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What Bass Made You Stop Looking for Others?
- Thread starter Nicoo
- Start date
Mine started out as a we'll worn (for a 2 year old) 1973 Jazz bass and slowly evolved into this one, a great parts bass by now as it has none of its original parts
Looks like I'm in the minority...
Way back in '92 I went bass shopping. Already been playing professionally for about 8 years. Tried about 30 basses altogether. I picked up a 92 precision plus (yep, "boner' bass as they've come to be known). These are a PJ. Fantastic neck somewhere between a P and a J, great action, 22 frets, and excellent build quality. Acoustically, all those weird harmonics ring out all over the neck, which I really like and incorporate into my playing. Lace pickups were quite tepid so I put in a late 70s\early 80s Dimarzio P pickup. The thing gets a modern growl when needed, or can be old school thumpy. I like it so much that a few years ago I had a custom built for me that has the exact same neck profile, and overall similar specs. It also has the same era Dimarzio P pickup. Only difference is a Fralin jazz p\u.
I can pretty much afford any bass and have several others, but have zero GAS. For me, the '92 is the one.
Way back in '92 I went bass shopping. Already been playing professionally for about 8 years. Tried about 30 basses altogether. I picked up a 92 precision plus (yep, "boner' bass as they've come to be known). These are a PJ. Fantastic neck somewhere between a P and a J, great action, 22 frets, and excellent build quality. Acoustically, all those weird harmonics ring out all over the neck, which I really like and incorporate into my playing. Lace pickups were quite tepid so I put in a late 70s\early 80s Dimarzio P pickup. The thing gets a modern growl when needed, or can be old school thumpy. I like it so much that a few years ago I had a custom built for me that has the exact same neck profile, and overall similar specs. It also has the same era Dimarzio P pickup. Only difference is a Fralin jazz p\u.
I can pretty much afford any bass and have several others, but have zero GAS. For me, the '92 is the one.
The Alembics. I bought the red one on consignment locally here in Nashville, the green one I worked with Alembic to spec and build just for me. By any measure, level of expertise in the woodworking, finish, electronics and playability simply were on a different planet than anything else I ever owned, and I owned several top shelf basses before these came into my life. The only basses I ever owned that absolutely required me to up my game to play them well.
When they were around, out of habit I'd go to guitar stores as I always have. I'd see this or that bass, and think, 'gee that's nice', which would inevitably be followed by 'but . . . . . '.
There is simply nothing else out there that's on the same planet as Alembic. And they are not for everyone.
Sort of ....
My main player is a partscaster that I assembled.
It is an MJT body, Warmoth neck, and DiMarzio J-Bass pickups.
But, as many do, I have a few others and when the mood strikes, I love to play any one of them.
My main player is a partscaster that I assembled.
It is an MJT body, Warmoth neck, and DiMarzio J-Bass pickups.
But, as many do, I have a few others and when the mood strikes, I love to play any one of them.
My searching greatly slowed after finally finding this rarity. It looks, plays, and sounds great
Fender American Professional II Precision Bass and Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Bass. Done.
Alembics are brutally clean, which is why you often hear new Alembic owners talk about having to improve their technique as now you hear EVERY last foible and shortcoming in your technique, and why we often talk of them making us play better. The good part though is if you can play an Alembic cleanly, everything else is a laugh. Plus, both of these, I'd adjust the fingerboard to dead-straight, then let back in .010" relief, which is another reason I had to get clean.Wow! Those are beautiful! I'll bet they both sound killer.
And yes, big time tone.
has not happened yet....current set makes me happy, but there is always something cool out there waiting to be lusted over
My #1 player is currently a PRS kingfisher with Seymour Duncan SSB-4 pups. I really enjoy the thin C shaped neck through on this bass. Very fast and playable. I really like that the width at the nut is right between a jazz and percussion with standard 19 mm spacing at the bridge. Love the fact that it's got 24 frets as well so very versatile. I've got other basses as well but haven't found another HH style bass that has made me want to jump ship.........yet.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,084
- 46,056
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
I bought a new Travis Bean fretless in 1977 and over forty years time I only bought four other basses, with two of those hanging around for over twenty years each. I bought this one new as a custom build in 2003 and eventually it became my #1 and I sold the Bean. I've owned two other BGs in the last ten years, keeping one other fretless four, which I was actually given by a luthier friend. Zero interest in getting any more, evidently I am just not wired for bass GAS. I also have just one acoustic and one electric guitar, that's also plenty.Just curious, has anyone here found the bass that completely stopped the gear hunt for you?
Was it something boutique or surprisingly a production model? For me, certain basses just feel instantly "right" and make me play more instead of searching for upgrades.
What was your endgame bass and why?
For all intents and purposes, my bass needs are met (and fairly modestly by TB standards at that) but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't stop looking for something that might spice up my playing (if it's a bargain) or an upgrade to my collection if it's massively underpriced.
In my mind, "contentment" just means that the bar is a lot higher.
For example, for a project that I am currently working on, I would like an Ibanez Mikro 5 string (or any short scale 5 string), but I don't feel like I need one. If I find one for way less than market value, I'll consider it, but I can make do with what I have. Nothing will ever completely cure the GAS because I will always look for ways to stretch my sound, but my "orthodox bass sounds" needs are pretty well covered.
In my mind, "contentment" just means that the bar is a lot higher.
For example, for a project that I am currently working on, I would like an Ibanez Mikro 5 string (or any short scale 5 string), but I don't feel like I need one. If I find one for way less than market value, I'll consider it, but I can make do with what I have. Nothing will ever completely cure the GAS because I will always look for ways to stretch my sound, but my "orthodox bass sounds" needs are pretty well covered.
