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What makes a bass a "keeper"

#82
In 20 years of playing, i've bought 6 basses and sold 2.
Right now, i own one bass for fun (washburn bantam steinberger copy) and could part with it without a problem.

My keepers are keepers for different reasons:
My vintage P fretless is not played often, but i could not sell it because it's rare and hard to replace. The guy i bought it from offered to buy it back on several occasions and i had other offers, but we don't part ways.

My Carvin LB75 will stay because it has been my main tool for 15 years and i feel a strong bond. I have it sitting in my office right beside my desk and i practice regularly on it, but apart from that it does not get much playtime.

My Dreizehnbass Invader V is a one of a kind custom and the one bass i'd pick on gunpoint. It is my main player. I guess that it might pair up with the Carvin in the distant future when my funds allow for another custom bass, but for now, it's my premier choice.
 
#83
keeper basses.....ones that sound and play well. I have one bass I've kept for sentimental reasons....an old Peavey RSB. I had one laying around and sold it to a former student. Years later, I was invited to his son's christening and he gave it back to me saying it was always "my" bass.
 
#95
I've had plenty of basses over the course of 20+ years. Although, nothing that costs more than 2K used.
My fav this year and a definite keeper is my Traben Chaos Core-5. For the music I'm playing ATM, It's just Perfect. What a punchy, cutting tone! The fit and feel are just right also. barely have to press the fretted note, very responsive. :)

IMG_2230_zpsc0f66d5f.jpg


Now I'm Gassin' for a inexpensive, but good, 4-string mod platform Jazz or P/J to get that classic tone, (among others).
Looking hard at the Invalid Link Removed, (a Black one).
Good thread Rojo.
 
#97
rojo412 said:
For me, the experience has been like this:
Every time I play this bass, at practice or a gig, it makes me even happier than the last time I played it. And that's really a fantastic feeling.

A bass that just continues to make you happy is a keeper. Whether it's a Squier or a Fodera, that doesn't matter. What matters is, it makes you feel good to play it. You can't imagine playing bass without it. Sure, you may have 10 like that... or 100!
But if they are basses that attach themselves to you... if you can afford to keep them and just want to keep playing them, you have keepers.

I'm not saying that sentimental attachment doesn't make for a keeper in some respects. Or maybe an old, super-valuable bass that sounds bad, but keeps increasing in value is worth hanging onto.
But as a player, if there is a bass that just inspires you to keep playing it, a bass that defines the way you want to sound as a bassist... hang onto it!
Click to expand...

yep - although, for me if a bass doesn't sound good regardless of it's worth or sentimental value, it's just taking up valuable space: boom-gone.
 

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