• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Why do you own the basses you own?

#82
Great thread. Here's my story.

1. 1978 Fender Precision Bass - My main bass from ~1994 through 2003. My father used this bass professionally from ~1978 to 1981, and had it heavily modded (electronics and brass nut). He subsequently replaced his electronics mods with stock Fender pickups. I replaced these with EMGs in 2004, and a pearloid pickguard & bridge cover. This bass is currently strung with LaBella Deep-Talkin' flatwounds, and sounds decent. It sounds okay with other strings, but not my number 1, by any means. I would unload it if it did not have sentimental value as a gift from my dad.

2. 2005 G&L L2500. A great bass. I've sanded the finish off the back of the neck, and it plays great. Currently strung with LaBella Deep-Talkin flats. I also use DR Hi Beams on it. Really powerful & aggressive. My brother said it sounds like "punching someone in the head". I keep it because I like the way it sounds & looks. A beautiful sunburst with open-gear tuners. It is essentially indesctructible. For a mid-level priced bass (bought new for $1100), it is quite good.

3. 2006 Pedulla Thunderbass - modded with bubinga control knobs & tuner pegs. One of the best feeling basses I've ever touched. The neck design is super flat and exceptionally comfortable. Given the stock Bartolini pickups, it is dark & mellow sounding. With new strings, it is bright and crisp. Definitely not as aggressive as the G&L. Definitely keeping it.

4. 2005 Pedulla Thunderbolt - maple neck (my avatar); Excellent. The ergonomics of Pedulla with more of an attack towards the G&L. This is the closest to "the bass" that I've ever played. A little too bright, but with some knob fiddling, it is much better. Definitely keeping it.


Chebass88
 
#83
1969 Hagstrom 8 string - It was my first bass. My father bought it new in 1969 in Montréal. After having spent his entire summer in Mansonville working in a lumber mill, he saved up about 200 and some dollars to buy it. It was the first good quality bass he ever had (the first was a Saturn McCartney bass from an Eatons catalogue). For at least the past decade, it had sat underneath the stairs. When I began playing, he gave it to me for my 14th birthday. I'll never part with it.

1980 pre-Dallas Schecter - My father (...though technically, it's still his) bought it new at Lilos. I believe he traded in his Fender jazz (olympic white) for it. It's got the P/J style EMG's, active electronics...Why is it still around? Because it's the best bass either of us have ever played. It plays like a dream.

2006 Musicman (Ernie Ball) Stingray fretless (it came from the factory fretless) - In high school, I joined the jazz band, and I figured I'd need a fretless bass. I wanted to get something that could get me as close to an upright bass without actually buying an upright or an acoustic fretless. I paid 800 for it. I don't have the same attachment to it as I do the first two.
 
#84
My current bass and the one I'll never part with is my American Fender P-bass Deluxe. I bought it because I got an incredible deal. $750 for this Butterscotch Blonde beauty in mint condition and I couldn't pass it up.
I love the sounds I can get out of it. With the active precision pickups as well as the active double jazz humbucker and 3 band EQ I can get any sound I want out of it. Absolutely love this bass!

full.jpg
 
#85
2008 American Standard Jazz Bass. I Just really love a good jazz bass. It is my main bass for everything i do. I've only added a hipshot d-tuner for the very rare occasions that i need a low D It is strung with either d'addario XL (45-100) D'addario Chromes (45-100) or DR sunbeams (45-105) at any given time. Currently i have sunbeams on.

1980 something p bass copy. It was my first bass and i put fender 62 reissue pickups in it. it sounds great and plays great too. Better than just about any other p bass i have ever played. Has chromes on it now but i think it will get rotosound flats soon cause i got some for christmas and didnt care for them on my jazz.

I dont intend on getting rid of them ever. The p bass copy is worth nothing and never will be but it has sentimental value to me. The jazz is just great. its been played all most every single day since i got it (as soon as the 08 was available) I like it better than other american standards I have played. The only way that bass is gunna get any down time is when i get a Jazz that i like better (perhaps vintage CS or a non-fender)
 
#86
Great thread. The Q to myself is rather, Why can I not sell the basses I own? lemme see...

