Your Ultimate Bass

[plangentmusic]

So you land a big contract and they want to make a...........signature bass. What's it have?

 

Me? Well, as much as I think $5000 for a custom shop jazz bass is absurd, those babies have the nicest necks I've ever played. I prefer maple and I like the back glossed.

 

I'd like a J bass body but may a teeny bit smaller and the horn extending to the 10th fret for better balance.

 

Sunburst, with a sunburst neck.

 

Single coil, but as quiet as possible.

 

Passive, but as hot as possible.

 

Vol, low, mid, high, blend knobs and a toggle that triggers a pre amp that boosts either highs or lows.

 

Fender style headstock, though slightly smaller with lightweight pegs.

 

An adjustable nut.

 

And of course -- 4 strings. : )

 

How about you?

 

 

[jeremy c]

I've got mine already. It's my avatar.

<---

 

It's a Mike Lull M4V.

http://www.jeremycohenbass.com/images/jeremy2.jpg

[picker]

Swamp Ash P Bass body, Kent Armstrong vintage overwound P Bass p/up in the middle, Gibson EB-style 'bucker at the neck, Music Man Stingray-style p/up at the bridge, volume pot for each, no tone pot. White pickup covers, black pickguard. Hot pink paint job. Gold hardware.

[kenfxj]

I'd like a Fender American Standard Jazz in sunburst or olympic white with a rosewood board. The only mods I'd like are stacked knobs and maybe a MusicMan style truss rod adjustment wheel.

 

Something like this:

 

http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt232/kenfxj/kenfxjbass.jpg

 

That would suit me just fine.

[J. Dan]

My problem is I can't imagine ONE perfect bass. Many qualities aremutually exclusive. I'd be happy with a Kubicki Ex facto and a vintage jazz....maybe a Ric too.

[Ross Brown]

Mine would be different... it would be something like this:

 

I (for some reason) am asked to play a set with one of several folks (think Zac Harmon, Buddy Guy, BB King, Magic Slim...)and after the set, while eating dinner and drinking beer with them, the whole band gives me a new bass (P bass, perhaps) and says they want me to have it and play with them the rest of the summer tour.... That would be my ultimate bass....

[kenfxj]

I went with the Highlander premise of "there can be only one".

[b5pilot]

I'd like a Fender American Standard Jazz in sunburst or olympic white with a rosewood board. The only mods I'd like are stacked knobs and maybe a MusicMan style truss rod adjustment wheel.

 

Something like this:

 

http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt232/kenfxj/kenfxjbass.jpg

 

That would suit me just fine.

 

Sounds good to me but I'd like mine as a 5 string please.

[zeronyne]

If for some insane reason someone asked me to produce a signature bass, I would just hand them the one I commissioned a few years ago from Nordstrand. I think the only picture of it on his site is at his homepage: http://nordstrandguitars.com/

 

It's the black one with ebony FB and pickup covers.

 

The only thing that could possibly make more "signature" or "ultimate for me" is if it had Wal electronics in it.

[Tom Capasso]

This is really difficult, because I have enjoyed using different basses for different functions. And I've enjoyed a number of manufacturer's instruments. But I'll pull out an old favorite...

 

I would take a Dammann - especially if it isn't a crazy rock gig. 5 string, "Gibson" red, with a "J" PUP at the bridge and a big humbucker at the neck. And while I'm dreaming, let it have fanned frets (pickups slanted as needed).

Light weight please. Simple 3-band preamp. Demeter would be OK (I don't have experience with Nordstrand, but maybe that or Aguilar).

 

I played one of these in 2002. I haven't heard from them in a while, or seen these (though I heard of a sighting a few years back in the midwest).

 

Here's Ralph Dammann with one of his instruments, and a single PUP model. Dammannbasses.com

 

http://dammannbasses.com/0241sm.jpghttp://dammannbasses.com/1186sm.jpg