Your Retirement Dream Bass?

[MotorCityMinion]

Heh, perhaps less basses.

 

[roccobass]

I didn’t really have a retirement dream bass, but here’s how it goes….

I ended up buying 3 more basses via post retirement. Only one remains on from that spree. It’s the one I modified/put together that hung around. It’s now my favorite bass. It was a 4 string passive ‘93 MIJ Fender Jazz fretless. When I took it in to my tech, he found out the neck couldn’t really be adjusted anymore so I opted to get an All-parts Jazz neck.

It wasn’t supposed to be a project bass. But I
thought , what the heck, and bought a pair of Bart Originals and a Babicz bridge too. (Thank you, Dave Meros for the Babicz tip). Spent more money than expected, but it sounds fabulous. I get lots of compliments on it.

I guess technically, it morphed into my dream bass because it’s all I want to play out of all my instruments. Oh yes, I did spend way way under $8k!

 

[coryr1000]

I'd want a custom 12 string bass from Brooks. The double cutaway Gibson or Explorer body style.

 

[bench]

Not to offend the OP, but if you don't have one, i would not force it...

 

[Gervais Cote]

I’m very close to retiring myself as well and if I want to give myself a treat, this will be either a light blue Fender precision pro II with some Nordstrand NP4V pickups or a USA Lakland precision with a jazz neck.

 

[SteveHeissner]

My retirement dream bass? Something lightweight: easy on the back, shoulders, and feet so I can play it for the rest of my life. Also, a bass that will fit comfortably in my KISS coffin when I die.

 

[kalmar]

Sandberg Super Light.

 

[chris_b]

I’m retiring after 42 years in 30 days.
To mark the occasion, I’m looking at finding my “dream” bass. . . .

IMO forget the "dream" bit, just buy the best bass you can find. Also, don't splash your cash, buy from the classifieds.

I "retired" 15 years ago and for the last 10 years have played a Mike Lull PJ5 and Sadowsky MV5. Both "pre-loved". In 10 years I've not found a bass that can match either of these two.

Unfortunately, needs must, I'm currently auditioning a Sandberg Superlite at 6.8lbs.

 

[Chrisk-K]

A Ritter would do.

 

[D to the C]

I would do as someone mentioned in an earlier post, let it find you. You’ll know it when you see it or play it. Through trial and error I found mine, custom Fodera Monarch 5 string, 34” scale 8.5lbs and 17.5mm string spacing. These basses were made for my hands. I had three and sold one a Yin Yang standard that I’m going to buy back at some point. When you find it you’ll know!

 

[jeff62]

I, sir, take exception with your desire to find a dream bass. This is Talkbass. The proper term is **dream basses**.

 

[coy garcia]

Find a luthier on talkbass and have them build one with all the features and parts you've come to love over the years.

 

[bearhart74]

If I had 8k free I would run right to Jerzy Drozd (if still in business) and have him make me a custom 5 string double P bass...If he is retired then DeGier or Le Fay would each get half for custom builds

 

[Willie5String]

I’m retiring after 42 years in 30 days.
To mark the occasion, I’m looking at finding my “dream” bass. I will be pretty much debt free and have a substantial amount to spend. Other than a museum piece, I can pretty much get what I want for the first time ever.
I play mostly country/swamp rock/blues rock and also play at church on Sundays.
In recent years, my tastes have run to the P or P/J sound and light weight and playability are huge factors.
What would you get for, say, under $8k?

BFG

I think I’d like an older Dingwall or maybe a Modulus, an older Parker Fly 5 string bass might make the list. Having said that, unfortunately, there is no place I am aware of that has all of these to try.

 

[2saddleslab]

I was lucky to find my dream bass before I even started my career. And it's still with me after retirement.

Congrats on the retirement, OP!

 

[bassfootballguy]

I was lucky to find my dream bass before I even started my career. And it's still with me after retirement.

Congrats on the retirement, OP!

As a fellow resident of the Commonwealth... THAT is a dream bass!

 

[friskinator]

I'm nowhere close to retirement, but I used to play this game in my mind a lot. I recently decided to not wait for a milestone, and I bought a pre-owned Fender Pino. I thought it was my "retirement bass." I'm a faithful P-bass player, and when I sat down with it for the first time, my first thought was "man, this is really nice, but it feels like a P bass." I ended up selling it a few weeks later.

My point? If you're the kind of player that would benefit from a custom spec'd instrument, then by all means spend the money. But for my situation, there was no point in spending all that cash just to scratch that itch when I already owned a couple of good Ps.

 

[Koog]

If you're up for a custom built bass, talk to Andrew Drake, Drake Custom Bass, or Pete Hilton, Hilton Guitars. I have basses from both of these master luthiers and they are wonderful. Both will build to your specifications.

Congratulations on your retirement!

Koog

 

[dustinymichaels]

I always thought that having a bass from my birth year (76) would be the bees knees. For my tastes in sound the ideal bass would be a '76 Stingray. But think about what's available from your birth year as a cool idea.

 

[denton57]

The first thing that comes to mind for me is a pre CBS Precision. I would even consider a 65-66. I would certainly want to play whatever it is first but that’s what I dream about. Like if I was retiring (I won’t be for a long time), that is my immediate thought. I’d probably want to pick up a B15 of similar vintage while shopping and just play all day.

A Moollon P would be a runner up choice.

I like the idea of a birth year bass and have thought about that as well. 1975 for me, so a really special 75 P in Oly White and maple with black guard.. that would be really sweet