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What's your main?

#161
jamro217 said:
This is like asking: "A gunman breaks into your house during a family dinner. You can decide which one of your children is spared. Who is it going to be?" I own thirteen basses currently, and though not particularly superstitious, in the process of building number fourteen. Each one is special is in its own way and possesses qualities the others lack. As they all serve as "main bass" in no given order, it would be very difficult to choose. I don't imagine this type of thread would appear on a mechanic's forum (i.e. "What wrench would you keep if you could have just one?).
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I hear ya, but I'd probably keep the youngest though, because he doesn't eat as much as the teenagers. He's the best student in school as well, so I'd keep him around in the hopes that he's on path to be a millionaire of some sort. Don't get me wrong! I dig the other two kids as well! It's just that the little guy is gonna get the endorsement in that situation! Yes, terrible father...I know. I wouldn't even consider him the favorite, as that would be my Dog, but the kid is oozing with potential.

Being that I was on the tools for much of my early career, I've found that something like a saw doesn't quite do the same job as say...a hammer. And while I love this old 10mm wrench I have in my tool box, it just doesn't seem to work as well when I am trying to remove a nut off of something that requires a 15/16".

Apples to oranges. So yes, that would not be a question I presented in a mechanics forum. I like my TV better then I like my lawn mower, but the mower is better suited for the yard work.

However, I do own a few basses and while they all have a certain quality about them, I find that when it comes down to it, the Jazz can cover any situation I want it too. When I play any other bass, it's simply because I'm 'in the mood' to do so on any particular gig, not because I view it as the right tool for that show. The Jazz is the one that would incite a panic attack in me if it came up missing more so then the others.

"Well this song is going to require the nuance of the Rickenbacker, while my Sterling will better serve the bridge of this particular piece"...

No, the Jazz will cover it all and no matter what bass I play, as for better or for worse it sounds like me who is playing it. No bass gives me something so drastically different that the Jazz takes the back seat for anything. I can make them all work for whatever. I just prefer the Jazz when it comes down to it.

Being a new guy to the forum, I apologize for the redundancy of the question as I asked it.
With that said, yes...I've always wondered what drove an individual to one guitar in particular over others. Why is there usually one that is road worn and beaten down from continuous playing while others come and go?

On the outside it has no particular quality that one can see...but for some reason it just seems to always get the nod over the others. That instrument that you see and immediately identify to its owner. As I've said, I am a bit facinated with it.

I got a lot of good answers in this thread and I enjoyed reading them, thank you.
 
#162
Whiplash71 said:
Apples to oranges. So yes, that would not be a question I presented in a mechanics forum. I like my TV better then I like my lawn mower, but the mower is better suited for the yard work.
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If you put the tv in front of the window, you can't see the overgrown yard.

I'm all about creative problem solving...
 
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#165
For the last couple of years, my main bass has been a homely 1979 Fender Precision, stripped to natural with Dimarzio replacement pickups and rosewood fretboard with chrome covers and flats. Sounds and plays great.
 
#167
My main is and has been for the last 15 years the EBMM Stingray 5 (3-band EQ, 3 coil PU, 3 pos coil tap switch). Currently own 2 and it's the standard by which I judge any other bass. The main 2 reasons being PLAYABILITY (best 5 stringer neck money can buy) and CUTTING LOWEND AUTHORITY. Only other sorta' "expensive" bass I have is a Maruszczyk Jake 5a+ (P+MM config, 2-band EQ and coil tap for the humbucker). Wanted a more "eclectic" sounding bass that simply played like my Rays (altho' I like Fender sounds I hate their QC and floppy low Bs) but I didn't have the cash to get a HS SR5 (too expensive 'round here) so I got the Maruszczyk. Can do decent P, J and single coil MM tones (with the front coil). Its neck is just 1mm thicker front to back than my SR5s (the most critical thing for me when it comes to playability) and string spacing at bridge is 17mm vs the Rays' 16mm, with as good a low B as my Stingrays. Perfect fretwork allows me to set this up LOW so defintely near the Stingray 5 ballpark in terms of playability. Still, if I had the money, I'd get a Stingray 5 HS, Stingray 5 is where it's at for me.
 
#168
IMG_0505.JPG


Wilkins '65 P classic with old stock maple neck, alder body, Brazilian rosewood board, custom Wilkins pickup, LaBella Deep Talkin' flats. Impeccable.
 
