What's your one true "Forever Bass"?

[Nedmundo]

For many years, my single "forever" bass would have been my 2003 Am. Series Jazz with Lindy Fralin Split-Jazz pickups. But I'm afraid that's changed.

If I could only have one, it would have to be a five, which means it would be my G&L USA M-2500. I might prefer a lightweight empress body, and perhaps an L-2500 instead of the M, but the M has been phenomenal and I love it.

 

[strost]

G&L JB. I actually play my Road Worn P in my band now but this is the one I'd never let go.

 

[retslock]

My avatar. Custom made Fijian Mahogany body by Scott Bremner in Sydney. Allparts neck, Nordstrand Big Splits, Bartolini preamp. No frills, all business. Feels like home.

 

[A9X]

My Steinberger XL2. Owned it since we bought it new in 86.
I'm partial to 5s and 6s, so a close second would be my Ibanez SR706 - this is played most, but the XL2 is special because my late wife and I bought it.

 

[lizardking837]

Easily my first. It was the first instrument I ever bought. With it I learned how to play, set-up, and wire and solder pickups. I spent hours perfecting it, making it my own and wearing through the finish on 3 or 4 spots on the neck naturally. The last time I played it my mother said, "That thing seemed so cheap when you got it," my girlfriend replied with "It sounds really good though," and I added, "The neck just feels like home."

I have other basses that are more expensive or better suited to certain projects, but every time I've needed it's been there. I'll probably be buried with this bass.

 

[byoung93888]

Rickenbacker 4001CS

 

[dannylectro]

1975 Fender Precision, sunburst, maple neck, black pick guard. Bought it in 1983, modded with Fralins & new pots/cap when it got flood damage in 1998; fret job last year, previous owner put Schaller machines on it before I bought it. I don't use it for every gig anymore, but I'll never get rid of it.

 

[BassKing]

1975 Fender Precision, sunburst, maple neck, black pick guard. Bought it in 1983, modded with Fralins & new pots/cap when it got flood damage in 1998; fret job last year, previous owner put Schaller machines on it before I bought it. I don't use it for every gig anymore, but I'll never get rid of it.

Sounds like what I need!!!

 

[Blues Bass 2]

Right now it's my Sire V3 5 string . It sounds great passive and I love the neck . Not too heavy at all and sounds great on everything I play . My Ibanez Talman 605 is terrific too for the P/J thing but I've been playing the Sire a lot and can't find anything I don't like about it .

 

[chris_b]

I've not found a "forever" bass yet. To be truthful I'm not looking.

I'd say that for the first half of my playing career a Precision was the bass I preferred. Now for the second half, I seem to have settled on a Jazz.

Different manufacturers and models though.

 

[rockinrayduke]

My '79 4001 will be the last bass standing.

 

[TJL]

The right tool for the job means I can't get away with one bass, but for me there is one bass that I will always have on hand...an Alembic. They seem to have the widest range, and live or recorded, they are unmatched for tone. That said, I also keep a 1976 Fender P Bass (although I would prefer my brother's 1959), a Fodera Anthony Jackson, a John Carruthers, and a mid 70's Rickenbacker 4001.

 

[superdick2112]

I invariably reach for one of my 4 Jazz Basses.

They are;
Versatile.
Comfortable.
Have simple controls.
Are relatively affordable.
Always sound great!

 

[Smoothmove]

My Roscoe Century Custom. Absolute joy to play, truly a tone monster!!
I'll never get rid of it

 

[hwystar]

My 85 White Ibanez Roadster 650. I'm the original owner. It has done everything I've asked. I sold it once....was sick afterwards. Finally tracked it down about 2 months later....bought it back. Never more from home shall she roam.

 

[FredeRICK]

This one. 100% forever, made in Canada.

 

[xhawk5]

For me... Nothing beats my 48th Street guitars "ESP Custom P" The neck isn't chunky like the Vintage Four series either. Such a great tone for any style of music. Crank it up for Rock/Metal and it gets this slightly overdriven tone that's to die for. Pick playing really brings the pain!! (I recently installed a flat black PG with no white line, looks fantastic!)

 

[Dreamsinger]

Given some of the big$ boutique basses I've owned my lifetime choice may seem strange. It would be the Yamaha BBG5 I sold 20 years ago that I finally got back. Since I play fretless so often I snapped up an identical one that's going to get an ebony fretless board.

 

[armelind]

My old Abilene bass (Samick made but I guess lower rung). I never seen another, it plays just as well as the day i got it in March 2001. It has been on all of my recordings since and it sounds great in person and on CD.

 

[LiquidFudge]

View attachment 3605706

My primary bass is also play a G&L 2000 jazz bass that I've played for 20 years. I love it. Yours is really beautiful with that inlay work. Did it come like that from G&L? I haven't seen that style. Is that a pickguard or more inlay below the strings. Also, what is that red thing next to the bridge?