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What was your first bass guitar?
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What are the differences like In sound between the Bartolini and Nordstrand pups on your cort?
Ibby GSR-180, immediate giveaway that I'm a young'un.
I originally wanted the black one but it was out of stock when I tried to order it, so I got the sunburst one instead. I'm glad I did in the end because it looks way better than the photos have you believe.
I originally wanted the black one but it was out of stock when I tried to order it, so I got the sunburst one instead. I'm glad I did in the end because it looks way better than the photos have you believe.
Just curious where people started and where they are now. Try to include how many years and how often you play, and what genres you play.
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My very first bass was one of those first act ones. I got it at a flea market with the amp, stand, bass, and some accessories for 40 bucks. I had it for maybe a year before actually trying to learn it (my focus was divided between half a dozen different instruments at the time). It played decently, but the electronics sounded terrible, so only a few weeks after beginning teaching myself did I seek out a better bass. I sold it and used that 50 bucks to get a beat up 70's Epiphone power bass. The previous owner stripped the frets, did a terrible pinstripe design on it, and then beat the s**t out of it. I spent a decent amount of time fixing everything up, replacing electronics, filling in the holes where the frets were and all of the chips the previous owner made, sanding the fingerboard, staining it, adding some thumb pulls, doing my own paint job, and setting it up. Now it looks like this:
I'm going to consider this my first bass since I barely spent 5 hours playing the first act one.
After this bass, I got four more beat up ones (less than 40 bucks each) and a Spector Legend 5. I got a great deal on the Spector since I traded a guitar worth only half it's value to get it from some guy who didn't seem to care about money much. For a while I thought the Spector would be my primary, but somehow I always end up on my old fretless power bass.
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My very first bass was one of those first act ones. I got it at a flea market with the amp, stand, bass, and some accessories for 40 bucks. I had it for maybe a year before actually trying to learn it (my focus was divided between half a dozen different instruments at the time). It played decently, but the electronics sounded terrible, so only a few weeks after beginning teaching myself did I seek out a better bass. I sold it and used that 50 bucks to get a beat up 70's Epiphone power bass. The previous owner stripped the frets, did a terrible pinstripe design on it, and then beat the s**t out of it. I spent a decent amount of time fixing everything up, replacing electronics, filling in the holes where the frets were and all of the chips the previous owner made, sanding the fingerboard, staining it, adding some thumb pulls, doing my own paint job, and setting it up. Now it looks like this:
I'm going to consider this my first bass since I barely spent 5 hours playing the first act one.
After this bass, I got four more beat up ones (less than 40 bucks each) and a Spector Legend 5. I got a great deal on the Spector since I traded a guitar worth only half it's value to get it from some guy who didn't seem to care about money much. For a while I thought the Spector would be my primary, but somehow I always end up on my old fretless power bass.
My first was (is) a 1972 Fender P; purchased by me used in 1984; I am the second owner; it is still my "main" bass today, but I actually do a weird "OCD inspired" rotation of my basses: each bass gets played for a month. This way, none of them get ignored
my other basses are (in order of acquisition)
1986 Charvel 3C - purchased new in 86
1992 Fender AVRI 62 Jazz Bass - on permanent loan from a friend in 2006
2000 Hamer Import Standard Explorer - purchased last December from a fellow TB'er
- I don't know which bass I want next..or if I even will get another one. There were 28 years between the Charvel and the Hamer purchases. I tend to not have extra money for basses and am not real big on needing to "have another one", but the whim might come up like it did for the Hamer bass....
my other basses are (in order of acquisition)
1986 Charvel 3C - purchased new in 86
1992 Fender AVRI 62 Jazz Bass - on permanent loan from a friend in 2006
2000 Hamer Import Standard Explorer - purchased last December from a fellow TB'er
- I don't know which bass I want next..or if I even will get another one. There were 28 years between the Charvel and the Hamer purchases. I tend to not have extra money for basses and am not real big on needing to "have another one", but the whim might come up like it did for the Hamer bass....
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'95 MIM P-bass
It's been with me through worship, rock, Pop, Country and Indie bands/groups. Other basses have been my "main" over the years, but I've never been in a project where it didn't get on the stage sometime.
Still got it, though it has since been upgraded with Ultralights, Quarter Pounder, heavier bridge, Tort pickguard, Chrome Covers and new wiring/pots. Just about the only original parts are the body and neck.
