Which 1980 bass is worth looking for?

[jaysbass2002]

+1 for the Peavey T-40!

 

[alembicbones]

Any Alembic from 1980 would be pretty awesome. One more vote for an Ibanez Musician too.

Bones

 

[Iridescentone]

For 1980?

*G&L L-1000, first year of production. Of course also a '80 L-2000, but good luck with that one, they are scarce.
*Stingray.
*Ibanez Musician series.

My minty 1980 L-1000. It's in The Vault. No one is allowed to play it. No one is allowed to touch it, or even look at it. Not even me!

 

[Bob_Ross]

I don't remember whether they'd gone into full scale production by 1980, but Steinberger had L-2 prototypes dating back to 1979, so...

 

[veebass]

A Gibson RD. If you can find one built in 1980, of course.

 

[petrus61]

Schecter "Lawsuit" Fenders. I would like to find a great example of just about any bass from late 1980, even if it's nothing I'd normally play.

 

[73jbass]

BC Rich Eagle with the full electronics package.

Beat me to it. I'm lucky enough to have a pair of them.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Second the Steinberger. THAT's the prototypical 1980's bass to me.

 

[Basshappi]

Yamaha BB series.

 

[lsabina]

Robin Freedom.

 

[Gaolee]

Pointy ones.

 

[PortlandBass77]

Peavy T-40, of course!

+40

 

[Gully Foyle]

My 1980 Aria TSB-400 is a monster...

 

[millsbass5]

Robin Freedom.

Now THOSE are some smokin' basses. Hell, anything from Robin in the early/mid 80's. These basses are one of the best kept secrets for any player.Too bad they didn't catch on more.

http://www.vintageguitar.com/7827/robins-80s-import-basses/

I've always been a fan of the Machete 5......

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[two fingers]

Lots of good suggestions. Allow me to pile in with some of them.

Ibanez Musician or Studio
Spector from the era
Stingray
BC Rich Eagle
Some Carvin basses from that period are kind of funky and cool
Alembic was going strong then
Kramer aluminum neck or "The Duke"
G&L from that time may have had Leo's hands on it

 

[Rich Terry]

Ric 4001

 

[ggvicviper]

G&L L1000

 

[deeptubes]

P Special! Active/passive toggle, 2 band eq, thumb rest. Kind of a P/Ray hybrid. Would consider swapping the pre with one of these reverse engineered Ray pres. I had an '81 that I sold 23 years ago, when I was young and dumb.

If you're contemplating a T-40, '78 or early '79. Those are PAFs - Patent Applied For. The PAFs are considered first run models. '78-'80 had slab bodies, no contours. I think they started the body contours in late 1980.

 

[cchorney]

Ovation Ultra Bass with Kahler Tremolo
Guild SB-202
Washburn Chicago Force 8 BRB

No coincidence I own 2 of those 3 and if I could find a nice example of the Ovation I'd probably buy it!

 

[bluesdogblues]

White P-J Spector NS-2 perhaps?