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Your Four Basses Forever

#41
I already own 3 keepers (75P, 75J & a late 90s Hamer 2TEK Cruise). I don't know what I would want as a 4th although a Pre EB Sabre would be at the top of the list. A mid 70s P bass with the maple fretless fingerboard would also get serious consideration. But I'm on a self-imposed spending freeze for no other reason than I want to hang on to more of my $. Every now and again I think its a healthy exercise to make myself live without some of my discretionary spending just to see if I can and still be just as happy. I'm pleased with the 3 basses I have so no NBD for me in 2017.
 
#44
Nephilymbass said:
i was just using those as examples of nice flamed maple with the colors id get. Which yes PRS does a great job using good flamed maple and their stains. But No PRS basses just aren't me.
Click to expand...
I know, it was pretty clear. I can't picture one of those nu metal basses in anything other than black though. But thanks for the PRS 10 top porn. I like those.
 
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#45
- Fender Precision CS 59 Heavy Relic in some recognizable color, like Shell pink, Frost Gold, Lime Green...
- Sadowsky Jazz 5 string... NYC preferably, so I won't get caught by the GAS bug later on to upgrade
- Fbass AC signature 6 string to learn fretless bass
- Not sure about the 4th...maybe a Wal MK2 5 string for its peculiar tone and its versatility
 
#46
ubernator said:
I know, it was pretty clear. I can't picture one of those nu metal basses in anything other than black though. But thanks for the PRS 10 top porn. I like those.
Click to expand...
Maybe this will help.

This is the now discontinued dk-5. There's the green right there. I'm just not that into the burst and the pyramid inlays
IMG_1707.JPG

Here's an f shape guitar without a flamed maple top in blue
IMG_1706.JPG
And they have a cheap f bass in white. But I want it transparent white instead so the wood grain is visable
IMG_1708.JPG
here's the black/gray but again with a burst that i wouldn't want.
IMG_1709.JPG

When I think of nu metal It reminds me of a different brand. Mainly Warwick
IMG_1711.JPG
IMG_1710.JPG
IMG_1712.JPG
and yeah I've actually owned a few warwicks
IMG_0118.JPG
IMG_0119.JPG
IMG_0122.JPG
 
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#47
1968ish EB-2dc. Dimarzio One pickup instead of the mudbucker. I already have it.
1991 Thunderbird. All chromed out with covers so it looks like a vintage 'Bird. Already have that one.
2001 Thunderbird. Bone stock and pure magic. Already have that one, too.
2013 Gibson EB. Black pickguard instead of the salami-loaf pickguard. Well, what do you know - I already have that one, too.

Left out but only barely - 2010 RW Precision, fretless 'Bird, 2015 'Bird, Epiphone bolt-on 'Bird. I play the 2015 'Bird all the time, so it's pretty tough to leave out, and the other two are keepers, given the chance. They all get played.
 
#48
Alembic Series II Europa 5 string, superb cocobolo top, 5a quilted maple back
Alembic Series I Elan body 5 string, solid maple core, burl redwood top and back
Alembic series II Short scale Stanley Clarke Style, cocobolo top, madagascar ebony back, vermillion core
Alembic Series II Elan Long scale bass, 5a quilted maple top, maple core and african blackwood back
 
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#49
1. Fender American Standard P-Bass, sunburst with tortoiseshell guard, rosewood jazz neck.
2. Rickenbacker 4003S, Mapleglo, strung with flats.
3. Fender American Standard P-Bass, natural finish, tortoiseshell guard, rosewood jazz neck.
4. Fender American Vintage '74 Jazz Bass, sunburst, rosewood fretboard, strung with flats.
 
#50
Nephilymbass said:
Maybe this will help.

This is the now discontinued dk-5. There's the green right there. I'm just not that into the burst and the pyramid inlays View attachment 993451
Here's an f shape guitar without a flamed maple top in blue
View attachment 993452 And they have a cheap f bass in white. But I want it transparent white instead so the wood grain is visable View attachment 993453here's the black/gray but again with a burst that i wouldn't want. View attachment 993455
When I think of nu metal It reminds me of a different brand. Mainly WarwickView attachment 993461View attachment 993462 View attachment 993463and yeah I've actually owned a few warwicks View attachment 993464View attachment 993465 View attachment 993466
Click to expand...
OK you pwned me there. I am pretty narrow minded when it comes to ltd and schechter (fender copies excluded) basses and equate them with nu-metal. Not a fan of that F shape so I don't pay attention. The black one just seemed natural for a shape like that. I guess it screams more black metal than nu metal, but I didn't want to say black metal because there I picture more extreme shapes like warlocks, vampyres, convoluted Vs and the like, and the F shape is tame in comparison. So true about nu metal guys playing Warwicks, but that isn't why I like then, I got into them because of norwood, dirk lance, p nut, and some local bands (barret of dial seven) of course those bands were usually on the bill with nu metal bands anyway back in the late 90s. I also rarely bust out a wick unless it is a metal or modern/90s alternative type band band. Every time I tried to shoehorn a wick into a band that was more suited to the fender vibe, it didn't end well ;)

So I own 3 of each.
 
