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Why did you choose YOUR bass?
- Thread starter AudioOUTRAGE
- Start date
i was looking for a lightweight 5 string bass with a lightweight price. some TB'ers recommended TBC, which was a hot topic on here at the time.
so i checked it out, liked how it looked and what it offered and got the M500 on the 'bay.
and right out the box, i LOVED IT. sigh.
so i checked it out, liked how it looked and what it offered and got the M500 on the 'bay.
and right out the box, i LOVED IT. sigh.
Which one? Probably my #1 and #2 have the best stories.
Started on an Ibanez SR400. Still have it, but that's anther story. Bought and sold plenty of basses, looking for me. Had about a half a dozen Soundgears at one time or another and were convinced they were for me. Then one day, I go to the shop to buy another Soundgear, and see this beat to hell '77 Precision bass on the wall and fell IN LOVE. For being a Fender hater at the time (thought they were a corporate giant with no connection to the masses) it was a new feeling. It was $699.99 w/ case... and I went home to save up the money. Two weeks later, I arrive with cash in hand, and they'd sold it the day before. So I ask them if they have anything else in the price range and they hand me a used Stingray. I'm in love again. Not quite the P-bass, but still a darn good bass. Played that for a while, and then later down the line was offered a straight across trade for a '78 Precision which I took. The thing was a boat anchor, but sounded amazing. Figuring I wouldn't get rid of it, I wanted something lighter, but I loved the neck. I start searching high and low for something lighter, something different, and realized I wanted a Jazz bass. Fell in love with the sound of the Marcus Miller and the Geddy Lee Jazzes, but hated the necks. Two days later, on bassgear.com was an ad for exactly what I was looking for: an Olympic White Marcus Miller with a Precision Bass Neck and Hardshell Case for an unbelievable price. I paypalled the guy the money before speaking to him, and had it a few days later. Still my #1 to this day... had the bass about two and a half years... longer than any other but my first Ibanez.
Then, somewhere during this time, I learned that Fender was making a 70's Precision Reissue in America, fell in love (my first taste of Olympic White with the black pickguard -- same color combo as my Marcus Miller) and couldn't afford one back then. Wanted one ever since. About a month ago, I see an ad on bassgear.com once again, for an American Fender 70's Reissue Precision. Once again, just about paypalled the money before hearing from the guy. Arrived a couple weeks ago and haven't put it down. Very similar, yet so far from my #1 Marcus Miller.
Love 'em both.
Started on an Ibanez SR400. Still have it, but that's anther story. Bought and sold plenty of basses, looking for me. Had about a half a dozen Soundgears at one time or another and were convinced they were for me. Then one day, I go to the shop to buy another Soundgear, and see this beat to hell '77 Precision bass on the wall and fell IN LOVE. For being a Fender hater at the time (thought they were a corporate giant with no connection to the masses) it was a new feeling. It was $699.99 w/ case... and I went home to save up the money. Two weeks later, I arrive with cash in hand, and they'd sold it the day before. So I ask them if they have anything else in the price range and they hand me a used Stingray. I'm in love again. Not quite the P-bass, but still a darn good bass. Played that for a while, and then later down the line was offered a straight across trade for a '78 Precision which I took. The thing was a boat anchor, but sounded amazing. Figuring I wouldn't get rid of it, I wanted something lighter, but I loved the neck. I start searching high and low for something lighter, something different, and realized I wanted a Jazz bass. Fell in love with the sound of the Marcus Miller and the Geddy Lee Jazzes, but hated the necks. Two days later, on bassgear.com was an ad for exactly what I was looking for: an Olympic White Marcus Miller with a Precision Bass Neck and Hardshell Case for an unbelievable price. I paypalled the guy the money before speaking to him, and had it a few days later. Still my #1 to this day... had the bass about two and a half years... longer than any other but my first Ibanez.
Then, somewhere during this time, I learned that Fender was making a 70's Precision Reissue in America, fell in love (my first taste of Olympic White with the black pickguard -- same color combo as my Marcus Miller) and couldn't afford one back then. Wanted one ever since. About a month ago, I see an ad on bassgear.com once again, for an American Fender 70's Reissue Precision. Once again, just about paypalled the money before hearing from the guy. Arrived a couple weeks ago and haven't put it down. Very similar, yet so far from my #1 Marcus Miller.
