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which bass did it for you
- Thread starter kkaarrll
- Start date
The one that did it for me today - Precision on Precision.
I hadn't played flats in church for almost a year and a half till last weekend, when I played my Am Std P with recently-installed GHS Precision Flats. I haven't been able to put it down since, so I did it again this weekend. Still can't put it down, so I think I'll do it again next weekend.
I hadn't played flats in church for almost a year and a half till last weekend, when I played my Am Std P with recently-installed GHS Precision Flats. I haven't been able to put it down since, so I did it again this weekend. Still can't put it down, so I think I'll do it again next weekend.
The black MIM Jazz bass was my very first bass. Jazz basses always do it for me.
The Fender USA Geddy Lee Jazz was it today! The Ric 4003 Jetglo was a close second.
My Sadowsky Metro and Marco TFL 5 pretty much shut the GAS door for me. Jazz basses with a twist.
Traded a Kubicki XFactor 4 (that started as a fretted, but spent the last third of its time with me as a fretless) straight up for the Beni, after playing it for twenty one years!
Before that I played a Steinberger LS2A for ten years.
I have always been a One-Bass-@-a-Time kind of guy, but each of these basses changed the way I approached the instrument enough to be benchmarks. There have been many other basses, but these are the ones that shaped the way I play!
D
If I had to choose ONE instrument out of the ones I currently own it would be a mid-2000s Fender AVRI '57 Precision.
I've owned close to 50 basses over the years. Shotscales, longscales, 4-strings, 5-strings, fretlesses. Some vintage ones, from the early 60s and onwards. Some new ones, the newest probably manufactured this year. Mostly passives but also a few actives. I currently own 16 basses. About half of them are Squire-level cheap stuff that I've upgraded. The other half is from around $2000 and upwards. For whatever reason I've not kept many "mid priced" instruments (like MIM Fenders).
And out of every single bass that I've ever owned that particular AVRI '57 stands out as my favourite, no contest. I've compared it to other AVRI Ps. I even OWN other AVRI Ps. And that particular one is truly special. Except for the almost unbelievably poor nitro finish! We're talking ultra-fragile even by nitro standards. No wonder Fender's warranty doesn't cover finish, it's absolutely rubbish! I own several battered nitro instruments from the early 60s that are in FAR better visual condition than this mid-2000s Fender! I literally had a heavily "relic'ed" instrument on my hands within a few years of purchase... In short: it looks like CRAP! Shame on Fender for putting this RUBBISH finish on such an expensive instrument!!!! But it sounds absolutely GORGEOUS! It is probably as close as I will ever get to my personal idea of the PERFECT bass tone. It also plays beautifully, the neck is PERFECT (if you like that kind of neck...) has never needed any adjustments whatsoever after initial setup and unless the temperature changes drastically it barely even need tuning! A flawed masterpiece from the masters of inconsistency at Fender Corp.
I've owned close to 50 basses over the years. Shotscales, longscales, 4-strings, 5-strings, fretlesses. Some vintage ones, from the early 60s and onwards. Some new ones, the newest probably manufactured this year. Mostly passives but also a few actives. I currently own 16 basses. About half of them are Squire-level cheap stuff that I've upgraded. The other half is from around $2000 and upwards. For whatever reason I've not kept many "mid priced" instruments (like MIM Fenders).
And out of every single bass that I've ever owned that particular AVRI '57 stands out as my favourite, no contest. I've compared it to other AVRI Ps. I even OWN other AVRI Ps. And that particular one is truly special. Except for the almost unbelievably poor nitro finish! We're talking ultra-fragile even by nitro standards. No wonder Fender's warranty doesn't cover finish, it's absolutely rubbish! I own several battered nitro instruments from the early 60s that are in FAR better visual condition than this mid-2000s Fender! I literally had a heavily "relic'ed" instrument on my hands within a few years of purchase... In short: it looks like CRAP! Shame on Fender for putting this RUBBISH finish on such an expensive instrument!!!! But it sounds absolutely GORGEOUS! It is probably as close as I will ever get to my personal idea of the PERFECT bass tone. It also plays beautifully, the neck is PERFECT (if you like that kind of neck...) has never needed any adjustments whatsoever after initial setup and unless the temperature changes drastically it barely even need tuning! A flawed masterpiece from the masters of inconsistency at Fender Corp.
The mini P-bass 24.5" scale I bought from SmallGuitars.com that I had painted surf green by Pat Wilkins, to which I added LaBella flatwounds made exclusively for the Gold Tone M-bass, but I use them for all my mini basses.
Five to choose from, all 4 string basses.
Closely followed by...
- 1981 Ariapro II SB700 (my first ever bass)
- Frankenjazzed “Signature” Jazz Bass copy from eBay which a producer friend has borrowed and begged me not to ask back! I guess that’s his “one”.
- 1985 Wal Custom Series Mk I body style
- 1979 Wal Pro Series Pro IIE model.
