What is your Bass guitar progression?

[zon5string]

EKO violin bass....borrowed/repurposed from older brother
Vox Panther......borrowed from friend
Peavey T-40 .... bought new 1979
Ampeg Dan Armstrong .... traded T-40 + $150 cash for it in 1980
Ibanez X-Series .... bought 1984ish...sold 1998ish
Warmoth parts jazz bass....1995ish
Zon Sonus V .... bought 1997
Fender Jazz 1962 .... defretted, old Bartolini pickup in neck position, badly modified over the years....traded two Carvin 12" wedge monitors for it
Sigma STB-ME acoustic bass guitar.....early 2000s
Gibson Les Paul LPB-3 .... mid 2000s
Fender "Classic 70s" Precision .... early 2010s

I never owned the EKO or Vox. I still own all but the T-40 and Ibanez.

 

[HomerJSimpsson]

I started recently with a Hohner headless 4string and everyday I get some worse ...

 

[Tom Gallo]

These were all sold and I have regrets about a few of them (bolded)

• UNIVOX Hi Flyer (last version)
• Squier MIJ Bullet Bass
• Squier MIJ Precision Bass (SQ series)
• Fender PJ bass (same style as Duff's)
• Rick 4001
• Peavey Fury
  
• Fender P (probably)
• Fender Highway One P
• UNIVOX 4001 lawsuit bass
• Several rick 4003/4004L basses
• Fender P
  
• Fender J

These I still have:

• Fender Mustang Bass
• Danelectro Longhorn
• Rick 4003s
• Squier Frankenbass

 

[northerngitbass]

In order of aquisition:
Columbus EB0 copy, eventually got turned into a e-e six string bass to see if I liked the concept plus Audition (sold by Mark' & Spencer?) 10w guitar head and 1×12 cab £30. Sold amp on eBay years later for huge profit!
H&H 100w VS Bassamp head + WEM 4x12 cab £150 Cab got lent out and lost.
Hagstrom H8 8 string bass £70
Shergold Marathon e-e six string bass - I loved the concept! £250
Carlsbro 90w Cobra bass head with Traynor 6x10 cab. Traded in for:
Traynor YBA-3 Custom head with 8x10 cab
Hagstrom HllB bass £40
Status Groove 5 string - birthday present and main weapon of choice
Ampeg B450 head with 4x10 & 1x15 cab
Another H&H VS Bassamp foc!
Peavey 1x15 cab bought off Steve, guitarist of, errr, Kajagoogoo £100
Aslin Dane 7 string b-e baritone (the better USA built version). On semi-permanent loan.
OLP MM Silhouette b-b baritone 30" six string £126
Another Columbus EB0, renovated and sold on
Harley Benton b-c six string bass to see if I liked the concept. I didn't. For sale if anyone wants?
Shergold Activator bass body and neck. Build to start soon!
Dean Demonator (stupid name!). Harvested for parts and sold the remainder.
Schecter Hellcat e-e six string bass £240
ESP 8 string bass - could be tempted to sell
Line 6 Variax 705 5 string modelling bass £340
Oh, and three Swift acoustic basses, all damaged, made one 'good one' (using the term loosely!) and sold remains.
Think that's it. Unless stated otherwise, still in possession...

 

[Wes K]

Peavey Foundation 4 > Carvin LB70 4 > Zon Sonus 4 > Modulus Quantum 6 > Spector NS4 > Fodera NYC Empire 4 > Fender USA Jazz 4 > This brings me to my current setup, which consists of MM Stingray 5, Fender AVRI '58P, Fender AVRI '63 P, Kinal MKB5, Benavente SCB 5, and 2 Kala U basses. Left a few out, but these have been my main players.

 

[Pilgrim]

I started with a 1963 Precision, bought in 1967. I still have it.

Most of the time it sits because I've grown fond of short scale and I really like my Gretsch basses, including my Thunderjet, a lovely bass.

But most of the instruments I play are worth less than the P, although it doesn't get played very often. I like a $299 bass just about as well as a $1000+ bass.

 

[silvertone]

Started on a borrowed P Bass in Highschool around 1982.

In college I obtained a used Mustang 2 w an Ampeg V4 and a 4x10 cab which I subsequently traded for an ounce of Ugandan Ganja to a classmate who's father was the US Ambassador to that troubled country. I left bass playing and became a dedicated guitarist - around 1983.

A lot of time passed and I became a mandolin picker... but all my favorite local musician's were double bass players that could slap. So I borrowed a plywood german upright and instead of giving it back, I made payments on it till I owned it.

