My favourite bass depends on what song I am playing. But my fretless piezo Stingray with Roto 77 flats is pretty tough to beat, unless I want a full-on rock and roll sound. Can't do that without frets and rounds, IMO.
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I too have the bass collection virus. I started out with an epiphone thunderbird, loved the deep vintage sound, but the neck dive killed the great feel of the neck. Sold it and purchased a Pedulla, now that bass has a range of tone and super feel to it. Next, after a late night of alcohol and internet surfing I picked up a beautiful Alembic. Now I really new what range of tone meant. This is my favorite.
As we have all probably experienced, I was gigging with the Pedula and the keyboardist knocked my guitar over while on break. I about had a heart attack. That put me on the search for a good lower cost bass. Picked up an MTD artist and love the feel but the tone is pure funk and I tend to play classic rock or blues. So I picked up another MTD with jazz pickups and love it. It has the same great feel as the artist bass, but with the punchy tone of a jazz bass.
Next I travel for work so I wanted a good used low cost bass in case the airline lost or destroyed it. Found a good deal on a used Schecter custom 4. Traveled with it to the south east. Wow, did the neck move and I don't travel with all the tools. Used it for 7 months with a buzzing neck (only practicing). Brought it home and put a graphite neck on it. Problem solved and the bass sounds nice.
After another late night of alcohol and internet surfing I ended up with a beautiful Tobias that makes that fat deep tone that I love. Great feel too. This bass really comes alive with a tube amp.
I think they are all great and play each and everyone of them.
With all this, I have learned that I should not turn on my computer after a night that includes liquid fun.
As we have all probably experienced, I was gigging with the Pedula and the keyboardist knocked my guitar over while on break. I about had a heart attack. That put me on the search for a good lower cost bass. Picked up an MTD artist and love the feel but the tone is pure funk and I tend to play classic rock or blues. So I picked up another MTD with jazz pickups and love it. It has the same great feel as the artist bass, but with the punchy tone of a jazz bass.
Next I travel for work so I wanted a good used low cost bass in case the airline lost or destroyed it. Found a good deal on a used Schecter custom 4. Traveled with it to the south east. Wow, did the neck move and I don't travel with all the tools. Used it for 7 months with a buzzing neck (only practicing). Brought it home and put a graphite neck on it. Problem solved and the bass sounds nice.
After another late night of alcohol and internet surfing I ended up with a beautiful Tobias that makes that fat deep tone that I love. Great feel too. This bass really comes alive with a tube amp.
I think they are all great and play each and everyone of them.
With all this, I have learned that I should not turn on my computer after a night that includes liquid fun.
You are spoiled. And apparently rich, so you must have a day gig. You own some of the best basses around.
I usually find that when I go to my storage unit and pull out one of my basses that I havenʻt played for awhile, restring and replace batteries, itʻs like falling in love again. I am gradually getting rid of my 4-string basses (except the USA Jazz) and I am lusting after a 5-string P-bass. (I only have a few 5s).Currently, my main axes are an Ibanez BTB 5, a Mustang (japan) 5-string conversion (great with a pick!), and my Ashbory for portability.
I usually find that when I go to my storage unit and pull out one of my basses that I havenʻt played for awhile, restring and replace batteries, itʻs like falling in love again. I am gradually getting rid of my 4-string basses (except the USA Jazz) and I am lusting after a 5-string P-bass. (I only have a few 5s).Currently, my main axes are an Ibanez BTB 5, a Mustang (japan) 5-string conversion (great with a pick!), and my Ashbory for portability.
Geri O
Endorsing Artist, Mike Lull Guitars and Basses
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?
Absolutely, and glad about it!
I'm down to 3 (picking up a Mike Lull Jazz bass this afternoon). And I have vowed, cross my heart, hope to whatever, to never, ever sell another bass. I enjoy them all.
Regardless of what bass I drag in somewhere, some guys love the new one, some guys say "Harrumph, you still sound like you". I hope that's a good thing...
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
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?
Great post and really hits the nail on the head. I'm glad to know there are more of us who feel this way. A casual perusal of my board history fill find that every bass I buy is the best bass I've ever played. Hey, even on the Strings board you'll notice that every time I buy a set of strings they're the perfect strings for whatever bass I put them on.
Seriously, I recently bought an Epiphone Classic IV Thunderbird and discovered it's as good as any Gibson T-bird, and when I put on set of Fender 9050CLs, I knew it was a match made in heaven.
My latest bass, a Squier CV Jazz is so unbelievably good I couldn't put it down when I first brought it home and I knew that once I put on some LaBella gold tapewounds, I'd never have to buy another set of strings for it.
Last week, I picked up my G&L SB-2 and couldn't figure out why I needed anything else.
This week, I grabbed my G&L L 2000 and was amazed how effortlessly it did exactly what I wanted.
The funny thing is, I dread taking my Dean Exotica out of the case this weekend because I know that even though it's merely a humble acoustic bass, no solid-body or semi-hollow bass made can match it's tone!
Gigged my Jazz bass last Thursday and it was amazing. Tone to die for. Awesome FOH I'm sure that helped but my onstage sound was spot on(cudos to Mesa Boogie and GK).
I have never gotten sound as good as I do through this setup.
Jazz Bass's rule.
I have never gotten sound as good as I do through this setup.
Jazz Bass's rule.
My fave would be an amalgamation of my two:
one has thunderous output, 22-1/2 frets, mahogany body, 5 pc. neck, killer timbre (too daggone heavy), AANJ (All Access Neck Joint)
the other:
lightweight (8 lbs.), 24 frets, timbre is almost as good as the other, but not as much output
so, I'd love to have all that output & killer timbre in one bass with neck-thru, 24 frets, while still being lightweight
For a minute there I thought I'd found it in the SRX700, but when it arrived I noticed immediately that the pickups were weaker than my #2 from above & also the mids were lacking, which is what I love about my other two basses.
on paper it ticked all the boxes
one has thunderous output, 22-1/2 frets, mahogany body, 5 pc. neck, killer timbre (too daggone heavy), AANJ (All Access Neck Joint)
the other:
lightweight (8 lbs.), 24 frets, timbre is almost as good as the other, but not as much output
so, I'd love to have all that output & killer timbre in one bass with neck-thru, 24 frets, while still being lightweight
For a minute there I thought I'd found it in the SRX700, but when it arrived I noticed immediately that the pickups were weaker than my #2 from above & also the mids were lacking, which is what I love about my other two basses.
on paper it ticked all the boxes
