...the things we did before our 1st MM

[PocketGroove82]

I don't know what you guys played before you got your 1st MM,
but me...

My 1st bass was a peavey foundation that cost about 200 back in 1994, my dad bought me one of those 12inch peavey combos that somehow managed to weight 100 pounds. I even had the case covered in bumper stickers like, "Sex Wax", "See Rock City", and "Ron-Jon's Surf Shop". Hmmmm...
No wonder I never got laid.

anybody else play some lame crap before they found MM's?

 

[LowDownDave]

One of the things I "did" before owning a musicman was actually paying someone to set up my bass. I think not too far back to my first one (used Ibanez SR800), and can't believe I knew nothing about adjusting the bridge for intonation, or setting up pickup and string heights, and wonder how my bass ever sounded decent. I used to just tune the open strings and assumed I was good to go. Funny thinking about that now.

I had a Peavey 15" combo which weighed enough to sprain my wrist on the day I brought it back from the shop (stupid single carry handle on a cab of that weight and size)! And I WISHED I could have covered my bass case in cool skateboarding stickers, but it had that rough textured finish and nothing would stick to it. Oh the memories...

 

[todd4ta]

My first bass was a J. My second bass was a Ric. My third bass was a Stingray, and that was back in '85 or so.

 

[SentientEntity]

Trying to play a song without using this and that fret cause it would buzz horribly.

 

[Bill]

My first bass was a MIM F%nder P-Bass. After that, I had a succession of several MIM F*nders until I got my 50th Anniversary Jazz (which I still have). I got my first 'Ray in 2000, and I've had at least one Stingray since then. I'm now down to my Jazz & my 'Ray, but I'm hoping there's another Stingray in my very near future.

As for amps, I always played through combo amps up until last year. I had a few F@nder combos, and I still have a BXR-200 in my storage room outside. It's never let me down, but it sounds kinda crappy & weighs several tons. My main rig is now a GK 1001RB-II & Neo 212. Coupled with my Stingray, it's bass heaven.

I also didn't know much about setting up basses until a year or so ago. I could raise & lower the saddles and adjust the intonation, but I never really understood the relationship of the saddles & truss rod. Now I can set my basses up so that they're perfect for me.

 

[silverburst]

My first bass was a Korean Aria Pro II that I bought new because it was Candy Apple Red. I still have it and it plays ok, although it now has EMGs. After an endless succession of the F brand, Steinbergers and Ricks, I finally played a Stingray earllier this year and am hooked. I've got 3 F basses on eBay now, and another dozen to go.

My first amp was like lowdowndave's, a 15" Peavey (maybe a TNT). I bolted casters to it cause ti was so danged heavy.

 

[mike not fat]

I played on a korean Vantage shovel. Not horrible, but I can't considere playing it "live" since I got the Bongo (sometimes I still use it to work at home, just to maintain it in playable condition, if I ever need a back up).
I first played on cheap guitar amps, which didn't last long, and then bought a Laney 15" combo. Not great, but ok for what I need. I still use this amp sometimes (especially when it has to stay on places that are not very sure) but the Markbass head and cab also blew this amp away.

MNF

 

[adouglas]

First bass: Hondo P copy (black/black/natural, Sam Ash, $120 brand new with case, 1978/9), so crappy it didn't even have a P-shaped pickup in it. A music store REFUSED to even do a setup on it, it was so bad (Store policy: No Hondos). I was an utter noob and wouldn't have known a good instrument if you hit me over the head with it.

(Side note to you young'uns...the "crap" instruments of today are MUCH MUCH better than the entry level 30 years ago...and that was MUCH MUCH better than the entry level 30 years before that. Count your blessings.)

First amp: Fender Bassman (hand-me-down from my brother) with no case...just the bare chassis. I remember getting some shocks from it, so it must have had a severe ground fault. Knowing what I know now about the voltages present in tube amps, I'm astonished it didn't kill me. Knowing what I know now about how nifty tube amps really are, I almost wish I'd kept it.

First cabinet: A Radio Shack 15" woofer installed in a box I made from a discarded retail store display riser. I actually went as far as calculating the Theile-Small parameters and porting the cabinet with a port I fabricated myself from cardboard/oaktag or somesuch. The box weighed approximately 12.3 tons, had sharp edges and corners and no handles.

Went through many iterations after that, both basses and amps, most of which were on the sucky side.

I've never owned a F*nd*r instrument.

 

[boston asphalt2]

I started with an entry level Ibanez bass which was great for beginners. After a while, I moved on to a Ymaha BBG 5-string, which I still have. I then picked up a couple Warwicks which are still my main basses. I now also have the 30th 'Ray which I absolutely love and cant get enough of.

For amps....I had a Fender combo amp for a while, but I quickly upgraded to a GK 1001-RBII amp and Eden cabs. THis setup (Warwick or MM + Eden + GK) = KILLER

 

[Jim_F]

Before buying the Stingray earlier on this year, I originally had an original Aria SB1000 bass - I admired these basses back in the day for that great 80s sound and fantastic styling. I chopped the 80s Aria SB in last year for one of the new Aria SB1000 JT reissues (I have always really liked the look of these basses). Also have got a Hohner headless (Steinberger) copy, I really like the lightweight / portability of these basses, and they sound pretty decent too.
These basses are good at what they do but are one-trick ponies in a lot of ways.
Having been aware of the rep of the MM Stingrays I finally got round to trying one out around Christmas time, and then managed to buy one (40th birthday present from my girlfriend a month or two later).
Still very happy with my 'Ray - can't fault it as an all-round bass for rock through to funk. Still haven't posted any pics though ... must get round to it sometime.
Amp - I still use an old trace Elliott Series 6 combo with the 15 inch speaker, sounds great for what I play - weighs a ton to shift around though and I live in a second floor flat!. I've checked out the specs of the MarkBass gear - and really like the specs, particularly the weight! All comes down to money .... !

