My Warwick Thumb VI. Built in 1989 and bought by me, utterly inappropriately and out of obsession, in 2003. In 1987, eighteen-year-old me saw a bass for sale in a Newcastle guitar store tor £999.98 (yes, 98p) and was stunned that an instrument could cost that much (it's a lot now, but in '87 . . .). Then I started seeing bassists on Top of the Pops playing basses with more than four strings and was utterly stunned by that too. Then, years later and thanks to the new-fangled internet, I finally put two-and-two together and began fishing for a six-string thumb. Finally found one, second-hand and affordable, at The Bass Gallery in Camden in December 2003, just as the end-of-year bonus was about to be paid. It was a confluence of so many events that it still puts me slightly in awe to this day and that bass has been mine ever since. It's way above my pay-grade, but it's a possession cherished beyond monetary value and I will never, ever, part with it until infirmity and circumstances dictate otherwise. Probably not the reason behind the question asked, but the question was asked and that's my answer. My 1989 Warwick Thumb VI. I am so happy to have had legitimate reason to make that public, thanks Janek . . .🤗
The Fender Coronado was designed by Roger Rossmeisl who designed all the famous Rickenbacker instruments in the '50s and '60s (including the 4001). Leo Fender hired him to design the acoustic lines and he stayed on after the sale to CBS and did the Tele thin-line among other projects before retuning to Germany.
That's what I would pick! I've got an NS pulse 2 5 because that's all I could afford, but ever since I bought it the only other basses I've wanted have been better Spectors! I ended up selling every other bass
Although I don't own one, I concur, though I would go with the P-J configuration Euro-series bass. The Euro's range of tones makes it pretty universally applicable.
Great vid! I built my own bass when i found out i wanted one i couldn’t afford. It sounds amazing,feels amazing and turned out so much better then i imagined. I took everything i learned from studying high end basses and what luthiers said about their instruments, Super long scale, 5 string, six screws bolt on carbon reinforced rock maple neck, mahogany single piece body, through body strings with single string bridges and an open headstock. It has an Active Nordstrand fat stacks set and a low action. It took a luthier to set it up properly and now i am learning to play it for the rest of my life 😊 Because if there’s anything i have learned it’s that i am the limiting factor, not my instrument.
Stingray, but with 2 pickups. I understand that a lot of people just want the classic Stingray sound, but the bass can do so much more once you add another pickup. Mine has a 5 way switch that allows me to just use the inner coils for a P-bass sound, or the outer coils for a Jazz bass sound, or even just the neck pickup for deep, almost SG-like sounds. I've sold all my basses to get a nice BFR Stingray, and I do not feel like I need more. Though I could not say no to a P-bass with flatwounds.
What a nice collection!!! I my situation... My main bass; My Mayones Comodous custom. I did it for 20 years, and I'll continue doing it! :) Hardly modified; 6 pickup positions, a John East U-Retro deluxe, custom ramp and I did all the mods. :)
I would pick one of my (Fender) Precisions: any level, any style/genre, any era, any look, and.... very easy to fix or replace any part anywhere in the world.
My current is Cort A5 Beyond. It's not as fancy as a lot of higher end names but its one of the most comfortable basses I've ever played. I've had a lot of compliments for the looks and the sound I get from it. I used to be fanatical (and a bit elitist) about brands until I got this bass. I'm more of a hobbyist that wants to play a few jazz jam sessions in my local area so I don't need much and really trying to hone in on a minimalist view of gear lately. That Coronado was super nice!
4:54 - Famous last words 😂 For me, it would have to be my Yamaha Attitude LTD3. It’s what I always grab, no matter the occasion. Yes, there are other basses in my arsenal that also see the light of day and end up in videos and on tracks - but if I could only play the LTD3, I would be perfectly happy :)
The weird thing about instruments is how much easier the sound and playability can vary from even 2 instruments of the same exact model. I've picked up mexican Jazz basses that I swear sounded and played better than my American. Maybe there's some voodoo there or there's a stronger player to instrument connection than we realize.
Rickenbacker 4001 V63. It can do everything. EVERYTHING. :D Edit: Let me elaborate a bit. Yes, I know, the lacquered neck, the frame around the bridge pickup and the bridge itself are showstoppers for some, but they don't bother me. I actually like the lacquered neck. The frame is a bit in the way, but there are replacements for it and the bridge is fine for me. But the SOUND! The 4001 has so many different sounds, it feels at home in so many styles and it always cuts through the mix in the right way! You just gotta love a Rick! Play it with flats, rounds, pick, fingers, heck, even slap it (yes, the frame gets in the way)! That sound is just amazing.
The bass I picked up three years ago - Sire Marcus Miller U5. Short scale, four-banger, PJ pickup configuration, flamed maple front body and maple neck, beautiful rolled edges on the fretboard, perfect off-white binding, very very affordable, plays like a dream, sounds super thru my "stealthy rig" - Genz Benz Shuttle 9.2 on top of two Barefaced One10 cabs (Barefaced bass cabs are outstanding!). I have small paws... I never realised how much that held me back over the 30+ years I only played full-scale basses. I can play this bass all night long! And come out smiling! Gamechanger...
I've got the small paws too... Got a S. Martyn 30" 5 string with flats, E-C which is so uncharacteristic of me, but it changed my bass-playing life. I still play my vf5 Fbass a lot, but the S Martyn is something special for small paws. Definitely will use the rest of my life. Lots of nice basses and bassists coming out of Brazil these days!
Totally unexpected ending! One bass to play for life for me would be my 94 Stingray that I bought new - sold it in 2016 and bought back in 2023. It’s staying this time. I’ve put more hours into that bass than anything else.
If I could only keep one, it would be my American Professional Jazz Bass with Nordstrand J Blades. It’s just so versatile and I come back to it over and over again.
My Fender Jazz American Professional! I just always go back to my jazz when I want something comfy that I can get a good sound instantly out of. Its simple, elegant & sexy.
That RKM double P is the coolest bass on the planet imo. Lacquered/painted necks have NEVER bothered me. I'm glad to hear someone who is a real serious professional master player say they love a bass with a lacquered neck. Absolutely insane bass. Want one so bad.
@@WORDLIFE1 The Jazz Bass is dependable, versatile, and simple. You can get everything from a Precision-ish sound to a smooth jazz or metal sound with a little tone, effect, and EQ adjustment. My Squier Vintage Modified 5-String Jazz Bass always gets the job done.
It depends on what you’re doing with music….a studio player’s needs are different from a heavy metal touring band bassist. I do a lot of different things, so a good P/J with a good preamp and equalizer will do almost anything
Ibanez 1605 prestige. It’s a 5 string so it covers all the tunings I need, It’s active/passive, 3 band eq. It can give me just about any sound I’m looking for and it feels and plays beautifully. I haven’t found a better bass I would actually buy.
Great video! In my case, it has to be my modded MusicMan Stingray 5. I bought it a few years ago because I wanted something with a great classic slap tone, but little did I know that it would become my favourite bass and a great go-to instrument, especially for live situations. That Nordstrand Bigman 5 pickup that I put in it made it an absolute monster of a bass, with an insanely high output volume, and funnily enough, it forced me to replace the stock preamp with an Aguilar OBP-3 and convert my pickup switch to a producer switch, haha. The electronics combo basically make it sound like and old-school 'Ray on steroids. No matter what other instruments I play, I always go back to it and I'll probably never get rid of it for as long as I live!
