first bass: 78 Fender MIA Standard pass purchased new in 1980.
current main: 08 Fender CS59Heavy Relic purchased new in 2014.
current main: 08 Fender CS59Heavy Relic purchased new in 2014.
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What was your first bass guitar?
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My first bass was a Cort Jazz bass style. Was a long time Music Man guy (Stingrays, Sterlings, Bongo) but have found myself back to the Jazz, primary live bass now is a Fender American Deluxe Jazz (but still have a Stingray Slo that gets a lot of use).
This is an easy one because I've only been playing less than 2 years. First bass was a 2014 Ibanez SR300 which I'm happy to see my daughter start using recently. My only two upgrades so far have been these 2 I picked up in the past month. 1998 Fender MIM J and a 2008 Fender MIM P. So far loving the tone of the P, but it's really hard to ignore the J when it's so comfortable to play.
I started during the mid 80's with a MIJ Fender P, E-series I believe. Now I use a Fender 2003 America Series P as my go to bass.
First bass was a short scale with the name Kent branded on it got it around 1977 or perhaps earlier. It was more of a toy than a proper instrument. Quickly moved to a Peavey T40 which I never fully appreciated. I would like to have it back. My main bass now is a Sadowsky P.
The first bass I played when I was 13 or so was a Hagstrom from the late 60s that my best friends older brother lent me, when my dad noticed that I never left or entered the house without it in my hands, and that it was always within arms reach of me, he made a deal with me, if I scrapped and painted our 2 story house he would get my my own bass, I came home one day to find a new 74 Musicmaster bass with matching Musicmaster bass amp in the living room, 4 years later when a bubble went through my brain causing a bout of stupidity, I sold it for basicaly nothing, I've played off and on since then owning or borrowing variouse Quest, Hamer, Squires, etc...41 years later I'm playing 2006 Fender Standard Jass and a 2007 Standard Precision, both stock unmodified, I play them both every rehearsal, every gig.
First bass:
1976 Rickenbacker 4001, affectionately known as "Dirty Bastard!" (I still own her).
My primary bass now:
Custom handmade Moser Arachnid Ultra, affectionately known as "The Monster".
Cheers!
1976 Rickenbacker 4001, affectionately known as "Dirty Bastard!" (I still own her).
My primary bass now:
Custom handmade Moser Arachnid Ultra, affectionately known as "The Monster".
Cheers!
1st: 1983 Yamaha BB300 4 str. Found it in a pawn shop in 1993 for $200. It was a random choice. I still have it and the neck still feels perfect even to this day. Routed out the body and added EMG P/J pickups.
Now: 2000 Warwick Corvette Std 5 str. It's a workhorse, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Well except maybe a P-Nut signature model.
Now: 2000 Warwick Corvette Std 5 str. It's a workhorse, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Well except maybe a P-Nut signature model.
What along strange trip its been.
High school, 1978. My first rock band with my first bass ! 30" scale Korean-made 'Sekova'. As far as cheap Asian axes went, it wasn't so bad. Stayed in tune, action was okay, sufficient for me to learn on.
I then progressed through a series of better instruments, including for awhile, this reverse-strung Kramer Duke (it was purple !) :
By the mid 80's, I had settled on this '76 Fender Precision. At some point, swapped the original white faceplate out for a custom red one :
I had the Fender for 20+ years, until I sold it to pay for divorce from 2nd wife : (
Nowadays I am full-time percussionist in a band. Going on 4 years with them, it's a fulfillment of a long-standing aspiration. However, our regular bass player is in 2 other bands. If he has a conflict and can't make one of our gigs, then I'll cover on bass, instead of doing percussion. My main axe now is my 2-string fretless. I love playing this thing ! I've always subscribed to the 'less is more' ideology.
PS - I am 54 and I'm engaged to be married for a 3rd time. Please wish me luck, folks. Another divorce in my future, and I might find myself down to this (really putting my *less is more* philosophy to the test) ha ha ha
High school, 1978. My first rock band with my first bass ! 30" scale Korean-made 'Sekova'. As far as cheap Asian axes went, it wasn't so bad. Stayed in tune, action was okay, sufficient for me to learn on.
I then progressed through a series of better instruments, including for awhile, this reverse-strung Kramer Duke (it was purple !) :
By the mid 80's, I had settled on this '76 Fender Precision. At some point, swapped the original white faceplate out for a custom red one :
I had the Fender for 20+ years, until I sold it to pay for divorce from 2nd wife : (
Nowadays I am full-time percussionist in a band. Going on 4 years with them, it's a fulfillment of a long-standing aspiration. However, our regular bass player is in 2 other bands. If he has a conflict and can't make one of our gigs, then I'll cover on bass, instead of doing percussion. My main axe now is my 2-string fretless. I love playing this thing ! I've always subscribed to the 'less is more' ideology.
PS - I am 54 and I'm engaged to be married for a 3rd time. Please wish me luck, folks. Another divorce in my future, and I might find myself down to this (really putting my *less is more* philosophy to the test) ha ha ha
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My first love was a Blackjack short scale violin bass. Had it for a couple years before upgrading to a Harmony solidbody. Don't remember how long it was that I got rid of the Harmony and bought my first big boy bass, a Gibson Ripper. About a year later traded for a precision. And then I sold it and got out of music for a bit. Had a Kramer I believe 450b for a bit in the early 80' then sold it. 1990 rolls around and I go through a Rick4001, Peavy dynabass, Fender jazz, and a Jerry Jones Longhorn. After that I lost track, too many to count. Now I will be found slinging either my Squier Pbass, my 4003s or my Epi Jack Casady. Doesn't matter I love them all. And they get jealous if I spend too much time with one and not the others!
Divorsed twice, started from scratch both times, all i kept each time was a rusted beatup vehicule, a green garbage bag full of my clothes, and a tool box in the back, all I needed to build my life again, kept playing music, with the cheapest bass and amps I could get my hands on, I remarried again and life is good, 56 years old and still playing, and if I had to I'd start over again with the washtub and broom handle, I just cant give up, wishing you all the luck JoePasko
Sorry folks got off topic again. just trying to encourage a fellow bass player !
Sorry folks got off topic again. just trying to encourage a fellow bass player !
I started out with in 1970, with a 1969 Gibson EB0. After a few basses in between, I'm going along fine with a Fender Am. Std. Precision.
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I started out with in 1970, with a 1969 Gibson EB0. After a few basses in between, I'm going along fine with a Precision.
Oh.....
My.....
Freaking....
God....
that thing is SWEET!!!!!!!!
HELL YEAH!! Still have my first bass...which is also a 72. It is still my main player
My first was a Kingston violin bass. It was enough to learn the fretboard with, that's about it. 
These days I'm playing one of three medium-scaled Dingwalls, two four and one five-string. I don't have a primary - my favorite is the one I'm playing at the time. 
These days I'm playing one of three medium-scaled Dingwalls, two four and one five-string. I don't have a primary - my favorite is the one I'm playing at the time. 
Here they are pictured together... My first bass was an Aria SB700 which I got for my 18th birthday. In 1992 I got a second hand Wal Custom Mk 1 bass which has been my main bass ever since...