With a bit of cash on hand I found a killer '98 Deluxe American J bass for sale via CL at a bargain rate!
(Incidentally, via TB I just found out last week that this bass was designed buy John Suhr!)

Soon thereafter I found a great deal on a Genz Benz Neo from a TB'er and I'm still playing it years later.

From there I've upgraded my German Plywood to a '54 Kay and I've had help from Rich Hoeg (formally with Modulus) in reviving and rebuilding a great Modulus Q5 and then an early 80's Modulus Bassstar Fretless.

The last bass I got I didn't need - it's a recent Squire VM Fretless that I got for $60!

I play guitars, mandolins and basses - but in the past few years - i've spent the majority of my time playing bass!

 

[metron]

Started in the summer of '92 with a red p bass I got from my sisters friend for $50. It might have been a Hamer. All I have left are the J #3 and P #2.

1992 Hamer P bass
1993 Washburn PJ
1994 Active Ibanez SDGR 5
1999 MIA Fender J #1
2002 MIA Fender J #2
2003 MIA Fender P #1
2003 EBMM Stingray
2005 Fender Hot Rod PJ
2006 G&L SB-2
2006 G&L L1000 #1
2007 G&L L2000 #1

2007 G&L L1000 #2
2007 G&L L1000 #3
2007 G&L L2000 #2
2010 MIA Fender J #3
2011 EBMM Stingray 5
2013 Lakland 55-94 FL
2014 Ric 4003
2014 MIA Fender P #2​

 

[Simon Girouard]

When I was a teenager, in the 70s, I started playing Beatles bass lines with an acoustic guitar that was missing a few strings.

Much later in the 80s, I played for a few months on a borrowed bass that belonged to the mother of my friend's ex-girlfriend. I can't remember what brand but it was heavy like hell and too expensive for me.

Found an "El Degas" bass on the local ads that I used for while. I cannot find any info on that bass on the Internet.

After a while, I thought I needed an upgrade and got myself a brand new Ibanez TR-50. I played that bass for about 10 years. Then stopped playing altogether.

About 10 years ago, I started to play again and, having a much better financial situation, I decided that I would get myself a decent bass. That's when I got a Godin Freeway 4 that is still one of my main basses today.

In the last 8 years or so I went through many phases:
- The "I want to be unique" phase: Found a "Lasido GR" with a Zeta Piezo bridge. Wasn't bad but didn't feel right in my hands. Sold it.


- The "Search for short scale" phase: Got a Danelectro Dano 63 reissue. Looks nice, plays awful. Sold it.

Then it was an Epiphone RumbleKat Allen Woody signature. Put some flats on it. Hated it. Sold it.


- The "Why not a 5 strings" phase: Ibanez SDGR 305 (I think). Sold it. Later found a Godin Freeway 5. Still have it but don't use it much.

- The "What else is out there" phase: When I started playing in a second band, I did not want to carry my Godin with me all the time. Found a Gibson Steinberger XL-2DB. Very nice and versatile bass. It's size allows me to take it on trips easily.

- The "Accoustic Bass" phase: Ibanez AEB10-BK

- The "Why not build it myself" phase: Being a woodworker, I decided that I would not pay a lot of money to try things I was really not sure about. Always wanted to try a fretless so, I purchase a heavily damaged Cort Curbow for the hardware and electronics and made my first bass. A fretless active 5 strings. I'm no luthier yet so it is not a very good instrument but it allowd me to try fretless. It's difficult. Don't use it much.


- The "Why not build it myself 2" phase: Wanted to have a cheap bass to leave at my shop so I can practice there. Got a cheap copy of a P-Bass branded "Hollywood". The body of that bass was so light that it had a serious neck dive. Decided to make a new body myself. The neck is really not bad. This has become my second main bass. It plays very well and is now perfectly balanced.

 

[fredrodgers]

Early 90's started playing my bestfriend's sunburst Lyon P(OS). Made on a Friday afternoon when there must have been a shortage of wire, solder and flux in the factory. Learned how to solder since literally every time I played it I had to pop the hood and fix something.

Was using my dad's ginormous pistol grip soldering iron with a chisel tip almost as wide as the dime sized pots. Don't know the wattage but the lights dimmed when it was plugged in. The solder was thick rosin core plumbing solder.

