What's our Holy Grail?

[lbbc]

For me, the Holy Grail of basses would be a 4-string Alembic Rogue (cocobolo top and back) or a 4-string Alembic Mark King with the same finish.

I may never be able to afford one, but then again, I don't have any other vices.

 

[10cc]

For the electric bass world, what's our Holy Grail find? What's the bass equivalent to this...


1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard "Burst" | Rumble Seat Music

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[DirtDog]

For me, it's a pair of pants that'll stay up!.....

Y’know Freddy - after a certain age, wearing a belt AND suspenders is pretty cool!

 

[J Gold]

A white rick 4080

 

[bearhart74]

 

[40Hz]

View attachment 2917161​

Yep. The Mothman gets my vote.

 

[bearhart74]

For me it would be finding this Brubaker.
It got sold on TB in 2013

 

[dbsfgyd1]

For the electric bass world, what's our Holy Grail find? What's the bass equivalent to this...


1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard "Burst" | Rumble Seat Music

For me? My holy grail is not the best bass, it’s playing the perfect bass part. Basses are a dime a dozen, great parts are much harder to come by.

 

[gln1955]

375K and they can't throw in the shipping? What the hell?

That said, if you could afford to buy it in the first place, you could probably just go get it.

What? You wouldn't just throw that onto a UPS truck? (Literally)

 

[madbass6]

The Funk Machine?

Agree 100% !
second:the bass of doom!(Jacos Bass

 

[Bob_Ross]

Similar to how the '59 sunburst Les Paul is seen by most guitarists, I'm wondering what mass-produced electric bass is collectively deemed by most bassists as a sweet-sounding bass and a fantastic player while continuing to fetch huge amounts of money, more than any other bass, whenever they're sold.

Probably a pre-CBS Fender Jazz Bass.

I think the "holy grail" in the thread title might be misleading; a '59 Les Paul isn't really a holy grail because there are more than one of them out there. They may be rare, coveted, and iconic, but they're not unique in the grand scheme of things.
A Gibson Moderne on the other hand is the holy grail of guitars...so, what's the bass equivalent of that?

 

[SturmUndDrang]

No vintage electric bass will ever come close to the price a holy grail les paul can command. Vintage uprights will.

 

[NKBassman]

A bag of carrots.

 

[two fingers]

While we all have our personal faves, but that's not what I'm asking.

I'm also not asking about a specific bass that was played by a star (ex. Jaco's Bass of Doom, Jamerson's Funk Machine, McCartney's Hofner "Beatle Bass", etc.)

Similar to how the '59 sunburst Les Paul is seen by most guitarists, I'm wondering what mass-produced electric bass is collectively deemed by most bassists as a sweet-sounding bass and a fantastic player while continuing to fetch huge amounts of money, more than any other bass, whenever they're sold.

You've been here long enough to know that we don't collectively agree on anything.

Honestly, not every 50s P bass (of either style) is a "fantastic player". Some are amazing and some are only good for hanging on the wall and pointing and bragging.

I would argue the same is true for the '59 Les Paul but don't tell the guitar players I said that. )

There is no "universally accepted" holy grail for bass in my view.

 

[Biggbass]

62 P

 

[mongo2]

For the electric bass world, what's our Holy Grail find? What's the bass equivalent to this...


1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard "Burst" | Rumble Seat Music

That's pretty much the guitar that started vintage guitar mania.

Still searching for my Holy Grail of basses. I haven't found it in production instruments of any era, the closest being sort of cross between a Kay Truetone, a Silvertone 1444, a Hofner Ignition Club, Hofner Galaxie and a Vox Hawk IV. I can't afford custom nor do I yet know the exact specs to order a custom if I could afford one. So I construct my own prototype experimentals (emphasis on the "mental"). As a result I'm getting closer. I think I've found a neck size/shape I like. I've tried it on a mule solidbody and it works but isn't pretty, now I have to try it on a hollow body.

 

[JRA]

For me, it's a pair of pants that'll stay up!.....

Basses are a dime a dozen, great parts are much harder to come by.

There is no "universally accepted" holy grail for bass in my view.

IMO: this is an age/experience issue. i searched for the 'holy grail bass' when i was younger because in spite of some talent = i just felt that a 'perfect' instrument would give me 'something more'. years later = i want a dependable tool which fits most or all of my preferences, e.g., the better the fit (for me) = the better the tool (for me).

that said: i had to search for the holy grail to find out for myself that i was wasting valuable time searching for the holy grail! it's a wizard of oz lesson: it was always there, at any time i needed it...it's in my hands everytime i play!

what's the real cost of the holy grail? they start at less than 200 bucks!

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Amen Brother!

 

[equill]

Collectively? Personally?
If you get all old-school about it, it's the old journey/destination thing: the grail doesn't even need to exist, because its value is in what you learn on the quest. So, um, I'll let you know what mine looks and sounds like if I ever find it.

Personally, right now it looks a lot like an all-black version of a 4-string Ibanez SR with prestige-level quality, made by Basslab so it's impervious to temperature and humidity changes.

 

[I am Soma]

...a Shell Pink Jazz Bass with a contentious history?
I know I want one now!

a sunburst jazz bass in disguise! man those are good threads.