I don't own a beater bass. But I do own a couple of really nice relic basses. I'm not a huge relic fan, but the side benefit is that I don't feel like I have to be obsessively careful with them.
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What's your "Beater" bass?
- Thread starter wraub
- Start date
My “beater” is my MIM fender jazz 5 . Cost like 1/5th what my main player cost. Nice to have a second bass that’s gig worthy in case there are any issues during a show. Haven’t had that many issues over the years, mainly just stock output jacks going bad a few times. Since I’m not gigging with everthing shut down I’m probably going to set it up in a higher tuning for a while just to mess around at home.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?
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,603
- 222,060
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,603
- 222,060
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
As already prefaced - "beater bass" needs specific definition. It seems like everybody has their own way of defining that "term". That's mostly ok - but if I were to define "beater bass", I would say it is a bass that is the equivalent of "meat & potatoes" - a basic bass that does the job when needed and isn't particularly special or valuable otherwise. At least this is how I would describe it. As always, YOMV.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,603
- 222,060
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
This is an interesting development. I played a used 'road worn' Jazz bass in a music store. I liked it a lot - feel and tone were right there. It looked exactly like all other Fender "road worn" J's. As it was created to look like that - was it a "beater bass"? No, I think not. The "distressed/relic'd" whatever you want to call it "look" is just that - a look, much like any other look. But it felt played - which is more pertinent. A played bass means it was a good player - played a lot because it sounded good. I don't know about you - but if I played a bass that didn't sound good - I wouldn't play it enough to create "play wear".
My Signature Chris Aiken Squire Bass......would be my beater....
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
My Thunderbirds. They don't get beat on, but they get played. They go wherever I go, usually in pairs so I have a backup. Not really beaters, players.
My "beater" is a '08/'09 (I think) P bass that ended up being spun off the workbench when the "luthier" was routing it for a battery box. Big ding on the top horn, so at that point it was anointed and other dings didn't matter. Did some relic'ing on it.
Mine has to be this Epi Thunderbird Goth. I rescued it a few years back from literally hanging from one of its strings from a nail in the ceiling of a local junk/antique shop as a decoration. Neck was way out of whack and the pots were nasty. It has its bumps and bruises, but it's a great player and sounds cool.
Ooo yiss. My turn! A 1970s area Valencia, I can't find any info on it. It's been a great teacher as I learned how to shim the neck, make truss rod adjustments and bridge and nut action adjustments. Plays like a dream now but certainly needed some work. The electronics are some of the shoddiest I've ever seen!
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,603
- 222,060
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
That bass is so quintessential MIJ '60s! Those knobs were on many Teisco & related basses, the organ rocker switches, finger rest, chrome metal pg, short scale, bridge and cover and the red/black-burst finish.
These were the passport to R&R in the '60s for many young players.
I like it. Some people seem to think that their basses need to played with extreme caution lest a scratch or ding or--horrors--gouge forever destroy the sound of music as you know it. The less I worry about my basses' cosmetics, the more I am able to genuinely joyfully create music. Look at yourself in the mirror. Your scars (or lack thereof) tell your story. Wear them with pride, unless your story is shameful, in which case, write a new one.
I actually wish I had a beater bass lol, I feel guilty every time I practice any slap on a nice instrument. And I suck at it so I'm practicing a lot, so feel like I must be damaging the frets on these snazzy basses when I spend an hour doing exercises.
My last real beater was still nice, a Washburn Taurus with DiMarzio Model J pups. It could damn near out-Jaco Jaco's tone, and weighed an ounce or two. And it took abuse.
My last real beater was still nice, a Washburn Taurus with DiMarzio Model J pups. It could damn near out-Jaco Jaco's tone, and weighed an ounce or two. And it took abuse.
Exactly. My #1 go-to, Jenny, is a Harley Benton Shorty I picked up for €50. I've got about €200 into it over time, and she's practically perfect in every way.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?
I'd say the beater in my small collection is the Series 10, (my first bass) although I wouldn't hesitate to gig it again if I had to. I still brought it as a backup til I set it up BEAD.
I bought this '90s Carvin LB70 bass with a few dings on it but I wouldn't necessarily call it a "beater" bass. I own several really nice basses which I alternate through at practices and shows but this Carvin is the bass I play the most. I use it to practice around the house as I'm not too worried about bumping it or dinging it up. It has one of the nicest necks of all of my basses, or maybe I feel that way because it gets more playtime then the others. No matter what, you can never go wrong with an American made bass like Carvin.
I don’t do the “beater bass” thing. I’ve been playing 50 years and through the application of some common sense have never had an instrument stolen or damaged and I’ve played a lot of scummy dives along the way.
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,602
- 18,641
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- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
