What was your first bass guitar?

[Mikey F]

Early 1990s black on black Epiphone jazz bass.

Looked exactly like this one:
Link Removed

1988 Hondo p bass.

That was my second bass!

 

[Mustang Surly]

Brand new, early '70s Fender P-Bass: maple neck, ash(?) body (blond, heavy and NF, anyhow). Never bonded with it. Sold it about 1975 and went back to playing only guitar for another 38 years. Returned to playing bass exclusively 4 years ago.

Looked pretty much like this:

 

[Old Blastard]

1969 Epiphone 5120e. Bought it badly used in 1973. It's had some repairs over the years.

 

[GuilhermeBMotta]

A Condor BX 12 6 years ago, I still have it and regularly use it...It's a brazilian bass, it was very cheap and also very good. The bridge is rusty now, it has some electronic problems, but that's because I didn't care for it...It's usually the first recommendation here because of the pricexquality, they're not made anymore, their counterpart nowadays is XB-24, I think. I guess I was lucky, many start on poopy instruments, although I did not know you had to setup the instrument, so it was pretty uncomfortable for me at first.

These are the best photos I could find right now. I also did a terrible job at cropping the photo at paint, which makes me look like a moron, but it's too late now. That is me playing, 17 years old (2 years ago, not quite long ago haha)

 

[Rocker47]

Epiphone Thunderbird, the bolt on model in vintage sunburst cica 2005. It was cool for a first bass, but I don't miss it.

 

[Jamvan]

1986 Cort Steinberger copy. Purchased from the Montgomery Wards catalog. The finish was cracked so I sent it back and got a black one instead.

I sold it many years ago but recently picked up another one on a lark for $100.

 

[GuilhermeBMotta]

stickers

• kkaarrll
• Jun 19, 2016
• g&l l2500

gotland bass

l2500 tribute G&l

Oh wow, started with a 5 string? How was that experience?

 

[Wandering Bass]

1960's Gibson EB-2, first through a hacked-together Standel guitar amp, then later through a pair of Jordan Two/01 (because who needs cartilage in the spine anyway)? Hated the bass because it wasn't rock 'n roll enough for my foolish young self.

Played it until I got my first J, then it lived in its case for a couple of decades. Got a little older, appreciated it...and first time I gigged with it the headstock snapped mid-set.

 

[Nedmundo]

Peavey T-40, black/black/maple, bought new in 1983 at the Sam Ash in White Plains, NY. A few years later, it was stolen out of the rehearsal room in the basement of my frat/dorm, and when I joined a band a year later, I bought a used Peavey Patriot. The T-40 was awesome, but so heavy that I used a neoprene strap, even as an amped-up teenager.

 

[ofajen]

Gibson Ripper. Still the one I use most after 32 years.

Otto

 

[buldog5151bass]

For almost 2 years, I played my uncle's beat to $%%&-&$ Danelectro shorthorn - wish he had let me keep it. Then I bought a 4001S, when I was 15.

 

[dpaulb]

1960's Gibson EB-2, first through a hacked-together Standel guitar amp, then later through a pair of Jordan Two/01 (because who needs cartilage in the spine anyway)? Hated the bass because it wasn't rock 'n roll enough for my foolish young self.

Played it until I got my first J, then it lived in its case for a couple of decades. Got a little older, appreciated it...and first time I gigged with it the headstock snapped mid-set.

A much memorable gig, eh?

 

[jubl]

'83 Roadstar RB720. Bought it new and still have it, one of my three main players.

 

[bassliner50]

A crappy Japanese P-bass wanna be purchased from Jimmy's Music (NYC) in 1965 for about $50. Recorded with it, gigged with it, shoveled snow with it. Finally replaced it with a wonderful pre CBS Precision, which was stolen and I never saw it again. You learn from these life events. (hopefully).

 

[Rumble Thunder]

Gibson Ripper. Still the one I use most after 32 years.

Otto

View attachment 1026166

What does it sound like? Is that a tone selector switch I see there? Does it sound like any other basses out there? Definitely a cool bass.

 

[basslicks]

I don't remember the brand but it was a super cheap Gibson SG knockoff. I think my parents paid something like $60 for it (used).

 

[Kun2112]

The mighty T-40 in natural, and the old joke goes tons=40. I think I paid $175 for it in 1996. The guy who owned it before me owns it now. It is one of the few basses I know that have traded hands so often, but we can trace every owner back to the original even though I haven't owned it since 1997.

 

[dpaulb]

The mighty T-40 in natural, and the old joke goes tons=40. I think I paid $175 for it in 1996. The guy who owned it before me owns it now. It is one of the few basses I know that have traded hands so often, but we can trace every owner back to the original even though I haven't owned it since 1997.

Just remembered I played one once with flatwounds. Looked alright but that was all.

 

[Snaxster]

Mine was a Yamaha BB450 like this one: SOLD - Yamaha BB450 Bass 1980s
I bought mine new. I was told it hanged in the store for over 2 years because no one liked the orange metallic color. Served me well for a couple of years until I traded it in on a new Fender JP-90: SOLD - FT ONLY Fender JP-90 and Mark Hoppus

A perennial favorite, for both asking and answering it would seem.

=1&c[node]=8&c[p][convess][recipient]=132132']Many answers are here.

 

[dpaulb]

A perennial favorite, for both asking and answering it would seem.

=1&c[node]=8&c[p][convess][recipient]=132132']Many answers are here.

Thanks.
I thought it would be fun to start a new thread.