I eventually needed to splice in some wire, and used some Romex leftover from when we partially finished the basement (brown paneling vinyl adhesive "tiles" drop ceiling and fluorescent lights). Turned out that Romex was too thick as the resistance cut the output to a whisper. Took my slices out (except the ground, ground is ground) and used some lighter gauge phone type wire from when they replaced the phones and computer network at my dad's office.

After a while I must have overheated a volume pot as there was NO OUTPUT. And the screws going in and out of that basswood body needed toothpicks and glue in each of them. We took that bass back to where he'd bought it a couple months before, each of use carrying parts of it.

Guy traded it on a black Yamaha Motion B. Much better bass! Never had to open that up at all. And the short scale was easier for my short sausage fingers to play.

Chrome HW, 2+2 headstock, ebony fretboard, EMG HB's, and no cheesy 80's YAMAHA MOTION B graphic on the front.

Been looking for that exact bass since then, and have found 1 that was lavender. Which would totally clash with my magenta keytar.

Bestfriend gave me the option of matching what a store was going to give him on trade for another bass, but I couldn't come up with the money- was only a couple hundred, but I was delivering auto parts for minimum wage, taking home $141 every week.

Next bass I played was an Epiphone Rivoli (EA 260 really). Ended up buying that one from him for $90 since the neck block needed repair. I was living in Athens, Ohio and Dan Erlewine had worked on a Stratocaster I owned. He said he'd take a look, said "It looked like someone had gouged out the neck block with a steak knife. Used the same steak knife, duller now, to hack out what looked like oak, then used a ton of white glue to stabilize it." Said he was surprised it had held together as long as it had.

He steamed the glue out, squared up the cut on the block then cut another block of pine and used Titebond to glue it back in. Neck needed a shim (bolt on) but it plays better than when it was new. He also used doule sided carpet tape to stick the floating bridge down so I didn't have to reintonate every time I changed the strings. Currently wearing La Bella tapewound strings.

At the same time I'd moved into a house in Athens, Ohio that had the family's abandoned stuff in the basement. All tube Marantz receiver, some Golden Harvest glassware and dishes, a fridge with the coils on the top (square, round would have been valuable) and an old washtub.

I was playing some bluegrass with some townies and part time OU students, and one of them had a washtub bass. I mentioned I had an old washtub, he looked at it and tried to buy it from me.

I wouldn't sell it, and he said I needed an eye bolt, nut and washer, hickory pickaxe handle, door hinge with bolts and wingnuts so it could be broken down for transport and woven cotton clothesline. I gathered that stuff up and put it together, and its more of a percussive instrument than a bass. Gotta stand on the tub and lean against the hickory handle to tension the clothesline, but its pretty cool.

Several years ago I built a partsbass. GFS royal pawlonia red burst body, Mighty Mite bass neck, WBW Fender MIA PG, Fender and misc. HW, 18 V Bartolini pups, concentric knobs so I could get 4 pots without needing to figure out how and where to mount them.

Had a luthier cut a battery access in the back, and he used a thin slice of the wood he removed atop the plastic panel. Grain matched so tightly that you really have to be looking to see where it is. If you don't know its there you probably won't find it.

And the next bass I acquired was a Baltic Blue Affinity precision. RW fretboard, replaced the single ply white PG with a red tortoise MIA unit, Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound pup, full sized CTS pots and a Switchcraft jack. Also strung that with La Bella tapewounds.

3 real basses 1 probably as old as I am. Still playing through my first bass amp, Peavey TKO 150. Bought that from same bestfriend and needed to replace 2 trim pots (bass and treble boost, which broke off when we loaded it into the back of his pickup truck. Left it sitting upright at the tailgate facing forward. I said he should put it on its back in front of the axel preferably hard against the front of the cargo box. He said "It'll be fine." Started driving leaving the town we lived in, 35 MPH zone where everyone's accelerating to 55 when this rusted out hooptie pulled out in front of us. He slammed on the brakes and the amp cartwheeled end over end into the front of the cargo box. Dented it in pretty good and broke the glass in the rear window), straighten some of the EQ sliders, the high input jack and repair the torn speaker cone (3M marine sealant, cellophane tape and a couple stitches with needle and thread).

I'd gigged with that amp for a couple years, and mounted casters and PA speaker handles on it so it was easier to move around.

Wonderful tale, well written, wry humor and just a fun piece to read. Send it to the New Yorker.

 

[Rumble Thunder]

1980 - Started out on a Sears Silvertone Jazz Bass knock-off.
1982 - Graduated to an Ibanez MC924 Musician bass.
1985 - Present - Went through a search for "my sound", for "the perfect bass", and an extreme case of GAS, resulting in the purchase, trade & sale of over 200 basses.