Closely followed by...
These latest months I've been playing my Ray35 some 70% of times ("new" addition, ongoing mods) and a Stingray5 I've had for almost 20 years the remaining 30%. But this last weekend was "take out basses that see little use, clean, adjust, play" weekend. My other SR5, an Epiphone Viola and this kit P+J saw the light of day. This BEAD tuned (rev)P+J (another ongoing work) won the weekend, couldn't put it down.
EDIT: since that video (was heavily modded back then) I've changed the headstock to a 3+1 configuration (lost the Fat Finger I was using to combat dead spots), wired an S1 switch (series/parallel) and added a couple extra neck bolts at 45º.
EDIT: since that video (was heavily modded back then) I've changed the headstock to a 3+1 configuration (lost the Fat Finger I was using to combat dead spots), wired an S1 switch (series/parallel) and added a couple extra neck bolts at 45º.
Last edited:
So, currently I have these three.
From right to left:
My Warmoth/Fender custom build. The '63 (reissue) pickup gives a full, round tone and the half-rounds are perfect for it.
The naked Lakland, has a more modern sound, that along with the rounds makes it great to noodle around.
My refinished American Professional, with a changed pickup. Light, beautiful, and the pickup is so aggressive and dark, which makes it my current go-to bass. I'm still not convinced on the rounds I put on, I'll probably switch them to half-rounds really soon.
Edit: before anyone asks, I've set them as a play of the known phrase "(Fiesta) Red, (Mary-Kay) White and (Daphne) Blue".
From right to left:
My Warmoth/Fender custom build. The '63 (reissue) pickup gives a full, round tone and the half-rounds are perfect for it.
The naked Lakland, has a more modern sound, that along with the rounds makes it great to noodle around.
My refinished American Professional, with a changed pickup. Light, beautiful, and the pickup is so aggressive and dark, which makes it my current go-to bass. I'm still not convinced on the rounds I put on, I'll probably switch them to half-rounds really soon.
Edit: before anyone asks, I've set them as a play of the known phrase "(Fiesta) Red, (Mary-Kay) White and (Daphne) Blue".
2005 Fender Sunburst Hwy1 Pbass - mods: Seymour Duncan Spb-3, Rainville split coil jazz pickup between 60s and 70s position, Badass II bridge, 1 master volume, 3 way pickup selector
Currently has d'addario chromes, normally has Rotosound rs66
Epiphone Thunderbird Classic IV Pro Alpine White
Rotosound Rs66
Definitely the Fender but I might go back to rounds on it
Currently has d'addario chromes, normally has Rotosound rs66
Epiphone Thunderbird Classic IV Pro Alpine White
Rotosound Rs66
Definitely the Fender but I might go back to rounds on it
My list:
Fender Classic 60s Jazz Bass
Yamaha BB735a
Fender MP Dimension Bass
Epiphone Jack Casady
Squier Affinity P-Bass
The chosen one is my favourite, my Fender Classic 60s. It plays really well, it sounds amazing and it looks really sexy. It's the one I'm using lately to study
Fender Classic 60s Jazz Bass
Yamaha BB735a
Fender MP Dimension Bass
Epiphone Jack Casady
Squier Affinity P-Bass
The chosen one is my favourite, my Fender Classic 60s. It plays really well, it sounds amazing and it looks really sexy. It's the one I'm using lately to study
I have a PBass, a Jazz Bass, and G&L L2500. Each meets a different need musically so whichever is front and center would be based on that.
The PBass probably gets the nod for early R&B/Soul and Classic Rock. I like the Jazz Bass for some blues and blues rock but the PBass can cover a lot of that as well. The G&L is the most versatile and could cover the others to some degree plus it's very much it's own thing tonally. I'm still exploring it's niches.
The PBass probably gets the nod for early R&B/Soul and Classic Rock. I like the Jazz Bass for some blues and blues rock but the PBass can cover a lot of that as well. The G&L is the most versatile and could cover the others to some degree plus it's very much it's own thing tonally. I'm still exploring it's niches.
Mr.Ace
Bass players rule!
- Sep 8, 2015
- 1,120
- 1,050
- 49
- Disclosures
- Endorsed by Fusion ( maker of killer gig bags)
Yesterday: My Am Std P, 2013 with rosewood FB, Oly white body, gold alum pg. labella flats. Feels so good in my hands. Comfort food bass.
I always seem to pick up that one to noodle about.
Ladies in waiting:
‘78 Rick 4001
‘97 EBMM Sting Ray 4 H
Stingray 5 HH
German Warwick Thumb NT 4
American Geddy Jazz
Am std P in black on black with maple FB.
I always seem to pick up that one to noodle about.
Ladies in waiting:
‘78 Rick 4001
‘97 EBMM Sting Ray 4 H
Stingray 5 HH
German Warwick Thumb NT 4
American Geddy Jazz
Am std P in black on black with maple FB.
