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Your BASS History

I had a used Ric my dad got me in high school after I had been playing bass about a year. I ended going in more of a Fender direction, so eventually sold it. I wish I still had it ... because my dad has not let me live it down to this day. Really. Like, he mentioned it when I was talking with him on the phone this weekend.
Live it down? Like it was a moral failing on your part or you gave it away in trade for some Candy?
 
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As per usual, I'm late to the party! :rolleyes:

There are only a few instruments I regret letting go. Two were because of "financial difficulties", so that could be chalked up to bad luck, but one could only be blamed on a "boneheaded, GAS-fueled bass trade". :facepalm:

The former two were a Fender-Japan Limited Edition "All-Black" Jazz bass and a Fender American Standard Jazz in Jade Green Metallic, both of which I got for great prices. Fantastic ergonomic fits for me, as well. If it hadn't been necessary, I would still have both. :crying:

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The bad trade was for an early, first-generation Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazz. Not only did it sound and feel stupendous, punching miles above it's weight, but it was a helluva find. I nabbed it when Best Buy was liquidating their Musical Instruments department. Somewhere along the way, a store about an hour from me failed to put it up on display, so it never moved and just sat in it's original box, tucked away in the bowels of the Inventory warehouse.

Big picture; I got a five or six year-old CV '60s Jazz that hadn't seen the light of day since it shipped that was flippin' great AND at a considerable discount! :greedy:

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Back then, GAS had a much greater sway over me, so, like an idiot, I traded it for a Squier Mikey Way Mustang bass. If anything, it taught me how much I prefer two-pickup basses over single pup instruments....but that is some cold-ass comfort! :bored:
 
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Here’s my bass history-

Current Stable
Schecter Raiden Special-4 (current #1)
Ibanez AEB5E Acoustic-Electric

Previously Owned (The ones I miss are in bold)
Fender BG-31 Acoustic-Electric
SX SPB-62 LPB Fretless Precision Bass
Squier Standard Precision Bass V
Squier Affinity Jazz Bass V
Squier Affinity Precision Bass 20th Anniversary Edition
Squier Affinity Precision Bass
Squier Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz
Ibanez Soundgear GSR200
Ibanez Roadstar II RB630
Sterling by Music Man SUB Ray5

I’m very happy with my two current 4-strings. I’ve had the Ibanez since December 2012 and the Schecter since July 2014. It’s almost like they’ve stayed the longest for a reason.
 
This list is what I have owned since 1968 when I started playing . The only basses I would want back are the Guild Starfire II and the Ric . The basses I have now are all I need or want , the Guild and Ric would be fun to use on some of the tunes my band plays , I know I loved the sound and playability of both those basses . I've had some awesome higher end basses and some cheap basses that were pretty good too but my current stable works for me .

Ibanez SR1205e
Fender American Standard jazz 5
Carvin B50
Squier VM Pbass 5
Squier VM Jazz 5
Ibanez SR 1405 Premium
Squier Deluxe Active Jazz 5
Yamaha BB425
Peavey Foundation 5
Yamaha BB605
Peavey Fury 5
Peavey TL5
Fender 03 American Deluxe Jazz 5 with Nordstrands
SX Jazz 4 string
Lakland 5502
MTD Z 5
Lakland JO5
4 SX Jazz 5s
SX P/J
86 Guild Pilot 5
Schecter Elite 5
Cirrus 4
Fender American Jazz Deluxe 4
Millenium 5 standard US
2 Millenium 5 plus US
Yamaha BB 2000
Carvin LB76
MIM Jazz deluxe 4
MTD Kingston 5
Pedulla Rapture 5
Kabucki Key Factor 5
Fender standard Jazz MIM
Kramer Aluminum neck bass
76 Fender Jazz
73 Ric 4003
60's Guild Starfire II
60's Gibson EB3
60's Framus hollowbody
Conrad Beatle bass
 
$1,000.
I really want this one...$1,500...but I'm a little worried about the crack in the wenge pickguard.
View attachment 5478166
View attachment 5478167

I wouldn't spend that much money
unless I could be absolutely positively sure the crack is. ,,,
Ya know what ?
I wouldn't buy it if there was a crack , no matter where or how small the crack looks or actually is ,
on the bass .
I'd wanna see it without the pickguard on , to make sure the crack is not ??
Nah I wouldn't take a chance
I'd keep looking for a bass , a bass with NO cracks
Ya know what I mean ?
 