JayDee Supernatural Series3 - 1987 - Because it sounds and looks unique - quirky maybe, but it's part of the charm. Because it feels great with .30. Because I've got for the longest time. pix here:
http://bassaxe.blogspot.com/2010/01/jay-dee-supernatural.html

Wal Mk1 fretless '89. Because it's one hell of a f/less. And because it cost me a '73 Fender Precision.
pix: http://bassaxe.blogspot.com/2010/01/review-his-majesty-wal.html

Wal Mk3 5er. It's one of the best 5er I have ever played, and I've played a helluvalot of them. Because I love the understated Wal class and unique sound. no pix yet, sorry.

THE Steinberger. '82. This bass can rock, funk and everything in between. It plays like many basses would just dream to. It's a plug n play wonder. Its design is a love or hate thing - which is what I like about it ;). It's like a van Gogh, there're only a few out there. If you own one you hold on to it.
pix: http://bassaxe.blogspot.com/2010/06/steinberger.html

Tobias Killer 5, '92. I don't play it that much - blame in on the Wal - and it should probably go. But it's so beautifully built that I just can't let it go.
pix: http://bassaxe.blogspot.com/2010/01/tobias-bass-killer-b-pre-gibson-5.html

The Über-Jay. Well, I built this one and it's the first prototype. It's got all I want in a bass and I love it. The next Ü-J will have to go though - and I better get used to it :bawl:
pix: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=620583&page=12

Since the Ü-J, I'm not craving for other basses. I'm fully focused on improving on my design. But I don't rule out new entries ;)
 
#87
Mine's very very simple.

I was asked to play bass in a band. I didn't own a bass. I stole my dads SR300. I love the thing. Fast neck, soooo easy to play. It's got some dimarzio model p/j's coming it's way, and i put in a push/pull to kill the boost off to save 9v power when it's on stage, plugged in, but not being played. I keep it because it's just so buttery smooth easy to play. I did eventually pay my dad back for it, in the form of an rg7321.

When I finished college the second time around and landed my amazing job in the aviation industry, my wife decided i deserved something to celebrate. I was new to bass, so I wasn't entirely sure what I was looking for in a new one. I new my sr300 was easy to play, but playing on my dads 5 string taught me i wanted a 5er. I'm kind of an Ibanez junkie, but wasn't completely closed minded to them, but thought it would give me a good place to start. I tried an sr305, and wanted a little more from the eq, picked up an sr505, and left the store with it. I love it. I wasn't ready to blow thousands on something i wasn't sure i was gonna gel with, and the neck isn't quite as fast as i was hoping for, but it beat everything else i tried.

I'm just not a vintage bass kind of guy. ricks and g&ls are just too ugly for me, fender necks can feel like 2x4's in my hands, esps suffer from the massive necks too. the only other brand i've liked so far is a handful of peavey millenniums. laklands didn't do it for me either, and there aren't any high-end stuff in my city that i've found yet. i feel like i need to try more because i don't know what i'm missing out on. but in the mean time, my ibbys are keeping me entertained.
 
#88
In a nutshell, versatility.

Gibson Les Paul Standard 5 string: Active electronics, full classic sound, and modern.

Yamaha Nathan East NE-2: Bright modern tone, 5 string.

Rickenbacker 4003: Classic P sound, or about any 'old school' tone I need

Martin B-65: Fretless Acoustic/Electric, good for everything else.
 
#89
miziomix said:
Great thread. The Q to myself is rather, Why can I not sell the basses I own? lemme see...

JayDee Supernatural Series3 - 1987 - Because it sounds and looks unique - quirky maybe, but it's part of the charm. Because it feels great with .30. Because I've got for the longest time. pix here:
http://bassaxe.blogspot.com/2010/01/jay-dee-supernatural.html

Wal Mk1 fretless '89. Because it's one hell of a f/less. And because it cost me a '73 Fender Precision.
pix: http://bassaxe.blogspot.com/2010/01/review-his-majesty-wal.html

Wal Mk3 5er. It's one of the best 5er I have ever played, and I've played a helluvalot of them. Because I love the understated Wal class and unique sound. no pix yet, sorry.

