Your opion on the most iconic bass ever

[hopsbb]

Me and a friend of mine were discussing this yesterday and for me when I think iconic bass guitar I can't help but think of Paul McCartney and his Hofner more so than anything else.I'm a huge Beatles and Hofner fan.What bass comes to mind when you think of the one bass that stands out as the most iconic ever?

 

[RED J]

It's hard not to think of the mighty P bass, a lot of the early ground in electric bass was cut on these simple muscular monsters.

 

[Gorn]

I don't really think it's a matter of opinion. The Fender Precision bass was the first electric bass guitar with widespread use and recognition. 64 years later it's the most popular type of electric bass guitar.

 

[NeonVomit]

Gotta be the P-bass. It was the first one ever, and so many of all of our heroes played or still play them. I don't own one and I'm not a super fan of it myself, but credit where it's due. I picked up the bass because of Steve Harris and that's what he plays.

 

[hopsbb]

Gotta be the P-bass. It was the first one ever, and so many of all of our heroes played or still play them. I don't own one and I'm not a super fan of it myself, but credit where it's due. I picked up the bass because of Steve Harris and that's what he plays.

Same here,Steve Harris is why I started too.

 

[conqr]

P Bass imho as well. It just keeps on keeping on, appealing to generation after generation of players with it's simple, in your ears and/or gut electronics. That's an icon.

 

[hopsbb]

For the record,the p bass wasn't the first electric bass guitar.Most widely popular and mass produced yes,but not the first.

 

[Bobthedog]

Whilst my bass history may be poor, it has to be the P Bass. The first one to take on the upright (AFAIK) and win and therefore the one. There may be better bass guitars but the P is where it started so it gets my vote.

 

[superdick2112]

I don't really think it's a matter of opinion. The Fender Precision bass was the first electric bass guitar with widespread use and recognition. 64 years later it's the most popular type of electric bass guitar.

The Fender P was so widespread & recognized that for years after its introduction, an electric bass from any manufacturer was commonly referred to as a "Fender bass".

As for iconic artist basses, Macca's Hofner & Jameson's P come to mind...

 

[Bob_Ross]

Depends who you ask: "Iconic" for bass players will probably be different than "iconic" for the casual fan who's not a musician. I can definitely see how the original Fender Precision Bass would qualify for the former, but McCartney's Hofner 500/1 would qualify for the latter.

 

[lfmn16]

It depends on what you mean by iconic. I would agree with the Hofner because except for a few knock-offs, nothing looks like a Hofner. I think the other big one is Rickenbacker. Except for illegal copies, nothing looks much like a Rickenbacker.

I would argue against any Fender because there are so many similar basses, it's not always easy to know what exactly you are looking at unless you can read the headstock. This is not intended as a slight on Fenders. I love the look and and sound of Jazz and Precision basses.

 

[jd56hawk]

Obviously...the Precision Bass.
It's not my favorite, but I hope to buy a Deluxe Active Precision in Blizzard White someday.
I love Thunderbirds and Rickenbackers and I my next bass is going to be an incredibly cool custom Jazz bass, but we're not talking about favorites here, we're talking iconic, and that would have to be the Precision.
McCartney's Hofner is right up there, sure, and a few other basses, but the P bass is the most iconic bass ever.

 

[Dave W]

P bass

 

[Gougedeye]

I vote Thunderbird because it is, hands down, the most badass design ever! However, the good ole' Precision would win based on popularity.

 

[Tom Howland]

P-Bass, then a J-Bass. Leo's shadow is huge.

 

[Doctor J]

It's shaped like a giant moth.

 

[iriegnome]

I think there is no bass that is more identifiable than the Beatle Bass.. However, there is NO bass more copied or used than the P bass. You may not be able to name the actual bass, but I can certainly tell you that all my kids and just about everyone I know can look at a bass and say Beatle Bass without question.

 

[Linnin]

I don't really think it's a matter of opinion. The Fender Precision bass was the first electric bass guitar with widespread use and recognition. 64 years later it's the most popular type of electric bass guitar.

+1111 Indeed!

 

[mark beem]

P Bass definitely.

 

[woodyng]

One of the definitions of an icon is of an image religious in nature,i vote the original Rickenbacker 4000 based on that idea.
Yes ,i am a member of the Rickenbackerology cult......