The funny thing is, Bacchus recommends not removing the control panel, but they don't mention the pickguard.

Although the control panel has been strengthened in advance, it may be damaged if handled in the same manner as conventional metal or resin products. Please be careful when handling the control panel.
 
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This list is what I have owned since 1968 when I started playing . The only basses I would want back are the Guild Starfire II and the Ric . The basses I have now are all I need or want , the Guild and Ric would be fun to use on some of the tunes my band plays , I know I loved the sound and playability of both those basses . I've had some awesome higher end basses and some cheap basses that were pretty good too but my current stable works for me .

Ibanez SR1205e
Fender American Standard jazz 5
Carvin B50
Squier VM Pbass 5
Squier VM Jazz 5
Ibanez SR 1405 Premium
Squier Deluxe Active Jazz 5
Yamaha BB425
Peavey Foundation 5
Yamaha BB605
Peavey Fury 5
Peavey TL5
Fender 03 American Deluxe Jazz 5 with Nordstrands
SX Jazz 4 string
Lakland 5502
MTD Z 5
Lakland JO5
4 SX Jazz 5s
SX P/J
86 Guild Pilot 5
Schecter Elite 5
Cirrus 4
Fender American Jazz Deluxe 4
Millenium 5 standard US
2 Millenium 5 plus US
Yamaha BB 2000
Carvin LB76
MIM Jazz deluxe 4
MTD Kingston 5
Pedulla Rapture 5
Kabucki Key Factor 5
Fender standard Jazz MIM
Kramer Aluminum neck bass
76 Fender Jazz
73 Ric 4003
60's Guild Starfire II
60's Gibson EB3
60's Framus hollowbody
Conrad Beatle bass

I've been to 100s of guitar shops , but I've been to only 1 "BASS GUITARS only" shop .
I'm sure you're aware of the fact that
Your list of BASSES is exactly that.
a BASS GUITAR shop.
:? )
 
I lost count after the first 100 (seriously, I had a list up until that point). The ones currently in the stable are:
  • 1973 Gibson SB-350
  • 1974 Gibson L9-S "The Ripper"
  • 1980 Greco TB-900 Thunderbird
  • 1982 Aria Pro II CSB-450
  • 1982 Steinberger L-2
  • 1985 Guild SB-602 Pilot
  • 1989 Squier II Precision
  • 1999 Warwick Streamer Standard
  • 2004 MTD Kingston Artist 5
  • 2018 Squier Active Jazz Bass
  • 2020 Warmoth Precision Custom
The ones in bold are the keepers I can never sell. The rest, like the hundred + before them, come and go like the tide ...
 
Long post warning!

Started on a Memphis P bass copy that belonged to the church where my dad pastored. Very good Japanese bass, most likely made in the Matsumoku factory. Would like to have another.

At 17, finally able to buy my own bass, seduced by the Peavey Monitor magazine, bought a black/rosewood T-40. Made of neutronium. Dozens of tones, most of them unusable. Bought another one a few years ago for nostalgic reasons. Traded the original for...

Electra Westone Spectrum PJ bass. Decent bass, lightweight. Later stripped off the finish and defretted and installed EMGs (my Jaco phase), still later, stolen by a meth head.

Westone Quantum. Headless Steinberger knockoff. Bought another for nostalgic reasons about 20 years ago.

Electra Westone x695BK. Came with a fretted and fretless neck. Still have it, fretted neck was on the bass that got stolen.

Westone Pantera 5 string. Beautiful bass, clublike neck with narrow string spacing, neck heavy. All of the bad things about early affordable 5 string basses. Didn't sound good either. Bought another one last week for nostalgic reasons. I'm a glutton for punishment.

Peavey Foundation. This is the bass I should have bought when I bought my first bass. Great sounding, value priced bass. Was my main bass for a few years.