The current toolbox;

Rickenbacker 4003 in Ruby Red
Spector USA NS-2 in Amber
Spector USA NS-4 in Black & Blue
Fender Adam Clayton Precision Bass in Purple Sparkle
Fender American Vintage '75 Jazz Bass in Natural Ash
Fender American Standard Precision Bass in Mystic Red
Fender MIM Classic 50's Precision Bass in 2-Color Sunburst
Fender MIJ FSR '75 Jazz Bass in Aged Candy Apple Red
Fender CIJ Geddy Lee Jazz Bass in Black
Hamer Chaparral 12-string Bass in Black
Neo Custom Acrylic Bass lit with real Green & Blue Neon
Fender Kingman acoustic bass guitar in Natural

Oh wow, a purple sparkle P!!
Man, I had my eyes on that one. What are your thoughts on tbat one? How do you like the neck?
Is the tone killer? Chances are, I won't get to play one in a music store and kick the tires but the pictures of it make my heart jump a bit. Do you love yours?

 

[Bluwaterbob]

Hmmm.. Let's see: First bass was a pawnshop special, real cheap fender knockoff in 1980. somewhere around 86' I bought a new Peavey t-20 then about two years later got a Hohner B2 to play the tight lil club stages, Eventually the first bass fell apart. Then around 89' got a Washburn ForceABT sold the Hohner, Quit playing from about 98 to 08 sold the Peavey during that time. So I'm down to just the Washburn, then in 2010 bought a Shecter Studio 5 ans that's the two I still have and play. (would love to have another Hohner though... I loved it)
[edit]
Add a photo of the T-20. note the old EMC B800 and matching 18" Cab behind.
Still have the EMC rig. Don't use it much but kinda cool to have. Had it since about 1986

 

[Spectre Gunner]

My progression has some long gaps. Life got in the way and I took much too long to get back into playing. It was very close to completely starting over but in my latest foray into bass I knew enough to start out with practicing technique and once I was comfortable on the fretboard again I took lessons from a good friend, an excellent well experienced player and instructor.

1. Yamaha - I don't remember the model or year made but it was an aged white color and had a bad setup. I didn't even know what a setup was back then. I just played it, had fun and lusted for something better. I was 15. Joined the USAF and didn't play again until I was in my 30's

2. 1986 Fender Jazz Bass Special, (the Duff McKagan bass)- It was the white pearlescent body with black hardware and neck. After awhile it started to lose it's rich and full tone. so I sold it and later regretted that move. I later learned that roundwound strings go bad and need replacing periodically. If had just known to put new strings on it. Sometimes you learn the hard way...

3. Steinberger B2 - I bought it used for $400. It was easier to play than the Fender and I still like the look of those today. That bass was a keeper but when I transferred to another AF Base the mover stoled it along with my combo amp. I didn't play again for about 25 years or so.

4. 1986 Kubicki ExFactor 4 - I found this used bass for sale in my local Sam Ash store. I didn't know what it was and never heard of Kubicki before but I thought it looked really cool. So tried it out in the store and it was so much better than anything else I ever played. However, it was much more expensive than anything else I was considering at the time. I went home and did some research on it that night and once I learned about what a Kubicki Basses I knew I better go back and buy it before it's gone. Got there as soon as the store opened and luckily it was still there and of course, I bought it. I thought it was expensive but after my research I discovered that Sam Ash didn't really know it's true value. Especially, since it's in excellent condition. The seller told me it sat in it's case under a bed for almost 3 decades and it's condition gives credence to that claim.

5. 2016 Fender Jazz Elite, 3 tone burst- My main player. I have a set of TI Jazz Flat strings on it and this bass gets played the most.

6. 2017 Fender Jazz Professional, Sonic Grey - My "go to" bass when I want to play roundwound strings. Sonic Grey.

7. (20??) Squire Affinity Fretless - I bought this defretted bass to learn to play fretless. I also wanted a bass I could upgrade just for fun and to see just how good a cheap bass can be made to sound and play with upgrades and a good setup. TI Flatwound Jazz strings, Lollar pickups, new wiring, copper shielding, new Bourns pots, re-radiused neck to 9.5. It's no $2,000 Fender Elite but it is now a much better bass and I may swap out some of the hardware.

