If I get a new bass, how can I insure that notes will be near or at the same place..

Libersolis · #1 01-27-2006, 10:17 AM

as my old bass? I have heard some nightmare stories about bassists transitioning to new basses. What are some things I can look for or measure in order to make sure my new bass plays somewhat closley to my old one?

Ed Fuqua · #2 01-27-2006, 10:24 AM

well, play it and see if it feels weird before you buy it.

The basic things that you want to look for are:
1. mensure - if your current string length is 41 and 7/16th inches, you want to make sure the bass you buy is kinda the same thing

2. D or Eb? - if your current bass has an Eb neck, it's gonna be easier (in a way) to play another bass with an Eb neck than a D neck. that way the physical relationship is similar.

But the bottom line is that you shouldn't really be approaching intonation from a physical perspective but from having an expectation of pitch already in your ear. You don't want to be one of those guys that figures he's in tune becuase he's playing the "right position". Your ear should be telling your hands (and arms and shoulders) what you need to be doing to play in tune on any instrument.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #3 01-27-2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

2. D or Eb? - if your current bass has an Eb neck, it's gonna be easier (in a way) to play another bass with an Eb neck than a D neck. that way the physical relationship is similar.

I know I must be chromasomally deficient or something, but I've never been hip to the whole "D vs. Eb" neck thing. I've heard tales of people who say it takes weeks to make the adjustment, but to me each bass is different, and you just need to get used to playing that bass. I'd say just play a bunch of basses, pick the one that speaks to you, then get about the business of making music. Each time I've gotten a new bass, there was something about it that was noticeably different from the old one it was replacing, and it took a little getting used to, but it has never been a big deal. Hell, I still couldn't tell you if my NS LaScala is a D or an Eb neck, but I like it just the same regardless.

Ed Fuqua · #4 01-27-2006, 11:05 AM

You must mean "chromatisomally deficient".

Naw, I totally agree. When I pick up a bass at a session or sitting in, I don't spend any time trying to figure out if it's different physically from my bass, I just listen and try to play in tune.

Didja hear the one about the hillbilly who went to her OB/GYN, who told her that she couldn't become pregnant because of a deficiency in her uterus and if she had a child it would be a miracle? Of course when she told her husband, CousinBrother Billy, it was kind of garbled - Doc said she couldn't have kids because of a fish in her uterus and if she had a kid it would be a mackerel.

globey · #5 01-27-2006, 11:43 AM

Ladies and Gentlemen... Ed Fuqua... He's here all week, try the veal...

Ed Fuqua · #6 01-27-2006, 12:04 PM

I know you're out there, I can hear you breathing.
hey, where's my rimshot?

gomez hacienda · #7 01-27-2006, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

I know I must be chromasomally deficient or something, but I've never been hip to the whole "D vs. Eb" neck thing. I've heard tales of people who say it takes weeks to make the adjustment, but to me each bass is different, and you just need to get used to playing that bass. I'd say just play a bunch of basses, pick the one that speaks to you, then get about the business of making music. Each time I've gotten a new bass, there was something about it that was noticeably different from the old one it was replacing, and it took a little getting used to, but it has never been a big deal. Hell, I still couldn't tell you if my NS LaScala is a D or an Eb neck, but I like it just the same regardless.

The "human genome project" has yet to map the Eb gene...when they find it, you'll be able to tell if future offspring will be a UB or BG player. Now THAT is scary!

gomez

**Freddels** · #8 01-27-2006, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Libersolis

If I get a new bass, how can I insure that notes will be near or at the same place.

They will always be "at or near" the same place. Open strings would probably be the closest.

drurb · #9 01-27-2006, 02:18 PM

I find this quite interesting because I have the impression, anyway, that I use the "feel" of the neck heel to quickly land on the "D." Sure, every bass feels slightly different and our ears quickly inform us as to where to go. I've never had any trouble adapting rapidly from one to another. Still, it SEEMS anyway, that an Eb neck would drive me a bit nuts. Maybe I'm wrong.

Libersolis · #10 01-27-2006, 02:41 PM

Thanks it seems that from these posts, changing basses isn't quite as hard as I am imagining it..

Ed Fuqua · #11 01-27-2006, 02:42 PM

trust the force, Luke...

and by force, I mean ears.

pat1151 · #12 01-27-2006, 04:45 PM

Really, In my personal opinion I don't think that the whole Eb vs D neck thing should be that big of a deal, the most important thing is that you like the way the bass sounds and plays. As for the "nightmare" stores about re-adjusting to a new neck (Eb to D or vice versa), I don't think you should take them too litteral because I think it all depends on the player. I switch between an Eb bass and a D bass all the time and havn't had any problems at all.

bikerbassplayer · #13 01-27-2006, 05:53 PM

Ed Fuqua is the most entertaining guy on this forum !!!!
( I was raised in NYC so I am sure of that )

globey · #14 01-28-2006, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

I know you're out there, I can hear you breathing.
hey, where's my rimshot?

ba-dum-ching...

