What was your first bass guitar?

[Gnal]

My first bass was an '95-'96 Ibanez ATK305 (bought used in '97)

My main bass is an MTD Stockton Saratoga 5 (built in dec. 2014, bought new feb. 2015)

I primarily play in the Church / contemporary christian / praise & worship environment. So mellow stuff through to rock.

 

[Backdrop]

First was a Hondo P Bass bought in the early 90's in high school. Looked exactly like this:

Current primary is a MIM 60's Jazz. Among a couple others.

 

[Jayhawk]

First bass was a Harmony J from JC Penny in the mid 1980's. My current primary is either my Fender Road Worn P with flats or my Fender American Standard P with rounds.

 

[BassHappy]

My first bass was an Old Kraftsman by Kay, purchased out of the Spiegel catalog in Chicago. It came with a two channel bass amp for a cool $179.00.

Now my primary bass is:

 

[jaybones]

First bass was a borrowed Lyon P copy. P stood for POS, as the wiring kept falling apart. Every time we practiced, I had to resolder something, using my dad's too big old (60's) soldering iron with plumbing acid core solder. Not enough wire under the hood, and I ended up splicing in some other scrap wire to have enough wire to work with.

Eventually couldn't keep up with the repairs, and the guy I was borrowing it from (our lead guitarist and my nest friend from kindergarten on) took it, and a baggie of the electronics to the place he'd bought it new, traded it in on a black Yamaha Motion B with active EMG's and ebony fretboard.

Much better sounding and playing bass. Never had to open the hood on that one.

Main bass is a parts jazz bass I put together a few years ago. Also have a vintage Rivoli (serial number comes back to 1967, but I've been told that it has to be after 1970- Japanese bolt on neck).

 

[AdamK]

First bass was a good ole' black/white Squier Affinity Jazz bass. Then I discovered the P-bass w/ flats was my thing but I also wanted a hint of psychedelic jam band so I got the Epiphone Jack Casady Signature bass and put on flats. And as of recently, as my primary, I've got a Squier VM P-bass w/ Lindy Fralins and flats.

 

[herndonbassist]

Wow... there are some serious upgrades over time that I'm seeing! Super awesome!

 

[davedblyoo]

My first bass was a Japanese Kent copy of a Jazz bass, that I bought new in 1979. My current primary is my 2015 G&L LB 100.

 

[walldaja]

First bass Ibanez GSR190. A red one. Play a Fender MP Jazz V or Sterling Ray35CA mostly.

 

[Yawsbass]

My main bass is an MTD Stockton Saratoga 5 (built in dec. 2014, bought new feb. 2015)

I primarily play in the Church / contemporary christian / praise & worship environment. So mellow stuff through to rock.

Norm's a monster. Killer bass there.

 

[Ritchie_Darling]

First bass was a Beatle bass copy by Telstar or Tele-Star.

Don't remember, it was the late 60's.

Current #1 bass is an Artisan Bass Works Bravura.

 

[Gnal]

Norm's a monster. Killer bass there.

Thanks! I agree, Norm is great. Definitely one of the players I look up to for inspiration.

 

[Pyrat]

1978 and I couldn't stand it anymore...worked all summer and bought a Fender Musicmaster and a big o;' Peavey combo amp. I quickly outgrew them both and got a '72 P w/ a Jazz neck(poorly matched, I might add...) and a Peavey Mark III and two cabs, shortly followed by a Gibson Ripper('73), fretless. Jumped off a cliff in 1981 and tried my hand at playing in a jazz fusion band on the fretless! 1983 found me on my way to MI in Hollywood with a 5-string(who had heard of such a thing?) Steinberger which I gigged with for many years in mostly Metal bands, doing original material and promising to be a *ROCK*STAR* (yep, that worked...). I "fell" into Minneapolis around '86 with a badly battered Steinberger and GIANT hair and realized the world was spinning another way. I fumbled through many vintage winners and losers, met and gigged with loads of great folks from that era and found myself on an indie label and on the road...re-enter the mighty Fender Precision Bass! I had a few...the 1973 Telecaster being my personal fave...and then tried the "hi-fi" route(ugh!) After many miles and 20 years with the same band, I left Mpls, to find the comfort of the Sun. I now swing a Frankenstein Squier Tele-thingy and a couple of MIC Fender MP Telecaster Precisions and a Matt Freeman Squier P-bass...all through a massive acoustic rig. I got sick of chasing the "dream" bass and went back to playing what made me happy all along...simple Precision bass magic...and yeah, it still bugs me that the "cheapies" are BETTER that the American-made, at least for MY money, but like most things, I ain't in charge...all my best, brothers and sisters~

 

[TinIndian]

1978 Fender Musicmaster, Black with a rosewood board.

Now, 86 Peavey Foundation S that I bought new, 85 Ibanez RB850, P bass parts bass, 87 Spector NS2A, 02 Spector Euro 4, 96 Warwick Fortress Masterman and a Lakland 55-02. The Lakland goes to every gig and I rotate my 4's depending on my mood.

 

[Humbled]

First: Asian knockoff slab '50s Precision, Cream with a white Pickguard. It was less-than stellar, but I thought it was beautiful. That was 1972, and I was 14.

Primary EB now: Ibanez SR1806e. I've had it a little over a year now, and I'm kinda surprised at how much I really like it.

 

[fretter]

My first bass was a Fender parts bass. I traded it to Sam Ash in SoCal in the late 90s. If you own it, please PM me



The camera flash doesn't do the color scheme justice:

Fender Precision bass

• fretter
• Sep 12, 2015

custom shop mockup

 

[Watchootognbout]

1966 P Bass (from 1979 until 2012)

Link Removed

Now: Yamaha RBXJM2 basses

Link Removed

Every time I see your RBXJM2 basses,I go off looking for one!

 

[Afc70]

My first bass was a harmony bass- my parents bought it for me around 1986- it was $60 as I recall- The first really nice bass I bought was a Fullerton era 1962 reissue p bass(wish I still had it!)
Currently playing a Bossa Ob-5
And a Modulus Q-5 and a few others.

 

[Alexis Duntov]

First bass was a mid 90's MIM Jazz Bass. Now my main bass is '74 P bass. Still like J bass but rarely gig with it or play outside my home. Just never found a consistent place in the mix the way I do with a P bass.

 

[twinjet]

My first bass was a JBP jazz bass. POS, but I learned on it. The first bass I ever bought myself was a Schecter Stiletto Custom 6. Pictured below.

I just sold that bass less than an hour ago.

This is my number one now, until it, too, sells.