Your first bass vs. what you play now

[Salicete]

My first bass was a no-name Telecaster bass copy, and it had no real impact on how or what I play now; however, the 1977 Fender Precision that I received from my parents shortly thereafter did.

It was all black with a maple neck and brand spanking new. I still vividly remember opening the case, even the "new bass odor" that wafted out as the case opened.

I was highly pissed that Victor Litz Music hijacked the case candy before they gave it to me and then denied the theft. The parents didn't know to go to Veniman Music or Chuck Levin's back then....they would not have hijacked the goodies, but I digress.

It was the first nice bass I had ever played, and I have been playing Fenders ever since. Nothing else feels right in my hands.

 

[Tom Howland]

First Bass
1966 Gibson EBO
Now.
1970-Fretless P-Bass.

 

[vin*tone]

My first bass was a cheapy short scale EB3 copy.
Now mostly upright.

 

[huckleberry1]

My 1st was a Fender P, horrifically bad bass, within the last couple of years I bought a new American Fender P-5, play it with flats, mute & pick.
My main axe is a MIM Fender Jazz Deluxe with Nordstrand nj5s pickups and a John East J- Retro installed, it's a tone monster played thru an Ampeg SVT VR & a Bergantino CN 212...

 

[basschanges]

first: ibanez sr 300

now: better stuff

 

[drummer5359]

My first bass was one of these...

It is a 1972 Tele Star (Teisco). First of all, it wasn't merely short scale, it was kid sized. It was bought at a "Murphy's Mart" which was similar to K Mart or Walmart... The action was set ridiculously high.

It made a drummer out of me. It was a long time before I even wanted to think about playing bass after THAT thing.

What do I play today?

Mostly P-basses.

I still like burst finishes...

 

[ctbassman]

Mine was a Squier P-Bass, at that time I didn't know the difference between a P or a J, a neck through or bolt on, it was within my price range, plugged it in at the music store... Cool!!! Sounds like a bass.... I'll take it!!! Currently playing a Sadowsky Vintage 4.

 

[Mike Sorr]

My first bass was a Cort Jazz copy that looked just like a Geddy Lee Jazz Bass with a bound maple neck and black block inlays. I think that was around 1980 or 81. My main bass today...a Geddy Lee Jazz Bass with a bound maple neck and black block inlays. I wish I still had the Cort just for nostalgia. That Cort must have weighed 12 pounds.

 

[huckleberry1]

I don't even know what brand my first bass was. It was a hollowbody teardrop bass, red, that my parents me got for my birthday back when I was in college, around 1968. They paid $99 for it. I went from college to the Army and Vietnam, but the Service Clubs in the military seemed to have plenty of basses to use, and I continued use those until I got out of the Army in 1972 and bought my own Fender Precision.

Thank you for your service!

 

[crucislancer]

My first bass was a Japanese made Cort Jazz copy that looked just like a Geddy Lee Jazz Bass with a bound maple neck and black block inlays. I think that was around 1980 or 81. My main bass today...a Geddy Lee Jazz Bass with a bound maple neck and black block inlays. I wish I still had the Cort just for nostalgia. That Cort must have weighed 12 pounds.

I had one of those, except it had a sunburst finish. It was my second bass.

My first bass was an Epiphone Power Bass, got it brand new in 1988. In a way it reminded me of a Charvel bass, it had that pointed, in-line headstock that was common in the 80's. Black finish, P+J pickups, Volume/Volume/Tone. String-thru body bridge with big string saddles. Not a great bass but good to learn on.

Current bass: I play Jazz basses now, a Geddy Lee and a Mexican I assembled from a couple of different basses and aftermarket parts. I went through a lot of different brands before I settles on the Jazz bass.

 

[telecopy]

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!

I wish I'd kept my first bass (actually every bass). It was a Gibson EB-?. Hollow, double cut, sunburst, one fat neck pickup. Mud, mud, mud from my Kustom 15 inch combo. Filled the garage, though. Imagine a sloppy "Roundabout" with that muddy thing! Now I have a MIM P. Works fine, lasts a long time.

 

[Mark_70]

1) Hohner POS PJ bass. Sold it and got # 2.
2) Yamaha BB3000A - that was a big improvement! Great rock-bass. Sold it and got # 3.
3) Warwick Streamer w/ Bartolini's - I liked both the sound and the additional frets and (most important) the size of the neck much better. Wanted a fretless so took classes and made #4.
4) Home-made fretless w/ walnut body, ebony fingerboard, EMG pu's.

1-4 all happened between '85 and '95
Then nothing changed (just had # 3 and # 4 until about three months ago)

5) Bought an EBMM Sterling. MAN WHAT A SOUND THIS BEAST HAS..!

So no, I don't miss the first one. I think it was okay-ish, considering it only cost 200 bucks or so.

Regards
Mark

 

[Tbone76]

I started on an Ibanez AEB10 acoustic/electric so that I didn't need to buy an amp right away. Now I have 2 Fender P's and a Stingray 4H.

 

[Joeynone]

My first bass was a bronze series BC Rich Virgin bass in yellow.... It was so cool when I was 15!!!! Now I play a custom shop Stingray5 with piezo, a 5 strong Bongo, a Gibson Thunderbird and a Ric4003... What a difference!

 

[punkjazzben]

My first bass was was a deep red Torch precision bass, with a laminated maple neck and fingerboard, white pickguard and pup covers, and a matching red headstock. It was actually a pretty cool bass.

I now play mainly double bass, and my current main electric bass is a G&L L2500 (though maybe it's too soon... I've only had the L2.5k for just over a week).

 

[klejst]

Fender Precision standard bass vs. the Epiphone Thunderbird I use now, love both

 

[jonnybass1]

My first bass was an Ibanez sr200dx I think the model was.
I had many different brands mostly Fender and Ibanez throughout the years.

But for the last several years I have been playing my Warwick Corvette and Jazzman short scales.

 

[_sky_]

My first bass was a Ibanez Ex Series in second hand. Today I still have the bass but with a fretless neck since the other neck had a problem and became irrecoverable. So know I play with a Fretless ibanez Ex Series and a Fender Squier with seymour duncan pinckups.

 

[kbakerde]

My first bass was a used Yamaha BB20 or something. I got it as a gift in high school cause it was availalbe and cheap (I think my parents got it for like $100). However it did the job even though only one pickup worked.

Didn't have any real bearing on what I play now other than I actually play cause of that guitar. I have 1 Jazz, 1 Warwick and a P Bass on the way.

 

[MN_Bass]

Then: Silvertone P Bass
Now: US Lakland Bob Glaub PJ