THE Steinberger. '82. This bass can rock, funk and everything in between. It plays like many basses would just dream to. It's a plug n play wonder. Its design is a love or hate thing - which is what I like about it ;). It's like a van Gogh, there're only a few out there. If you own one you hold on to it.
pix: http://bassaxe.blogspot.com/2010/06/steinberger.html

Tobias Killer 5, '92. I don't play it that much - blame in on the Wal - and it should probably go. But it's so beautifully built that I just can't let it go.
pix: http://bassaxe.blogspot.com/2010/01/tobias-bass-killer-b-pre-gibson-5.html

The Über-Jay. Well, I built this one and it's the first prototype. It's got all I want in a bass and I love it. The next Ü-J will have to go though - and I better get used to it :bawl:
pix: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=620583&page=12

Since the Ü-J, I'm not craving for other basses. I'm fully focused on improving on my design. But I don't rule out new entries ;)
Click to expand...


These basses, as well as some others mentioned by other members, sound extermely tempting to try. I have heard nothing but good thing about Wal basses, however, I have never played one. In fact, I have never had the opportunity to play any of these basses you listed. I have been practicing for over 30 years, and I think it is high time I look at some other basses (not that I dislike or am ungrateful fo what I have.)

What great thread. It is kind of like a review of all types of great basses.

Thanks to all of you for sharing.
 
#90
In order of the amount that I play them -

Fender '62 Jazz reissue - my workhorse, suits my hands well and can play most styles on it.

EBMM Sterling fretless 4 with the pickup subbed out for a Nordstrand MM 4.3 and black nylon tapewound flats - used for jazz gigs in small spaces, a killer bass that also fits my hands well.

Upton Standard upright - a plywood bass that people love, a real workhorse that has played many gigs.

Fender '78 P fretless - amazing bass, I would like to restore the ashtray with foam muting. A work in progress.

Upton Hybrid upright - a fancier bass than the Standard but tempermental - can be killer, or not.

EBMM Stingray 5 HH - if I need a fiver, this is it. A great bass, but I can't play it all the time.

Fender acoustic/electric - great practice bass.

Ibanez acoustic/electric 5 - not the greatest, but OK for practice as well

Joe Veillette fretless 5 - probably the best of all my bass guitars, but I am not worthy - seriously, it doesn't fit my hands well and it's lined, which I don't like in a fretless (I have come to realize). I should sell this one.

Fender '51 P reissue - fun bass but somewhat cheapo construction - I should sell this one too.
 
#91
I have four electric basses in the rotation atm.....

I'll usually bring two basses to gigs/rehearsals/recording, etc. One strung with flats, and another with rounds.

For my blues gig (tuned down to Eb)....
'08 Fender MIA P, strung with Chromes.
'92 Fender MIA J, with SD Antiquities, strung with D'Addario XL's

For the "other stuff" (normal tuning)
'87 G&L SB1. Typically, this has flats, but I recently threw on a set of well worn in (dead) SuperAlloys. Killer sounding bass.
'02 G&L L2K. Strung with D'Addario XL's. I may put this one on the block soon. It's a beautiful bass, but I find myself sticking with the neck pup 90% of the time. I have a HOG L1K en route ....... I love the old G&L necks, so this may replace the L2K in the rotation. If I keep the L2K, it will probably be used for lower tunings (C#, F#, B, E)

All of my basses get a hipshot thrown on.

If it wasn't for the Eb blues gig, I could see myself selling off stuff to where I was down to just a couple of basses.
 
#92
In order that I acquired them.......

ALEMBIC SERIES I 4 STRING: Bought it from Stanley Clarke when he auctioned off a lot of his gear in 2000. I'd had several Alembics by then, including 2 on hand and one on the way, but thought it would be cool to have an instrument previously owned by The Man. Still have it. Probably sees the least amount of air outside my home.

ALEMBIC SERIES II 5 STRING: This was the "one on the way". My first custom ordered bass and still my go-to instrument. It's a much better bass than I am a bassist.