Ibanez SR506. My first six string, and the first bass with more than 4 strings that I bonded with. Was my main bass for several years.

CIJ Fender Jazz Geddy Lee. I always loved the tuxedo finish Jazz with black blocks and maple. I saw this one in a local store, and played it for a couple of hours. Finally decided to ask how much, and the store owner said "Oh, that Geddy Lee signature model?" I didn't know such a thing even existed, he showed me the signature on the back of the headstock. Geddy was my main inspiration for dedicating myself to bass. Of course I had to buy it.

Zon Sonus Custom fretless 5. Beautiful bass. Amazing tone. Piezo bridge, Bart humbuckers, and Polyfusion preamp. Joe's basses are all great, but his fretlesses are magical. I've never played a better fretless, and I've played them all. My main fretless for 25 years now.

Pedulla Rapture J2 5 with 19mm spacing. Gorgeous Jazz style bass. Great B string. Just couldn't get on with the dark sounding Barts and Bart preamp. Sold it. Would like another, but since Mike retired, the price on Pedullas has gone through the roof.

Peavey Cirrus 6 tigereye. Lovely 6 string, led to my selling my Ibanez 6 to a friend. My main 6.

Nordstrand SC5. My main bass. This is one of the finest instruments that I've ever played, at any price. I bonded with this bass, it's like an extension of my body. I've played very few that equal it, and none that surpass it. If I ever have to sell everything and keep one, this is the one.

Hamer CH12. I've been a fan of King's X and Galactic Cowboys since 1990. When Guitar Center blew these out one year for $299, I bought one. Used it in my Christian rock band for a few songs for many years.

SX BG80. Bought this back when SX was the hot cheap bass on Talkbass years ago. Decent P bass copy. Strung up with flatwounds for that old school P bass vibe.

Lakland D55-01. My wife gets excited about playing an instrument on occasion, we buy her one, and then she loses interest. I like this one so much that I traded her an Xbox for it when she quit practicing. Great backup 5 string.

Peavey T-40. Bought another one of these when they were the sexy retro bass everybody wanted, and immediately remembered why I traded the one I owned in my youth. Heavy, bad ergonomics, a million tones, most of them unusable.

Westone Quantum. Another purchase for nostalgic reasons. Great little headless bass. I take it with me when I fly. I've even played it in an airport on a long layover a couple of times. 😎🎸

Olympia Thunderchief import version. My wife's second go round of learning bass. It's still "hers", but I've played it way more than she has. I don't think she's played it in 20 years. I play it a few times a year.

Electra Phoenix x630n. My pawn shop prize. Actually bought it at a local music store, after Christmas a few years ago for $69. It was strung up with LaBella black tapewounds that coat more than I paid for the bass lol. Put those on my Electra fretless and strung this one up with steel roundwounds for that 70's rock Pbass vibe.

Nordstrand Nordy vJ5. Ever since I sold my Pedulla, I've wanted a 5 string Super Jazz. I really like this one, but I'm still not sure it's a keeper.

Westone Pantera. Bought another one of these, for nostalgic reasons.

Family photo

These last two didn't make the family photo.

Nordstrand Nordy vJ5

And on the way, just purchased for my second go round, Westone Pantera.
 

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Remember The Bass guitars
You got rid of that you wish you still had.
I owned a 1980 Ric 4001 when I was in college and in my early 20s. It was my first ever big purchase after graduating high school and getting my first job. I traded it for a 1972 Fender Jazz Bass after 5 years of ownership. I owned the Jazz Bass for another 5 years before trading it for my 2022 Ric 4003, which I still own and love. I sometimes wish I still had my old 4001, but if I didn't trade it, I wouldn't have my current 4003, which is a much better constructed and better sounding bass.

Here's all the basses I've ever owned:
1. 2008 Squier Jazz
2. 2010 Ibanez SR 405 (traded for #5)
3. 1970s Ibanez Lawsuit Copy P Bass (sold)
4. 1980 Ric 4001 (traded for #8 - see above)
5. 2012 Epiphone SG Bass (sold)
6. 2012 Ric 4003
7. Jay Turser ABG (sold)
8. 1972 Fender Jazz (traded for #11 - see above)
9. 2015 MIA Fender Jazz Bass V (sold)
10. 2021 MIA Fender Precision (trying to sell it locally)
11. 2022 Ric 4003

The basses in bold are keepers.
 
