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Your favorite bass, ever?

This Dingwall I let go in a moment of insanity.

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For me it would have to be my epiphone Thunderbird vintage pro it sound far far better then the gibsons since they changed the pickups from the originals to the black ones i find they dial the sound of the bird back and make it sound more smooth and creamy and thats the last thing you want in a thunderbird in my opinion
 
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As others have said, I couldn't pick just one as a favorite. That said, the black Sadowsky P5 in my avatar is my most-often-played. I own other basses that have amazing tone/looks/playability, but the Sadowsky is my go-to bass for a couple of reasons:

  • I'm a P-bass guy at heart
  • I love "bassic black" (sic)
  • It's my only well-worn bass. So, no worries if it gets one more ding on the cramped stages I usually play, and I have absolutely no hesitation about letting other bassists play it when they sit in

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P.S. I have no problem with relic basses, but the wear on this one happens to be all mine: got it brand new in April 2005. As with all basses I tried not to ding it, but once the wear started happening I decided it was OK to wear a belt while playing it.
 
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My favorite bass that I would never sell... I never sold a bass in the 33 years I've been playing! I just can't... And reading all the post here, from ppl regretting selling that special bass, I think I made the right decision.
But from all my 11 basses, I played my '96 EBMM SR5 (natural satin with maple fb) most. Or maybe my home built 4 string... Jazz neck, a Bartolini SR pickup with a self made copy of a seventies MM SR preamp, with added series/single/parallel switch. The body has an ash back, maple front and a merbau separation layer between front and back... Or my Fender '78 P-bass...
Or the two EBMM Bongo's that are currently my most played basses... And there are more... A Charvel PJ, Yamaha BEX-4, Yamaha BB fretless, Robin Machete 5, Fender Jazz Flea signature, and my travel bass: a shortscale headless Synsonics with bolted neck, that I can fit in my suitcase.
 
Unfortunately, I no longer own my favorite bass. I lost two fingertips on my right hand, twenty years ago. Because I bought into the "if you use a pick, you're not a real bass player" fallacy, I decided to sell all my bass gear and focus on the guitar.

Oh, I have basses, now and I play with pick, but I'm old enough where I don't give a fig what people think of my technique as long as they like the sound.

I told you all of that to tell you this:

I had a 1984 Ibanez Roadstar II bass (purchased brandy-new with a case for about 1/3 what my 1971 Fender P-Bass cost me in 1981 without a case.

The P-Bass was bought in a hurry (wanting "the best", I went with reputation). The Ibanez was a calculated purchase to be a back-up bass which wound up replacing the P-Bass as my primary because it sounded like the fender, but played like ... well an Ibanez.
 
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I have had more than 200 basses over the years, and to date - my all-time favorite is this 1984 Kramer, which I still own :

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Mind you, this bass was PLANNED to be superseded a month ago by a brand new custom Basslab... but it's been 13 months and the build over in Hessia is still ongoing. SO - this "Thin White Duke" holds the crown, for now! :thumbsup:

** Honorary mention, my former Rickenbacker 3000 shortscale