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#51
ubernator said:
OK you pwned me there. I am pretty narrow minded when it comes to ltd and schechter (fender copies excluded) basses and equate them with nu-metal. Not a fan of that F shape so I don't pay attention. The black one just seemed natural for a shape like that. I guess it screams more black metal than nu metal, but I didn't want to say black metal because there I picture more extreme shapes like warlocks, vampyres, convoluted Vs and the like, and the F shape is tame in comparison. So true about nu metal guys playing Warwicks, but that isn't why I like then, I got into them because of norwood, dirk lance, p nut, and some local bands (barret of dial seven) of course those bands were usually on the bill with nu metal bands anyway back in the late 90s. I also rarely bust out a wick unless it is a metal or modern/90s alternative type band band. Every time I tried to shoehorn a wick into a band that was more suited to the fender vibe, it didn't end well ;)

So I own 3 of each.
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People associate basses with what they see. I used to feel that way about ESPs crazier shapes. First time i saw the f shape was probably Jeremy Marshall having them in post grundge band Cold music videos. And that band used to have a goth look. But yeah Danny from Suicide silence uses them. Bass player from cattle decapitation uses them also. I actually play mostly hard rock these days lol. Recorded our most metal album with the thumb nt5.
Red Sky Constellation - EP by Nephilym
Link Removed
Actually went more hard rock after that.
 
#52
Nephilymbass said:
People associate basses with what they see. I used to feel that way about ESPs crazier shapes. First time i saw the f shape was probably Jeremy Marshall having them in post grundge band Cold music videos. And that band used to have a goth look. But yeah Danny from Suicide silence uses them. Bass player from cattle decapitation uses them also. I actually play mostly hard rock these days lol. Recorded our most metal album with the thumb nt5.
Red Sky Constellation - EP by Nephilym
Link Removed
Actually went more hard rock after that.
Click to expand...
Back on topic, you get 4, do you really want 4 of the same in different colors? Should be at least one wick in there. Personally I refuse to pick 4 because I need a backup for every type, and I use more than 2 types. If the hypothetical free maintainance also was a mystical guarantee of never breaking a string or failing at a gig, my 4 would be from my stable, no dream basses.

Fender 1998 american standard jazz or 1998 geddy Lee jazz (tough choice but can only pick one jazz to make room for others)

Fender 2000 american standard precision

Warwick 2000 FNA

Warwick 2000 FNA 5
 
#55
Just one--the '77 P-bass with Warmoth fretless neck that I bought in 1984 and was stolen from our house three years ago. Will the little methead that broke in get either a guilty conscience or be frustrated enough with trying to play fretless to leave it outside our door some night?
 
#56
ubernator said:
Back on topic, you get 4, do you really want 4 of the same in different colors? Should be at least one wick in there. Personally I refuse to pick 4 because I need a backup for every type, and I use more than 2 types. If the hypothetical free maintainance also was a mystical guarantee of never breaking a string or failing at a gig, my 4 would be from my stable, no dream basses.

Fender 1998 american standard jazz or 1998 geddy Lee jazz (tough choice but can only pick one jazz to make room for others)

Fender 2000 american standard precision

Warwick 2000 FNA

Warwick 2000 FNA 5
Click to expand...
I had so many issues with the warwicks I had. They just didn't like the humidity here in NC. Constantly had to work to keep the necks playable. I had to replace the jack on all of them within a few months. I had to order bridge and nut parts from Dana b goods and after Warwick parted ways with Dana b goods customer service took a massive nose dive. Also the ESP sounds better for the dirtier tones I use now (I use a sans amp RBI, b7kU, and a darkglass duality fuzz). When I played warwicks I was more into cleaner tones.

I really do like the f shape. Have you ever held one? Do you know how spectors and some warwicks like thumbs and streamers have that curved shape? The ESP f shape is actually shaped like a wedge and I personally find it very comfortable for me. Here's a picture that might better show the shape.
IMG_1766.JPG
There's not many other basses shaped like that and not only is it very comfortable but the bass stays in place much better. All the warwicks I had had neck dive issues. And the fna and corvette in particular were so light they would flop around if I popped the d or g string and didn't hold the bass down with my forearm. The thumb basses were heavier and didn't have that issue so much but were even worse when it came to neck dive.

Also you should check out ESP at a namm show some day. Their custom stuff is pretty amazing.the stuff on the ESP website is terrible by comparison
 
#57
Luckily I think I'm at that point:

Fodera Yin Yang Deluxe 4 - have had this for going on 5 years and it continues to be my best sounding bass. Chambered walnut body ftw.
Rob Allen Deep 4 - As others noted above, Rob's basses have their own thing going on, and I love it. Nothing can replace what it does.
Smith fretless 5/fretted 5 - Smiths can sound like a P-bass with an attitude problem, and that's what I use it for. The fretless covers the more "modern" application, but truth be told it also covers most of the fretted region. I can just play the fretless when I want a 5 about 95% of the time. Really the only time I miss the frets is when I'm trying to comp chords and want the low B for a walking bassline up the neck.
 
#58
1. Modulus TBX-6 (but a modern one with wider string spacing than the one I've got; with Barts, natch)
2..6 string Alembic fretless but a higher model with more electronics than the Epic I have now.
3. Fretless G&L USA L2500 (Just like I have now, but unlined rather than lined like mine)
4. This one is tough. Probably some sort of 5 string Fender J or P bass maybe by a boutique builder like Lull,custom shop, etc.
 
#59
Fender American Standard Jazz 4 in Jade Pearl Metallic with maple fingerboard

Sadowsky Jazz 5 in Bora Blue Burst, quilted maple top, and flamed maple fingerboard

MTD 635 with figured top, hand-rubbed green burst stain, and birdseye maple fingerboard

Fretless F-bass 5 with spalted top, ebony fingerboard, and pau ferro inlaid fretlines
 

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