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Whose Main Bass Is A Vintage (Over 30)

#41
theevilplankton said:
No problem!

I didn't infer that there is a problem using a vintage - now having one myself - it was more a case of the older it is, often they become more valuable, either monetarily or emotionally - and so using it publicly for gigging, etc, is maybe more risky than a newer instrument, as replacing it would be a far more daunting task than a recent off-the-shelf model. That's all!
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Ooooh ok lol I misunderstood!

I've often worried about that. I've used valuable vintage guitars before, and I've always just had to remind myself that theyre meant to be played. I'm still really cautious with my fretless, it was on my short list of dream basses until I got it. Now I just baby it like its my own child....
 
#43
My main bass for 10 years from 1988-98,was my 1964 Hofner Violin bass. It was 34 years old when I stopped using it, now it spends most of it's time in it's case. I may get it out on May 25 2014 it's 50th.
 

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#46
coreyfyfe said:
FWIW that's an 82 neck as well. If it were pre-1980 it would still have blocks. They started the bound/dots in the 80s but continued to use the 78 serial number codes as late as 83. The heel of the neck should have the exact date code if you want to disassemble it.
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Thanks for the reply. I had heard that before about the serial numbers on the necks from that era, but I never had the courage to take the neck off to see the exact date. It's always been a good bass and I am always reluctant to mess with something that works. I am not the original owner, and I didn't even buy it myself - it's a used instrument that a friend picked up for me in the early 80's at a store where I'd had a falling out with the owner.
 
#49
I played This old Rickenbacker from 1973 to 2004 ... But I got tired of 4 strings, the weak neck, the weak pickups, the cumbersome bridge, the .0047 capacitor, the mechanical mute, the tarnished backwards tuners, and the pickup covers.

1968 Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitar

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But then I got into 5 string basses.

Now this is my oldest bass. A 1993 4004 Laredo converted and modified.

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#52
My two main main basses are both vintage and amazing (to me, anyway). I generally switch between my '77 Alembic Series 1 and my '81 G&L L2000 as my main bass for a gig and then all the others get rotated in as "back-ups". I usually use both my main and "back-up" instruments at a gig in some some fashion, though simply for difference in tone or just for a little variety. Some of the others in the arsenal are also vintage and are also in the rotation, such as my '79 stingray and Kramer DMZ4000. I'll bring out my '59 P-bass on a very rare occasions as well. I love vintage instruments and I love variety.
 
#56
malthumb said:
Cool! I have a 1987 Alembic Series I and a 2000 Alembic Series II that is arguably my MAIN bass, though the '79 & 80 Sabres I mentioned get a lot of play.
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Sweet! I absolutely love mine. I also have an '86 Spoiler as well. I would love to score a Series II someday. How much difference do you find the infinately variable Q's make as opposed to the 3-way toggles of the Series I? I've often wondered about this. Do you find them more useful or or do they complicate finding (and being able to find again) the sound you're looking for?
 
#57
My main player is my 1975 Fender P. It was customized with a Jazz PU when I got it, and it's my regular rehearsing/gigging bass. I snagged it for only $600 a couple years ago and I just leave it at my practice space.

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My main bass at home is an early 1962 Precision, also modded with a Jazz PU, not by me. This bass doesn't really leave the house unless I'm heading to the studio. But it gets a lot of use at my home studio, so it definitely gets played a lot. Also pictured, a mid-70's Ibanez Rick copy strung with flats - I don't play it much though. I hang on to it for sentimental value.

StudioGuitars.jpg
 
#58
OOTB68 said:
Sweet! I absolutely love mine. I also have an '86 Spoiler as well. I would love to score a Series II someday. How much difference do you find the infinately variable Q's make as opposed to the 3-way toggles of the Series I? I've often wondered about this. Do you find them more useful or or do they complicate finding (and being able to find again) the sound you're looking for?
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Sent you a pm so as not to hijack the thread.
 

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