1982 Harmony Bass. Purchased for Christmas, 1982 out of a JCP catalog. 6 months later (and non working pups) I was able to purchase a 1983 Washburn Force 4 that I still play on occasion.
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What was your first bass guitar?
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- first bass old real
My first was a Peavey T-20. Here it is next to my second(circa 1984):
I learned fast!
Hey Fivestringer that's very similar to me, only my first bass was a 1974 ebonglo 4001 but that model acoustic was my first amp.
A Memphis p bass clone, the bastard child of a baseball bat and a bow and arrow, but at least it sucked hard.
Second was a 78 Fender jazz (they were just junk back then!)
Second was a 78 Fender jazz (they were just junk back then!)
Used Fender Jazz. I don't know what year it was, didn't care at that time. I bought it in around 1975 or so and it was already well used. Wish I had it now so I could soak some poor sap for a few thousand dollars. I was black with rosewood(?) fretboard, blocks and binding. I got rid of it cause I didn't like it much. 
Cost was $275
Cost was $275
My first was a Black Univox Hi-Flyer that I bought new in 1972 with money earned from a paper route. I think it's still in my house somewhere.
Fender MIM Jazz, bought new in 2000 from Manny's Music in Manhattan. She is one of the GREAT MIM Fenders you hear about. Amazing neck is as straight and level as any I've tried, even on much more expensive basses. She's been through a few different sets of pickups...currently rocking Sadowsky single coils (DiMarzio DP123's in the pic). Also BadAss II bridge and vintage style knobs. Cavity shielded with copper foil tape by TB's own maurilio.
Love this bass and I will never get rid of her.
...bought new on September 30, 1989. 4 strings, JJ pups, rather heavy but comfortable and sounded reasonably. I even recorded with it!
The neck is now broken, but I still have it; it was my only bass for 5 years!
The neck is now broken, but I still have it; it was my only bass for 5 years!
Hi there,
I'm just reminiscing here...
My first bass was an imitation Hofner Beatle Bass which I had access to at a local community club in Singapore back in the late seventies, probably made by Aria if my memory serves me well. I remember it being such a pain to play with that skyscraper-high action, feedback and limited tone.
Then, I moved on to another loaned bass, a Peavey Foundation, which had a nice meaty tone, but the darned thing weighed like small car strapped around your shoulder.
The first bass I could ever call mine was an Ibanez Musician 4-string PJ bass, which was a nice looker and played decently. The only gripe with the Musician was a significant reduction in gain-volume on the D and especially G strings, even after countless hours tweaking and re-tweaking the pick-up and string clearances for optimum balance. Bought it for $150 2nd hand back in 1987 and subsequently sold it for the same price after a couple of years.
Kind regards,
Beebebop,
Beijing.
I'm just reminiscing here...
My first bass was an imitation Hofner Beatle Bass which I had access to at a local community club in Singapore back in the late seventies, probably made by Aria if my memory serves me well. I remember it being such a pain to play with that skyscraper-high action, feedback and limited tone.
Then, I moved on to another loaned bass, a Peavey Foundation, which had a nice meaty tone, but the darned thing weighed like small car strapped around your shoulder.
The first bass I could ever call mine was an Ibanez Musician 4-string PJ bass, which was a nice looker and played decently. The only gripe with the Musician was a significant reduction in gain-volume on the D and especially G strings, even after countless hours tweaking and re-tweaking the pick-up and string clearances for optimum balance. Bought it for $150 2nd hand back in 1987 and subsequently sold it for the same price after a couple of years.
Kind regards,
Beebebop,
Beijing.
Hondo short-scale P (1987). Wired in a series/parallel switch, and then gave it away to a friend who still owns it and plays it every once in a while.
Cool looking bass.
Looks like the G has slipped out, tho...
Hagstrom II. Paid $65 for it in 1966. Them was the good old days. The neck bent out of shape almost immediately.
Cool looking bass.
Looks like the G has slipped out, tho...
Framus Star Bass just like Bill Wyman, bought it for $40 from a Dutch exchange student on my school bus. It's still a great bass.
- Mar 30, 2007
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- Endorsing Artist: Genzler Amplification/Spector Basses/Mojo Hand FX
How about that! You know, I still have it. If you look closely, the JBL was blown. I replaced it with a EV Force 15. It's just one of those pieces of gear that just won't go away after years of trying to get rid of it!
Oh, and I should save the pic of the Ric for a different thread- basses you wish you didn't sell!
A Gibson EB3 copy I bought from an electronics supply store. When Kiss put out the Album "Rock and Roll Over" they included stickers featuring caricatures of the four band members; I put Gene's visage on my bass that way. As I recall, it had horrible flat wound strings and horribly high action, but it was all I could afford. I sold a clarinet to get it, and by any standard it was a wise transaction. Next was my first decent bass, a Guild B301. Traded that later for a Rick 4001 which I promptly dropped a Badass II on a la Geddy (I was big into Rush at the time). Later got a '71 Jazz with black blocks for $200, and like an idiot sold it before I entered the service (I have another one, a '73 just like the one I had). 27 basses in the stable now of various types, and still going strong!