Ok, long-time bassist and producer and I don't know why I'm only just NOW stumbling on you. I used to play a 6-string bass religiously - did a lot of jazz, funk, theatre work - but it's taken the backseat as I do a lot of indie rock stuff lately. I've never felt connected to the 5-string thing, my favorite about the 6 was the extension. NEVER thought about just doing 5 string like you do... but you know I'm gonna steal that idea now! Loved the video, so stoked to see more!
One bass the rest of my life? My modded P bass. It was my very first bass, and I had it customized later on, Jazz neck, SD ¼ Pounder, Schaller hardware, and a flame maple top.
I have had tons of instruments….bc rich….fender….yamaha attitudes….peavey…..I have a combat guitars custom pj made in Japan i picked up for 350usd…..love it. That’s my keeper. ❤
My passive 2013 Dingwall ABZ-5. Surprisingly light and ergonomic, fantastic B string, outstanding clarity, worth more than when I originally placed my order. My Guild acoustic and NXT-a 5 electric upright are one-trick ponies, purchased with the knowledge that my all-rounder was the ABZ.
Fun video Gwizzard. An absurdly nice collection you got there. I had a complete personal economical crash and had to sell all three of my high end basses. After getting on my feet again It didn't feel right to spend 1000- 1500 dollars on a new instrument so I took the chance with a DIY kit. My girlfriend who is an oil painter made an awesome yet subtle motif in the back, and sides of the body, i oiled the quilted top and set to work making it with all the specs and hardware I love.... it's now my favorite bass I've ever own and it plays as great as my old Fenders and Yamahas. It's a literall dream bass that grew to shape from all of my preferences I've picked up from 10 years of playin. Highly recommend to anybody reading this to get a DIY kit, they are crazy cheap, will teach you a hell of alot about instrument assembly and building (it ain't hard when its all premade pieces), its a brand-snob-cureall and just damn fun too boot.
I already have it and it's an Ibanez ATK Prestige 1200 (Number 0001! ) ! It was my dream Bass and was offered to me by a Godess ! The only bass in the world with a quadruple bobine+ a double Jazz Bass PU! It makes it a bass with 6 PU's+ a killer pre. I don't talk about the "ATK's" often , has I prefer them to be a 'best kept secret'. Had an historic original one from the 80's, and would love to have a 5 strings,. But that is the Bass I will keep until I'm gone!
Janek man, I just love you brother, you make a video about “If you could have only 1 bass for life…” and in the middle of the vid, you admit you’re designing ANOTHER BASS!!! My hero !!!
I’ve had this question come up in the last few years . At one point I had 25 basses. And played probably 4 of them most of the time . About 15 years ago I was lucky enough to get a pre cbs 1963 Precision bass and after a few years I ended up pretty much only playing that bass. I now have only 4 basses . Yet I still only play the 63 probably 99% of the time ! I have a short scale I use occasionally . But the P bass wins all day. I could live that only bass forever. In fact I tried to get a Custom shop 63 so I didn’t have to take the old girl on the road but I haven’t found another bass that comes close to the original, the Late Great Herbie flowers had 1 electric bass and 1 upright bass he used for his entire career ! My P bass I genuinely all ill ever need
I am mostly playing metal and other heavy stuff. My current bass is almost prefect for me so far. It is an Ibanez BTB605MS. 37 inch low B with 0th fret, strong output which can be beatifully distorted... I don't see a scenario where I would actually need anything else. But I also have a 5 string fretless (also an Ibanez, SRF705), which I played exclusively for 2 years and it spoke to me in a way this bass might never be able to. So, a dream bass for me would be something like a 35 inch 5 string fretless with a metal fretboard. The only problem is, a have not seen on yet.
I have way to many basses. Pedulla, Alembic, Yamaha, Ken Smith, Human Base, Marleaux, Vigier. Even a near mint -65 Fender P, a mint -74 Fender Jazz and a very nice -77 Stingray. But I always bring my Hamer Cruisebass 2tek 5-string to gigs. Just love that bass and those Duncan pickups
Glad to see you held on to the Goya, was worried that was one of the victims of the great purge. As far as my desert island bass, it’d have to be my 2010 EBMM Stingray HH. It gets both J and Stingray sounds really well, it can approximate an active P, and it has the best feeling neck I’ve ever played. A close second would be my first-gen Ibanez Ashula, which is currently set up B-C leaving the high two strings as fretless.
Easy. My 1980's Vigier Marilyn Monroe Excalibur fretless. It's been my no. 1 for decades and my fingers still tingle with excitement when I go to pick it up.
My Marleaux Consat 5 string, which should be arriving shortly. My dream bass and hopefully the last one I will ever need, but we all know how that goes 😉😁
@@carlkermode899 I've had one of these for the last 23 years. It hangs on my wall in my bedroom when it's not in the studio with me. I was very fortunate to be able to tell Gerald Marleaux how much I love this bass 2 weeks ago at the Guitar Summit in Mannheim.
Back in '94, Ken Smith custom-built a bass to my specs. That's my all-time favorite bass. I've only owned two others, a '75 Fender Jazz & a '76 Gibson Grabber that I switched to a lefty. 🤟🐻❄️
I bought a Gretsch G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II back in January, I've played a number of basses over the years, and nothing has come close to the Gretsch, I'm in a wheelchair, and it's perfect
I picked up a 1982 G&L 2000 E , brand new and I've played all types of music with it because it's so versatile. The only drawback, it weighs almost 14lbs so for live playing I got a Cort Modern Modern GB4 and it's just as versatile as my G&L 2000 but it weighs about 7lbs .It really helps with all of the Titanium in my spine !
What interested me is: you like the double p bass pickup setup a lot for your style. And, I've heard metal guys say they like that configuration a lot/the most as well. It should be an option in more basses
First off, this is a great video. Thank you for your contributions to the bass world. Right now, my go to is my Performance YB5-21 with a modified Low End preamp. The fit, feel, and dynamic range is simply impressive. I definitely want a double p and double reverse p in my arsenal.
I recently bought a Yamaha Attitude Limited 3 Billy Sheehan bass (in black finish) and I am in love with this thing. It is pre-owned and I got it for a fair price from Japan. Although it is quite heavy and has some neck dive, the sound is totally amazing and perfect for the kind of music I play : rock. It is kind of a P-Bass on steroids and yet so versatile and "pedal friendly". The output level is crazy, even higher as some active basses (yes, it's passive). Since I got it I barely touched my other basses and the tip of my fingers are quite painful and the skin gets harder and harder.
Janek, I really loved how you sounded on it, of course, AND of course the magic in the moment of NOW will change it all anyway to another different you-in-the-moment.. but I loved the chunkiness and that ultraphat tone on the E string in the arpeggios made it so special… it totally set it apart for me from anything I’ve heard or played. IF you ever do make any to sell, I would love to have one just for HOW radically different it would be…The Dark Swirl Of Mystery …! I have my one-only bass I’ve been playing, indeed, since 1982 when I had it made by a few guys from Alembic (35” scale 5 string) It’s pretty much made any and every tone and feel I wanted and then some, but that Coronado … ! I can really see and hear myself with that sound and feel, just to see where it would hit me, the most fun thing for me really was as much as I loved its sound, I loved seeing and identifying with what it did to you. With great respect 🌟Mike
@Tertium8 Who are you calling bragger? the question was what bass you would keep for life. When I got married in 1985 I sold all my guitars to buy a wedding ring. A few years later, I found a 1972 Jazz bass for $500, which I had for a few years. Then I saw a 1965 Jazz bass on Ebay wanting to trade a 1972 Jazz, I took a chance and sent him my bass and he sent me his 1965. I don't know why he wanted a 1972, but I was happy. When I retired at 64, I found a 1955 P bass on ebay for $5000 which I had to buy as a retirement present to myself. Now that I am 71 and got cancer last year, I was going to sell my 1955 precision to pay bills, but my wife stopped me from selling it. You don't really know how long and how hard it was to obtain these two basses.
