24-Hour Bass Playing People

For the unlimited, uncensored geek dicussion of all things bass guitar.

No six-string bass players, though. Damn faggots.

I really liked my old Ampeg Little Stud, but surfing around yesterday for a photo I learned that it was, unbeknownst to me, a piece of crap.

Bullshit, it's an ampeg.

you want to find a big name that can turn out chite....try trace elliott....I've played on at least 2 TE that bit balls. and another 3 that ruled. (also know a guy who got kicked in the nads by his GF at a radio roadshow, because the band's singer (a fox) was wearing green, and their BP had a Trace...so mate naturally says "woooo look at that sexy little green thing" WHOMP!)

I was shocked to hear a bad word about the Fender Precision earlier on this board. Ibanez is better than Fender these days?

Suddenly I'm back in the '80s and everyone's playing Jacksons and Deans and Kramers and Ibanezes and B.C. Riches.

P.S. Another topic: underappreciated bass players. I hereby nominate Gary Beers of INXS.

P.P.S. I worked 14 hours Friday, need to put in six hours today (Sunday), AND I just started a bass guitar thread. Not wise.

Real US built P basses are OK, Real US built J-basses are great. Korean (was Korea it all went to wasn't it?) ones blow goats. AND... I think Wasim had a copy not a Fender anyway.

Compared with a P-bass copy, an ibanez is a major leap.

Must say tho after years on horrid p-bass clones I got to play a proper one, and really, apart from the pickups having a bit more wellie, and the set up being beter, it wasn't all that much different.

Actually apart from the Aria, the nicest bass I ever owned was Westone Spectrum..not quite as pleasurable to play as the aria is, but the single split pickup was a fucking monster, wish I'd bought the active one, cos it would basically have been the active from the thunder1A...a bit special.

nicest amp I ever played through was out in the middle of the countrside, blasted, doing a summer solstace party that some hippes held every year. I played through this "londoner" keyboard amp. Man.....it made me bass sound like one of those rubber strung transducer ones, it just rolled and grooved. Sod the gig, me and about 6 different drummers just kept grooving our nuts off for most of the night....it must have been good cos the DJ's didn't get all whineyabout it being their turn to put records on :)

PS with the exception of ibanez....if you brought ANY of those basses near me, i'd be more likely to twat you wih it that play it :D HORRID HEAVY METAL THINGS (Don;t look at my aria please :( )

I used to have a beautiful pearl Yamaha fretless which sounded incredible (to me), and hangers on at gigs would actually insult me. "Oh man, where'd you get that thing? Where's the Ampeg?" Admittedly, it wasn't the most "punk" choice.

I still want my headless Steinberg. No one else has to know.

Comprehension dawns I thought you meant an Ampeg Amp. A bass? Oh dear. Soon as I have 2 basses again, the pliers are coming out to one of them...probably the aria, cos it's frets are wankered anyway. People always laugh at my basses. cos they tend to have no paint, or be two basses nailed together in the middle, and they tend to arrive at gigs bare, on the strap, on my back on my bicycle. Never ever fails that when listening to a resultant recording SOMEONE will say "fuck me campbell that old plank of yours actually sounds like something approaching a decent bass" fuck the form, gimme the substance :)

This is my bass...

Daisy Rock Heartbreaker

Yeah, it's a girlie bass, but I found that bog standard basses were way too heavy for me.

Obviously being purple (my fave colour) swayed it for me as well :D It does have a good sound to it though.

Can I play it? Yeah, very badly!

Daisy Rock rocks! I ... I mean, ahem, my kids ... were watching the Rugrats Anniversary Special, and on comes Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo) holding his Daisy Rock 6-string (the flower-shaped model).

My buddy bought a nice old Ric bass but first has to sand off the stupid skull and bones some idiot carved into it.

Yet anothr topic: active vs. passive pickups.

Never owned an active, so can't really comment much but I've played them and it IS an improvement. TBH active guitar's are a great idea especially to get a loud clean sound.

