• 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.

Your first bass vs. what you play now

#443
I guess it qualified as a bass... Name on the headstock was Kingston. Shaped like a 'Beatle bass' (violin), had terrible action & pickups, but was enough to learn on. I was on it every day after school, playing along with records and the radio. These days I rotate through a Dingwall AB-I five-string, Super P/J-4, Darkstar equipped G&L JB-2, and Ric 4003.
 
#444
My first bass was a cheap Vester 'Fender Jazz copy'. The first real bass I got was.... a Fender Jazz. For years and years, I never cared to try anything other than J-type basses.

One day I did, and today, my main gigging basses are P and SR basses (still have a few J's, though).
 
#445
First bass: Squier P-Bass
Now: Rickenbacker 4001

The Squier didn't sound too great but when I started out I was too happy just playing the know the difference. Love the feeling though, which is enough for me to still play it at home. Will be modifying the crap out of it soon as a fun project but mostly because deep down it was my first love and I'll never forsake it :)

The Rickenbacker is just ridiculous, I can't imagine owning a better bass based on my likes and tastes.
 
#447
spade2you said:
After seeing countless threads of my first bass was a Fender and I've been playing 'em for 30 years, how if any did your first bass influence your later basses?

My first bass was a Peavey Cirrus and it set the bar really high in a few areas, the big one was ultra low action. I had no idea the Cirrus was special, just that the action was really low. The only downside was that I struggled to find stuff that was capable of playing like a Cirrus without breaking the bank. I also developed a taste for ramps or radiused pickups. The balance and comfort was also very nice.

To this day, whenever I order a bass, I try to get it to feel like a Cirrus.


Now your turn!
Click to expand...

Why not just order a Cirrus?
 
#448
I started out on a cheap 3/4 scale encore bass when I was 11, after that I had an aria sinsinardo (travel bass), which was fantastic to play, and looked very cool, however the build quality wasn't great and I sold it. I then got into Warwicks and havn't looked back. I got my first (a streamer stage 1) when I was 16 (part birthday present, part paid for by myself and it was second hand) I then got hold of another (Streamer LX), which I picked up for a bargin £250, I sold that for more than I bought it as I was low on cash. My most recent bass has been a Streamer STD 5 string which I picked up stupidly cheap again to see if I wanted to start playing 5s, turns out I prefer 4s, still have the STD but the stage 1 is my go to bass. The only thing that really influenced me with my purchases was how they felt in my hands, I guess having started on 2 basses with very small thin necks I liked the slender necks of the warwicks.
 
#449
First bass May 2008: SX Jazz 4 string
Latest bass: Roscoe Century IV

Barely touch the Jazz anymore. Love the tone, the look (tobacco), and thin neck, hate the heavy weight and high action.

The Roscoe is lighter, sounds great, has super low action, looks cool, and is a dream to play everyday.
 
#450
I stared out playing guitar so when I eventually jumped to bass, I had a lil money in my pocket so I got a Ibanez SR 706. Which I still play today. My next was a Conklin GTBD 7. Now, I'm dreaming of a Bee or another Conklin.
 
#452
Lets see my first bass was a Cort curbow 5 string. not a bad bass at all. bartolini pup and all. but it was kinda thumpy without the slap switch on and that made it too bright. no middle ground. from that i went to a my marcus miller j bass. loved it but the neck went twisted and i could never get it right. after that went to my schecter elite diamond 5. man did they go right on that guy. it plays like a dream, looks great, and has an almost wetton tone with rotos on it. thats what i currently play although i have a bunny brunel carvin fretless sittin on stage most of the time too. and i have a yamaha attitude on its way now. Im excited to try her out.
 
#453
youngdog4 said:
... i have a yamaha attitude on its way now. Im excited to try her out.
Click to expand...

You'll love it :D One of my biggest purchasing regrets was to put one of those on layaway and then deciding to cancel the layaway. The only gripe I had about it was that the neck woofer pickup cover got in my way when I was playing slap-style, but I probably could chalk it up to my fat fingers not fitting between the strings and the cover, hehe. But for a fully passive instrument, WAAAY huge volume and tone!!
 
#455
My first bass was a Hofner copy. Kent I believe. I bought new in '68. I'm not sure what ever happened to it. Next was a '68 Tele that I put a humbucker in. Seen the refit article in a magazine in '70 or '71. A few to follow after that was an Ampeg fretlass, '73 P. and a '69 P.
 
#457
spiritbass said:
I guess it qualified as a bass... Name on the headstock was Kingston. Shaped like a 'Beatle bass' (violin), had terrible action & pickups, but was enough to learn on. I was on it every day after school, playing along with records and the radio. These days I rotate through a Dingwall AB-I five-string, Super P/J-4, Darkstar equipped G&L JB-2, and Ric 4003.
Click to expand...

My first was a Kingston, too. It was a jazz bass copy that I bought for $78. Now I play a Tobias Toby & an Ibanez Roadstar II
 
#458
My first bass was an Ibanez GSR 200, in piano white. I never realised that the action and neck were that great until I played other basses! Will probably whack some better pickups in it at some point.

My current (and 2nd) bass is a 2001 MIM Precision. Got it for basically half price, due to it being second hand - perfect condition!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back