After 20 years, reunited with my very first bass

[tvickey]

I just returned from a trip to the USA, and brought my very first bass back to Europe with me.  I'd not held or played the bass in 20 years, and had sold it to my former PhD supervisor just prior to moving to Europe in 2005.  He kept the bass all these years, gigging it, etc., and then recently offered to sell it back to me when he learned that I started playing in a band again.

 

The bass is a Fender JP-90, s/n 001999 (or 666-100, as I like to say 😈), and was purchased as new by me sometime in 1990.  The bass has both P and J pickups and is the fundamental reason that (even today) I like the J/P configuration of Warwick Streamers, as well as the neck/bridge configuration of Rickenbackers). 

 

The bass chose me, and the story goes as follows:  My cousin visited me summer of 1990, bringing along his P-bass.  He let me goof around with his bass for a bit, and I decided that I really liked the instrument (I played piano and alto sax at the time).  I thought about buying a bass for myself, and asked my cousin what brands are good... he said 'Fender'.  I visited a local music store and started looking at basses, ultimately plugging in this Fender JP-90 playing on it for a bit.  The bass wasn't super expensive, but a good chunk of change for me at that time.  I decided to give the purchase a bit more thought, and hung the bass back up on the wall.  I turned around, walked away, and heard a loud 'CRASH'--the JP-90 had fallen off of the wall.  The finish chipped in one spot near the strap button, but was just fine otherwise.  I asked the guy in the store if I had to buy it now, and he replied, "No, but but if you do it will be greatly appreciated and I'll give you a discount."

 

This remained my only bass for a long time, and was gigged by me while playing with my first band in the early '90s.  Then I got busy with university... life happened, I moved abroad, etc.  I just played this bass again for the first time this morning... after 20 years.  Thin / fast neck, and super light.  The J pickup still sounds great.  I'll gig it again at some point, which will be pretty amazing, considering how much time has passed.

[Rayman]

I love that….. great story, great bass.

 

I Absolutely do not want my first bass back, a Columbus Jazz…. it was rubbish.

[uncle psychosis]

Never seen those before. 

 

Cool bass, even cooler story! 

[tvickey]

10 minutes ago, uncle psychosis said:

Never seen those before. 

 

Cool bass, even cooler story! 

 

Fender only made them from 1990 - 1993.  

[madshadows]

Fantastic story, congrats on getting the bass back  

 

john 😎