D McCartney · #15 01-28-2006, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

I know you're out there, I can hear you breathing.
hey, where's my rimshot?

http://www.drum-talk.com/forum/

globey · #16 01-28-2006, 07:46 AM

BURN!!!

mcnaire2004 · #17 01-28-2006, 08:02 AM

Yo what is the difference between a Eb and a D neck? If its size or thikness there shouldn't be a problem.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #18 01-28-2006, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poptime

http://www.drum-talk.com/forum/

GAH!! They even have drum TaBz.

|1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & |
CC|---------------X|
TT|-------------Xx-| CAPITAL X = 32nd notes
SD|------------X---| CAPITAL X = Hit w/Both Sticks
BD|---------------o|

Any CAPITAL X on a TT line = 32nd notes
|1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & |
CC|-------------------------------X-----------------------------XXX|
CH|----------------X-------------------------------X---------------|
TT|--x-x-x-x-x-x-x----x-x-x-----Xx---x-x-x-x-x-x-x----x-x-x--------|
SD|----------------x--------x--X-------------------x--------x--X---|
BD|-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oo-o-o-o-oo---o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oo-o-o-o-oo-ooo|

CC|-------------------------------X---------------X---------------X|
HH|--X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X---X-X-X-X-X-------X-X-X-X-X-X-X-|
SD|--x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x-XXX---x---x--x--x-x-|
BD|-o--oo--oo--oo-o-o--oo-o-o--oo-o-o--oo--oo-o---o-o--oo-o--oo-o-o|

Vocals start: "Everything I thought left me..."
|1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & |
CC|--X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-XX--X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-XX|
SD|--x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x--x--x-x-|
BD|-o-ooo-oo---oo-o-o-ooo-ooo--oo-o-o--oo-ooo-ooo-o-o-ooo-o--oo-o-o|

Any CAPITAL X's on the TT & SD lines toward the end of this next part
are 32nd notes
Vocals: "Over....overcome"
|1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & |
CC|--X-X-X-X-X-X-XX---------------X--X-X-X-X-X-X-XX---------------X|
HH|------------------X-X-X-X-X-X---------------------X-X-X-X-------|
TT|-----------------------------xx---------------------------XX-X--|
SD|----x-------x-----x---x---x-x-------x-------x-----x---x--X--X-X-|
BD|--o--ooo--oo--oo-o--oo-o-o-----o--o--ooo--oo--oo-o--oo--o------o|

Vocals: "Over....overcome" "Rise back-"
|1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & |
CC|--X-X-X-X-X-X-XX---------------X-------X--------|
HH|------------------X-X-X-X-X---------------------|
TT|-----------------------------xx----Xxxx-----x-x-| CAPITAL X = 32nd
SD|----x-------x-----x---x---x-x-----x-------x-----| notes
BD|--o--ooo--oo--oo-o--oo-o-o-----o-o-----o-o-o-o-o|

Vocals: "Up!"
Any CAPITAL O on the BD line are 32nd notes:
|1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & |
CC|X---X---X-------X---X---X-------X---X---X-------X---X---X----XXX|
CH|------------X---------------X---------------X-------------------|
SD|----x-------x-------x-------x-------x-------x-------x-------x---|
BD|o--o-o-o---O-o--o--o-o-o--oo-o--o--o-o-o---O-o--o--o-o-o---o-ooo|

Go back to line 3 (line right before the vocals start) and repeat
everything up through the line above...the only thing different is
the fill at the very end of the line above:
|4 & |
SD|x---|
BD|-o-o|

Now go to this part:
|1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & |
CH|X---------------X---------------X---------------X---------------|
TT|---x-x-x-x--x-x----x-x-x-x--x-x----x-x-x-x--x-x----x-x-x--------|
SD|x--------x--x-x-x--------x--x-x-x--------x--x-x-x------x--------|
BD|-oo-o-o-o-oo-o-o-oo-o-o-o-oo-o-o-oo-o-o-o-oo-o-o-oo-o-o---------|

Now just wait 2 beats while
vocals continue w/Guitar fill: |1 & 2 & |

|1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & |
CC|X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X--X--X-|
SD|----x-------x-------x-------x-------x-------x-------x---x--x--x-|
BD|o----ooo--------o----oooo--o--o-o----ooo--------o----ooo-oo-oo-o|

|1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & |
CC|X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X--X--X-|
SD|----x-------x-------x-------x-------x-------x-------x---x--x--x-|
BD|o----ooo----OOo-o----oooo--o--o-o----ooo----OOo-o----ooo-oo-oo-o|

|1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & |
CC|X---------------|
TT|--xxxx-x--------|
SD|x-xxxx-x--------|
BD|-o----o---------|

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOGHORN

I know you're out there, I can hear you breathing.
hey, where's my rimshot?

According to the above quoted site, it's right here:

CC|------X!!!!!*
SD| xx
BD|----o

*
(Def Leppard version):

CC|------X!!!!!*
SD| x
BD|----o

(Sorry about the thread derailment guys... that was just too bizarre to pass up.)

hdiddy · #19 01-28-2006, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

*
(Def Leppard version):

CC|------X!!!!!*
SD| x
BD|----o

Dude! THat is just WRONG!

But hella funny!

Bethelbass1 · #20 01-28-2006, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRURB

I find this quite interesting because I have the impression, anyway, that I use the "feel" of the neck heel to quickly land on the "D." Sure, every bass feels slightly different and our ears quickly inform us as to where to go. I've never had any trouble adapting rapidly from one to another. Still, it SEEMS anyway, that an Eb neck would drive me a bit nuts. Maybe I'm wrong.

My first bass was a Eb neck and my current one is a D neck. I had a little trouble in the transition but nothing I couln't overcome. Choose the bass that feels the best to you becuase it may turn out the other type of neck is better suited to you.