I am absolutely certain now that my favorite bass is...

Joe Nerve

Joe Nerve

Oct 7, 2000
18,557
38,701
5,316
New York City
www.joenerve.com
Disclosures
Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
#1
My newest bass.

I give up.

Don't anyone ever listen to me again when I recommend, review, or praise a bass. What I say means nothing. I love all basses. My favorite bass will always be whatever bass I just bought. End of story.

And I wish I were joking.

As some might know I just picked up a brand new MIM Fender Jazz. I brought it to a gig today, and I was in complete heaven. Got every sound I wanted, played effortlessly, was punchy, fit perfectly in the mix, balanced excellently, bla, bla, bla, bla.....

10 years ago it was a Bongo. Then it was a Stingray. Then a Big Al. Then a 2013 Gibson EB. Ahh.... then I was in love with my Antigua Jazz for a while, but didn't talk about it cuz I had trashed Fender for so long I was embarrassed :). Next ---my Rickenbacker--- I couldn't shut up about that one. Can't use it now because they don't make a hipshot for it, and I need a hipshot with my new band.

A few months ago I picked up a Caprice. I've been doing cartwheels with that as if feels nicer than any bass I've ever laid hands on. Then gas hit again when I decided I needed a black Jazz bass.

This jazz bass is unbelievable. And it will be my favorite bass until the next bass.

And then that will be my favorite bass.

My favorite bass will always be my newest bass. This I realized today.

The end. Well... the 2nd end, as I ended this up above in the 3rd line.

Anyone else in this boat with me?
 
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#2
Joe Nerve said:
My newest bass.

I give up.

Don't anyone ever listen to me again when I recommend, review, or praise a bass. What I say means nothing. I love all basses. My favorite bass will always be whatever bass I just bought. End of story.

And I wish I were joking.

As some might know I just picked up a brand new MIM Fender Jazz. I brought it to a gig today, and I was in complete heaven. Got every sound I wanted, played effortlessly, was punchy, fit perfectly in the mix, balanced excellently, bla, bla, bla, bla.....

10 years ago it was a Bongo. Then it was a Stingray. Then a Big Al. Then a 2013 Gibson EB. Ahh.... then I was in love with my Antigua Jazz for a while, but didn't talk about it cuz I had trashed Fender for so long I was embarrassed :). Next ---my Rickenbacker--- I couldn't shut up about that one. Can't use it now because they don't make a hipshot for it, and I need a hipshot with my new band.

A few months ago I picked up a Caprice. I've been doing cartwheels with that as if feels nicer than any bass I've ever laid hands on. Then gas hit again when I decided I needed a black Jazz bass.

This jazz bass is unbelievable. And it will be my favorite bass until the next bass.

And then that will be my favorite bass.

My favorite bass will always be my newest bass. This I realized today.

The end. Well... the 2nd end, as I ended this up above in the 3rd line.

Anyone else in this boat with me?
Click to expand...

Admitting your problem is the first step....

I have a strong feeling you are not the only one Mr Nerve.
 
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#4
I rotate my basses. Last night I was loving my old p bass with active EMG pickups and flats. The sound was amazing.

Tonight's show was a different band, and I played my five string Spector with SS Rounds. It was superb sounding and playing. The perfect sound for the hard edge we had.

Well at least I didn't have to buy one. (This month)

Monday will be my SR 505 because it gets such a great funk sound for a funk band I'm practicing with.

Hmm, maybe I can blame it on the different types of bands I work with.

I'm sure I need a Stingray for something...

(We feel your pain, and are all enablers here)
 
Last edited:
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#9
Joe Nerve said:
My newest bass.

I give up.

Don't anyone ever listen to me again when I recommend, review, or praise a bass. What I say means nothing. I love all basses. My favorite bass will always be whatever bass I just bought. End of story.

And I wish I were joking.

As some might know I just picked up a brand new MIM Fender Jazz. I brought it to a gig today, and I was in complete heaven. Got every sound I wanted, played effortlessly, was punchy, fit perfectly in the mix, balanced excellently, bla, bla, bla, bla.....

10 years ago it was a Bongo. Then it was a Stingray. Then a Big Al. Then a 2013 Gibson EB. Ahh.... then I was in love with my Antigua Jazz for a while, but didn't talk about it cuz I had trashed Fender for so long I was embarrassed :). Next ---my Rickenbacker--- I couldn't shut up about that one. Can't use it now because they don't make a hipshot for it, and I need a hipshot with my new band.

A few months ago I picked up a Caprice. I've been doing cartwheels with that as if feels nicer than any bass I've ever laid hands on. Then gas hit again when I decided I needed a black Jazz bass.

This jazz bass is unbelievable. And it will be my favorite bass until the next bass.