I bought a Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V a few months ago. It's the most fun and beefiest instrument I own. I'm a drummer and guitarist who happens to play bass sometimes. But that bass is magical.
That Ian-Fender Coranado segment was incredible. The music you created in that instant with the looper was awesome. Something like that doesn’t happen unless one is truly the particular instrument.
I really love my basses but I don't think I own one that could be my only bass untill the end of my life. See, I love playing fretless. I think a fretless bass in general is the most beautiful sounding instrument ever. But, in the music I play, I also need quite a bit of aggression, that "ping" you get from a fretted bass. Therefore, I think a fretless 5 with a stainless steel fingerboard might be the ticket. I know LeFay does that (it's called Remington Steele, Charles Berthoud has a 6 string) but it's not 100% what I'd want. The most beautiful sounding fretless - to me, at least - is a Wal. I adore the late great fretless masters Mick Karn and John Giblin. Both played fretless Wals. And that set of electronics with filters and "pick attack" mode would make possible switching from warm singing fretless tone to bright, angry sound I get when I dig in on my Alembic Essence 5 (which is the 2nd best sounding fretted bass I've ever played - the winner being... well, a Wal belonging to an old pal of mine). I know Wal wouldn't make a stainless steel fretless but there are companies that make Wal-ish pickups and circuits based on Wal elecs, so if I got a set and worked with a good luthier to make me exactly what I want... well, that might actually be my only bass.
My 1 bass for life, 5st Sadowsky jazz bass ❤ I've been playing a 1979 Schecter P-bass the last 2 seasons ... great bass, but for life? a super jazz, please!
Love the F bass you’ve got! I actually know the guy who owns the original F bass prototype model. It’s a really beautiful 5 string fretless with gold hardware. He claims to have bought it in the 80’s. I’d say he is one of the few guys I know who deserve to own such a special bass as he is an absolute beast on it!
I think for me is my MusicMan Stingray American standard 21 frets. every time I pick it up I am still getting new sounds and inspired by it. Thank you for this video Janek
As primarily a keyboard player who also plays guitar a bass, this has potential for an interesting series! Only one keyboard. Only one guitar. I only own one bass so if I was to be stuck with it, cool. I think it all depends on what kind of music you play. I play bass with a pick so it doesn't need to be one that's great for slapping. Think about the idea for a series!
I recently bought an 1985 Ibanez RB850, and it might be 1 of the two I would keep. I have a fretless that is kind of a mystery that I have owned since 1993. I think it was a kit made by Chandler. It is pretty much a 60's Jazz bass with a fretless ebony fingerboard. The RB850 is passive and sounds killer. The neck is amazing. I'm getting ready to rewire it to get a bit more versatility from the big humbuckers!
The lead singer in my high school band, who could barely play bass, let alone guitar, owned a '67 Fender Coronado Bass II with OHSC. He would play bass, but stop playing when he started singing. It was hilarious. After the last iteration of our group packed it in back in 1994, I am pretty sure he just gave up on music altogether. But I would bet tat he still has the instrument because it is such a rare bird. His was the only one I have ever seen in the wild but for online sales in the interwebs. I pine for a semi-hollowbody style bass like an old Kay, Harmony, or Fender.
My 6 string Ibanez would definitely win over anything else I’ve played on. Crisp sound, good action and so good looking. I rarely touch the EQ but it’s there if I want to mess around with it. Just so nice to have that range available at all times. Ibanez SR1426B-CGL
I have a parts bass with an ash 70’s p-bass body, a 2012 MIM neck that’s been PLEK’d, and a custom pickup. I’ve owned most of it for 23 years. PS: I absolutely love how you sound on the Coronado.
I’ve never touched an F bass or a Fodera or Overwater or any of those $5000 and above instruments. I tried a $2800 Spector, but chose my $1800 Lākland 55-02 and it’s my go-to bass to this day!
I don't play 4 strings anymore. I have a couple. I need a 5 or 6. I used to play 6's all the time but the stuff I do now only needs a 5 and they don't piss off people like the 6. After playing everything from Alembic to Zon and many Custom builds I seem to be gravitating to my Sires. I own 7 I think!
For what's in my collection at the moment (mostly budget and mid-level), I'd probably have to choose my 2015 1st gen Sire V7 that I've modded a bit over the years (Albridge bridge, custom Hipshot tuners, Sadowsky preamp). It's the most comfortable, best sounding bass I have. There's something this bass has that Sire produced much better in quality in those first couple years than what is being made today, I just can't explain it. Anyhow, I started with a jazz copy way back in the early 90's and I keep going back to the jazz body style over and over no matter what else I pick up as the years go on.
Місяць тому
Two basses id like to have from you are 1) mattison 5 string 2) mattison 4 string tripe p What id pass on The Rkm The f bass Just theorizing ;)
I would pick my G&L CLF L-2000 hands down. I own 12 basses from a Squier Rascal, '78 Rickenbacker 4001, G&L Fullerton SB-2, Fender Aerodyne (close 2nd), Fender Ultra Jazz, '70 and '88 Fender Mustangs and a few others.
My teacher had 1 bass (jeff andrews) most of his life. AJ ,Marcus, Jamerson all seem to choose one bass and stick with it. The benefit? An intimate relationship with that instrument. Mine is so old and worn that it forgot it was a tree. Looks like hell but plays like.... Anyway mine is a fretless jazz ( hippie refin) with single coils and an epoxy neck finish ( like an old pickup truck it is solid and has been around both the US , Asia and Europe). As Wes Montgomery would say " I play a standard box".
Geography is everything. If you can’t create the scene you want where you are, moving somewhere to a scene with more like-minded people should be a serious consideration
The p bass divides opinion but if it had a jazz width neck as standard, I think a lot more people would be into them . I’ll stick with my Sandberg California tm 4 string . Huge humbucker at bridge , j single coil at neck position , active , passive , 2 band eq , multiple pickup selections , zero fret and great quality .
My first and beloved bass. 2006, MIJ, Signature version. Really rocky hardcore style (which in fact, is the sig version of the metalcore brand Hatebreed), my Jackson is my baby and always will be. No matter how many bass I see, no other will be like him. Even if it's more expensive or better, he's gonna be always the perfect for me. I learnt bass with him (after two weeks with a cheapo Yamaha that I got borrowed), I got used to him. It was love at first sight after seeing him on second hand… Wanted that and only that one, crazy enough I took it after asking for a drop (and didn't accept). If my house burns, in my list will be: childhood pics, steam deck and bass.
Easy: a Warwick Fortress One 5 String I bought new in 1995. It's been the only bass I've played from the day I bought it until recently, when the music I played required something else. It can do almost anything, but most of all there is, and there probably will be, no other instrument I feel so comfortable on. It's the one I decided to commit to, first out of necessity, and then because I simply want to go back to it every time i play another bass. Looking forward to our 30 years together next year.
