Great Basses in Jazz

Jake · #1 08-10-2006, 04:02 AM

I posted on this topic in the Getting a Better Jazz Sound thread, but thought it could be it's own thread. Aside from Milt Hinton's Matteo Goffriller, Scott Lafaro's Yankee bass (Prescott??), the Italian bass Ray Brown played, and Charlie Haden's old Italian and French Basses, what are some other great basses that have been played in Jazz and some great ones being played today?

Jake · #2 08-10-2006, 04:57 AM

I read in Bass Player that he had a Goffriller.

Jake · #3 08-10-2006, 05:03 AM

I'm sorry, I though Milt Hinton passed away. Is he still around? Also, Ken, what are some great basses played in jazz past and present?

PB+J · #4 08-10-2006, 05:49 AM

Poor Milt--all he managed to do was be the most recorded bassist of the twentieth century. Imagine what he could have done if he'd had a Gofriller!

WJGreer · #5 08-10-2006, 06:06 AM

Patitucci's Pollman is an interesting bass - I understand it was blemished, so he got it for an excellent price. He's played a lot of electrics through the years, but only that one DB.

PB+J · #6 08-10-2006, 07:20 AM

Ditto, plus 100 on both Ray's tone and Al McKibben--I've always loved the bass on those old Ray Chas. records. Tasteful, funky, solid

I have Brian Bromberg's latest album and as much as i completely admire the virtuousity, I keep getting drawn back towards Ray's tone. And somebody recently posted a clip of Ray and NHOP playing wth Oscar Peterson--both great, but Ray is the shizzle

mje · #7 08-10-2006, 07:28 AM

Didn't Mingus own some great basses?

Jake · #8 08-10-2006, 07:37 AM

There is a good thread here on the Mingus basses. I heard he had a Roth probably made by Wilfer that was nice and I have also heard he had a French bass, but I don't know how hot it was. Ken?

Michael Case · #9 08-10-2006, 09:03 AM

Patitucci now owns a beautiful old, I'm not sure of the pedigree. He doesn't travel with it though. He uses it on his latest album and on NY gigs. I've heard him play jazz and classical on it, wow!

sibass89 · #10 08-10-2006, 09:35 AM

Actually Pattituci now owns a JB Vuillaume that is cut down. It's a beautiful bass. When I was away at camp in Upstate New York, he brought it with him for his masterclass and concert, and I got to play it. It's one of the best basses I ever played, and has a truly unique voice that cuts through anywhere.

Jake · #11 08-10-2006, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

The Roth or Wilfer made for Roth was a nice German Factory/Shop Bass. Imagine making 10 or 100 Basses with similar woods all carved the exact same way with no individual graduations. Some or actually many German Shop Basses do NOT have a bass bar at all. It is part of the Top left in to look like a bar and called an integral Bar but does not do the job properly.

On the French Bass, I was told the Bill Cosby had that Bass and GAVE it to Stanley Clarke. Stanley told me this personally. Maybe he needs something with more friendly sholders so I will offer him my Bisiach or Loveri in exchange. What do you think about that?.. lol

Would you really want a bass just because somebody great played it? Unless it's on heck of a French bass, I'd probably hang on to the Loveri.

gomez hacienda · #12 08-10-2006, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mje

Didn't Mingus own some great basses?

Check this out....http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?...torycode=15212

This month's issue

sibass89 · #13 08-10-2006, 08:24 PM

Thats interesting about Vuillaume basses. Well it is definately signed by Vuillaume, I saw the label (unless its forged). But that is definately something to consider when searching for high end basses later on in my career. Also another interesting fact to pass on to Mr. Patitucci when I see him next year.

Jake · #14 08-10-2006, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sibass89

Actually Pattituci now owns a JB Vuillaume that is cut down. It's a beautiful bass. When I was away at camp in Upstate New York, he brought it with him for his masterclass and concert, and I got to play it. It's one of the best basses I ever played, and has a truly unique voice that cuts through anywhere.

I personally think it's a shame to me when people cut down one of a kind, great old basses.

The only good reason I can see to do it is if the bass is has like a 45" SL and it HAS to be cut to be made playable. Otherwise its just sad. I mean if somebody good like Jeff or Arnold sets the neck of a big shouldered bass at a high overstand, thumb position is very reachable.
I might be a little biased though because I first learned on an orange plywood bass with almost no overstand and about a 4.5" bridge then a 7/8 sized Grunert with big shoulders and not that much of an overstand.

NOTE: I am sure John Pattituci's bass sounds like a million dollars, but imagine how good it would sound uncut!

mrpc · #15 08-11-2006, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

A note on Scotties Bass. Listen carefully to the Bass and be honest about what you hear. His playing is great but the Bass is not nearly as good as he was.

I've always thought that it sounded like his bass was miked real close up on those Vangaurd recordings, and in that way, it was more of an electric sound than the sound of the bass in the room. The one bassist I know who saw Scotty live said that Scotties bass was pretty much inaudible sitting just a few feet away in a small club.

Funny how his experiments with that kind of set up led to all kinds of gyrations and shenanagans with the next generation of jazz bassists! God bless him, he did more for bass music than he ever could have known while he was living. Alot of other players have had the time to refine his approach.

jasonheath · #16 08-18-2006, 06:19 PM

I love Bran Bromberg's bass and sound on "Wood" and its follow-up. That bass is really outstanding. I can't remember that instrument's pedigree, but it is really something special.

nikijack · #17 09-22-2006, 08:00 PM

Hi:
Referring to Ray's bass. I was in the pit doing a ballet with the great bass player Murray Lauder, who has since passed away, at 86 years old. He absentmindedly played a couple of open strings, pizzicato, and my jaw dropped. I looked at him, he gave me his patented smile, and said, "Ray's bass!". It was reputed to be an Amati, weighed 48 pounds, and the tuning pegs were thick, bent, wire. After Murray retired, he sold it, I believe, to Tim Dawson a Toronto Symphony player, and it is well taken care of.

cheers,

Jack

Don Higdon · #18 09-23-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sibass89

Thats interesting about Vuillaume basses. Well it is definately signed by Vuillaume, I saw the label (unless its forged).

What Ken said about Vuillaume is common knowlege among the french luthiers I visited in Paris with Olivier. Georges Apparut, whose label is faked in my bass, subbed his basses to a guy named Baumann. Another thing I learned was that a common practice was to subcontract the scrolls to furniture makers.

Don Higdon · #19 09-23-2006, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrpc

The one bassist I know who saw Scotty live said that Scotties bass was pretty much inaudible sitting just a few feet away in a small club.

Now you know two.
I had the same experience listening to him at Birdland.

musicman5string · #20 09-24-2006, 09:30 AM

What about Paul Chambers' bass? That had a really nice maiden's head scroll.