I just have a CV Jazz and a CV P-Bass, I want to add more soon, so far my jazz is my no 1 and every jazz I tried I have loved so def prefer them at the end of the day.
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What is your main bass and why?
- Thread starter DDR
- Start date
My Rickenbacker(s).
Because there are Rickenbackers and a mush of other whatevers.
Because there are Rickenbackers and a mush of other whatevers.
My Mk 1 Custom Series Wal. I got it second hand in about 92 and it’s been my No 1 since then. The feel and fit just works for me - I love the feel - and it’s got an incredible sound. And the sound isn’t just Geddy/Justin… it’s a hugely versatile bass. Love it!
But it’s run a close second by my Wal Pro 2E that I got around 2001. Again, sounds and feels great. More of an old school, 70s sound but massively fat tone! Not so much a No 2 bass as a No 1.5!!!
But it’s run a close second by my Wal Pro 2E that I got around 2001. Again, sounds and feels great. More of an old school, 70s sound but massively fat tone! Not so much a No 2 bass as a No 1.5!!!
Mine is a Peavey T40 because it does everything I need and then some. People complain about the weight but it's never been an issue for me.
I've owned other basses, mostly p's and a grabber, but currently my only other is an SX jazz bass that was my first "real" bass when i decided to take it more seriously.
I've owned other basses, mostly p's and a grabber, but currently my only other is an SX jazz bass that was my first "real" bass when i decided to take it more seriously.
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This one with 45-105 Monel Rotosound 77 Jazz flats because it does the things I want, mainly.
But I have these for when I want my basses to do something slightly different.
55-105 GHS P flats
55-105 Fender 9050M flats
But I have these for when I want my basses to do something slightly different.
55-105 GHS P flats
55-105 Fender 9050M flats
My one main player is my 6 string I built back in 2000. I built it to my specs. The only other bass I have is my Franken fretless 6 in my sig.
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This is my #1, hands down. It plays the best out of any instrument I've ever owned, and the pickup switching options gives me a huge amount of versatility without any fussing over knobs. It also has a novel but simple feature I've never seen on any other guitar or bass-- the 4th switch, which replaces the strangle switch found on a Bass VI, just bypasses the volume and tone pots straight to the output. This does the same thing as no-load pots, but it's on a switch and can be turned on/off without changing the knob settings. This can work as a totally passive clean treble boost, or it can be a very open always-on tone. It's definitely useful when my strings start getting old, because you'd be surprised how much high end you can eke out of 5-6 month old strings when it isn't getting choked down by the loading of the volume/tone pots.
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At this time, I don't have much of a number 1. I have so many basses that I just grab them as the spirit moves me. I can play them all just fine, and they all sound like me after I just turn a couple knobs and adjust my technique.
In the past, I have had these as my solid number 1s:
1. '77 Stingray Bass (fretless): 1988–1997
2. '96 L-2000 (fretless): 1997–2008
3. Frankenstein early '60s style P Bass (MIJ Fender body, AVRI neck): 2008–2018
4. American Vintage '58 P Bass: 2018–2020
Throughout all of them, being played regularly in the background, there was a '75 Musicmaster Bass that has now been played more than any single one of these number 1s.
I still have all of these. As the pandemic was raging, it pretty much derailed the '58 P as my number one, and I started collecting more. Since returning to playing again, I've just hopped around to a lot of the basses I collected during the pandemic.
In the past, I have had these as my solid number 1s:
1. '77 Stingray Bass (fretless): 1988–1997
2. '96 L-2000 (fretless): 1997–2008
3. Frankenstein early '60s style P Bass (MIJ Fender body, AVRI neck): 2008–2018
4. American Vintage '58 P Bass: 2018–2020
Throughout all of them, being played regularly in the background, there was a '75 Musicmaster Bass that has now been played more than any single one of these number 1s.
I still have all of these. As the pandemic was raging, it pretty much derailed the '58 P as my number one, and I started collecting more. Since returning to playing again, I've just hopped around to a lot of the basses I collected during the pandemic.
laugh !!
Sterling Ray4! Ok laugh a little more. I also have a Fender P and a LTD B205
Why the Ray4? I used to play at this really rough joint, it was part gig part jam. I didn't like having my nicer (to me) basses at this place. So read good reviews on the Ray4. So $300 plus 10% discount at GC. Hand picked it off the wall for the rough joint. Couple of adjustments, EB regular slinkys, sounded good. So gig after gig I played it, we had another gig at a better place, so the Ray4 went with me. From then on I play it at most of my gigs. I will occasionally play the fender at a small gig we have just to say I play it.
I have been playing it for 4 years, it has not fell apart like some people said it would, I get compliments on its appearance and sound.
After playing for 28 years I guess I am still a beginner because I play a beginner bass!!
