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What's your "Beater" bass?
- Thread starter wraub
- Start date
I've got a 90 Foundation that's my beater. Chipped paint, a few small dents here and there, still sounds and plays great!
I see that some people are still posting their pristine beautiful basses. Evidently they can't grasp the concept of "beater basses." 
Some people just never get it-whatever it is-- I guess...
Some people just never get it-whatever it is-- I guess...
1993 Alembic Elan 4, because presently I only own two basses. I realize some would like to see a 1969 Fender Precision bass that was drug by a chain back and forth from gig to gig. So this is my beater like it or not
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Kind of obvious, isn't it?
To adapt the bass to fit their personal needs?
How can that be wrong?
Obviously pulling out the frets of a bass with a butter knife like Jaco did is a bad idea, but not exactly a crime against humanity, and you say this was even nicely done, which logic dictates that you need to be as gifted and skilled as Jaco before you are allowed to customize your instrument to your specific needs?
Honestly not intending to be snide here, just genuinely curious, cause to me that doesn't make any sense.
It's mass produced goods (by definition a compromise one size fits all product), not works of art.
If you can't afford a custom bass as far as I am concerned customizing a bass you can afford would be the next best thing.
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My beater bass posted is one of my oldest. As my post says, I would take it anywhere and have. It doesn’t owe me anything. I take very good care of my equipment.I see that some people are still posting their pristine beautiful basses. Evidently they can't grasp the concept of "beater basses."
I still have this cab that I bought in 1973. I still have my Ric 4001 that I got in 1973...it’s not my beater. I wish I had an Alembic beater...
My beater is my first bass, made by Crate (yes the amp company). Came in a beginner pack. It’s got the thinnest neck I’ve ever played. It was originally sunburst with a white pickguard. I refinished it a sparkle blue and threw bartolinis in there.
I've got a Fodera Anthony Jackson presentation II that I had custom made that is my lay around the house bass or the one I take out to iffy gigs and don't worry about leaving in the car overnight.
Id never take out my other Fodera Anthony Jackson presentation basses because theyve got the ivory inlays or gold leaf tops and would hate to see them dinged up on some bar gig. Thats what the cheap beater is for! Its not much but it gets the job done. Additional blue collar apphorism!
Id never take out my other Fodera Anthony Jackson presentation basses because theyve got the ivory inlays or gold leaf tops and would hate to see them dinged up on some bar gig. Thats what the cheap beater is for! Its not much but it gets the job done. Additional blue collar apphorism!
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TB is indeed a strange land with beater basses nicer than all 3 in my stable put together.
Here's my beater:
Washburn Taurus of far east production that I got for real cheap as a backup. I promptly decided to add the J pickup, 3-way switch and body contours.
Plays good, sounds good, stays in tune, it's dinged up and I feel fine taking it to questionable gigs or letting the gu*tar player noodle on it and bang it up some more.
Here's my beater:
Washburn Taurus of far east production that I got for real cheap as a backup. I promptly decided to add the J pickup, 3-way switch and body contours.
Plays good, sounds good, stays in tune, it's dinged up and I feel fine taking it to questionable gigs or letting the gu*tar player noodle on it and bang it up some more.
Here’s mine!In another thread, I saw this- "And oh yeah, no more beaters: Nothing says 'I'm not serious' than a crappy instrument. And it doesn't have to be expensive, but if it's noisy, won't stay in tune, and you're constantly nursing it along, it's REAL easy for a band to say 'what's that other guy's number?'."
Is this your beater? Mine was not expensive to me (but sure would be to replace), is well maintained, not noisy, stays in tune, has a lot of aftermarket under the pickguard and doesn't need nursing, but it's my beater because it's already been refinned and it's got scars and dents all over it. It looks a mess, but it's clean, plays great and sounds great too. I just don't mind too much if it gets another scratch.
Obviously, beaters vary.
What's your "beater" bass?
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This is an old squier P bass body! I removed the old paint with a heat gun intending to refinish it in a different color, and it developed this interesting burn pattern. I ultimately decided to hit it with a few layers of stain/finish and call it a day. Sounds great with the Geezer EMG split coil!
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It’s not beaten, but it’s light, sounds good, and is somewhat replaceable...
i bought a cheap "c giant" p bass for 20 € just as an emergency-backup-bass and it looks like the previous owner wanted to beat it up so it looks like a real rock'n'roll mojo bass. poly is cracked on several spots, which reveals the cheap plywood-body. lots of deep dents, even at the neck. BUT it sounds perfect and the pickup is super noiseless and perfectly balanced. the neck is very deep, almost u shape! only downside is that the tuners and the string buzzing with lower string setting. I HATE IT, because it sounds better than the bass it was supposed to replace only in emergency situations. damn it. it's my main bass now.
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Wouldn't necessarily call it my beater bass, but I don't worry about it getting a minor knock around
Me BTB
Me BTB