And then that will be my favorite bass.

My favorite bass will always be my newest bass. This I realized today.

The end. Well... the 2nd end, as I ended this up above in the 3rd line.

Anyone else in this boat with me?
Click to expand...

Joe, has it been 3 months? Studies show the elation lasts about that long... if you get more than that, awesome.
 
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#10
This shows how (non)objective we, bass players, are when we grade our equipment.

Also, anything that brings back the pure joy of playing music is fine by me, as long as we remember that its effects are limited. I guess that, if you don't enjoy playing with certain band, repertoar or type of events - there is no new toy to make you enjoy it in the long run.

It kind of reminds me of a ladies that constantly change their hair style and color, all the time being actualy unhappy with their figure.

Edit: Don't take me wrong Joe, not saying this is your case. Just thinking outloud.
 
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#11
Same here.
I have a wall of fame where my all time favorites hang. Those I'll most likely never will part with.
Those are special. But usually the newest one is my fav. I think it is because the little things I look for
in a bass change over time and the newest one is closest to what I like best at that particular moment.

But then - when you've been gigging a bass for several years and have hundreds of hours of practice with that thing on your lap makes you bond.
 
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#12
Joe Nerve said:
My newest bass.

I give up.

Don't anyone ever listen to me again when I recommend, review, or praise a bass. What I say means nothing. I love all basses. My favorite bass will always be whatever bass I just bought. End of story.

And I wish I were joking.

As some might know I just picked up a brand new MIM Fender Jazz. I brought it to a gig today, and I was in complete heaven. Got every sound I wanted, played effortlessly, was punchy, fit perfectly in the mix, balanced excellently, bla, bla, bla, bla.....

10 years ago it was a Bongo. Then it was a Stingray. Then a Big Al. Then a 2013 Gibson EB. Ahh.... then I was in love with my Antigua Jazz for a while, but didn't talk about it cuz I had trashed Fender for so long I was embarrassed :). Next ---my Rickenbacker--- I couldn't shut up about that one. Can't use it now because they don't make a hipshot for it, and I need a hipshot with my new band.

A few months ago I picked up a Caprice. I've been doing cartwheels with that as if feels nicer than any bass I've ever laid hands on. Then gas hit again when I decided I needed a black Jazz bass.

This jazz bass is unbelievable. And it will be my favorite bass until the next bass.

And then that will be my favorite bass.

My favorite bass will always be my newest bass. This I realized today.

The end. Well... the 2nd end, as I ended this up above in the 3rd line.

Anyone else in this boat with me?
Click to expand...
this cracked me up!
 
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#14
I was that way until I built my own. Basically just took all the different things I loved from my previous basses and figured out how to condense most of it into two instruments. One bass, and a 9-string hybrid baritone octaved instrument for when I wanna get into treble.

Pretty happy about my basses. Now I'm F$#@ing into pedals... DAMMIT! It never ends.
 
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#15
My all-time favorite bass was my Marleaux Contra that I acquired two years ago. Then, because I wanted a backup bass that was much less expensive I bought a Yamaha BB5000A, replaced the pickups and preamp, switched out the tuners for Hipshots, etc. it sounds and plays like a dream.

But the Marleaux is still my all-time favorite.
 
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#17
Joe Nerve said:
My newest bass.

I give up.

Don't anyone ever listen to me again when I recommend, review, or praise a bass. What I say means nothing. I love all basses. My favorite bass will always be whatever bass I just bought. End of story.

And I wish I were joking.

As some might know I just picked up a brand new MIM Fender Jazz. I brought it to a gig today, and I was in complete heaven. Got every sound I wanted, played effortlessly, was punchy, fit perfectly in the mix, balanced excellently, bla, bla, bla, bla.....

10 years ago it was a Bongo. Then it was a Stingray. Then a Big Al. Then a 2013 Gibson EB. Ahh.... then I was in love with my Antigua Jazz for a while, but didn't talk about it cuz I had trashed Fender for so long I was embarrassed :). Next ---my Rickenbacker--- I couldn't shut up about that one. Can't use it now because they don't make a hipshot for it, and I need a hipshot with my new band.

A few months ago I picked up a Caprice. I've been doing cartwheels with that as if feels nicer than any bass I've ever laid hands on. Then gas hit again when I decided I needed a black Jazz bass.

This jazz bass is unbelievable. And it will be my favorite bass until the next bass.

And then that will be my favorite bass.

My favorite bass will always be my newest bass. This I realized today.

The end. Well... the 2nd end, as I ended this up above in the 3rd line.

Anyone else in this boat with me?
Click to expand...

Well, it's a better situation than your worst bass being your newest bass. That would be a life of self defeat and misery.
 
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