MARCHLEWSKI 5 STRING: Truly one of a kind. Custom ordered to Wolfehollow's original design. Combines favorite features of several basses I have owned into one instrument. Smaller and easier to play than the Alembic 5. Wider spacing makes it easier to slap.

ROSCOE LG-3005 FRETLESS: I like to keep a fretless in my stash. This is the one.

1980 MUSIC MAN SABRE: My first new bass was a 1979 Sabre that I owned from 1979 'til 1999. In 2009, nostalgia struck hard and I went on an insane mission to find a 1979 Sabre, preferably sunburst. Found this natural finished 1980 instead. Thought it was a '79 until I took the neck off. Off the charts funk tone!

1979 MUSIC MAN SABRE: A few months after finding the 1980 natural finish Sabre, I found a 1979 Sunburst Sabre. Go figure. It's more beat up and doesn't quite sound as good as the 1980, so the 1980 stays. If I were to sell any of my basses anytime soon, this would be the likely one. More than likely I will not sell any of them. I'll pass them down to my kids.
 
#93
Because I am a bass player what the heck else would I do with all this money! Truth be told only one bass I bought because of a player and that was my Gibson Ripper saw Gene Simmons playing it here in NJ way back in early days of KISS and just had to get me one they just are looked so killer.The rest I guess their reputation, and playability, and Lastly members of TB turned me on to SX bass and I picked one up on craigslist for $75.00
 
#94
SB Dog said:
These basses, as well as some others mentioned by other members, sound extermely tempting to try. I have heard nothing but good thing about Wal basses, however, I have never played one. In fact, I have never had the opportunity to play any of these basses you listed. I have been practicing for over 30 years, and I think it is high time I look at some other basses (not that I dislike or am ungrateful fo what I have.)

What great thread. It is kind of like a review of all types of great basses.

Thanks to all of you for sharing.
Click to expand...

If we at the least lived in the same continent you could play mine ;) No other bass is like a Wal, which can be a great or a horrible thing. There is another great thread going on right now - Which bass was you biggest disappointment. Check it out. Funny they should be up at the same time ;)
 
#95
I have Been A G&L player since 1985 had a L1000, L2000 and now have a L2500 all blond with a maple neck and no fret markers. I only use Carvin Strings 5511's and on my Brice fretless, on my Carvin AC50 and Michael Kelly Club Custom I use LaBella Deep Talkin nylon wound strings. the La Bella's are good for jazz, church, and some country, the 5511's are great for rock.
I like all my basses, but nothing beats the sound of a G&L. IMHO G&L is the last of the true designs of Leo Fender. I've played more expencive basses, but none I liked betted!
 
#96
ljazz said:
I have four electric basses in the rotation atm.....

I'll usually bring two basses to gigs/rehearsals/recording, etc. One strung with flats, and another with rounds.

For my blues gig (tuned down to Eb)....
'08 Fender MIA P, strung with Chromes.
'92 Fender MIA J, with SD Antiquities, strung with D'Addario XL's

For the "other stuff" (normal tuning)
'87 G&L SB1. Typically, this has flats, but I recently threw on a set of well worn in (dead) SuperAlloys. Killer sounding bass.
'02 G&L L2K. Strung with D'Addario XL's. I may put this one on the block soon. It's a beautiful bass, but I find myself sticking with the neck pup 90% of the time. I have a HOG L1K en route ....... I love the old G&L necks, so this may replace the L2K in the rotation. If I keep the L2K, it will probably be used for lower tunings (C#, F#, B, E)

All of my basses get a hipshot thrown on.

If it wasn't for the Eb blues gig, I could see myself selling off stuff to where I was down to just a couple of basses.
Click to expand...

Awesome collection. Thanks for indicating the strings you have on each of your basses as well.

I have not sampled very many sets of strings. I do not change strings on my basses very often. When I do, I find myself sticking with basically the same brand & type I removed because (1) I know what to expect, and (2) I buy in bulk. In addition, I would not feel I got my money's worth if I purchased a set of strings and I did not like them. So, I try to do as much research on strings before I think of swapping.

Your information helps me in my future quest for different strings.


Miziomix: Thanks for the heads up on that thread. I will check it out.
 