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My bass history as of today.
Present to past.




AIO 6W six string.Walnut/Mahogany.
Ibanez EHB1506MS fanned fret six string.Poplar Burl/Mahogany
Tune TWB63OB fretted six string.Ovangkol/mahogany.
Tune TWB63OB fretless six string.Ovangkol/mahogany. Fusion,Jazz,Progressive Rock/Metal,New Age,Celtic.String Quartet Classical
NS/Stick walnut/bamboo
Ibanez BTB676 fretted six string.Walnut/Ash.
G Style YG100-F6 fretted six string.Zebrawood?/mahogany.
LTD D6 six string bass
Brice HXB-406
Wolf WTHB-7W
Washburn Taurus T-14NMK ?
Washburn Taurus T-25NMK,Nat C
Aria FEB FL/N Fretless ABG.Nat C
Dean Sledgehammer 5,Nat K
Tune TWB63WN six string bass.Nat K
Harmonia six string acoustic electric bass guitar.Nat C
ESP LTD B1006(owned for a month).Nat K
Cort Curbow 5,"Burl",K
Schecter Stilletto Extreme 5.Black Cherry
Traben John Moyer 5.Black
Washburn CB15,Nat
Krappy Touchstyle 12 string.Nat
Tune TWB63 fretless(still have)Nat
Tune TWB63 Fretted.Nat
Washburn Taurus T-25,and T-24.NMK.Nat
Warwick Corvette.Nat
Cort Curbow 5 in Black.
Washburn T-14 Experiment.Nat
Fender P-Bass Lyte Deluxe.Nat
Washburn XB500.Trans Blue
Aria Pro II Cat Bass.Red
Aria SB Elite1.White
'79 "Walnut"finish Pre Ernie Ball Music Man Sabre was my very first bass bought in 1980
 
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A guitar player here, bass is only my second instrument
90s I bought a white PJ Aria bass don't recall the exact model but it was about 5-600$can got sold at some point
2006 bought a Peavey Grind NTB 5 strings as I wanted to get back a bass and explore playing a 5 stringer.
2021 sold the Peavey as I wanted to get back to 4 strings then bought a Godin Passion RG4
2024 in spring sold the Godin Passion RG4 to finance my current Ric 4003SW as now was the right time to finally get a Ric after all those years of longing for one.
I don't see myself selling that one as it got everything I like about a bass tone being a 70's proghead
 
I'll play

In Bold = still got
😉 = On loan to other people (mostly my son or his girlfriend - probably never getting back)
In italics = no longer with me

Piece of junk no name Rickenbacker copy
No name bitsa jazz
BC Rich Warlock
Peavey Millennium
Spector Legend 4
Squier JV 1962 Pricision😉
Jim Reed (Warwick copy)

Fender MIM precision
Revelation RLB (Les Paul Triumph copy)
Epiphone EBO
Aviation B-300
Ibanez SRX360 😉
Ibanez SR305 😉

Squier Bass VI
Harley Benton PB-50 SB
Harley Benton JB-75 NA
Harley Benton MM-84A SB
Harley Benton TB-70 SBK
Squier Paranormal 54 Jazz
Peavey C-4 Zephyr #1
Peavey C-4 Zephyr #2
Peavey C-5 Zephyr
Harley Benton BZ-5000 Deluxe 😉
Peavey C-4 Zephyr (bolt on neck)

Burns Marquee Club
SX SWB-1 😉
Stagg Fusion FL-40 Fretless 😉
Tanglewood Canyon II 😉

Vintage V-4 Reissued
Vintage V-4 Reissued BLK "The Rocker"
Vintage V-4 Reissued TB (Tony Butler Signature)
Squier Paranormal Rascal

Harley Benton PB-50 FR LH (Right Hand Conversion)
Harley Benton PB-50 FR
Ibanez SRX-500
Harley Benton JJ-45OP
Cort Artisan Space 4
Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster

Harley Benton JP-55OP (waiting on delivery)
 

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