I think the general answer is Yamaha BBP34 (or the BBP35). PJ config, simple controls (two volume, one tone, passive), nice feel (more P than J). It's a great bass.
Maybe it’s something about semiacoustics. After seeing a video of Ian playing and talking about his Guild Starfire I immediately got one and fell in love with it. Now it gets played the most and it became THE bass if I had to choose just one.
That's a tough choice! I think I would have to choose either my acoustic upright bass or my Squier Classic Vibe P-Bass. Sure, both are definitely on the affordably priced side of things, but I've owned my upright since 2006 or 2007, and I've put a bunch of work into my Squier P (La Bella flats, DiMarzio Sixties P pickup, I sanded the back of the neck and refinished it, replaced the tuners with a set of quality Hipshot tuners + a Detuner), and it sounds and feels great. But I would also miss my 5-string Sting Ray or my Ibanez TMB35 (super cheap, but AMAZING 30" short scale P/J bass that RULES). Janek, I'm SUPER EXCITED to see what Anders cooks up for a semi-hollow or fully hollow bass for you! I hope it ends up being a 5 string 😁Hopefully it becomes your Coronado! Have you ever considered stringing up a 5-string P-Bass or a Warwick Star Bass 5 string with E-C?
I have an all maple Precision, which I bought from new in 1977 & a 2003 maple Jazz. Precision is 100% original as I stopped serious playing for over 20 years so fret wear, etc is good. I have a Spector 5 string which has a fantastic neck. Jazz is just more flexible.
5-string from Sandberg - TM5(TT5) or VT5(VM5). These are great basses (with lot of customizations possible). I don’t play 4-string anymore, but CS P-bass would never dissapoint you.
I have 90s made 60s pbass fender MIA Marcus miller fender jazz Ibanez MTD 535 And ive tried Yamaha john pattituci Yamaha nathan east Fodera monarch Sire m7 And a lot more i didnt really remember from my bassist community friends And my choice is easily MTD, i can copy any kind of sound and it can be turned passive & active, imo its perfect, especially i mainly plays church stuffs
For me, it changes so often that I don't know if I would be able to choose a one and only bass. Lately, it's been an active 5-string multi-scale but I always go back to my 2006 Fender Jaguar. Jazz bass on steroids. Although, it's temperamental at times, I have a certain kind of bond with that neck and sound. And even though it has a preamp, I tend to always run it passive to avoid crackling. Again, probably just needs some love in the electronics department, but when in passive mode, it's solid. I even go as far as taking the 9V out and using the active switch as a kill switch. That's this year's flavors though. Last year, it was my Lakland PJ with flats.
I've owned loads of basses but my bass for life would be my Geddy Lee CIJ Jazz. Massive Rush fan so I thought it would be a bit cringe to get one. Not a fan of Black & Maple. I do like a Jazz bass. One came up in Sunburst, gotta love a Sunburst Jazz, Great price. Out of the box it looked like a work of art. Perfect in every way. Plays, feels, sounds and looks. If not the Geddy it would be my Steinberger XQ. That is a bit special also. Cool vid.
Tbh I already found mine, the Ibanez SR-505 bass is so amazing to play, sounds awesome and feels very easy to play! I love it, and I want to buy another copy to leave tuned up
Some of us don't have enough to own many basses to choose from. So if I had to have 1 bass it would be an American Lakland 44-64 (premium pickups, wide neck, light weight body).
Easy question! I've owned the same Ibanez Rick copy since I bought it new, around 1974. It's a lefty-but-strung-righty because that's how I learned (so I could pick up a double bass without problems😉). I've genuinely never wanted any other bass, nor more strings (more than four strings on a bass is just "wrong" IMHO).
My Sire Z7-5 str. Swamp Ash is the best bass I ever had Best bass for the money in the world . And it stand up against basses that is several times more expensive ! It covers so many different sounds ! 👍👏❤️
If I had to only play one bass for the rest of my life, it would be my Music Man Bongo 6 (I am a 6 string player through and through). It feels the best for me, and it is versatile enough for me to be able to cover almost all of my needs as a bass player. Luckily, I also have three other 6 strings that all do different things so I don't have to worry about that - an Ibanez fretless, a Peavey Grind 6 (strung with flats for that "passive" sound), and a Warwick Corvette 6 tuned down one whole step.
I had a Fender Jazz (Mex.) that I really enjoyed. It was comfortable to play, I bought it used for $200 with a hard-shell case and if I dinged it, I wouldn't cry too much...haha. I've owned an Alembic MK deluxe that didn't feel as good and honestly didn't sound much better. My Spector (spalted maple top) NS-4H2 has probably been my favorite tone wise and for playability. I still own 2 nice Carvins (Icon fretless 5 and SB5000) and a Status Empathy 5....all are pretty sweet.
The Goya and the Fender Coronado are probably the closest to what I'd choose. I think I'd probably want a Harmony H27 if I had to stick with one bass for life.
Based on the ones I own... I think my G&L SB-2 with 1 5/8" nut width. Although a fretless Jazz I built myself would be the hardest to part with emotionally. However, if I was going to choose from all Bass Guitars in existence, I would get a G&L Matador made with an ebony board and MFD pickups.
I've owned and played a ton of basses, but the one I always go back to is my Rickenbacker 4003, that'll be the one I keep forever!
My Warwick Thumb VI. Built in 1989 and bought by me, utterly inappropriately and out of obsession, in 2003. In 1987, eighteen-year-old me saw a bass for sale in a Newcastle guitar store tor £999.98 (yes, 98p) and was stunned that an instrument could cost that much (it's a lot now, but in '87 . . .). Then I started seeing bassists on Top of the Pops playing basses with more than four strings and was utterly stunned by that too. Then, years later and thanks to the new-fangled internet, I finally put two-and-two together and began fishing for a six-string thumb. Finally found one, second-hand and affordable, at The Bass Gallery in Camden in December 2003, just as the end-of-year bonus was about to be paid. It was a confluence of so many events that it still puts me slightly in awe to this day and that bass has been mine ever since. It's way above my pay-grade, but it's a possession cherished beyond monetary value and I will never, ever, part with it until infirmity and circumstances dictate otherwise. Probably not the reason behind the question asked, but the question was asked and that's my answer. My 1989 Warwick Thumb VI. I am so happy to have had legitimate reason to make that public, thanks Janek . . .🤗
The Fender Coronado was designed by Roger Rossmeisl who designed all the famous Rickenbacker instruments in the '50s and '60s (including the 4001). Leo Fender hired him to design the acoustic lines and he stayed on after the sale to CBS and did the Tele thin-line among other projects before retuning to Germany.
Awesome! Thanks
@@drbassface Apart from the Coronado Bass there were 1 and 2 pickup guitars (with or without vibrato) and a 12 string.
(all Coronados)
I've had my Spector Euro5 LXTW for about 15 years and have no intention of buying anything else
That's what I would pick!
I've got an NS pulse 2 5 because that's all I could afford, but ever since I bought it the only other basses I've wanted have been better Spectors!
I ended up selling every other bass
Although I don't own one, I concur, though I would go with the P-J configuration Euro-series bass. The Euro's range of tones makes it pretty universally applicable.
Great vid!