My current main is a Frankenbass with T-40 neck, custom body and 2 darkstar pickups, though I rotate through my collection often. A fretless LTD Vintage 214 gets most of my practice time.
It's been with me through worship, rock, Pop, Country and Indie bands/groups. Other basses have been my "main" over the years, but I've never been in a project where it didn't get on the stage sometime.
Still got it, though it has since been upgraded with Ultralights, Quarter Pounder, heavier bridge, Tort pickguard, Chrome Covers and new wiring/pots. Just about the only original parts are the body and neck.
My current main is a Frankenbass with T-40 neck, custom body and 2 darkstar pickups, though I rotate through my collection often. A fretless LTD Vintage 214 gets most of my practice time.
First bass, bought in '71, is the '67P on the left. Main player today is the Takamine B10, center.
Now, I go in waves. For a while, a carvin lb76 was my go to. Lately, it's been alternating between a souped up warmoth jazz and a 95 stingray
My first bass in high school was a POS pawn shop knock off. Learned on it for 2 years, then realized the action was high, and it sounded horrible. Sold it and got a '79 Ibanez Musician. Nice sound and feel, but heavy. Played it for another 7 years or so--still have it, somehow.
Then I got lucky. My instructor sold me his Pre-Gibson Tobias 6 string. Only bass I'll ever need. Perfect and versatile.
Then I got lucky. My instructor sold me his Pre-Gibson Tobias 6 string. Only bass I'll ever need. Perfect and versatile.
First bass was a Univox Violin bass in greenburst. Around 1972-1973. Current main bass is a custom 4 string jazz bass. Also a Lakland 55-01.
My first bass was a Harley Benton P/J. I knew absolutely nothing about bass, so I bought one that had "more" pickups. I didn't do very well with it, as I didn't get along with the neck (I thought I didn't like P necks, but later found that it is the painted/glossed finish that I don't like).
I stuck with that bass for years, until I came accross Talkbass (September 2011) and discovered GAS!
Since then:
Squier VM Fretless Jazz
Squier VM Jaguar "Passive"
Jack & Danny Jazz
Harley Benton Shortscale P
ESP Ltd B-205SM
Harley Benton Acoustic 4
Harley Benton Acoustic 5
Oh... and 2 more that will arrive soon (I hope), plus maybe a 3rd that will arrive at the same time
As you can see, I like cheap basses!
I don't have a main bass, as I like all of them at different times, but as I don't have much time to play lately, the Shortscale P and the Acoustic 4 get the most play while noodling in front of the PC.
I stuck with that bass for years, until I came accross Talkbass (September 2011) and discovered GAS!
Since then:
Squier VM Fretless Jazz
Squier VM Jaguar "Passive"
Jack & Danny Jazz
Harley Benton Shortscale P
ESP Ltd B-205SM
Harley Benton Acoustic 4
Harley Benton Acoustic 5
Oh... and 2 more that will arrive soon (I hope), plus maybe a 3rd that will arrive at the same time
As you can see, I like cheap basses!
I don't have a main bass, as I like all of them at different times, but as I don't have much time to play lately, the Shortscale P and the Acoustic 4 get the most play while noodling in front of the PC.
D
My first was a MIJ E-series P. Got her new in 88 and still have her. Cold dead hands, etc
My number one, though, is now a partsbass P/J special with EMG geezers I built earler this year. A hand injury back in January kind of made me rethink my avoidance of the skinner J necks.
My number one, though, is now a partsbass P/J special with EMG geezers I built earler this year. A hand injury back in January kind of made me rethink my avoidance of the skinner J necks.
My first bass was an Epiphone Power Bass , black with a rosewood board, which I got in 1988. My main bass now is a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz in sunburst.
I honestly cannot remember what my first bass was. I have racked my brain about this and see threads pop up similar to this one from time to time: "What was your first bass?"
I just don't remember. I know I started on bass in 1978.
I've had some nice basses in my day. Very nice.
Now I don't. Most people here would laugh at my instruments. The most expensive one cost $130 shipped. But I work on them until they play and sound fine, and I get around on them well enough for my needs.
I just don't remember. I know I started on bass in 1978.
I've had some nice basses in my day. Very nice.
Now I don't. Most people here would laugh at my instruments. The most expensive one cost $130 shipped. But I work on them until they play and sound fine, and I get around on them well enough for my needs.
D
Nah, there are plenty of us who don't care what the headstock says or what it costs. If it sounds good and suits you, that's all that matters.
