What Bass Gear Did You Get For Free?

Legally?

 

Never anything permanent... but I learned to play bass using a borrowed Squier Affinity P Bass and a Trace Elliot combo amp. They belonged to the guitarist in one of those classic, “okay, who is going to play the bass?” scenarios. I played with those guys—-using that rig—- for a couple years, and then took some time off, so technically I had played bass for nearly ten years before I bought my own gear.

 

1966 Ampeg B-15N and a '70 Gibson EB-3.

 

My first upright. It was in pieces, and I restored it to playable condition, then played it hard for more than two decades.

 

A photographer friend from back East passed a brand spanking new Darkglass AOM pedal on to me a, few months ago. She got it in trade on top of whatever else she agreed to when she did a job for somebody, who just "threw that in on top."

Same gal also sent me a fuzz pedal for my birthday, from a small builder near her (Noisekick FX, although it's a reeeaaally high gain guitar pedal so it's not getting any use other than looking cool on my board >^..^< )

 

No prize or anything like that. I received various gifts.

My parents gave me my first electric guitar Stinger X12 (Strat copy) by Martin guitars and my first bass a blue Vantage Flying V.

From my wife (married 17 years), she's given me a few over the years for Christmas. Nothing too expensive but it's the thought that counts and I'm a sentimental person.
Three basses: Squier Katana bass, Bassfish by Goldfish Guitars, Donner UBass copy. And two guitars: BC Rich warwbeast, Jackson JS32RM Rhoads

 

A brand new 2005 Fender American Standard Jazz Bass.

Received 2, bought at the store and they shipped me another one.

When I called no one knew what was going on and they said they would get back to me.

14 years later and............

 

ive fortunately gotten several pieces free.. my first bass amp and head.. ampeg cab ampeg head and ibanez sr800 bass free.. then i got a brand new gator 8 space rack mount. a cliff burton fuzz and wah, peavey 215 eq.. tama swingstar drum set.. complete all matching in near mint...ibanez sr 655 ibanez sr 605.. fender mia 95...
the mia p bass in my pic.. its a rare honey burst.. free.. a singer i played with got it from his dad for a present. he hates his dad and dont play bass..

 

53 years and nothing yet. Still waiting.

 

In 1993 I got a free pick from Britney Fox's bass player. Used.

 

Some hand-me-downs from a friend of mine, which includes a strap, two pedal boards (sans stuff of course), one pedal board power supply, and two pedals mostly guitar related. One Korg pitch black. He switched to Multi-FX units only, so I got his old stuff.

If you count presents, my trusty candy apple red P-Bass was a graduation gift from my parents. It should actually be around its tenth anniversary staying with me right now.



Oh, and I got that BBE Opto Stomp for Christmas around the same time. Still using it.

 

this was given to me by a friend at work he does not play himself i think it used to belong to his son who emigrated to the us many years ago. its a morley wha wah i love it. its nice when people have something and they think ie rollie would love this

 

Bass equipment I got for free (not gifted): A Roland DB-500 combo amp that I used for 20 years, and a tricked out Carvin Bunny Brunel 5 string. How I got them I will not say. I also won a mixer in a Sweetwater Win-It-Wednesday.

 

My dad bought me my first bass, a Guild B301A, to get me started. Decades later, my guitar/keys player gave me a Boss Stereo Chorus pedal.

I'd gladly surrender the pedal to get the Guild back.

 

In late summer '96 I was given my '78 Fender Musicmaster for free.

But keep in mind, it had been recovered from a barn, in only the crummy broken down chipboard case and it was in abysmal shape. First I'd ever seen or heard of a short scale bass. Still with me now after a couple rebuilds I've probably stuck $300 into it since getting it. That's it in my avatar.

 

none unless you count gifts from my husband. well, and free picks, but i don't play with a pick. and all those free cords that come with every cheaper bass, guitar and amp and no one uses them. i bet we have more than 40 of those lying around the house

but the first bass i played was a custom 5 string - a huge heavy bass i couldn't reach across the neck - that had had the electronics ripped out. i had it for just over a year as the only bass i played. during that period and beyond, my friend chris let me use his kustom 2x15 combo for over a year, as well. it was cool not only because it sounded good but i could sit on it during rehearsals

 

A set of LaBella Hard Rockin' Steels.

 

Over 40 years ago I was given an early 60's Fender blonde Bassman amp w/ 2 blonde 2x12 cabs. No idea what I ever did with them since I wasn't playing bass [or any other instrument] at the time.