I built my own bass when i found out i wanted one i couldn’t afford. It sounds amazing,feels amazing and turned out so much better then i imagined. I took everything i learned from studying high end basses and what luthiers said about their instruments, Super long scale, 5 string, six screws bolt on carbon reinforced rock maple neck, mahogany single piece body, through body strings with single string bridges and an open headstock. It has an Active Nordstrand fat stacks set and a low action. It took a luthier to set it up properly and now i am learning to play it for the rest of my life 😊 Because if there’s anything i have learned it’s that i am the limiting factor, not my instrument.
Stingray, but with 2 pickups. I understand that a lot of people just want the classic Stingray sound, but the bass can do so much more once you add another pickup. Mine has a 5 way switch that allows me to just use the inner coils for a P-bass sound, or the outer coils for a Jazz bass sound, or even just the neck pickup for deep, almost SG-like sounds. I've sold all my basses to get a nice BFR Stingray, and I do not feel like I need more. Though I could not say no to a P-bass with flatwounds.
I have the same bass in a 5 string its the black one. I really like it i find myself playing on the neck pick up setting
Went from a P Bass copy to a Stingray 5 with the same dual humbucking configuration. I feel like I can’t play anything else now.
What a nice collection!!!
I my situation... My main bass; My Mayones Comodous custom. I did it for 20 years, and I'll continue doing it! :)
Hardly modified; 6 pickup positions, a John East U-Retro deluxe, custom ramp and I did all the mods. :)
I would pick one of my (Fender) Precisions: any level, any style/genre, any era, any look, and.... very easy to fix or replace any part anywhere in the world.
Same here.
Yep. I have one with tapes, and an ultra with a PJ. What can’t you do?
My 1981 Peavey T-40... Just does EVERYTHING!
Yes, it does, doesn't it. The T-60 guitar was the same way. They never caught on, because of the body shape, I think.
Heavy enough to wreck your shoulder.
I owned one and my shoulder couldn't handle it after one gig. I sold it not long after. I've liked heavy basses before, but I can't do that heavy.
My current is Cort A5 Beyond. It's not as fancy as a lot of higher end names but its one of the most comfortable basses I've ever played. I've had a lot of compliments for the looks and the sound I get from it. I used to be fanatical (and a bit elitist) about brands until I got this bass. I'm more of a hobbyist that wants to play a few jazz jam sessions in my local area so I don't need much and really trying to hone in on a minimalist view of gear lately. That Coronado was super nice!
Cort is an unbelievable brand
Its lucky for you to have cort as your first bass (or only bass)
@@sherlock4791 I have this and the Ultra Ash A5 but I prefer the A5 beyond.
4:54 - Famous last words 😂
For me, it would have to be my Yamaha Attitude LTD3. It’s what I always grab, no matter the occasion. Yes, there are other basses in my arsenal that also see the light of day and end up in videos and on tracks - but if I could only play the LTD3, I would be perfectly happy :)
The weird thing about instruments is how much easier the sound and playability can vary from even 2 instruments of the same exact model. I've picked up mexican Jazz basses that I swear sounded and played better than my American. Maybe there's some voodoo there or there's a stronger player to instrument connection than we realize.
Rickenbacker 4001 V63. It can do everything. EVERYTHING. :D
Edit: Let me elaborate a bit. Yes, I know, the lacquered neck, the frame around the bridge pickup and the bridge itself are showstoppers for some, but they don't bother me. I actually like the lacquered neck. The frame is a bit in the way, but there are replacements for it and the bridge is fine for me.
But the SOUND! The 4001 has so many different sounds, it feels at home in so many styles and it always cuts through the mix in the right way! You just gotta love a Rick! Play it with flats, rounds, pick, fingers, heck, even slap it (yes, the frame gets in the way)! That sound is just amazing.
The bass I picked up three years ago - Sire Marcus Miller U5. Short scale, four-banger, PJ pickup configuration, flamed maple front body and maple neck, beautiful rolled edges on the fretboard, perfect off-white binding, very very affordable, plays like a dream, sounds super thru my "stealthy rig" - Genz Benz Shuttle 9.2 on top of two Barefaced One10 cabs (Barefaced bass cabs are outstanding!).
I have small paws... I never realised how much that held me back over the 30+ years I only played full-scale basses. I can play this bass all night long! And come out smiling! Gamechanger...
I have one too, they're amazing 👌🏻
I've got the small paws too... Got a S. Martyn 30" 5 string with flats, E-C which is so uncharacteristic of me, but it changed my bass-playing life. I still play my vf5 Fbass a lot, but the S Martyn is something special for small paws. Definitely will use the rest of my life. Lots of nice basses and bassists coming out of Brazil these days!
Totally unexpected ending! One bass to play for life for me would be my 94 Stingray that I bought new - sold it in 2016 and bought back in 2023. It’s staying this time. I’ve put more hours into that bass than anything else.
Man so cool you got it back! Did you sell it to a friend or something?
@@bassimprovjams3772 not to a friend, it was on a bass forum and I tracked him down. He was happy for it to return home.
I have a Yamaha TRB6 since 1995 my go to bass it served me very well over the years.
If I could only keep one, it would be my American Professional Jazz Bass with Nordstrand J Blades. It’s just so versatile and I come back to it over and over again.
My Fender Jazz American Professional! I just always go back to my jazz when I want something comfy that I can get a good sound instantly out of. Its simple, elegant & sexy.
That RKM double P is the coolest bass on the planet imo. Lacquered/painted necks have NEVER bothered me. I'm glad to hear someone who is a real serious professional master player say they love a bass with a lacquered neck. Absolutely insane bass. Want one so bad.
Thats simple....a Fender Jazz Bass....solid black.
@@WORDLIFE1 The Jazz Bass is dependable, versatile, and simple. You can get everything from a Precision-ish sound to a smooth jazz or metal sound with a little tone, effect, and EQ adjustment. My Squier Vintage Modified 5-String Jazz Bass always gets the job done.
Same here
I got my fretless Ibanez in the 90's, I still have it and play it, that's my life bass. All my jazz basses take a back seat.
It depends on what you’re doing with music….a studio player’s needs are different from a heavy metal touring band bassist.
I do a lot of different things, so a good P/J with a good preamp and equalizer will do almost anything
That'd be my go to as well.
Ibanez 1605 prestige. It’s a 5 string so it covers all the tunings I need, It’s active/passive, 3 band eq. It can give me just about any sound I’m looking for and it feels and plays beautifully. I haven’t found a better bass I would actually buy.
Great video! In my case, it has to be my modded MusicMan Stingray 5. I bought it a few years ago because I wanted something with a great classic slap tone, but little did I know that it would become my favourite bass and a great go-to instrument, especially for live situations. That Nordstrand Bigman 5 pickup that I put in it made it an absolute monster of a bass, with an insanely high output volume, and funnily enough, it forced me to replace the stock preamp with an Aguilar OBP-3 and convert my pickup switch to a producer switch, haha. The electronics combo basically make it sound like and old-school 'Ray on steroids. No matter what other instruments I play, I always go back to it and I'll probably never get rid of it for as long as I live!
Ok, long-time bassist and producer and I don't know why I'm only just NOW stumbling on you. I used to play a 6-string bass religiously - did a lot of jazz, funk, theatre work - but it's taken the backseat as I do a lot of indie rock stuff lately. I've never felt connected to the 5-string thing, my favorite about the 6 was the extension. NEVER thought about just doing 5 string like you do... but you know I'm gonna steal that idea now! Loved the video, so stoked to see more!
