaster. My oldest bass, on the other hand, is my 1917 The Gibson Mandocello. I have a harp guitar that dates to 1881 also.

Very cool

 

[RickBlair]

My Mosrite Ventures is my first and oldest bass. Bought new in 1965. It was my only bass until the early 90's when I bought a Carvin LB75 fretless. I have since bought and sold a bunch of other basses but the Mosrite, the Carvin and the Modulus Q5 will always be with me. I mostly use a Fender P5 and a NS Design 5-string upright in the big band but I like to rotate on occasion.

Rick B.