 

[boomer074]

My first bass and amp came from one of the Ibanez starter packs a few years ago. After playing for about 3 months I upgraded the amp to a fender Rumble 60, Which I still have and use for practice around the house. I gone through many cheap basses since, My favorite of those would have to be the epiphone thunderbird. That was until I got majorly promoted at work, I immediately upgraded my amp to an Ampeg svtpro-4 a 4x10 and 1x18 cabinet and got my first Bongo 4 HH. I had been wanting that bass for two years but I never could get enough cash together at one time to get one. That only lasted two weeks before I went and got my second Bongo. It's a 5 string model HS. And in reading BP's post about the 07 Bongo 6 Looks like I will be adding one of those to my collection when they become available........As long as the wife doesn't find out I am maxing out my credit card again.

 

[cdb]

I have been playing for 27 years, more or less, including a hiatus in the early 90's. And I have had lots of basses. Started with a fender shortscale thingy, bought a 1981 p bass.... and I went thru lots of amps, fenders, ampegs, even including a Musicman head that blew up during a gig in the mid 80's sometime.

Since then I have probably owned 25-30 basses of all descriptions, Ibbys, fenders, Tacoma, Schecter and Spectors... I have now settled on the black cherry burst SR 5 as my main fretted bass and another brand of bass for my main fretless 5 stringer. Amps are currently a GBE400 thru a GB115, a GK MB150 for practice and smaller gigs, and an old Peavey Century 200 thru a Yamaha PA cab 115 with a horn....

 

[Musicman Nut]

Before my Ernie Ball Days

For me it was a few late 50's & 60's Fenders, 2 or 3 Mid 60's Rics, then a Few 70's Music mans but it wasn't til 1986 when I dicovered The ERNIE BALL MUSIC MAN STINGRAY, AND THAT WAS IT FOR ME.
They fixed all the things that we're messed up with the 70's Stingrays so 20 years and 150 odd Ernie balls. This is all I ever Play Now, No real need for anything else.

 

[Figjam]

I messed around with a lot of 'bang for the buck' basses.

meh

 

[Rano Bass]

I started in '91 with a no name P bass copy, then i had a japanese P, and when i started working on bars.... too many basses and brands passed thru my hands to remember. Still... couldn't find my sound, then i went to jazzes and they are good, but every time i pick up a jazz i find myself trying to be Marcus Miller all the time, can't help it.
Then in 2002 i had my first Ray and instantly heard that sound i wanted for myself, that bass was the one that put my jazz into the closet

 

[Oldtoe]

Steinberger XQ5 into a Hartke 15" combo. Then I had a '97 Warwick Corvette (actually was a really good bass), then a *cough* Carvin LB75 (horrible bass), then a Modulus Quantum 5 (still got it), a Roscoe SKB-3005 fretless (super bass I had to sell to put in a new A/C unit), Wal MkIII four-string, then my Bongo! Bongo is the number one player by far.

 

[stretch80]

I got a 72 Rick 4000 when I was 16 (sold my telecaster to get it..) Still have it..

That was my only bass for many years, much modded (bridge which could be intonated, pickups..) Still a great bass.

Then a fretless built by a luthier friend, Then a Cirrus 5, then a 76 P-bass, then I happened upon my awesome SR5....

...which combines the cut of the Rick with the bottom of the P and growl of its own....and is now the number 1 bass...

Favorite old amp: a 70s Sunn Concert Bass w/ a cab with 2 JBL 15s. Sounded great but too big to carry around! I had a Sound City 200 watt tube amp for a while... An Ampeg v4B (great sound but not enough power)...

My sr5 through my current Eden/avatar rig rules over any previous gear, tho!

 

[brooklynfall]

Hmmm. Let's see: a Peavey Foundation (I think that's what it was), then a Fender American Jazz, followed by a Warwick Thumb 5 bolt-on. After that it was an Alembic Epic 6 string (what a freaking mistake!), then a Warwick Streamer Stage II 4-string, which I loved. Then, finally, I turned away from playing fancy furniture and traded the Streamer for my beautiful SR5, which I still have after eight years.

 

[Kirby]

First bass was actually the high school's Peavey T-40. About as heavy as a boat anchor and the neck was warped like a dog's hind leg. My first actual bass that was mine was an American BC Rich that I saved 9 months for with odd jobs.

Got into Ernie Ball basses while going to Berklee. One of my profs. gave me a 5 string to do some work on for him and I ended up buying it from him and never giving it back. So the obsession started.

 

[Eggman]

My first bass was an upright I played in orchestra in Junior High School. I also played it in the jazz band until the director decided I needed more "umph" so he bought a light blue Fender Mustang for me. Shortly after that I bought a fretless Fender Precision. Next was a 1963 Fender Jazz (still have that one), then a 1976 Fender Jazz. Other brands passing through my hands before EBMM fever struck:
Rickenbacher (1) - Hohner (1)- Warwick (8) - Spector (4) - Lakland (6) - Dingwall (4) - Sadowsky (5).

Current inventory:
1963 Fender Jazz
Hohner Steinberger licensed copy
Sadowsky UV70-4 (for sale)
Lakland Skyline Joe Osborn 4 fretless
Takamine ABG
Ergo EUB
Chapman NS Stick - on order

Sterling HS
SR4 - 30th
Bongo 4H
SR5 HS
DD Sterling HH on order
DD Bongo 5 HSP on order