One bass the rest of my life? My modded P bass. It was my very first bass, and I had it customized later on, Jazz neck, SD ¼ Pounder, Schaller hardware, and a flame maple top.
I love that RKM! I am a Jazz bass player and the RKM just clanks in a unique and amazing. Thanks for showing us these great basses.
I have had tons of instruments….bc rich….fender….yamaha attitudes….peavey…..I have a combat guitars custom pj made in Japan i picked up for 350usd…..love it. That’s my keeper. ❤
My passive 2013 Dingwall ABZ-5. Surprisingly light and ergonomic, fantastic B string, outstanding clarity, worth more than when I originally placed my order. My Guild acoustic and NXT-a 5 electric upright are one-trick ponies, purchased with the knowledge that my all-rounder was the ABZ.
Fun video Gwizzard. An absurdly nice collection you got there. I had a complete personal economical crash and had to sell all three of my high end basses. After getting on my feet again It didn't feel right to spend 1000- 1500 dollars on a new instrument so I took the chance with a DIY kit. My girlfriend who is an oil painter made an awesome yet subtle motif in the back, and sides of the body, i oiled the quilted top and set to work making it with all the specs and hardware I love.... it's now my favorite bass I've ever own and it plays as great as my old Fenders and Yamahas. It's a literall dream bass that grew to shape from all of my preferences I've picked up from 10 years of playin.
Highly recommend to anybody reading this to get a DIY kit, they are crazy cheap, will teach you a hell of alot about instrument assembly and building (it ain't hard when its all premade pieces), its a brand-snob-cureall and just damn fun too boot.
I already have it and it's an Ibanez ATK Prestige 1200 (Number 0001! ) ! It was my dream Bass and was offered to me by a Godess ! The only bass in the world with a quadruple bobine+ a double Jazz Bass PU! It makes it a bass with 6 PU's+ a killer pre. I don't talk about the "ATK's" often , has I prefer them to be a 'best kept secret'. Had an historic original one from the 80's, and would love to have a 5 strings,. But that is the Bass I will keep until I'm gone!
The other choice would be a Precision Bass!
The atk was super under appreciated.
@@jamesgadd8341 Totally agree, it's a mix of all the good stuff and has unique PU's! + Mine is beautiful, all natural wood color!
Janek man, I just love you brother, you make a video about “If you could have only 1 bass for life…” and in the middle of the vid, you admit you’re designing ANOTHER BASS!!! My hero !!!
I’ve had this question come up in the last few years . At one point I had 25 basses. And played probably 4 of them most of the time . About 15 years ago I was lucky enough to get a pre cbs 1963 Precision bass and after a few years I ended up pretty much only playing that bass. I now have only 4 basses . Yet I still only play the 63 probably 99% of the time ! I have a short scale I use occasionally . But the P bass wins all day. I could live that only bass forever. In fact I tried to get a Custom shop 63 so I didn’t have to take the old girl on the road but I haven’t found another bass that comes close to the original, the Late Great Herbie flowers had 1 electric bass and 1 upright bass he used for his entire career !
My P bass I genuinely all ill ever need
And yes the 63 has flats on it and has done for a decade
I am mostly playing metal and other heavy stuff. My current bass is almost prefect for me so far. It is an Ibanez BTB605MS. 37 inch low B with 0th fret, strong output which can be beatifully distorted... I don't see a scenario where I would actually need anything else. But I also have a 5 string fretless (also an Ibanez, SRF705), which I played exclusively for 2 years and it spoke to me in a way this bass might never be able to. So, a dream bass for me would be something like a 35 inch 5 string fretless with a metal fretboard. The only problem is, a have not seen on yet.
I have way to many basses. Pedulla, Alembic, Yamaha, Ken Smith, Human Base, Marleaux, Vigier. Even a near mint -65 Fender P, a mint -74 Fender Jazz and a very nice -77 Stingray. But I always bring my Hamer Cruisebass 2tek 5-string to gigs. Just love that bass and those Duncan pickups
For me, the double and triple P, the hollow body was pretty cool too!
Glad to see you held on to the Goya, was worried that was one of the victims of the great purge. As far as my desert island bass, it’d have to be my 2010 EBMM Stingray HH. It gets both J and Stingray sounds really well, it can approximate an active P, and it has the best feeling neck I’ve ever played. A close second would be my first-gen Ibanez Ashula, which is currently set up B-C leaving the high two strings as fretless.
Easy. My 1980's Vigier Marilyn Monroe Excalibur fretless. It's been my no. 1 for decades and my fingers still tingle with excitement when I go to pick it up.
My Marleaux Consat 5 string, which should be arriving shortly. My dream bass and hopefully the last one I will ever need, but we all know how that goes 😉😁
@@carlkermode899 I've had one of these for the last 23 years. It hangs on my wall in my bedroom when it's not in the studio with me. I was very fortunate to be able to tell Gerald Marleaux how much I love this bass 2 weeks ago at the Guitar Summit in Mannheim.
@@BassDawStew The man is an artist and a genius, no doubt. I'm sure he appreciated your kind words. Cheers. 👍
Back in '94, Ken Smith custom-built a bass to my specs. That's my all-time favorite bass. I've only owned two others, a '75 Fender Jazz & a '76 Gibson Grabber that I switched to a lefty. 🤟🐻❄️
I bought a Gretsch G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet II back in January, I've played a number of basses over the years, and nothing has come close to the Gretsch, I'm in a wheelchair, and it's perfect
I picked up a 1982 G&L 2000 E , brand new and I've played all types of music with it because it's so versatile. The only drawback, it weighs almost 14lbs so for live playing I got a Cort Modern Modern GB4 and it's just as versatile as my G&L 2000 but it weighs about 7lbs .It really helps with all of the Titanium in my spine !
What interested me is: you like the double p bass pickup setup a lot for your style. And, I've heard metal guys say they like that configuration a lot/the most as well. It should be an option in more basses
First off, this is a great video. Thank you for your contributions to the bass world.
Right now, my go to is my Performance YB5-21 with a modified Low End preamp. The fit, feel, and dynamic range is simply impressive.
I definitely want a double p and double reverse p in my arsenal.
Warmoth roassted maple Jazz neck, roasted swamp ash Jazz body, 62 Precision bass pickups. No bridge pickup.
No kidding!
My Schecter Studio-4 for me. An absolute workhorse, tonally versatile, and visually fits in any situation.
I recently bought a Yamaha Attitude Limited 3 Billy Sheehan bass (in black finish) and I am in love with this thing. It is pre-owned and I got it for a fair price from Japan. Although it is quite heavy and has some neck dive, the sound is totally amazing and perfect for the kind of music I play : rock. It is kind of a P-Bass on steroids and yet so versatile and "pedal friendly". The output level is crazy, even higher as some active basses (yes, it's passive). Since I got it I barely touched my other basses and the tip of my fingers are quite painful and the skin gets harder and harder.
Luckily for me, after owning several basses, I’ve been playing my number one for about 5 years now. I have a modern Stingray 5 HH.
Janek, I really loved how you sounded on it, of course, AND of course the magic in the moment of NOW will change it all anyway to another different you-in-the-moment.. but I loved the chunkiness and that ultraphat tone on the E string in the arpeggios made it so special… it totally set it apart for me from anything I’ve heard or played.
IF you ever do make any to sell, I would love to have one just for HOW radically different it would be…The Dark Swirl Of Mystery …!