Dont get me wrong, I would love to have a real MM,
Sterling Ray4! Ok laugh a little more. I also have a Fender P and a LTD B205
Why the Ray4? I used to play at this really rough joint, it was part gig part jam. I didn't like having my nicer (to me) basses at this place. So read good reviews on the Ray4. So $300 plus 10% discount at GC. Hand picked it off the wall for the rough joint. Couple of adjustments, EB regular slinkys, sounded good. So gig after gig I played it, we had another gig at a better place, so the Ray4 went with me. From then on I play it at most of my gigs. I will occasionally play the fender at a small gig we have just to say I play it.
I have been playing it for 4 years, it has not fell apart like some people said it would, I get compliments on its appearance and sound.
After playing for 28 years I guess I am still a beginner because I play a beginner bass!!
Dont get me wrong, I would love to have a real MM,
Smooth_bass88
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Depends greatly on the gig. Several people I work with tune down a half step, so I have my main bass for those gigs (Lakland J Sonic 4) and my main standard tuned 4 string (US Lakland 4460)
Plus a couple good P basses (Standard tuned and down a half step) because a P bass is essential for the working player
Plus a couple good P basses (Standard tuned and down a half step) because a P bass is essential for the working player
My "main" bass is usually whatever my "newest" bass is. I'll play the crap out of my newest, then decide to either add it to the herd or flip it. At present that is a Sterling Ray. It's one of my lighter basses at 8 pounds, and has the unmistakable Ray growl. Ergonomically, it just feels like "home". It's a keeper!
Really depends on what you're doing. It's kind of trite to even say, but a P bass will work for just about everything.
I had a fretless P/J and a fretted P as my one-two punch for years.
This is mainly a gear forum, with lots of collectors, and a common theme of certain models being needed for certain styles.
But most working musicians I know don't collect, and aren't all that concerned about make and model. They typically have a small handful of solid, serviceable instruments.
How you play what you've got is always going to be more important than what you've got, as long as what you've got meets minimum standards (stays in tune, takes a setup, has a clean signal, and functional controls).
I had a fretless P/J and a fretted P as my one-two punch for years.
This is mainly a gear forum, with lots of collectors, and a common theme of certain models being needed for certain styles.
But most working musicians I know don't collect, and aren't all that concerned about make and model. They typically have a small handful of solid, serviceable instruments.
How you play what you've got is always going to be more important than what you've got, as long as what you've got meets minimum standards (stays in tune, takes a setup, has a clean signal, and functional controls).
Since they're the same except their color, I'm allowed to chose two. 
Why? Because Spectors rule!
Why? Because Spectors rule!
My main bass is one I built with Warmoth wood, Hipshot hardware, and special circuitry that I designed. It's light, resonant, a joy to play, and....I have no idea which bass I'm actually describing, because they all fit that description. I don't have a lot of them (certainly not by the standards here), but the few I have all have their own vibe, and all are a joy to play.
For me, it depends entirely on what music I am playing.
For hard rock or metal, I am going to grab my Fender Am Pro II Jazz V.
For my cover band, I want to grab my '74 Ric 4001, but my band members have agreed that it doesn't sound as good in the mix as my Carvin LB-70...so that's what I take.
For blues, I'm going to grab my Fender American Standard Precision (with flats of course!).
These are tonally setup for what I like to hear when I'm playing in those spaces. The Carvin LB-70 is very versatile tone-wise with the active preamp in it, so I can tailor my sound from song to song when needed. That is something I have been unable to quite accomplish with the Ric...though I have certainly TRIED to get there with it.
The Jazz V has a very aggressive tone that I absolutely love when playing harder stuff (and a former bandmate agreed that it was superb sounding tonally when we played really heavy stuff together).
So, I don't really have a #1 per se...
For hard rock or metal, I am going to grab my Fender Am Pro II Jazz V.
For my cover band, I want to grab my '74 Ric 4001, but my band members have agreed that it doesn't sound as good in the mix as my Carvin LB-70...so that's what I take.
For blues, I'm going to grab my Fender American Standard Precision (with flats of course!).
These are tonally setup for what I like to hear when I'm playing in those spaces. The Carvin LB-70 is very versatile tone-wise with the active preamp in it, so I can tailor my sound from song to song when needed. That is something I have been unable to quite accomplish with the Ric...though I have certainly TRIED to get there with it.
The Jazz V has a very aggressive tone that I absolutely love when playing harder stuff (and a former bandmate agreed that it was superb sounding tonally when we played really heavy stuff together).
So, I don't really have a #1 per se...
All my basses serve a slightly different purpose, I have a Höfner Beatle clone, I have a hollow body, I have a P-FSO and I have a extended six active, and a fretless, I think I'm covered. I've had a couple of jazz basses over the years but I just could not make the Jazz Bass do much so I just hung with the P-FSO. I strive for variance.
The Casady has always been of interest because of the rotary options.
The Casady has always been of interest because of the rotary options.
