What is your main bass and why?

[DDR]

Hello

At first i thought i needed other basses now i'm asking myself what should my main bass be and why?

I currently have:

1. Fender P (MIM) with roundwounds (sounds and feels pretty good and does that thing)

2. Fender Telecaster (humbucker 2012) with flatwounds - modified this taking the second humbucker out and replacing it with a Musicman style 90's SD)

3. Epiphone Jack Casady with flatwounds

All of them ok in their own way, but each with it's own little problem/quirks.. I want to get something else not to have a bigger collection but to have a better n1.

What is your number 1 and why?

Thanks in advance

D

 

[joel the bass player]

Don't really have a number one. I have a handful that are all great at somewhat different things. I just pick the one that is best suited for what I'm going to play.

 

[jd56hawk]

I have twelve basses, I've been playing this one for the past few months exclusively...it's that damned good.

However, this is the one I'd keep if I could only have one.
Why?
Because I like everything about it.
Is there any other reason needed?

 

[Gaolee]

The Flamingo. A 1991 Thunderbird with Burgundy Mist Metallic nitro instead of stock burst. Why? Because it loves me and tells me by behaving well. It doesn't even try to decapitate a singer, ever.

 

[JRA]

What is your number 1 and why?

these days, i'm a little confused about the "#1" designation, myself. i have several that i'd gladly choose for that "desert island" scenario.

why? in all cases = the necks invite me to play. it's the necks! and they balance, and they're lightweight.

 

[Minimalist]

I'm struggling with it myself at the moment. I have a Yamaha BB425x. Nothing fancy but it covers 100% of what I'm playing or planning/willing to play. and i like the neck a lot. That's the need. But there is also the want.

 

[Minimalist]

these days, i'm a little confused about the "#1" designation, myself. i have several that i'd gladly choose for that "desert island" scenario.

why? in all cases = the necks invite me to play. it's the necks! and they balance, and they're lightweight.

I'm not a weight weenie but ergonomics are a huge factor for me as well.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

The one in my avatar is the one I reach for the most often. A '78 Musicmaster, it was my first shortie and has been with me for over 25 years. I still have the original neck but it's chunkier profile and my aging hands were starting to disagree with each other, and the lowest frets were getting pretty worn. Now with a slim Bronco neck it's still my favorite. And my son's airbrush work "ups" it's value to me. Just don't tell my daughter, who painted one as well, that hers is #2.

 

[cuth]

I have about 10 basses now but always gravitate to my CIJ Geddy Jazz. It sounds great (has Nordstrands in it) and I find it the most comfortable to play of all my basses (including other jazz basses).

 

[MCS4]

I don't think anyone should feel like they need to "make" a bass be their main bass... either they have a main bass or they don't. Some people have one bass they keep going back to, and others always end up going back and forth between multiple, and neither approach is wrong if it works for the player.

Personally my clear No. 1 bass is my Carvin LB70 with Aero pickups, which is well over 20 years old at this point and still works the best for me in most situations. In addition to the pure comfort factor of being this accustomed to playing the bass, it simply sounds and plays equally great almost anywhere, including both live and in the studio. For a little while I chased the concept of finding a more-boutique bass that might theoretically sound and/or play better, but after I realized that my fancy new custom Zon was still getting smoked by the Carvin in recording sessions I pretty much abandoned that concept. These days I use the Carvin for most stuff but have a few options to cover other situations where I might want a completely different sound, or just for an occasional change of pace.

 

[Old Blastard]

Drake Mk7. It fits perfect, plays easily, no deck dive at all and the EMG P/J pickups just make great sound. The BL lives the way it does what it does.

 

[MonetBass]

There's a recent thread about this very topic: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/my-current-number-one-bass-is.1631991/

 

[skycruiser]

Only have 2 right now - P and a J. I'm mostly learning to play punk with a pick so the P works great (plus it's a little lighter and I'm a wimp).

 

[Wesley R]

Ibanez sr500***,with spalted some wood or another top. I like it, it works well and is set up perfectly.

My then GF, now wife paid for it.

 

[Gervais Cote]

My main bass actually is my highly modified Bacchus Craft p bass.

Changed the followings :

Tuners are now Fender Mexican
Body is a Warmoth alder weighing 4.7 pounds
Pickups are Lindy Fralins 5% overwound
And strings are EB cobalt flats

This my favorite because of its playability, light weight, resonance and this is the one that fits the best with most of the songs I play on a regular basis.

 

[Cleezmo]

Of the six basses I own, there are 3 that get regular gig rotation, so I kind of have No. 1, 1a, and 1b.

• No. 1 is my G&L M-2000 - sounds huge (and great), plays effortlessly, hang perfectly on the strap, can cover any gig I play. Its like my security blanket, just so familiar and comfortable. Gets the most gig time.
• 1a is my Modulus Q5 - sounds great, looks amazing, but the 35" scale is not as comfy to me as it once was, so it doesn't get as much play time as the M-2000
• 1b is my G&L Jazz - the only passive in the regular rotation, fun to play, but wish it had 21 frets

Those are three great options, and I could (and do) play a gig with any of them and sound good and be happy. Buuuuuut I'm currently in research mode for a 34" scale 5er that will be the new No1, at least for this band/material. We'll see....

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

Since I "only" have two, I have two Number Ones. I cannot choose, nor would I want to.

 

[J Wilson]

It's which one I want to play today. Thinking about it any further than that is pointless for me.

 

[Wisebass]

There's a recent thread about this very topic

Yeah but that was more than a week ago!

And I love to quote mysef!

Ever since I bought it (2003) it has been my main player.

It's a one pup, two pots, passive rockmonster aaaand it's fretless.

I wish I could tell you that I get hired because I am such a terrific fretless player.

But usually when I ask which bass to bring, they just tell me to bring the red one.

(all my others are blond natural finishes)

Wise(b)ass

 

[HardNHeavy]

it depends on the day..out of my 6 basses i been playing mostly these three.

a parts build PJ with Barts for some trebly clank.

another parts build with SD's and medium flats for some good thump.

yet another build with 7ender CS 63's, thumpy with medium "clank" tho the strings are old...I can get the tones i need out of any of my basses, but gravitate to these.