Which bass design would you choice? Modern or Vintage

[hairspan]

Most definitly vintage, I would perfer a Fender. But if I had to choice modern, I would choice a Conklin GT4.

[brandondrury]

The modern basses all seam to have tons of fancy active electronics. While this is all fine and dandy, I find that it almost always creates more harm than good. At least that is my experience, anyway.

So with that in mind, I'd take an old Fender Pbass any day of the week.

Brandon

[lumpy]

I'm a big fan of the Hofner Violin Bass made famous by Paul McCartney. In retrospect those early Beatle's records were some of the first in which you can actually hear the bass featured prominantely as an instrument. I especially like the '65 - '66 records, listen to "Paperback Writer" sometime and focus on the bass line. Sweet!

Of coarse the vintage tones of the Fender P-Bass cannot be ignored. In the early days of the electric bass in American studios, it was referred to simply as "Fender Bass". My favorite players are Carol Kaye of the Wrecking Crew fame (Phil Spector, Brian Wilson) and the baddest mo-fo of them all, arguably the greatest bass player of all time, the late but still great Mr. James Jamerson of Motown. His playing is the epitomy of funk!

A strange contraption that gets overlooked somehow is the twelve-string bass played and invented by Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick. The sustain is eternal on those things. I heard the 12-string he played on the "At Budokan" record is still sustaining (insert "Spinal Tap" honorary knod here).

Lump

[brandondrury]

baddest mo-fo of them all, arguably the greatest bass player of all time, the late but still great Mr. James Jamerson of Motown.

When I was down at the Michael Wagener workshop, I had lunch of Bob Ohlson, the engineer of Motown. He was talking about how he had enormous challenges recording after he left Motown and he couldn't figure out why. It turns out that he didn't know just how good those musicians were until later on.

Brandon

[phangeaux]

If I had only one choice it would be an upright acoustic bass. Otherwise I have an early Japanese made Fender Squire P-Bass which I am very happy with. As I recall they began making those in 1987 The early Japanese Squire P-Basses (mine is from 88-89) are rated about equal to the American made P-Basses from what I have read. I can't afford a vintage or new Fender or other expensive brand.

My objective is songwriting/composing rather than performing so anything that plays reasonably well and I like is good enough.

I would like to be a good bass player but I haven't taken the time to work on it yet. I spend too much time on the computer for the past few years, music related, but that will change soon and I'll spend most of my time working on music.

I had a couple of decent basses in the past- first being a brand new metallic blue Gibson EBO (single pick-up) circa 1966-67 which had an SG body style. My last bass before the Squire PB was a 1969 (first year) Gibson Less Paul Studio Bass which I gave away about 5 years ago, thinking that I wasn't going to play guitar anymore. (doh, where was my brain) I wish I still had it because those are for recording and can emulate alot of different bass guitars. It needed some electronic work and I hadn't got around to fixing it and playing it. It found a good home in Memphis though

I was originally going to post in the 'other instruments' section where bass was being put down and under rated and I was going to emphasize how essential and important it is, especially when played well.

To expand horizons and increase appreciation for bass, I would suggest listening to a good jazz radio station once in awhile and pick up on the bass players. Most are playing acoustic upright bases and these guys can set down some beautiful grooves with some far out work on the fretless fingerboard. I think you'll get a much greater appreciation for the bass after hearing some of these guys play. That is usually what I like most about Jazz, listening to the bass players.

That reminds me, I think I would love to have a fretless bass guitar.

[brandondrury]

I was originally going to post in the 'other instruments' section where bass was being put down and under rated and I was going to emphasize how essential and important it is, especially when played well.

Well, the bass plays a greatly different role in various styles of music, and as you said, much that depends on what the bass player is actually playing. In some music / songs the bass is way less "important" than others. I'm sure the same could be said about any instrument, though, for a given song.

I would suggest listening to a good jazz radio station once in awhile and pick up on the bass players.

Agreed, in my limited experience with jazz music, I have noticed that the entire approach to the instrument is different than the average rock bass, for example.

[dach]

I just got a fretless for my "arsenal" or junkpile as some may put it. I love it. The tone is almost perfect for what I'm doing. I've had more fun playing and recording it than I have anything I've bought in a long time.

[brandondrury]

Does the "fretless" part of it effect the tone? Just curious.

Do you need to be a bad ass to get the intonation right and actually play a fretless bass?

Brandon

[dach]

yes. The vibrating part of the string is made by the contact of metal to wood instead of metal to metal... so it does affect the tone. Definitely more "organic" sounding.

Intonation is a big deal. This one has fret markers so I just have to pay attention sometimes but I have been playing for a long time. I wouldn't recommend one for a beginner.

[evilLordJuju]

Originally Posted by phangeaux

a 1969 (first year) Gibson Less Paul Studio Bass which I gave away about 5 years ago, thinking that I wasn't going to play guitar anymore. (doh, where was my brain) I wish I still had it because those are for recording and can emulate alot of different bass guitars.

I have one of those - also a '69 - and yes I love it - great bass, short scale all mahogany and a real pleasure

check mine out here Gibson Les Paul Bass



I don't think I'd always go for something vintage - but it would probably be something designed a while back
I have a 2003 Rickenbacker 4003 that I like as much as my older basses