pmjos Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 After 40 plus years of playing bass, going through lots of instruments and slowly buying what I could afford over the last 20, I thought I'd share my personal modern instrument choices at this point( I mainly play 5's) - what are yours. Vintage 4 string style Jazz - Moollon (I had a 5 but in the end the neck was just too chunky for my hands - but oh the tone) Modern J/PJ Anaconda - I have a PJ the neck is gorgeous, thin body - modern bright - super playable. Aggressive P tone is stunning for P slap. Modern P5 - Lakand Vintage P passive - on flats sounds like a 59p thick and thumpy Pino or tiktak Carol Kaye if you want plus that low B. Modern MMJ 5 - Lakland 55-94 - not had this long but its the most tonally flexible bass I've ever had. Fretless 5 - Pentabuzz but mine has Bart soap bars which I really like Recording - Fodera Imperial Elite ( unchambered mahogany body - weighs a tonne ) For my ears Moollon/Anaconda/Lakland are all up there. Not knocking anyone else, I just haven't got to play everything yet. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 Rather simple. 9 Precisions. To be fair, one of them has rounds on it! 1 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 Nice collection there…. For me though, also 40yrs down the road, I have a constantly fluid and ever changing bass collection. I’ve tried so hard to settle on a few, but can’t. To me they’re tools, and to be honest I rarely get attached to them these days, they come, they go…. If I inserted the current list here, it’ll be different in 6 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 At one point I had just under 50 guitars and basses plus a load of synthesisers and samplers. These days I'm down to 4 basses: Gus G3 5-string bass active in CAR. This is my main gigging bass with In Isolation Gus G3 5-string bass passive in black. This is my back-up bass for In Isolation, and for recording when I need a "normal" bass guitar. Eastwood Hooky 6-string bass. This is my main gigging and recording bass for Hurtsfall. Burns Barracuda 6-string bass. This is my backup bass for Hurtsfall. Hopefully soon to be replaced with a second Eastwood Hooky. And 2 Guitars: Gus G1 Guitar with Twin Humbuckers and Vibrato FretKing Esprit V Custom And whatever plug-in synths come free with Logic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 My 3 main working basses now are: Shuker custom 5-string Spector Q4 4-string Sire V7 5-string Yes of course I have others but these 3 get all the gig action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 I started on a Kay short-scale bass (their EB-O copy). Now, after having been through many different basses over the years and settling on Fender Precisions for a long time I now, due to worsening back issues, am back on short-scale basses, this time Fender Mustangs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulhauser Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 I do have a small collection of basses but the main ones that I use are these: Spector NS-5XL My main recording bass, apart from fretless I haven't used anything else for the last 5 years of recordings (couple of LP's, EP's etc.) Spector Euro 5 Classic This is now my main gigging bass for one of the few bands I do live gigs with. This gets most of the action though as this band gigs the most. I'm subbing for an Iron Maiden cover band a couple of times a year and this is what I use for that gig Spector Euro LE1977 (the one on the right, left is it's sister, the LE1979) I don't use fretless that often and certainly not live but when I do use it for recordings and practice this is the one Warwick Thumb NT6 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 I went from having two Fenders in heavy rotation (for over 15 years) until around the time of Bass forums, more basses than GAK stock at any given time through to a small handful (about 7) of different mid - higher end basses that I rotate. This is over a 35yr journey. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 For 50% of my playing time I owned one bass, a 1968 Fender Precision. For the other 50% I owned 2 basses. First a US Lakland 55-94 and a Wal mk3, and most recently a Sadowsky MV5 Metro Jazz and a Mike Lull PJ5. ATM I'm checking out light weight basses to replace my Sadowsky. Currently a Cort GB35J, Lakland 55-02 and Ibanez EHB1505. I'll be back to 2 basses by the end of the Summer, when I've found the one. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, Rich said: My 3 main working basses now are: Shuker custom 5-string Spector Q4 4-string Sire V7 5-string Yes of course I have others but these 3 get all the gig action. The Spector has been extensively modified cosmetically and is wired with coil taps. The Sire has been modified with lightweight tuners and a top-loading bridge. All three are strung with Elixirs -- nickels on the fives and steels on the Q4. Edited July 31, 2023 by Rich 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazed Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 How do you find the nickel elixirs compared to steels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_S Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 I've only been at it 23 years, but I've had a few in that time and am currently running with... Gigging workhorse #1 - Ibanez SR 5 Premium Gigging workhorse #2 - Sandberg Cali Central 5 Jazz - Fender USA Pro Jazz V Ray - EBMM Stingray Special 5H NS - Warwick Streamer S1 5 (on order for months - might arrive early next year) Precision - Sandberg VS5 (planned acquisition at some point in the future) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 1 hour ago, Dazed said: How do you find the nickel elixirs compared to steels? I think they're slightly brighter, more aggressive. I was hoping they would be, as I use the bass in my ska band and some of the songs are quite in-yer-face. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishfacefour Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 4 hours ago, Rich said: The Spector has been extensively modified cosmetically and is wired with coil taps. The Sire has been modified with lightweight tuners and a top-loading bridge. All three are strung with Elixirs -- nickels on the fives and steels on the Q4. Out of interest, what tuners did you put on the sire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 5 minutes ago, Fishfacefour said: Out of interest, what tuners did you put on the sire? Hipshot licenced HB6C 1/2 They're not a direct replacement, I had to drill new screw holes and fill the old ones but it was a very worthwhile mod... they're more precise and smoother than the stock ones, and half a pound lighter. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueMoon Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 4 hours ago, chris_b said: I'll be back to 2 basses by the end of the Summer, when I've found the one. I love this statement. I’ve told myself this over the last 40+ years of playing. Hasn’t worked for me yet! 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 28 minutes ago, BlueMoon said: I’ve told myself this over the last 40+ years of playing. Hasn’t worked for me yet! As I said, I owned the same bass for 25 years. Then the internet came along and I went mad and bought another. 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 12 minutes ago, chris_b said: Then the internet and Basschat came along and I went mad and bought another. FTFY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammybee Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 I'm down to two, one with flats and one with rounds. #1 EBMM Stingray 2006 Special Edition in Buttercream strung with flats #2 Fender US RI 1975 Jazz Bass natural finish strung with rounds Between this pair, I can cover all my bases! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 I've been playing for 37 years and have gone through a whole host of basses, mostly Fender Jazz and Precision's but I have also had Stingray's, Warwick's, Laklands etc. My tastes do change and depending on the project or band I will use a bass that suits it best but its usually a Jazz or a Precision. For the last 10 years I've only played fretless so that brings a whole new range of basses but again, it's only a Jazz, Precision or Stingray. I've also settled down a lot in what I like or want or no longer have a need to gry other basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazed Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 4 hours ago, BlueMoon said: I love this statement. I’ve told myself this over the last 40+ years of playing. Hasn’t worked for me yet! Isn’t this the same lie we all tell ourselves. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazed Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 1 hour ago, Linus27 said: I've been playing for 37 years and have gone through a whole host of basses, mostly Fender Jazz and Precision's but I have also had Stingray's, Warwick's, Laklands etc. My tastes do change and depending on the project or band I will use a bass that suits it best but its usually a Jazz or a Precision. For the last 10 years I've only played fretless so that brings a whole new range of basses but again, it's only a Jazz, Precision or Stingray. I've also settled down a lot in what I like or want or no longer have a need to gry other basses. Similar story, I had 2 lovely basses for 15-20 years. Then happened to come across this place. Within a year or two I was up to double figures…… I went from only active “modern” at the time, Warwicks and Wals to now loving some Precision basses which back then I wouldn’t give the time of day to. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msb Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 For years an old Pbass was everything I needed. And then I started adding another here and there. Now I’ve got twenty something , and appreciate that some are different. At some point I’ll trim things , but I still enjoy what I have. There’s really only a couple I’d really have any interest in selling. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted August 1, 2023 Share Posted August 1, 2023 On 31/07/2023 at 08:28, Steve Browning said: Rather simple. 9 Precisions. To be fair, one of them has rounds on it! Burn him for he is a warlock. Fancy putting rounds on a P bass 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted August 1, 2023 Share Posted August 1, 2023 Aside from my lovely fretless ACGs, I seem to have gravitated towards variations on a P bass theme: Normal P '54 style P Attitude Special Lee Sklar-alike double P Is there a therapy group I can join? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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