8. (20??) Warmouth PJ body, Lake Placid Blue with an American Fender Ebony Fretless neck. This neck was used by Tony Franklin when he was working with Fender to develop his signature bass. This has been confirmed with Tony himself.

9. Tomorrow's bass? (too many to list and the list keeps changing)

There will be no more gaps in my playing!

 

[Bill G.]

My first bass was a Mexican Precision. It was soon followed up by a Mexican Jazz. Since then, I've gone through many basses, mostly Js, Ps, and 4- & 5-string Stingrays. As of now, I have a J, P, Stingray 5, and an acoustic Fender Kingman.

 

[GZboat]

In chronological order, currently-owned basses in bold:

Harmony H22/1 (double cutaway version) - stolen
Micro Frets Rendezvous (a gift to replace my stolen H22/1) - still have it
Generic Japanese short-scale bass - stolen from music store while in for repair
Silvertone (Danelectro) 1444 "Dolphin" bass - stolen, replaced decades later
Guild Pilot Bass (loan from music store until they could "find" my missing bass; turned into "gift" when said store went out of business) - eventually sold
Applause AE-40 acoustic/electric bass guitar - still have it; planned resonator conversion project
Supro Pocket Bass - still have it
Harmony H426 solid-body bass - still have it
Silvertone (Danelectro) 1444 "Dolphin" bass - still have it; replacement for stolen one

It's pretty much a tie between the Harmony H426 and the Silvertone 1444 for my "go to" bass. I really like 30"-scale necks and both have great, unique sounds. The Micro Frets is a terrific sounding bass (the pickup is a license-built Rickenbacker unit in a white Lexan case). It's a 34"-scale neck and I never quite got comfortable with it. I threaten to sell it occasionally, but end up keeping it for sentimental reasons. When it was given to me, a gift was the only way I was going to be able to keep playing (I was very young and very broke). It meant a lot then and now. And it's pretty damn rare to boot. The Supro is an unusual instrument with a very short scale (25&7/8") and a totally unique pickup system. Sometimes, it's just the thing.
Greg

 

[KohanMike]

This made me organize my bass collection chronologically, so thanks for that, but it's a long story. I started playing ukulele in 2013, a year later the leader of our group (of 60) asked if anyone would like to take up the bass to fill in our sound. I found out about bass ukes and 21 to 24" scale basses and went for it. (As you'll notice, this forum has had a great deal of influence on me.)

I looked at the Kala U-Bass, but didn't like the configuration, so I bought a Gold Tone GT MicroBass 23" acoustic.

Then after reading a post here on TB about mods, I got caught up in GAS and decided to convert an Epiphone Les Paul Express junior 22" guitar into a bass.

Then I had Blue Star Guitar in Michigan make me a 22" scale Telecaster style bass.

Then I found Rondomusic.com imported bass ukes from China, bought a 21" scale solid body and had the horns cut and pickguards made and Pat Wilkins paint it gray.

Next I bought another 21" solid body from Rondo and had Blue Star Guitar make a violin style body for it with a burst red finish.

Next I bought 21" Chinese solid body bass uke with skunk stripe and had Eric's guitar shape the body into a Rickenbacker style, plus pickguard and fake pickups, and Pat Wilkins stained the wings and headstock walnut.

Then I saw a post here about basses made in the year we were born, discovered the AudioVox Serenader and got a newly released 24" scale Rondo, cut it to look like the Serenader and had Eric's Guitar make a black pickguard and Pat Wilkins paint it gold.

Next I saw a post here about the sea foam green color, so I bought a pink SmallGuitars.com mini P-bass and had Pat Wilkins paint it Fender surf green. I added block stick-on fret markers and Strat knobs.

Next I found a custom builder in China who said they could make me a Rickenbacker 365 small guitar as a bass, so I ordered a FireGlo. It didn't come out as small as I wanted, but I still play it.

Still caught up in GAS and anytime I find a small bass or guitar I can convert, I go for it, I found a 22" scale Yamaha acoustic guitar that I had Balloña Creak Luthier convert to a bass with Pahoehoe strings.

I also found an ESP Ltd F Jr. "metal" black guitar that Balloña also converted to a bass.

My effort is to have a collection of basses that are all different, so I took a blue Rondo 24" I had and added fake gold pickups and all gold hardware, plus gold stickers on the fretboard with a matching set on the strap.

Next I saw a thread here on tortoise pickguards, so I had Eric's Guitar make one with matching truss rod cover for a Rondo 24" and had Pat Wilkins paint it the best matching color in my opinion, Fender Olympic White.

