I haven't had even half the amount of basses as some of the people here -- yeah, you guys know who you are! -- but it's still taken me 3 days to cobble together a list!
Hard to believe this lot spans a little over 50 years of playing music. (Thanks, Dad, for getting me started! xx).
BASSES (Currently owned)
[from left to right in the above photo]
Westone Thunder II fretless (1981)
- Purchased in 1986. Private sale, I drove to Norwich to get this one.
Westone Thunder II (1982)
- Purchased in 1985, sold in 1997, re-purchased c.2000
Tune SWV4-BB
- got this one in 2016 from @juliusmonk (aka 'Hot Slappin' bass - Korean name).
Tune TWB-6 (1991)
- High end original Japanese Tune 6-string, purchased in 1997 from The Bass Centre, Wapping.
Music Man Stingray 5 (1989)
- "Still the one!" Bought privately in 1998 and has seen much action!
Music Man Stingray fretless (2001)
- It's a 'Ray, it's fretless, 'nuff said!
Fender Jazz USA Std. (1998)
- I've almost sold this a couple of times but keep changing my mind! I do like it so guess I'll keep it after all. Unless I change my mind!
Tokai Jazz Sound fretless (c.1981-2?)
- this was originally fretted and I had it converted to fretless. Sadly, there's a fault with the truss rod but it still plays well. Strung with extra light Elites (30-90). Also had slightly wonky E and A tuners so finally replaced all four in 2011 with another set of Tokai tuners bought from @Fitzy73.
Not in the above photo:
Dean Pace EUB
- had this on long-term loan from me good mate @mangotango -- finally decided to go ahead and buy it (I'll pay you the balance soon, Steve. Honest, guv!).
And don't get me started on the guitars...!
BASSES (Previously owned)
(in roughly chronological order)
Top Twenty bass (1967/68?)
- This was the first bass I ever played, loaned to me in 1969 (I was 15) to see if I wanted to change from guitar to bass as the band I was in comprised of three guitarists and a drummer and someone needed to swap. I've never looked back! (But I've never stopped playing guitar either).
Hayman 4040 bass (1972)
- my first decent bass bought from Music City, London W1.
Rickenbacker 4001s (1973)
- The one I'd dearly love to have back again. Bought new in 1974 from Music City, London. Sold in 1981. Doh!
Gibson EB-2 (year unknown, purchased 1973)
- Originally a classic tobacco burst, in 1974 I took it to ROKA's after they moved from Denmark St into the new Fender Soundhouse, London (Tot. Ct. Rd). The bass needed a re-fret but while it was there I got them to completely refinish it in natural blonde with black binding.
Ned Callan Cody fretless bass
- Year unknown (early 70's), purchased 1974 from Rose-Morris, London, later had it converted to fretless and also had a DiMarzio DMZ-1 pup added.
Eko BA4 fretless acoustic bass guitar
- purchased in 1978 from Paul Beucher music shop in Paris (so that I could go busking in the Metro).
Kramer 450B (c.1980)
- bought this in the early 80's, had it for a year or so but found it lacked 'balls' so moved it on.
Chandler custom PJ bass (1980s)
- PJ hybrid purchased 1984 from the Chandler shop in west London. P/X'ed in 1985 (Monkey Business, Romford) for the Westone Thunder II.
Westone Thunder Jet (mid-80s)
- owned for about 5 minutes before taking it back to the shop to exchange for the 1A.
Westone Thunder 1A fretless (mid-80s)
Yamaha RBX200F fretless (mid-80s)
- Bought this in 1990 from East London Group Gear, London E12.
'David Kelly' Fender Jazz fretless copy (Jaco tribute) (2004-5?)
- UK-built copy, nice instrument though pups could have done with upgrading.
'David Kelly' Fender Jazz copy (2004-5?)
- Shoreline Gold finish, maple neck
Aria AMB-50B (4-string acoustic bass guitar)
- bought this fretted bass a few years ago (2010?) but eventually sold it to go for a fretless acoustic at some point.
(left to right: 1972 with Hayman 4040; 1974 with Rick 4001; 1978 with Eko BA4 busking in Paris).