199? MIM Fender Jazz. Still have it... it's sittin' right next to my computer here. I use it for spontaneous practice and idea sessions.
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What did you do with your first bass?
- Thread starter Matthew_84
- Start date
My very first bass was a $69.95 short-scale Japanese-made "Sear's Special"...I took it all apart and let all the pieces sit in the closet for a couple of years while I learned guitar playing. I ended up using the pickup in a mandolin project and sold the neck and body at a garage sale for $10 with a junky 2-watt solid state amp thrown in for free...anyway, here's a photo of the 1979 Sears catalog, mine was #7...
Later, I was able to buy my first "real" bass (a red 1974 Mosrite single pickup Tele-style solid body) for $200. Unfortunately, that bass was stolen after a recording gig about 8 years later... total bummer...
Later, I was able to buy my first "real" bass (a red 1974 Mosrite single pickup Tele-style solid body) for $200. Unfortunately, that bass was stolen after a recording gig about 8 years later... total bummer...
My first bass was a black Fender Musicmaster. It was stolen, about 15 years ago. I still have my first guitar, though, a beat-up acoustic that was a present when I was about 6.
My first bass was a Vantage of some sort. I traded it in at Guitar Center toward a lined fretless Yamaha and a Boss chorus pedal. Yes, I had just heard Pino for the first time.. 
My first bass was an MIM bergundy P Bass.
I modded her like crazy.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/p-bass-has-had-more-facelifts-than-joan-rivers-569018/
Unfortunately, I sold her.
I modded her like crazy.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/p-bass-has-had-more-facelifts-than-joan-rivers-569018/
Unfortunately, I sold her.
Recently had it repaired and upgraded. Although the kid did a great job with the repairs, I'm afraid he missed something. I'm hearing a rattle in the neck. He did repair a broken nut after loaning it to my nephew for a year or so.
I was trying to down size in the late 1980's. I still had my first bass and guitar, plus other instruments and amps. I also gave away my fave old chair and my "Flexy" Flexible- racer...look it up..LOL.. Hey, I was in my mid 30's and recently married; sort of time to part with things of my youth. I digress....
My first electric bass was a [ 1960's] Kay, Short Scale single pup, single cutaway. Semi Hollow. Kind of a light brownish-tobacco finish? My parents bought it for me, used @ $25, around 1969.
By 1971, the PUP had died. I replaced that bass with a [then new] 1971 Epiphone SS, double cutaway, double pup. when the Epi pups died, I bought my first Rickenbacker 4001-s. I still have the Epi..don't know why..maybe sentimentality?
Anyway...in late 80's, I gave the Kay away as well as a Pencrest [ J. C. Penney strat-like guitar] which my parents also bought for me a few months before the bass.
Had the Kay remained functional, I doubt I would have kept it, as my hands are large..not huge, but too large for SS. Also, the tuners were a bear to adjust; needed pliars...LOL... It had the same flat wounds on it as when my parents bought it for me. It was my first bass and I actually gigged with it a few times with all proceeds going toward amp and PA rental.
Oddly, never had a paying gig again, until I owned the Rick. After a few gigs and many bands, it was not until 1980 that I gigged for pay regularly..now that too has passed.
In the late 1990's I saw refurbished Kay Electric basses, just like mine, going for around $100. No idea of $$ value now. It would only have sentimental value to me at best.
My first electric bass was a [ 1960's] Kay, Short Scale single pup, single cutaway. Semi Hollow. Kind of a light brownish-tobacco finish? My parents bought it for me, used @ $25, around 1969.
By 1971, the PUP had died. I replaced that bass with a [then new] 1971 Epiphone SS, double cutaway, double pup. when the Epi pups died, I bought my first Rickenbacker 4001-s. I still have the Epi..don't know why..maybe sentimentality?
Anyway...in late 80's, I gave the Kay away as well as a Pencrest [ J. C. Penney strat-like guitar] which my parents also bought for me a few months before the bass.
Had the Kay remained functional, I doubt I would have kept it, as my hands are large..not huge, but too large for SS. Also, the tuners were a bear to adjust; needed pliars...LOL... It had the same flat wounds on it as when my parents bought it for me. It was my first bass and I actually gigged with it a few times with all proceeds going toward amp and PA rental.
Oddly, never had a paying gig again, until I owned the Rick. After a few gigs and many bands, it was not until 1980 that I gigged for pay regularly..now that too has passed.
In the late 1990's I saw refurbished Kay Electric basses, just like mine, going for around $100. No idea of $$ value now. It would only have sentimental value to me at best.
First bass didn't work at all, It was a cheap second hand 4 string (think it said biscayne bass), so I call that bass #0. Gave it to my next door neighbor before I left for college.
First WORKING bass: 2002 Fender American Dlx Jazz 5...great sound...B string, not so great. Sold it first semester of college to a music store in Boston, replaced by a Lakland 55-02.
First WORKING bass: 2002 Fender American Dlx Jazz 5...great sound...B string, not so great. Sold it first semester of college to a music store in Boston, replaced by a Lakland 55-02.
My first bass, Decca - two pickup -with rocker switches, was a rental back in the mid 60's. Returned it to the store when the rental period was over and bought a Kingston, "Rickenesque" looking hollowbody complete with Cat's Eyes in blue from a local catalog house.
For the other elderly statesmen think "Milway", "Steers & Low Buck", remember back when people used to say that they "sent themselves away for something"?
I played that bass until it literally fell apart at all of the seams, all at the same time, fortunately it was at a practice and not a gig.
For the other elderly statesmen think "Milway", "Steers & Low Buck", remember back when people used to say that they "sent themselves away for something"?
I played that bass until it literally fell apart at all of the seams, all at the same time, fortunately it was at a practice and not a gig.
It has been with my best friend back home for recording purposes for about a year or so now, a epiphone thunderbird. So its being used hopefully which is good.
Same here. It was a total POS, cheapest one I could find in the guitar store. That was back in 1989. Sayonara to that beater!
Lets see...not counting the crap Lyle I had for 6mos. First real bass in 65' was a sunburst P-B a couple of yrs later I traded it straight across for a mid 60's Hofner Beatle bass. I traded that a yr. later straight across for an early 60's Jazz. I traded that straight across a yr later for a 1957 Precision like the Sting model. and kept that for 40 years.
still tradin' ...just got an Elrick with no money out of pocket. In one month it has become my go to 4 string when there is no Fender requirement.
peace Capt Kirk
still tradin' ...just got an Elrick with no money out of pocket. In one month it has become my go to 4 string when there is no Fender requirement.
peace Capt Kirk
noetical1 said:
Hey! That little bass amp (#2)...I have one of those. Still works!
My first bass was a MIM Precision. Cool bass, but it was later part of a massive instrument trade toward a Les Paul.
