What would be your guilty pleasure bass?

[Dr. Cheese]

About two weeks ago, my daughter came home from grad school for a few days. She wanted her expensive wireless headphones repaired, so she went to Apple Store West St. Louis County. She insisted that I come with her and I check out some music stores. This is pretty funny, because I know as she got older, she and her sister were tired of me dragging them behind me.

To make a long story short, this was when I made short video of me playing that very cool Rob Allen Mouse, however, another bass that I did not record, reminded me how I like it. That bsss is the SBMM Stingray Shortscale. Before anyone says it, I know the Music Man Stingray Shortscale is much better put together, however, the SBMM is much more affordable. After I pay off the Growler, I will see if I can finally buy a SBMM Stingray Shortscale. I don't need it, but I sure love it.

I know I am not the only one who desires a guilty pleasure bass.

 

[tb-player]

For me, a guilty-pleasure bass would probably be one of those odd-looking, headless, Strandberg 5-string, fanned-fret basses. I don't know why, but I've always been intrigued by them. My wife thinks they're ridiculous... lol.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

For me it would be a 1/2 scale double bass. I don’t have a purpose to own a double bass right now I just miss owning one. I’m more than happy with the bass guitars I have right now.

 

[ardgedee]

For me some kind of upright or EUB. I know I'd be bad and I wouldn't practice it enough to ever become tolerable to listen to, and the way our house is built there's nowhere I could play it that wouldn't telegraph the noise through the whole structure, driving everyone else nuts. But if we're posting our dreams, that one's mine.

 

[Heiwa]

Epiphone EB 3, It has a very specific sound and I don't think it will work for me, but I like how it looks in black.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

About two weeks ago, my daughter came home from grad school for a few days. She wanted her expensive wireless headphones repaired, so she went to Apple Store West St. Louis County. She insisted that I come with her and I check out some music stores. This is pretty funny, because I know as she got older, she and her sister were tired of me dragging them behind me.

To make a long story short, this was when I made short video of me playing that very cool Rob Allen Mouse, however, another bass that I did not record, reminded me how I like it. That bsss is the SBMM Stingray Shortscale. Before anyone says it, I know the Music Man Stingray Shortscale is much better put together, however, the SBMM is much more affordable. After I pay off the Growler, I will see if I can finally buy a SBMM Stingray Shortscale. I don't need it, but I sure love it.

I know I am not the one who desires a guilty pleasure bass.

Short scales are a lot of fun. Here is my modded Bronco.
No feeling guilty about this purchase. It's an awesome couch/jam bass.
Super light, very easy to play.

 

[LowWay]

My collection of custom short scale bordwells are all guilty pleasures. I only play for personal enjoyment at this point. Alone at home. And I have these beautiful instruments I feel slightly guilty about. Especially the fretless, that I totally suck on.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Short scales are a lot of fun. Here is my modded Bronco.
No feeling guilty about this purchase. It's an awesome couch/jam bass.
Super light, very easy to play.
View attachment 7185648

Purple !!!

 

[MIMike]

Doc, you almost mentioned it in the OP. The Rob Allen Deep 4 fretless would be mine.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Doc, you almost mentioned it in the OP. The Rob Allen Deep 4 fretless would be mine.

I would love a Mouse, but that is a major investment, not a guilty pleasure.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I think I am going to get one this summer. I hope my wife’s does not crack my noggin, but every time I play one of these basses, I love it.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Vintage white Yamaha BB5000 for me.

 

[tindrum]

A Wal would definitely fit that niche for me. Second place would be an early Kubicki Factor. Yes I’m stuck in the 80s. Only the best decade for bass playing EVER.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

A Wal would definitely fit that niche for me. Second place would be an early Kubicki Factor. Yes I'm stuck in the 80s. Only the best decade for bass playing EVER.

You may be right although there was less synth bass in the Seventies, but no fives or sixes.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Mine is the Squier Rascal HH. Short scale yet longer than my jazz bass…

It has wide range humbuckers which aren’t entirely versatile, yet in the right context it’s great. Takes up a LOT of sonic space. Plus it’s short scale

 

[Sean150]

Fender Flea Road Worn Jazz bass. Always have wanted one, but I have a wonderful AM pro jazz bass and the Flea Active Jazz bass so I can’t justify it as a bassist or a Flea fan.

Those SBMM SS Stingrays are great basses by the way. @Dr. Cheese

 

[JRA]

i think about a fretless wish bass regularly --- i don't need it (i have plenty of axes to rotate/love), but they've always inspired me on some level. and they're so affordable...but it would be a "guilty pleasure" for sure.

 

[sikamikanico]

In the spirit of the thread, I'd say Hofner Ignition Cavern Bass. Played one years ago, and in theory I should've hated it (short scale, narrow spacing, small body, feels like a toy a bit, etc.)....but I bonded with it! Honorable mention to many oddball Japanese basses from 60s and 70s. Lovely, weird things.

But in the end, I'd feel proud, not guilty, to own and play them. True guilt for me would start when I spent over $2k for a bass. I sound bad enough on <$1k basses

 

[Geri O]

NEW Alembic Series One 5-string.

 

[ryco]

MTD 535 unlined ebony fretless, roast maple wenge neck, wide grain natural ash body, chrome hardware, not sure about the electronics - prolly Barts. I am but a simple man.