Crikey... this makes my little collection look really pathetic.
Saying that, most of them are nothing to write home about, I only started buying [i]proper[/i] basses a few years ago! Chronological order then...
[b]Hohner Arbor[/b] - donated to the cause by a friend's muso dad, who realised we were lacking a bassist. The start of my 4 string career, age 14. Gave it him back 18 months later when i'd settled in with my...
[b]Squier Precision Special[/b] - the first bass I actually bought for myself. A jazz neck, and P/J pickups, and it still plays alarmingly well. Sitting behind my sofa unloved due to knackered electrics, although I keep threatening to buy some parts and do it up real sweet. I'll let you know if it ever happens!!
[b]Ibanez GSR200[/b] - another piece of cheap tat, loaned to me by my then-drummer when the electrics went on the squier. toneless, and also behind my sofa waiting for me to sort out the shaky neck. notable only for the kermit the frog doll swinging from the volume knob. must take him out on stage again one day!
[b]Ibanez Ergodyne EDC700[/b] - A cash converters bargain, and my first taste of the world of active bassing. Seemed awfully flash after my previous outings, but the absence of wood from the body meant an absence of tone too. Went back to cash converters for virtually nothing in a moment of skint-ness. The only bass i've ever sold.
[b]Tanglewood Warrior semi[/b] - A birthday present from old bandmates, the bloke in our praccy rooms only wanted £50 for it!! I've never seen another one like it, f-holes and all, but the weakest pickups i've ever encountered. Took it out on stage now and again, but the on-off risks of the P's dodgy output seemed worth it for the better tone. Currently out on loan to my mate's little brother, who is turning out to be quite the natural with it. Got to do your bit for the kids, feel like i'm passing on the torch from the bloke who lent me the Hohner!!
[i]
then in '04, we got serious...[/i]
[b]Musicman SR4 3EQ[/b] - My dream bass... saw it in a music shop on my hols in Australia, fell in love, and that was the end of my holiday money, and the demolition of my credit limit (the first and last credit card i'll ever have, i hope). All natural, black guard, maple neck, my first REAL bass!! Still my #1 on stage, it's the love of my life. Can't see myself ever wanting to part with it. Although it does get a little jealous of...
[b]Musicman SR4 3EQ 2005 ltd edition[/b] - I'd had sleepless night over this bass, but kept telling myself i couldn't justify another 'ray. Then a flash new guitar shop opened in town, and what did they have swinging on the wall? Pretty much the last 2005 ltd in the country, it seemed. My guitarist talked me into it, and one credit deal later, my 'ray had a sister! Gigged it a fair bit, but then realised I felt guilty abusing it every night, now it's my 'stay at home' bass when everything else is locked up in the studio.
[b]Peavey T-40 (1980)[/b] - Gassed for this for aaaaages, when I realised the one I was spying on ebay was only 20 mins away from my house. Shot over there, and left with my first 'vintage' aquisition. Looks the biz, sustains forever, and it's the most cripplingly heavy chunk of wood I've ever played!! Comes out gigging, but only as a back-up for my 'ray. It's definitely indestructible though.
I almost bought a Lakland Darryl recently, but I'm trying to learn some self-control!!