What was your first bass guitar?

[kikstand454]

Link Removed My first bass was a late 90s Dean edge5. It has been a best friend to me and has played every show with me for the last 15years. I still play it now....I will play it at least 4hrs in 2 shows this weekend. I love it. It's what I learned bass on.


Sadly, she's due for semi-retirement soon. She needs a fret overhaul and some TLC. It will be strange playing a show without my Dean nearby.

 

[pcake]

a used 5 string custom bass that someone had stripped of its electronics and replaced them with passive pickups and no equalizer, but it sure sounded great. i didn't own it, but it was on loan to me for 2 years.

 

[Celtic59]

Early 1970's Harmony hollow-body my elementary school loaned me over the summer of 7th grade, then my pop bought me a "Bradley" Hi-Flyer (similar to the Univox). With my Standell combo amp I was stylin! All that stuff has value these day, but I really haven't a clue. Was glad when I got my 1973 Ric 4001, changed my life!

 

[Albert Vickers]

Tell us what your very first bass guitar was. I'll start:

Thanks Johnathan;
My first Bass was a Box bass made from a T Chest and a broom handle in 1958 and my 13 year old friends and I played Skiffle around the West London Pubs. Then at 15 I had saved enough to buy a Kay model 95 something Cannot remember but got it from a shop in Shepherds Bush W12. When I turned pro I bought a fender Jazz. The photo I am holding my Fender 1998 Marcus Miller Jazz. I also use a 1967 Hohner Jazz and a Maverick Nemisis. 1950's fender P a 1966 fender Jazz. Well after 57 years they are like your children! I just use an EBS 150 watts Swedish Combo amp 2006 original at home! It's great to find so many knowledgable guys around here!

 

[jamro217]

Copper and white 15 fret lipstick pickup Danelectro. Paid $12 for it in 1974. The seller wanted $15, but the G string was broken, so he took the offer.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Early 70's Guild JetStar II, black just like this one:

Yes, it's an EB3-wannabe. Medium scale, volume/tone for each pickup, 3 position pickup toggle. The mini-toggle is a "treble boost" switch which I believe was a phase switch, so it was really a "bass cut".

Just noticed that the bridge on the one above has been replaced. The original bridge was funny-looking, and had wooden saddles that were not height-adjustable.

The JetStar was a decent bass, but I was MUCH happier with my second bass, a 1978 Fender Precision.

 

[jamro217]

Late 50's Fender Precision. White with maple board and gold anodized guard. I was 13 and messed around with it while my brother (owner) was not home. Broke a string and went to the local music store and bought a very mismatched gauge one. He gave me the bass and an old Bassman combo amp with a single 15 and told me I could have them If I took lessons.

You win.

 

[jamro217]

An Ibanez P-Bass copy, fretless. This one, it was in 1974

That had little fret lines where the side dots were. Right?

 

[Cosmiceddie]

This one:

 

[newmusicmichael]

2013 Squier Affinity P-Bass. Blue.

 

[kcandme]

I got it in about 75 with a Fender Bassmaster amp I think it was. I don't know what brand bass it was. Had no brand name. I played it for about 6 years. Probably some matsumoko thing.
I ended up removing the frets with my deer skinner. Kept playing it for a couple more years.

 

[jsolberg]

Borrowed: Silvertone. A real turd. I showed up at a gig last winter and there was an identical one sitting in the corner. It's not far from home, so it may have been the actual bass.

Purchased: Ibanez JBass copy. As I now realize, an excellent bass and one I should not have sold.

 

[hufe]

Exchanged a nice looking but cheap crappy sounding Memphis guitar for a 70s black Fender Musicmaster in the early 80s. The guitar sold for something like $150 new, so I got a pretty decent deal.

 

[Altitude]

John Taylor is a criminally underrated bassist.

I suppose, if his goal was to get noticed for his technique, he was in a band that appealed to the wrong audience. But I agree.

 

[jwilson67]

Blonde early 80's Ibanez Roadstar II P - bass. Sold it to get an Aria Pro II SB-R60. Still wish I had both of those basses!!

 

[Crossedwires]

A Squier Jaguar Bass. Only played it for about 2 months though. Now it hangs on my office wall.

 

[Jonathan Blair]

Thanks for all of your responses, everyone! So far, I've read and completely enjoyed every single one of them. Some very cool pics and lots of very entertaining stories! I'm a new member here, and I definitely thoroughly enjoy this website!

 

[klausmajor]

That had little fret lines where the side dots were. Right?

Yes, Sir

 

[Roger M]

Ric 4001, back in 1974

 

[DarkAvianFind]

MIM Fender P bass in tobacco sunburst. I was 12 and I washed a lot of cars and mowed a lot of lawns that year to pay for it, and I still have it.