Love 'em both.
checked out all the music shops in auckland(which aint much), so as to update my clapped out musicman and stumbled on a 2nd hand pedulla - grrreat sound and playability, decided a week later to buy it and the shop got broken into and it got stolen, - picked up a pedulla thunderbass on e-bay 6 monthe later, plays and sounds like a dream, my ultimate bass.
I was chatting with Scott Beckwith at Birdsong Guitars and we got into a discussion about a bass model that he had considered but not yet made. When it was apparent I was interested, he said "how would you like me to build you the prototype?"
To paraphrase an overquoted film - "You had me at 'Prototype'."
To paraphrase an overquoted film - "You had me at 'Prototype'."
'80 I think,there was a music store I frequented and one day he had this beat up '66 Jazz hanging on the wall for $300.
It was love at first note.
I still have the old turd.
It was love at first note.
I still have the old turd.
Alvaro Martín Gómez A.
TalkBass' resident Bongo + cowbell player
Before my Bongo, my basses were the strictly the result of budget restrictions (although I really liked my Carvin BB75). When I realized that I could get a MusicMan, I sent an e-mail to EBMM customer service telling them that I've loved StingRays from so many years ago and that I've dreamed with having one, but my only complaint is that they don't come with 24-fret necks, so I wanted to know if a 24-fret SR was feasible. They answered that it doesn't exist, "but our latest bass model, the Bongo, does have 24 frets. The tonal capabilities and overall sound of the Bongo is far superior to the Stingray, and I highly recommend checking it out if you can". After some research, and specially thanks to this thread (and Bovinehost, of course), I decided to pull the trigger. One of the best decisions I've taken in my life. So happy that I got another Bongo (fretless) at the beginning of this year.
About the Ric... well, that happens when you sell two spare basses, you're single, no kids, no vices and have a half-decent job. I've liked Rics as well. Maybe in 2007 I'll be able to get a Kubicki Ex-Factor.
About the Ric... well, that happens when you sell two spare basses, you're single, no kids, no vices and have a half-decent job. I've liked Rics as well. Maybe in 2007 I'll be able to get a Kubicki Ex-Factor.
I bought my Reverend Rumblefish 5L based on my experience with my old Rumblefish 4-string. I always loved how Revs look, but that bass always played and sounded great too. They just seem to sound perfect in the mix, and they record very well too. Let me tell ya, the B-string sounds very good on the 5L. It's easily the best sounding B I've ever had. I also get lots of compliments about my Rev.
Picked one up in the early 70's.
As above: right place, right time, right axe, AND right price.
Was in a cover band doing a LOT of Wishbone Ash & rock, one guitar had a 64 Firebird, and the other a '67 Flying V.
Contrary those allergic to neck-heavy, it is the most comfortable bass shape I've run across for me. It saddens me that an Almebic(bought + sold) wasn't shaped like one...I'd still have it. A Steinberger sits idle on gig nights because Ned never molded a Bird-shaped one....T-Bird goes to gigs. Works for what's being played in the band quite well. After 30+ years of playing them, you learn to get sounds out of them that some players say they can't. Go figure.
A T-Bird get played everyday.
Ain't got the one with a B string yet. Wish they would've put all 5 keys on one side.
As above: right place, right time, right axe, AND right price.
Was in a cover band doing a LOT of Wishbone Ash & rock, one guitar had a 64 Firebird, and the other a '67 Flying V.
Contrary those allergic to neck-heavy, it is the most comfortable bass shape I've run across for me. It saddens me that an Almebic(bought + sold) wasn't shaped like one...I'd still have it. A Steinberger sits idle on gig nights because Ned never molded a Bird-shaped one....T-Bird goes to gigs. Works for what's being played in the band quite well. After 30+ years of playing them, you learn to get sounds out of them that some players say they can't. Go figure.
A T-Bird get played everyday.
Ain't got the one with a B string yet. Wish they would've put all 5 keys on one side.
Carvin LB76.
Wanted a 6 because of Les (I was 17 at the time). Only thing locally was a washburn which kind of sucked. Played someone elses bass/guitar double neck, seemed like carvin was good stuff, so I bit the bullet. Glad I did. It's been my #1 for 12-13 years now
Wanted a 6 because of Les (I was 17 at the time). Only thing locally was a washburn which kind of sucked. Played someone elses bass/guitar double neck, seemed like carvin was good stuff, so I bit the bullet. Glad I did. It's been my #1 for 12-13 years now
Found a used MIM Fender Jazz Bass, with Basslines PUPS; Black/White pickguard, and in perfect shape (not a single scratch or dent). $250, and I took it home.