I have my one-only bass I’ve been playing, indeed, since 1982 when I had it made by a few guys from Alembic (35” scale 5 string) It’s pretty much made any and every tone and feel I wanted and then some, but that Coronado … ! I can really see and hear myself with that sound and feel, just to see where it would hit me, the most fun thing for me really was as much as I loved its sound, I loved seeing and identifying with what it did to you.
With great respect 🌟Mike
The bass I would pick is my 1965 Jazz bass. If I could pick two, next it would be my 1955 precision bass.
Bragger…!…
@Tertium8 Who are you calling bragger? the question was what bass you would keep for life. When I got married in 1985 I sold all my guitars to buy a wedding ring. A few years later, I found a 1972 Jazz bass for $500, which I had for a few years. Then I saw a 1965 Jazz bass on Ebay wanting to trade a 1972 Jazz, I took a chance and sent him my bass and he sent me his 1965. I don't know why he wanted a 1972, but I was happy. When I retired at 64, I found a 1955 P bass on ebay for $5000 which I had to buy as a retirement present to myself. Now that I am 71 and got cancer last year, I was going to sell my 1955 precision to pay bills, but my wife stopped me from selling it. You don't really know how long and how hard it was to obtain these two basses.
My customized Mexican P bass, which I’ve owned for 15 years. Not my most expensive or renowned bass, but definitely the most loved 🖤
Have to be my MTD Kingston super 5. It just sits so nicely on the mix and is a joy to play.
I bought a Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V a few months ago. It's the most fun and beefiest instrument I own. I'm a drummer and guitarist who happens to play bass sometimes. But that bass is magical.
My 4-bolt 70s Fender Jazz with Fralin humbuckers. Shockingly light, awesome refret, super versatile. The look fits in at any gig, & some gigs care.
That Ian-Fender Coranado segment was incredible. The music you created in that instant with the looper was awesome. Something like that doesn’t happen unless one is truly the particular instrument.
I really love my basses but I don't think I own one that could be my only bass untill the end of my life. See, I love playing fretless. I think a fretless bass in general is the most beautiful sounding instrument ever. But, in the music I play, I also need quite a bit of aggression, that "ping" you get from a fretted bass. Therefore, I think a fretless 5 with a stainless steel fingerboard might be the ticket. I know LeFay does that (it's called Remington Steele, Charles Berthoud has a 6 string) but it's not 100% what I'd want. The most beautiful sounding fretless - to me, at least - is a Wal. I adore the late great fretless masters Mick Karn and John Giblin. Both played fretless Wals. And that set of electronics with filters and "pick attack" mode would make possible switching from warm singing fretless tone to bright, angry sound I get when I dig in on my Alembic Essence 5 (which is the 2nd best sounding fretted bass I've ever played - the winner being... well, a Wal belonging to an old pal of mine). I know Wal wouldn't make a stainless steel fretless but there are companies that make Wal-ish pickups and circuits based on Wal elecs, so if I got a set and worked with a good luthier to make me exactly what I want... well, that might actually be my only bass.
My 1 bass for life, 5st Sadowsky jazz bass ❤ I've been playing a 1979 Schecter P-bass the last 2 seasons ... great bass, but for life? a super jazz, please!
Love the F bass you’ve got! I actually know the guy who owns the original F bass prototype model. It’s a really beautiful 5 string fretless with gold hardware. He claims to have bought it in the 80’s. I’d say he is one of the few guys I know who deserve to own such a special bass as he is an absolute beast on it!
I think for me is my MusicMan Stingray American standard 21 frets. every time I pick it up I am still getting new sounds and inspired by it. Thank you for this video Janek
As primarily a keyboard player who also plays guitar a bass, this has potential for an interesting series! Only one keyboard. Only one guitar. I only own one bass so if I was to be stuck with it, cool. I think it all depends on what kind of music you play. I play bass with a pick so it doesn't need to be one that's great for slapping.
Think about the idea for a series!
I recently bought an 1985 Ibanez RB850, and it might be 1 of the two I would keep. I have a fretless that is kind of a mystery that I have owned since 1993. I think it was a kit made by Chandler. It is pretty much a 60's Jazz bass with a fretless ebony fingerboard. The RB850 is passive and sounds killer. The neck is amazing. I'm getting ready to rewire it to get a bit more versatility from the big humbuckers!
The lead singer in my high school band, who could barely play bass, let alone guitar, owned a '67 Fender Coronado Bass II with OHSC. He would play bass, but stop playing when he started singing. It was hilarious. After the last iteration of our group packed it in back in 1994, I am pretty sure he just gave up on music altogether. But I would bet tat he still has the instrument because it is such a rare bird. His was the only one I have ever seen in the wild but for online sales in the interwebs. I pine for a semi-hollowbody style bass like an old Kay, Harmony, or Fender.
My 6 string Ibanez would definitely win over anything else I’ve played on.
Crisp sound, good action and so good looking. I rarely touch the EQ but it’s there if I want to mess around with it.
Just so nice to have that range available at all times.
Ibanez SR1426B-CGL
My Warwick Corvette Proline 5c. 25 years old from now, and always sounds awesome.The best I own among Fenders, Sire and other JBasses...
I have a parts bass with an ash 70’s p-bass body, a 2012 MIM neck that’s been PLEK’d, and a custom pickup. I’ve owned most of it for 23 years. PS: I absolutely love how you sound on the Coronado.
I’ve never touched an F bass or a Fodera or Overwater or any of those $5000 and above instruments. I tried a $2800 Spector, but chose my $1800 Lākland 55-02 and it’s my go-to bass to this day!
I don't play 4 strings anymore. I have a couple. I need a 5 or 6. I used to play 6's all the time but the stuff I do now only needs a 5 and they don't piss off people like the 6. After playing everything from Alembic to Zon and many Custom builds I seem to be gravitating to my Sires. I own 7 I think!
Awesome video man! Really dig your insight into all of those basses. Fascinating stuff!
For what's in my collection at the moment (mostly budget and mid-level), I'd probably have to choose my 2015 1st gen Sire V7 that I've modded a bit over the years (Albridge bridge, custom Hipshot tuners, Sadowsky preamp). It's the most comfortable, best sounding bass I have. There's something this bass has that Sire produced much better in quality in those first couple years than what is being made today, I just can't explain it. Anyhow, I started with a jazz copy way back in the early 90's and I keep going back to the jazz body style over and over no matter what else I pick up as the years go on.
Two basses id like to have from you are
1) mattison 5 string
2) mattison 4 string tripe p
What id pass on
The Rkm
The f bass
Just theorizing ;)
I would pick my G&L CLF L-2000 hands down. I own 12 basses from a Squier Rascal, '78 Rickenbacker 4001, G&L Fullerton SB-2, Fender Aerodyne (close 2nd), Fender Ultra Jazz, '70 and '88 Fender Mustangs and a few others.
My teacher had 1 bass (jeff andrews) most of his life. AJ ,Marcus, Jamerson all seem to choose one bass and stick with it. The benefit? An intimate relationship with that instrument. Mine is so old and worn that it forgot it was a tree. Looks like hell but plays like.... Anyway mine is a fretless jazz ( hippie refin) with single coils and an epoxy neck finish ( like an old pickup truck it is solid and has been around both the US , Asia and Europe). As Wes Montgomery would say " I play a standard box".
Janek, how did you find gigs when you were up and coming. My music scene is fairly non existent in my town. Any advice?