#97
78 MIA P. Black, maple fb, Badass 2 and unknown pickup. Paid less than $200 for it.

91 MIM P. Black, rosewood fb, Badass 2 and a Seymour Duncan pup. Autographed by the members of Bullet for my Valentine.

95 MIA P. Sunburst, rosewood fb. Stock bridge and pup. Strung with Fender flats.

98 MIA P. Same as above except strung with rounds.

00 Squier P. Black, rosewood fb. Badass 2, MIA tuners and pup. Great Bass for the crappier clubs.

Valenti PJ. Lake Placid Blue, rosewood fb, Gotoh 201, Schaller tuners and Sadowsky P & J pups. Gotta have a PJ in the mix.

MIM J. Don't remember the year. Royal Blue, Badass 2 and DiMarzio DP126 pups. Sometimes I like the J feel and sound. Have been playing this one the most lately.

All the Basses except the 95 MIA are strung with D'Addario Slowounds. I bought a case before they stopped making them.
 
#98
Stingray 5HH w/ DR Lo Riders - Had a 55-02 that I LOVED. Unfortunately I could never adjust to the 35" scale and wide spacing. Did a lot of searching to see what my narrow spaced, 34" scale options were and Musicman 5's kept coming up. Played a few in Guitar Center and decided to try one. Found a gorgeous one here on TB for a decent price and went for it. Since I got it, it's been my favorite, though it's had competition.

Precision V w/ D'Addario Chromes - I always wanted a Precision but I play 5's, then Fender answered my prayers. Found a gorgeous one here on TB for a decent price and went for it. Since I got it, it has battled my Stingray for the number one position.

Warwick FNA Jazzman 5 w/ DR SunBeams - While I was in GC looking at Stingrays, I picked up a Warwick Corvette just for kicks and plugged it in. I hit one note to start tuning it and my friend and I both looked at each other and said "WOWWWWWWWWWWWW!". It sounded amazing. I eventually decided to sell a fretless Jazz I wasn't using and was looking for a Corvette of some kind or an L-2500. Found a gorgeous Warwick here one TB and went for it. I was initially kind of frustrated I couldn't get the sounds I wanted out of it but after playing with it for a while I learned the controls and am now loving it.

Each of these three has their own kind of versatility and their basic tones are also pretty different. I think they're a great combination. They give me all the tonal variety I could want and as a group I'm very happy with them. Then there's this one ...

SX SJB-62 4+1 Fretless w/ D'Addario Chromes - Wanted a cheap fretless just to try it and Santa brought me this one. Meh, it's everything you could expect in a $130 bass. The only reason I haven't sold it is because after paying to ship it to a buyer I'd net $0. Maybe one day I'll put a fretted neck on it and try other mods. To end on a positive note, I really do like the way it sounds.
 
#99
Hi!
I was given an original MIJ '98 BTB as a christmas present in my teens, and grew up playing this bass - so as a result, my hands have really adapted and set in their ways to feel at home with a 35 1/2" scale neck.
I've alsways loved Musicman Basses (coveting a Stingray), and my first shot at the real thing was my '95 Translucent Red Sterling.
Immediately, I fell in love with the Sterling, and it's the perfect oppostite, albeit perfect compliment to the BTB. I have picked up Stingrays (both old and new) since, and none feel as great as my Sterling.

The Musicman is my #1 gigging bass, while I'd love to use the BTB again - it's not really in gigging order as the bridge-saddles are rusted in pace and the neck, nut need some work.
Thanks for the great question! JOHN
 
#100
Basses_PF_web.jpg
[/IMG]​
#1: A "Tony Franklin" fretless... a great growl and alot of versatility.

#2: A "Wendler" (made by Dave Wendler) fretless with a large cedar body... much more of a tamed acoustic sound... nice.

#3: The most obvious... a '57P Mary Kay... although this is actually a Bill Nash bass with Lindy Fralin pups. How could you not have a Fender ? This is the one closest to my heart... and given the fact that it has frets... the one that I play when I'm focusing more on good-time music as opposed to more cerebral stuff.

The stick in the front is an "Ergo", made by Jesse Blue, the best EUB you can get for the dollar !
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back