- Jun 25, 2006
- 3,226
- 341
- Disclosures
- Owner, Pike Amplification & 3Leaf Audio
Same.Debased said:My two year long search for a new bass ended recently with the purchase of a Jerzy Drozd fretless Legend 6-string. I played a friend's Jerzy and liked what I heard (also tried MTD, Fodera, Smith, and Ritter, to name a few) so I took a chance and had Luthier's Access Group ship the Legend to me for a tryout: Bingo!
Among other things, I play in a fairly traditional R&B band where I need something big, round, and punchy-sounding for deep-in-the-pocket Jamerson-type grooves, but I'm also working with a few like-minded players on a progressive rock/fusion project that requires a distinctive, complex, modern sound that really holds its own in a busy, fast-paced mix. It also has to sing like a human voice when played legato, have the ability to sound almost fretted when played staccato if the situation requires, and sustain all night long.
Unlike a lot of players, I prefer to cozy up to one particularly fine sounding, articulate, versatile bass and make its voice my own, rather than constantly switching and adapting to a huge variety of less flexible instruments.
This bass really nails the sonic attributes I'm after, the thin, asymmetrical neck and low action make it ridiculously easy to play, and the ergonomics and balance are spot-on. It's the lightest bass I've ever owned (well, there was a Hofner Beatle bass in my stable long, long ago, but it was anything but versatile, and it had all the sustain of a tuba), and unless your tastes are rooted in the 50's it's easy on the eyes too.
I bought and sold my last mass-produced bass over 25 years ago and never looked back. They definitely have their place, but for me, the only way to get the unique sound(s), playability, versatility, ergonomics, and quality of materials and construction I need all in one instrument was to look to the top luthiers who continue to redefine the state-of-the-art.
It was 1958 my mates wanted to start a Skiffle group. I owned One Conway Twitty record, One Fats Domino and a Chas Mcdevit record think it was?
I wanted to play scrubbing board, but that job went to someone else so I was playing bass. Had to go and find my own ply wood T Chest, add a broom handle and a length of chord: Very quickly used a glove to preserve my flesh.
I was the bass player for the 'Skifflerteers'. 2 evenings a week and afternoons Saturday and Sunday we spent singing outside the pubs in Nottinghill, London W11. I worked every evening after school in Shepherds Bush market W12 and most of Saturday. With the money saved and the help of my mum we financed a Fender P Bass that had been returned by 2 previous owners who couldn't get the hang but it was less than a year old 1959.
I wanted to play scrubbing board, but that job went to someone else so I was playing bass. Had to go and find my own ply wood T Chest, add a broom handle and a length of chord: Very quickly used a glove to preserve my flesh.
I was the bass player for the 'Skifflerteers'. 2 evenings a week and afternoons Saturday and Sunday we spent singing outside the pubs in Nottinghill, London W11. I worked every evening after school in Shepherds Bush market W12 and most of Saturday. With the money saved and the help of my mum we financed a Fender P Bass that had been returned by 2 previous owners who couldn't get the hang but it was less than a year old 1959.
Squier Affinity P-Bass.
$99 used.
broke and had no bass
previous owner switched pickups and knobs, also shielded it so it played great. no hum
was a steal because I didn't have to pay anything for those mods that made this bass playable
Also, since it's so cheap, I can be rough with it and don't have to worry like I would have with an expensive fancy bass
$99 used.
broke and had no bass
previous owner switched pickups and knobs, also shielded it so it played great. no hum
was a steal because I didn't have to pay anything for those mods that made this bass playable
Also, since it's so cheap, I can be rough with it and don't have to worry like I would have with an expensive fancy bass
I sold it to a good friend who was starting to do well in 1960 then waited for the first Fender Jazz bass I could afford. However I am today fixated on single coil and split Fender P's. I have 14 right now but gotta sell them before the reaper gets me
Not fair on my family! I have parts goiing back to the 60's. Last year sent Frank Allen, Bass of 'The Searchers' a white pick guard for his 54 P bass. it was still in 40 year old packing 