Sam, you shoulda got a steinberger like Gnu keeps letchin over or the Hohner "everyday" version. Standard basses are too heavy for me to be arsed with....my aria weight about half as much as a Gibom SG or Les Paul. The neck is paper thin as well :D

not enough chicks with basses around :)

I have a genuine Mexican Fender p-bass. Its a good beginners bass for the price but is a bit basic if you want to take playing to another level (as in size and look). I needed more than 20 frets to play along to TPK and all!

Ibanez seems to be going through a resurgence since they moved their factory from Japan to Korea. They have some genuine quality basses at the higher end ($500 and over) of their line. The finish on the srx700 I got recently is fantastic, and you can get a much higher range of sounds from it than the P-bass.

srx700

Nice bass. Look like it's happy being picked or having the livin funk knocked out of it and all. 2 full width humbuckers as well, nice.

I have a primus video somewhere with Claypool beating 7 shades of shit out of a P-Bass....and it sounds great. But for me.....country music and dirge gigs at dinner dances.

I WISH I hadn't sold my kay short scale. At the time I just thught it was shite. Now I'd love to have it with fresh wires on it...even full scale strings for extra slink.

I have an Abilene P-bass copy that I bought with an amp off a friend for $100. To me it sounds pretty good, but then again i've never played a non-bargain bin guitar or bass in my life really. It's heavier than an assault rifle and the top screw for the strap has worn out the wood to the point that it's like to pop out and send the bass flying if I put too much weight on that end. Having only 20 frets is starting to show its limitations as well.

On a side note, I get an awesome JJ Burnell-ish metallic twang from the E, which I did a shitty job of restringing. Just don't hit a bum note on it though, or the rattle will blow the eardrums of half the room before you can mute it.

I'd really, really like any bass out of the Yamaha BB series. The prices on them mystify me though. New BBs are up into the cashcow $1,000s arena- i'm definitely not committed or moneyed enough to spend that much on a musical instrument. But you look on eBay and the like and see used BBs ranging in price from $300 to $950 etc. What's the deal with these things? What would you say is the real value on them?

The more expensive bass is only noticeable better than a cheaper one up to a point. How much better is a real top of the line bass the bass gonna play compared to a $700-1000 one? Although to be fair I've never had the chance to play a Yamaha and I'm no professional.

Sounds like the truss rod on yours needs adjusting if its making a rattle, same with mine after I brought it coupla weeks ago. The first four frets were buzzing like you wouldnt believe, although yes sometimes you can get a great sound out of the strings when they're like that!

Now I miss my old Yamaha fretless.

Sold it pay utility bills.

How about some bass amp discussion?

I don't have one.

Technically I do, a Kustom head with that funky rolled padding and a big-ass blue power light, but it's in Oklahoma now, i think.

Bass amps...I remember those

While borrowing one from college...... Head of Dept. "Steve what kind of a serious bassplayer( ) doesn't have a bassamp...for jesus sake, talk to him $TOP_MUSO"

$TOP_MUSO looked sheepish and said "$BASSPLAYER is the hottest most proffessional player any of us know(nodding)...he owned an amp one about 6 years ago, but he sold it to buy loads of drink and weed for a pre-meditated bender, face it "BOSS, they're ALL twats"

Alright bass players... how many of the following offenses are you guilty of? (this list has been around a time or two but some of it's still pretty funny)

BASS PLAYER OFFENSES

MUSICAL OFFENSES FINES:

Playing loudly during warm up $10 Sound-checking amp with funk slapping $25 Loud cursing after mistake $10 Playing high and fast after mistake $20 Practicing 2-handed tapping between tunes $20 Asking for "E" tuning note $25 Playing E anyway when horns tune to Bb $50 Playing written-out walking line $50 Failure to play written walking line $75 Writing note names over ledger-line notes $50 Writing beat numbers under dotted figures $50 Playing eighth notes $5 each Playing sixteenth notes $10 each Playing above 1st octave immediate dismissal Dragging fast tempo $75 Dragging ballad tempo $100 Blacking out during ballad $200 Ignoring drummer's tempo $100 Following drummer's tempo $250 Asking to borrow Real Book for All Of Me $1000