#170
Ibanez SR1205e .

I had an Ibanez 1405 a couple years ago that I foolishly let go to fund another hobby and have regretted it more than any other bass I've had . The Carvin in my avatar was the other bass I had that made me think I could sacrifice the Ibanez and it was really a great bass but not like the Ibanez . I bought an 2000 American Standard Jazz 5 last year that was to be my retirement bass but when the Ibanez 1205 came up for sale or trade in the classifieds I reached out to the seller to see if maybe he would trade and he did . I am beyond thankful . I just turned 65 and the slim neck , light weight and the tone from the Big Singles is just right . Here's the only picture I have of it so far .

S7300712.jpg
 
#171
Ive gone through many basses over the years, but have finally settled on my Fender Sandblasted P bass. Not only is it the best looking bass ive ever owned, its also got the most comfortable P neck ive every played.
Its not the best bass in the world, but its a P bass, so the next best thing :-)

25223192511_03df109174_b.jpg
Fender Sandblasted P Bass. by Invalid Link Removed, on Flickr
 
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#173
Rickenbacker 4001v63's (I have 2 v63's and a 4001CS - pretty much the same thing) that I'm sure everyone is sick of me posting pictures of. So I will refrain. All original except for the wiring harnesses, which are vintage reproduction harnesses with added Rick-O-Sound on a push/pull. Rotosound 45-105 strings on all.
 
#174
dave_bass5 said:
Ive gone through many basses over the years, but have finally settled on my Fender Sandblasted P bass. Not only is it the best looking bass ive ever owned, its also got the most comfortable P neck ive every played.
Its not the best bass in the world, but its a P bass, so the next best thing :)

25223192511_03df109174_b.jpg
Fender Sandblasted P Bass. by Invalid Link Removed, on Flickr
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That's how I feel about mine which I posted earlier on in this thread. What strings are you using on yours?
 
#175
seems like this topic has been launched a few times before...
but if it had to be just one I'd go with my Fiesta Red Fender RW P.
It has a great neck, does the job, and it's already beat up. I can take it anywhere. And If it gets trashed..no big loss.
 
#177
P-Bass 1.JPG '73 Ric 4001-3.JPG DSCN0013.JPG Well... you're really asking two different questions. Your "main" bass isn't necessarily the one you'd keep, if you could have only one. If I were a working bassist? Yeah, that would probably be true. And, there's no question that my keeper would be my '78 P-Bass; for all the usual reasons we hear all the time. But, I'm not, so, for me...
- My main bass - the one I play the most, that's always out on a stand, next to the amp? That would be my '73 Rick 4001. Why? All the usual reasons Rickistas love their Ricks. Plus, it fits me like a glove, and in the 12 years I've owned it, I've never had a problem with it. It's pretty much the Jetglo Energizer Bunny... However, if I could only keep one of my 19 basses? Sadly, it would not be the Rick.
- What would I keep, if I could only have one? This '94 Gretsch Broadkaster. Why? Well, because it's a top-of-the-line Gretsch hollowbody, for one - and it's a model that's no longer made. For another, it works very well for about 90% of the music I like to play; and works well enough for the rest. But, the main reason I'd keep it? Look at it closely... it's a lefty. Have you ever seen a lefty Gretsch bass? Believe me; I spent years looking for one, and this is one of only two I've ever seen - that wasn't a conversion. The other one wasn't a Broadkaster; and, it wasn't for sale, either. I'd keep the Gretsch because, while I could replace the Rick, I almost certainly can't replace the Gretsch...:)
 
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#179
Owned this since '87. Had quite a few others come and go, this one remains. My 85 Ruby Rick 4003 used to see a lot of gigs in the 90s, partly because I wanted something flashier than 3TSB, and I still have fun with it from time to time, but at the end of the day, my Fullerton RI is the bass I never need to think about playing. The tone suits me, the look suits me (now), and it is effortless to play. Any shortcomings in my playing (and there are many) will never be due to this bass. They will be fully attributable to me.

IMG_7092.JPG
 
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#180
My main is a MIM Fender J bass that I picked up used for 3 bills. It just sings. I leveled and crowned the frets, rewired it, shielded it, and put a kickass bridge on it and it just feels like home every time I pick it up.

I've owned most boutique manufacturer basses and although this bass isn't as fancy, it has stuck with me while others have left. It's the only bass I've owned that I haven't at one time or another thought about trading away.
 
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