For me, it's not so much finding a bass to forsake all others. It's about getting to a point where, at 67 YO, I'm just weary of the chase.
I've never been a play-bass-for-the-bass's sake. It's the instrument I use to play and make music with. I'm not much of a tinkerer, although I've been around the world trading Jazz pickups and preamps until I got sick of that sound and made my next favorite bass my number one player these days.
I have 2 basses, one main player and a spare that does see regular use. Everyone I work for and/or with likes the tone of either.
Never say never, but with my latest Stingray Special and my Fender AM Pro II Precision 5-string, I'm set. No desire to look for anything else.
I have what I need to keep making music. Count me out of the chase.
I've never been a play-bass-for-the-bass's sake. It's the instrument I use to play and make music with. I'm not much of a tinkerer, although I've been around the world trading Jazz pickups and preamps until I got sick of that sound and made my next favorite bass my number one player these days.
I have 2 basses, one main player and a spare that does see regular use. Everyone I work for and/or with likes the tone of either.
Never say never, but with my latest Stingray Special and my Fender AM Pro II Precision 5-string, I'm set. No desire to look for anything else.
I have what I need to keep making music. Count me out of the chase.
Not till I get a Tony Franklin signature bass but until then, I'm reasonably content.
Not my case. As long as there's disposable income , I will continue to buy basses and cars.
To me , I chose them based on how the look and then I keep them based on how they feel. The sound ? Anyone can make an EB-0 sound like a rickenbacker.
I could make do with a single bass of course , in that case any bass is as good as the next one.
To me , I chose them based on how the look and then I keep them based on how they feel. The sound ? Anyone can make an EB-0 sound like a rickenbacker.
I could make do with a single bass of course , in that case any bass is as good as the next one.
It wasn't so much buying a bass as finally modifying a bass to my satisfaction, combined with having owned and/or tried a variety of basses over the years, that has ended my desire for buying new basses. Plus finally realizing that a bass I had that I'd bought back shortly after starting out, my second bass ever, was actually all I really need anyway. Specifically, I had (and still have) an MIM P bass that I am quite satisfied with. Not my dream bass or anything, but I just like it. That's my sound.
Beyond that I was looking to add a short scale bass for ease on my body in relation to a bass lesson I was giving immediately after a guitar lesson, and then the after-jams we were having. Plus I'd always kinda wanted an EB-3. Not being on a big vintage quest, I picked up a current SG bass and… I eventually came to the conclusion that the SG was actually rougher on my body than my good ol' P. So, I went back to the store and got an MIJ Mustang I'd seen, and that became my lesson/jam short scale bass. Meanwhile, I eventually picked up two Js and another P, and I got to play my student's active Ibanez a lot (it became the "house bass" for jams at his place). And I had an acoustic bass and acoustic fretless bass at home.
So, the odd man out, the only completely unplayed one, was that SG. I was gonna sell it, but decided to give it one good shot to fix it up to my liking. Bought UltraLite tuners, a new bridge, new pickups, modified wiring, worked on the setup and… voìla. I loved it! It became the bass I always wanted to play, and now it was the others (except the MIM P) that sat unused.
Meanwhile, I'd been wanting a LP Jr. Doublecut Tribute bass (or whatever they call it) and a Thunderbird, but after trying those (and a Ric I was curious about) and not fully "I have to have it"-type connecting with any, and looking at the various unplayed basses I already owned, I never ended up pulling the trigger on any new basses and instead started becoming more into slowly selling off the excess (down to 4 electrics, hopefully 3 before this year is out).
So, it was modding one I'd already had in my herd combined with finally coming to terms with that I didn't need a "dream bass" or different basses for a variety of tones since my old MIM Precision was, while nothing fancy, actually already totally satisfactory to me and fully covered what I wanted for my style of music. And then the SG is a great short scale alternative for me. Between those two, that's all I really have the time/energy to steadily play anyway. And like that, I came to realize that I'm pretty much set
Beyond that I was looking to add a short scale bass for ease on my body in relation to a bass lesson I was giving immediately after a guitar lesson, and then the after-jams we were having. Plus I'd always kinda wanted an EB-3. Not being on a big vintage quest, I picked up a current SG bass and… I eventually came to the conclusion that the SG was actually rougher on my body than my good ol' P. So, I went back to the store and got an MIJ Mustang I'd seen, and that became my lesson/jam short scale bass. Meanwhile, I eventually picked up two Js and another P, and I got to play my student's active Ibanez a lot (it became the "house bass" for jams at his place). And I had an acoustic bass and acoustic fretless bass at home.
So, the odd man out, the only completely unplayed one, was that SG. I was gonna sell it, but decided to give it one good shot to fix it up to my liking. Bought UltraLite tuners, a new bridge, new pickups, modified wiring, worked on the setup and… voìla. I loved it! It became the bass I always wanted to play, and now it was the others (except the MIM P) that sat unused.
Meanwhile, I'd been wanting a LP Jr. Doublecut Tribute bass (or whatever they call it) and a Thunderbird, but after trying those (and a Ric I was curious about) and not fully "I have to have it"-type connecting with any, and looking at the various unplayed basses I already owned, I never ended up pulling the trigger on any new basses and instead started becoming more into slowly selling off the excess (down to 4 electrics, hopefully 3 before this year is out).
So, it was modding one I'd already had in my herd combined with finally coming to terms with that I didn't need a "dream bass" or different basses for a variety of tones since my old MIM Precision was, while nothing fancy, actually already totally satisfactory to me and fully covered what I wanted for my style of music. And then the SG is a great short scale alternative for me. Between those two, that's all I really have the time/energy to steadily play anyway. And like that, I came to realize that I'm pretty much set
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