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What's your "Beater" bass?

#141
I don't have a beater bass. When it comes down to the end of the story, I really only have 1 bass. Technically I have 3 but one is in pieces and another is an unused Fender acoustic so... My Fender Aerodyne is my "do everything" bass. It goes in the studio, gets rained on (only once and that irritated the dickens out of me), gets played in 100°+ temps, gets played in the cold, gets sweated all over, and just does everything. I've never been hard on my instruments so any small incidents that may happen to my bass, just adds to its character.
 
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#144
Beater bass? Or just plain beat?

The one in front. Its scars are from 50+ years of playing it. Right now it's at the spa getting a tummy tuck and some new hardware. I should have it back home in a couple of weeks.

ZJWphcPl.jpg
 
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#146
wraub said:
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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A Squier Bronco Bass.
 
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#147
I put this together. An EPI T-Bird body and a lefty P-bass neck. I had to route the body to bring the neck closer to the bridge for proper intonation and route a slot for heel adjustment, Finished in pigmented shellac. I have about $200 in it. It was stolen once and recovered from a Music-Go-Round.

It stays at practice and haven't seen it for about a year because of Covid.

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#149
I’ve never felt the need to have a beater bass. I have had some decent basses and played in a metal band and definitely played some dives. I just keep an eye on it and load it into my vehicle pretty much right away. I am too picky about instruments. If it impedes my ability at all I won’t play it if possible. That said, people who steal instruments are just about the lowest form of life.
 
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#153
wraub said:
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? :)
Click to expand...

Don't own any, "Beaters."
 
#156
ahadl2500 said:
Peavey GV. Purchased it to leave in my music locker back when I was in high school (nearly 20 years ago), so that I did not have to leave my G&L L2500 at school. It is a reasonably nice “beater” but still gets the bulk of the “do I want to take my G&L there” playtime.

It is still in mint condition even after a lot of play time and being the designated beater. I played it 2-12 hours per day every day in high school (add that over 4 school years and it has some serious hours on it). It saw less time in college and after but is still regularly played.

I did have to replace the tuners with black Hipshots after one of the stock ones broke, but other than that it has been an extremely reliable “beater”.

View attachment 4130414
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That would be harder to replace than your G&L!:)
 
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#159
embellisher said:
This is my beater. I've got some other cheap and worn basses, but this one is the roughest. This is the one I would loan out if asked.

I did loan it out to my brother in law for about 10 years. He didn't take real good care of it. He did most of the damage to it. He was too poor to afford an instrument and I had several, so I let him use it to try and learn the bass.

It still plays good and sounds good. Peaveys are built like a tank. Pretty hard to kill one unless you really are determined to do so.

View attachment 4131059
View attachment 4131060
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Super Ferrite Peavey, the only not to like is that trussrod, but those basses sound fabulous!
 
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