UPRIGHT PLAYERS

Showing up before first downbeat $25 Playing audibly $25 Faking changes $25 Slapping $150 Missing tutti lick, then mentioning vintage of bass $25 Excessive sweating $25 Pedal point double-stops during horn solo $50 Asking leader for a solo $30 Accepting solo when offered $50 Taking second chorus $100 Playing solo arco $400 Pretending to check tuning after playing out of tune $100 Playing "A Train" ending on every tune $200 Playing extended "A Train" ending on every tune $500

ELECTRIC PLAYERS

Checking hair between tunes $15 Experimenting with odd meters $25 Missing root at end of blistering fill $25 Playing with a pick $50 Tuning during ballad $30 Playing Jaco groove on samba $75 Playing Jaco samba groove on ballad $150 Attempting last word on final chord $50 Achieving last word on final chord $100 Long gliss down to final note $200

EQUIPMENT VIOLATIONS - ELECTRIC

Forgetting strap $10 Changing strings after every set $15 Using electric tuner $15 Setting up mic "just in case" $75 Forgetting to turn amp on $40 Bringing amp larger than 1 person can carry in 1 trip $50 Asking keyboard player for help moving amp $25 Bringing custom-made bass $100 per string above 4 Bringing more than 1 bass $100 per extra bass Skull decals on bass $150 Bringing fretless bass $500

CRIMINAL BAD TASTE

Telling bone player about all the gigs you get $10 Asking bone player about their day gig $10 Sitting behind drums on break $10 Quoting "Birdland" $25 Practicing scales during break $25 Practicing scales during drum solo $50 Practicing $150 Beginning a sentence with "When I was a guitar player..." $50 Casually mentioning to Musical Director of cheap theater that you are "into sequencing" $10

BASIC STUPIDITY

Wearing old Buddy Rich tour shirt $10 Wearing new Whitesnake tour shirt $20 Asking when the rock set starts $20 Continually asking "where are we?" $25 Continually shouting "Yeah!" $25 Asking bone player where "1" is $50 Taking cellphone call during 4's $100

Playing loudly during warm up $10 CHECK Sound-checking amp with funk slapping $25 CHECK Loud cursing after mistake $10 CHECK Playing high and fast after mistake $20 CHECK Practicing 2-handed tapping between tunes $20 CHECK Asking for "E" tuning note $25 NOPE Playing E anyway when horns tune to Bb $50 NOPE Playing written-out walking line $50 CHECK Failure to play written walking line $75 CHECK Writing note names over ledger-line notes $50 NOPE Writing beat numbers under dotted figures $50 NOPE Playing eighth notes $5 each CHECK Playing sixteenth notes $10 each CHECK Playing above 1st octave immediate dismissal AHHHHHH PISSS Dragging fast tempo $75 NOPE Dragging ballad tempo $100 NOPE Blacking out during ballad $200 Ignoring drummer's tempo $100 NOPE Following drummer's tempo $250 CHECK should readNON STEVE MORRIS DRUMMER

Asking to borrow Real Book for All Of Me $1000 ARRRGHHHH 5 WEEKS AGO :(

UPRIGHT PLAYERS

Showing up before first downbeat $25 Playing audibly $25 Faking changes $25 Slapping $150 Missing tutti lick, then mentioning vintage of bass $25 Excessive sweating $25 Pedal point double-stops during horn solo $50 Asking leader for a solo $30 Accepting solo when offered $50 Taking second chorus $100 Playing solo arco $400 Pretending to check tuning after playing out of tune $100 Playing "A Train" ending on every tune $200 Playing extended "A Train" ending on every tune $500

ELECTRIC PLAYERS

Checking hair between tunes $15 NOPE Experimenting with odd meters $25 CHECK Missing root at end of blistering fill $25 AHEM RARELY AHEM Playing with a pick $50 AND PROUD Tuning during ballad $30 LOL AND NO ONE NOTICED CHECK Playing Jaco groove on samba $75 TRIED Playing Jaco samba groove on ballad $150 TRIED Attempting last word on final chord $50 EVERY TMIE Achieving last word on final chord $100EVEY TIME FOR HOOKY! Long gliss down to final note $200 NAH PUSSY