Geography is everything. If you can’t create the scene you want where you are, moving somewhere to a scene with more like-minded people should be a serious consideration
The p bass divides opinion but if it had a jazz width neck as standard, I think a lot more people would be into them .
I’ll stick with my Sandberg California tm 4 string . Huge humbucker at bridge , j single coil at neck position , active , passive , 2 band eq , multiple pickup selections , zero fret and great quality .
My first and beloved bass. 2006, MIJ, Signature version. Really rocky hardcore style (which in fact, is the sig version of the metalcore brand Hatebreed), my Jackson is my baby and always will be. No matter how many bass I see, no other will be like him. Even if it's more expensive or better, he's gonna be always the perfect for me. I learnt bass with him (after two weeks with a cheapo Yamaha that I got borrowed), I got used to him. It was love at first sight after seeing him on second hand… Wanted that and only that one, crazy enough I took it after asking for a drop (and didn't accept).
If my house burns, in my list will be: childhood pics, steam deck and bass.
Easy: a Warwick Fortress One 5 String I bought new in 1995. It's been the only bass I've played from the day I bought it until recently, when the music I played required something else. It can do almost anything, but most of all there is, and there probably will be, no other instrument I feel so comfortable on. It's the one I decided to commit to, first out of necessity, and then because I simply want to go back to it every time i play another bass. Looking forward to our 30 years together next year.
I think the general answer is Yamaha BBP34 (or the BBP35). PJ config, simple controls (two volume, one tone, passive), nice feel (more P than J). It's a great bass.
Maybe it’s something about semiacoustics. After seeing a video of Ian playing and talking about his Guild Starfire I immediately got one and fell in love with it. Now it gets played the most and it became THE bass if I had to choose just one.
My Spector NS Pulse. For me, it's super comfortable, awesome neck, sounds great.
My second hand FGN Neo Classic Jazz Bass. Getting a parallel/serial switch installed which should add even more sweetness.
I love mine too, with Fender pick-ups, badass bridge and j-retro preamp...!
That's a tough choice! I think I would have to choose either my acoustic upright bass or my Squier Classic Vibe P-Bass. Sure, both are definitely on the affordably priced side of things, but I've owned my upright since 2006 or 2007, and I've put a bunch of work into my Squier P (La Bella flats, DiMarzio Sixties P pickup, I sanded the back of the neck and refinished it, replaced the tuners with a set of quality Hipshot tuners + a Detuner), and it sounds and feels great. But I would also miss my 5-string Sting Ray or my Ibanez TMB35 (super cheap, but AMAZING 30" short scale P/J bass that RULES).
Janek, I'm SUPER EXCITED to see what Anders cooks up for a semi-hollow or fully hollow bass for you! I hope it ends up being a 5 string 😁Hopefully it becomes your Coronado!
Have you ever considered stringing up a 5-string P-Bass or a Warwick Star Bass 5 string with E-C?
I have an all maple Precision, which I bought from new in 1977 & a 2003 maple Jazz. Precision is 100% original as I stopped serious playing for over 20 years so fret wear, etc is good. I have a Spector 5 string which has a fantastic neck. Jazz is just more flexible.
5-string from Sandberg - TM5(TT5) or VT5(VM5). These are great basses (with lot of customizations possible).
I don’t play 4-string anymore, but CS P-bass would never dissapoint you.
I have
90s made 60s pbass fender MIA
Marcus miller fender jazz
Ibanez
MTD 535
And ive tried
Yamaha john pattituci
Yamaha nathan east
Fodera monarch
Sire m7
And a lot more i didnt really remember from my bassist community friends
And my choice is easily MTD, i can copy any kind of sound and it can be turned passive & active, imo its perfect, especially i mainly plays church stuffs
For me, it changes so often that I don't know if I would be able to choose a one and only bass. Lately, it's been an active 5-string multi-scale but I always go back to my 2006 Fender Jaguar. Jazz bass on steroids. Although, it's temperamental at times, I have a certain kind of bond with that neck and sound. And even though it has a preamp, I tend to always run it passive to avoid crackling. Again, probably just needs some love in the electronics department, but when in passive mode, it's solid. I even go as far as taking the 9V out and using the active switch as a kill switch. That's this year's flavors though. Last year, it was my Lakland PJ with flats.
I think it's fair to pick one fretless and one fretted bass. For me, it would be my Pedulla Pentabuzz and my Fender Jazz.
I've owned loads of basses but my bass for life would be my Geddy Lee CIJ Jazz.
Massive Rush fan so I thought it would be a bit cringe to get one. Not a fan of Black & Maple.
I do like a Jazz bass. One came up in Sunburst, gotta love a Sunburst Jazz, Great price.
Out of the box it looked like a work of art. Perfect in every way. Plays, feels, sounds and looks.
If not the Geddy it would be my Steinberger XQ. That is a bit special also.
Cool vid.
Tbh I already found mine, the Ibanez SR-505 bass is so amazing to play, sounds awesome and feels very easy to play! I love it, and I want to buy another copy to leave tuned up
Some of us don't have enough to own many basses to choose from. So if I had to have 1 bass it would be an American Lakland 44-64 (premium pickups, wide neck, light weight body).
Alembic Brown Bass of all I've owned/own, that's the one to keep/play forever.
My Warwick Corvette $$ 5 Ltd 2009. A really nice sounding and versatile Bass. ❤
Easy question! I've owned the same Ibanez Rick copy since I bought it new, around 1974.
It's a lefty-but-strung-righty because that's how I learned (so I could pick up a double bass without problems😉).
I've genuinely never wanted any other bass, nor more strings (more than four strings on a bass is just "wrong" IMHO).
YES thank you Janek, I've been wanting to see all your basses in one video.
My Sire Z7-5 str. Swamp Ash is the best bass I ever had Best bass for the money in the world . And it stand up against basses that is several times more expensive !
It covers so many different sounds !
👍👏❤️
Sounds like a cool bass in the making! I would play my Fodera MG 5 for the rest of my life 😊
If I had to only play one bass for the rest of my life, it would be my Music Man Bongo 6 (I am a 6 string player through and through). It feels the best for me, and it is versatile enough for me to be able to cover almost all of my needs as a bass player. Luckily, I also have three other 6 strings that all do different things so I don't have to worry about that - an Ibanez fretless, a Peavey Grind 6 (strung with flats for that "passive" sound), and a Warwick Corvette 6 tuned down one whole step.
Ibanez Talman, really. Good tone, versatile, won't break the bank if I'm clumsy and need to repair/replace bits of it.
I had a Fender Jazz (Mex.) that I really enjoyed. It was comfortable to play, I bought it used for $200 with a hard-shell case and if I dinged it, I wouldn't cry too much...haha. I've owned an Alembic MK deluxe that didn't feel as good and honestly didn't sound much better. My Spector (spalted maple top) NS-4H2 has probably been my favorite tone wise and for playability. I still own 2 nice Carvins (Icon fretless 5 and SB5000) and a Status Empathy 5....all are pretty sweet.
The Goya and the Fender Coronado are probably the closest to what I'd choose. I think I'd probably want a Harmony H27 if I had to stick with one bass for life.
Based on the ones I own...
I think my G&L SB-2 with 1 5/8" nut width.
Although a fretless Jazz I built myself would be the hardest to part with emotionally.
However, if I was going to choose from all Bass Guitars in existence, I would get a G&L Matador made with an ebony board and MFD pickups.