Then I saw a Gibson Thunderbird style 23" bass uke on Reverb and changed the knobs and truss cover to white, and added a Thunderlele decal to the pickguard.

Next I read a post here about single cut basses (whale hump) with burl tops, that inspired me to get another 24" Rondo solid body, bought some burl veneer and had Eric's Guitar apply it to a pickguard shaped like a whale hump to fit the top of the Rondo, also applied the veneer to the headstock. It now looks like a Narwhal, so I named it Narwhalele.

Next I thought I was being clever when I saw a Pignose self amplified 22" guitar and converted it to a bass to use at hospital gigs going room to room, but the amp and built-in speaker could not cut it, so I had Eric's Guitar yank the amp and speaker, cover the cavities with pickguard and now it's a great little electric bass.

Next I replaced an acoustic bass uke I had custom made by Bruce Wei in Vietnam (that I didn't list after I bought the Gold Tone) with a Rondo Hadean 21" acoustic walnut cutaway to use for the hospital gigs that's configured better than the custom.

I didn't have a purple bass, so I bought an Ibanez 28.5" miKro and had Eric's Guitar replace the neck with a 24" Rondo Hadean and new bridge that Eric positioned perfectly to fit 24" scale. The body is a little bigger than I like, but it came out very well.

My next one is being painted by Pat Wilkins. I found the same Gibson Thunderbird style deeply discounted, so I bought it thinking I could have it modified to look like a Gibson SG, but that didn't work, so instead, to make it different looking than my sunburst Thunderlele, I took off the pickguard and Pat is painting it pearloid green and I'm changing the hardware to chrome, and use LaBella flatwounds.

 

[maximus]

I've been playing in church worship bands since 1999 with this progression of instruments:

-1999 - started out on a Squier Affinity P-Bass. Came in a "Bass Pack" that included a 15w amp and a gig bag. Paid something like $129 for the whole kit.

-2008-ish - sold the Squier for $50 and bought a Yamaha RBX 374. Whole different animal than the P-Bass with dual active pickups. It had some great low end grunt but lacked a lot of tone or definition on the higher end. I still have this one, will probably keep it for my kids to play around with if they are interested in learning some day.

-2017 - I had been wanting to get back on a P-Bass for several years, finally saved up enough to get a new American Professional (4 string). Fantastic bass that has really gotten me excited about being a bass player again. Great tone, really cuts through the mix on stage and the shape/thickness of the neck is much easier for me to play consistently accurately on than I ever could on the Yamaha. This will probably be my last bass purchase as it really meets all of my needs/wants for the way I like to play.

 

[Obese Chess]

for ONLY my Main Basses:

Used Dean Playmate -> 2003 MIM P-Bass -> 1983 MIA P-Bass -> Dingwall NG-2

Basses I have owned, total, in order of when I bought them (still have most of them)

Used Dean Playmate -> 2003 MIM P-Bass -> Yamaha BB404 -> Fernandes FRB-40 Fretless -> 1983 MIA P-Bass -> Yamaha BB2000 -> Fernandes FRB-40 -> Ibanez SRX505 -> Dingwall NG-2

 

[symbolic_acts]

2001 - sparkly silver 5 string ibanez GSR205. havent played it in years

2005ish - ibanez BTB405QM. Played for many years. not bad but looking back it really held me back. it just doesn't feel good to play imo. slapping sucks on it too so i never developed my technique much until much more recently on a more comfortable instrument

somewhere in the 2004-2007 range I got a SX fretless jazz that i played for like a year and put in the closet

fast-forward to 2017 - After becoming enamoured with the sound and playability of shortscales...fender mustang PJ. put flats on it and it plays like an absolute dream. Not used to passive pickups though and my house wiring absolutely sucks so it buzzes a bit at home but out it sounds great.

early 2018 - pulled the SX fretless out of the closet, found a broken bridge pickup. decided to attempt my first pickup replacement job on my own, put in bartolini pickups. took it to a guy for a setup / cleaning, put some tapewound nylons on it and now it sounds better than my mustang...playing over the end of the neck with both pickups on and the treble back slightly gives an amazingly warm almost uprightish tone with still a bit of mwah

 

[richard tofts]

Hondo Rick copy in about 84. Then on to a Tokai precision copy. Used a Yamaha BB until I ' retired ' at 24 (!)
In my second life I used a Warwick corvette for years until I settled on an American standard Jazz . Best bass ever, and I'll never need anything else.