EQUIPMENT VIOLATIONS - ELECTRIC

Forgetting strap $10 CHECK Changing strings after every set $15 LOL EVERY OLYMPICS IN MY CAE Using electric tuner $15 CHECK Setting up mic "just in case" $75 :) HELL YEAH Forgetting to turn amp on $40 CHECK 8ANYONE SAYIN NO IS A LIAR Bringing amp larger than 1 person can carry in 1 trip $50 CHECK Asking keyboard player for help moving amp $25 CHECK Bringing custom-made bass $100 per string above 4 NOPE Bringing more than 1 bass $100 per extra bass CHECK Skull decals on bass $150 NOPR Bringing fretless bass $500 CHECK

CRIMINAL BAD TASTE

Telling bone player about all the gigs you get $10 CHECK Asking bone player about their day gig $10 CHECK (I'M SICK THAT WAY BUT THE ANSWERS ARE USUALLY TOO GRUESOME TO STAY FOR ALL OF Sitting behind drums on break $10 CHECK Quoting "Birdland" $25 NOPE Practicing scales during break $25 ONLY WHILE SMOKING Practicing scales during drum solo $50 CHECK Practicing $150 CHECK :( Beginning a sentence with "When I was a guitar player..." $50 I'D RATHER DIE CHOKING ON LOBSTERS Casually mentioning to Musical Director of cheap theater that you are "into sequencing" $10 PISH CHECK

BASIC STUPIDITY

Wearing old Buddy Rich tour shirt $10 NOPE Wearing new Whitesnake tour shirt $20 NOPE Asking when the rock set starts $20 MOPE Continually asking "where are we?" $25 NOPE Continually shouting "Yeah!" $25 NOPE Asking bone player where "1" is $50 NOPE TELLING HIM YES USUALLY WITH THE NECK OF MY BASS Taking cellphone call during 4's $100 NOPE

it left out "performing sonic warfare experiments when left alone with the PA."

I got a couple of nasty looks from bandmates for sticking my vocal mic into the tuned port of my bass cabinet for a little extra "boost" in the PA.

Sounded great to me.

hell yeah Not for all that long tho :D

I now have two basses (since I started doing lead vocals and lead guitar I have less need), a Precision and a copy of same beast. Used to have a third but I took it apart and it never quite recovered. Have been toying with the idea of getting a 6 string Marathon but not before Christmas or holiday is paid for!

Apart from having been a bassist for 27 years now, my only claim to fame is that I once owned an old WEM combo that had previously been used by Mott The Hoople!

Now if we want to start talking guitars, I have a Shergold Masquerader, a Vox Phantom copy, an SG Standard and a Gibson 335, plus a 335 copy for gigging (howls less for some reason, and as I constantly switch guitars as we never organise the set around what I play it makes more sense to play the copy than the grand's worth of craftsmanship when we gig). Plus a couple of bowl-backed semi acoustics and a beat-up old strat.

oldmonkey wrote:

Now if we want to start talking guitars

:topic:

:moon:

i've been playing bass guitar for five years now.i had two bass guitars now i only have one. an esp b-50 short scale. i used to have an ibanez standard scale.

Steve Campbell wrote:

I WISH I hadn't sold my kay short scale. At the time I just thught it was shite. Now I'd love to have it with fresh wires on it...even full scale strings for extra slink.

I had a Kay short scale! Still got it in fact. Neck ain't all that straight these days and it needs a new second fret across the A, but there you go.

I await the day when I can say, "Why yes, I do own a 1990 American Standard Strat," and people's jaws will drop.

"Holy shit, a '90! I'll trade you my '57."

"No, sorry, mine's a '90."

Are ash bodies and J-basses still tasteful? Because if so... I wouldn't mind getting that in a raffle. Also:

I love the finish on that top one along with the maple neck, but some dumbass at the factory accidentally put on an extra string! I hope that clown got fired!

But seriously, folks: any bass recording tips? Does anyone bother mic'ing up a cabinet, or just DI? I suspect the very best sound would come from judicious mixing of mic and DI, but I'm too goddamned lazy to really work on it.

Logic has a built-in "Bass Amp" simulator plug, but I have yet to fool with it, since it was just added in the last update.