I think I traded away the first bass I ever bought, a Peavey T-40 back in 1981. I believe it was for a Musicman Stingray at a pawn shop. The Stingray was worn, but I idolized Pee Wee Watson from Nantucket, so I had to buy it. I think I paid $400. It is a '76 pre-Ernie Ball. I had no idea. I picked it up, thumped it for 15 seconds and had to have it. Still got it. No sound can compare.
In 1985 I bought a Fender Jazz Frankenbass made by the guy working at the Music Loft in Raleigh. 1981 G&L 1000 neck, '70 Fender jazz body sanded down for extra fret access, EMG pick ups J at the neck P at the bridge, with Kahler wah-wah bar, Lake Placid Blue. I thought it was cool to have a whammy bar. Again $400. I think I only bought it for the whammy bar. I didn't play it that much as I recall. Today I have reset the action which is now AMAZING and she plays like a beast.
Stopped playing for 25 years. Had a band reunion to a sold out crowd and caught the bug again. Now I play everyday. When I tried to buy a pickguard for my Musicman I found out it is worth about $5000 or more. I discovered my Jazz bass had a 1970 body.
I heard how cool the Sire Marcus Miller basses were. 18V, 3-band EQ with adjustable mid-range band, not too expensive, I decided I had to have one. I bough a floor demo for just under $600. I got a generation 1 P7. It is super sweet, but not great balance. I added weight to the strap.
Then I became friend with a Grammy award winning bassist, Nelson Rios, who is a master on the fretless. He suggested I get a starter fretless. He recommended the Squier Modified Jazz bass. I got a used one from under $200 with shipping. It has Duncan Designed pick ups and plays and sounds like a dream. Balance isn't great, so she has a strap weight as well. (I was spoiled, my first two basses are HEAVY but perfectly balanced)
I thought the itch was scratched, but I saw a Scarlet Red PRS Kingfisher a few months later and instantly fell in love. 24 frets with birds!! I got it for $450 in mint condition. Everything about this bass was perfect, except the pick ups and pots, which destroyed my heart. I loved everything else and couldn't see cutting it up.
I read a review from the Chicago Tribune that said the Schector Stilleto Studio-4 was the best bass on the planet. I went down to Guitar Center and tried one off the wall. They were right. I traded the PRS in for a Purple Burst Schector Studio-4. 18V 3-band EQ, EMG HZ pick ups, 24 frets, one piece thru-body neck. This is one of the best sounding and playing basses in the world. You can spend more, but you won't get a better bass. Sticker price was $788 and worth every cent.
A month ago I broke down and bought another PRS Kingfisher. This time I put Seymour Duncan SSB-4 pick ups in it. Slid them in without cutting a thing. Now she sounds AWESOME and plays like a dream. I'm getting the pots and wiring replaced to all Seymour Duncan. Then that's it.
Every bass hangs on the wall, ready to play. I detune the Sire to Eb and use it for all my Stevie Ray Vaughn songs. It is my P bass. The fretless gets used when the song deserves it and at least once a week to stay sharp. The Musicman gets used about once a week as well, but not as much. It has a 1-3/4" wide neck and I really like the thinner (1-1/2" to 1-5/8") necks now that I have played them. The Fender Jazz is for special occasions where 80's old school rock bass sound is required (also has the 1-3/4" neck). The Schector and PRS are my number ones. The Schector has more tonal range, but the PRS sounds awesome with the SD pups.
I don't have any more wall space. I'm stopping with 6. (I think
