Next bass quandary, help!

[uk_lefty]

So, I outed three basses recently. Now I've got the itch for a new one, but I really need it honestly!!! 😁

 

Context: my main band is a four piece doing mostly 2000s covers. I also have an 80s band starting up and I fancy having a very 80s bass for it. Being left handed my options are limited, so here's some ideas:

 

I've got a nice Mexican P bass. It currently looks 70's, black body and guard, maple neck, cream pup covers. I could "dress this up" more like an 80s style bass: white guard, white pup covers, white plastic knobs and maybe gold hardware at a stretch.

 

Buy another bass... Now, funds are limited, so no brand new Status unfortunately. I've mailed someone who was selling an Aria SB a long time ago to see if it's still available. I could easily get a Steinberger Spirit cricket bat but I'm not a big fan. I will keep an eye out for Westone's, Washburn Status, etc... if funds allowed and I got impatient I could go to the bass hunter chap in Japan, good chance of a lefty Aria SB out there I reckon?

 

Then there's the others that aren't so distinctly 80s but could be worth a punt just because... I'm drawn to Warwicks now and there's a few Thumb basses available in London. I've also come across a heavily modified Fender P bass from the late 70s that needs a hell of a lot of work but that could become a very versatile fretless vintage bass.

 

What would you do?

[neepheid]

12 minutes ago, uk_lefty said:

What would you do?

 

Learn to play right handed

 

But in all seriousness - 80s Yamaha - BB perhaps - I think they did a few lefties?

Edited Tuesday at 10:04 by neepheid

[Sean]

3 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

Learn to play right handed

 

But in all seriousness - 80s Yamaha - BB perhaps - I think they did a few lefties?

Macca had a BB1200 IIRC.

[uk_lefty]

8 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

Learn to play right handed

 

But in all seriousness - 80s Yamaha - BB perhaps - I think they did a few lefties?

Ooohhh Yamaha Motion basses... They look the part

[Lozz196]

Do Aria Pros come in l/h, if so would prob be my starting point, however the white pickguard/pickup covers/knobs & gold hardware would def "eighties" up your Precision.

[chris_b]

56 minutes ago, uk_lefty said:

What would you do?

 

None of the above. . . . !

 

So you've got a small budget and an 80's cover band. Who cares what gear they played in the 80's. . . . actually for most bass players it was what  they played in the 70's, and what they all went on to play in the 90's. You've already got the best bass, you don't need to make it 80's, whatever that  means. You don't need to spend anything. Your budget should be safe.

 

What worked for them, me and my guess, you, is "One bass to play them all."

 

ps

If you really have to blow your budget put a set of Bartolini pickups in your Precision. That is what a lot of bass players did in the 80's. . . me included.

[Grahambythesea]

Stingray - sterling variety available as a lefty at a very competitive price.

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

You don’t get more ‘80s than headless basses ! (Well maybe metal pointy basses ) 
Nothing wrong with the cricket bats , but wouldn’t you consider a full bodied Hohner Jack?  Not sure if you can get left handed ones .

[uk_lefty]

1 hour ago, Grahambythesea said:

Stingray - sterling variety available as a lefty at a very competitive price.

I've got a US one already!

[uk_lefty]

54 minutes ago, RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE said:

You don’t get more ‘80s than headless basses ! (Well maybe metal pointy basses ) 
Nothing wrong with the cricket bats , but wouldn’t you consider a full bodied Hohner Jack?  Not sure if you can get left handed ones .

I think for the look headless is the way forward. I had a cricket bat Hohner before but didn't get on with the string spacing. The dream would be a headless bass with a body, like a Status... I had a Washburn Status but the neck was always bowing one way or another so I moved it on. I've never seen a lefty Hohner Jack before.

[tauzero]

If you can hold out till December, Gardiner Houlgate have a left-handed Wal Mk 3 five-string with both fretted and fretless necks in their next auction - https://www.guitar-auctions.co.uk/sale/249/161/1989-Wal-Mark-3-frettedfretless-lefthanded-bass-guitar-made-in-England. That give you time to save up.

[crazycloud]

I spent the 80s, and 90s playing my XL2, and if it had 2 more strings, I still would be.

 

9 hours ago, chris_b said:

So you've got a small budget and an 80's cover band. Who cares what gear they played in the 80's. . . . actually for most bass players it was what  they played in the 70's, and what they all went on to play in the 90's. You've already got the best bass, you don't need to make it 80's, whatever that  means. You don't need to spend anything. Your budget should be safe.

This.

Unless you're tying to do an aesthetically authentic tribute band for a group that you need to look like, eg KISS, Beatles, then no one in the audience will notice or care what you're playing providing it's not too out there, eg Bootsy star bass in the Beatles band.

[uk_lefty]

I have a defretted Sterling Ray 34 on the way...!!  It's something I've always wanted tor try so I couldn't resist at the price. A nice Aria SB would be a dream but maybe for another day