Hey Jazzy,
Always fine chatting about gear, that's mostly why we're in here! I may be a bit odd in that I don't have a GAS problem (no, not that kind either).
My chain of electric basses began in 1967 (I think) with a Kalamazoo (by Gibson). Then a Guild Starfire, possibly followed by a Gibson EB3 (not sure), and then a Gibson Les Paul Triumph (which I modified with a built in transformer DI box with XLR output). Then the leap to long scale with my first Alembic 4-string Series I in 1975. That led to a custom 5-string Series I the following year, 1976.
A graphite-necked fretless 5-string Series I came in 1980 (still in use). And that led me to order a graphite fretted 5-string Series I in 1982. I played that bass for a while as it was built (on a couple videos even) but then decided I missed the dynamics available on my wood basses. Graphite is so stiff that, like a metal neck it compresses the sound. It was as if I couldn't control the volume of the notes with my right hand. Soft notes came out loud and loud notes would all be about the same. That compression worked GREAT on the fretless bass so I had this '82 redone as a backup fretless and it has spent most of its life in the closet.
76-418 was stolen from the Holdsworth rental van in Poughkeepsie, NY in 1987. The next day we played the Bottom Line in NYC so I ran to Rudy's (I think) and bought an Alembic 5-string Persuader which they luckily had on the wall. Immediately ordered a replacement 5-string series II with similar specs and the resulting 1987 bass is still my main recording axe today.
That experience led me to realize I needed back-up instruments! So I ordered 2 Series II 5-string fretted basses in 1989 - same wood and dimensions as I was accustomed to. These basses became my main touring bass and backup touring bass.
I started playing in the studio when I was pretty young so I got used to hearing my bass through headphones and a DI box. (Thus the mod to the Triumph bass - come in, sit down, plug in the mic cable. Ha!) So amps were never a big part of my sound and preferred to hear it in a full range system. Still had to play some gigs though so the amp side went like this:
I can't remember the order at the beginning but ... Kasino U-100 (by Kustom), Kustom 150 (2x12, actually a guitar amp), Kustom 250 with a folded horn 18" cab. Then I built a stereo rig with four Thiele cabinets, 2 15" and 2 12" boxes, Yamaha P2200 power amp, straight off the bass with no other pre or eq. I also got myself a Walter Woods head so I could play rehearsals and smaller venues with one or two of the 12" cabs (still my deal today).
Then I slightly lost my mind and got a Meyers Sound rig with two UPA1a and one USW1 sub. Tri-amped, stereo, straight off the bass with no further pre or eq. An absolutely beautiful tone - but I couldn't move the rig myself.
That traveled on the road with me in the early JT days. One year I got an ELF processor and plugged the port on the Meyers sub which made it even better!
Then it hit me that I was the only person in the venue, or even on the stage, who was hearing that rig which I was forcing the crew to haul around the planet.... Silly! Luckily, that's about the time in-ear monitors started sounding musical enough that I was able to transition back to my roots of wearing headphones. Something full-circle about that part of the story. Ha!
So ... to answer your main question, I continue to be impressed with how easy and responsive these basses are to play. And the sound is still what I want to hear. So I am not seeking anything, if you see what I mean. My choice of DI has changed only a couple times since I decided to carry my own in the early 90s. Currently prefer the A-Designs REDDI which makes me happy.
Good question about ordering a bass now... I would likely try to recreate what I've been playing for all these years because I don't know any better: burl walnut front and back, mahogany core, aluminum bridge block, quick change tailpiece, same dimensions, etc... Mica might try to talk me into a Balance K but she'd have to twist my arm.
Sorry for the lengthy reply, much more than anybody needed to know. My entire dang gear history, sheesh. Isolation story telling.
Best to everybody!
Jimmy J
