Guys, how much bending do you do?

[jerryjg]

Coming at this from a 6 six playing angle,where I incorprate a lot of deep bends into my style, I just got a 57 P-bass vintage Japanese copy, and had to set the action a little higher than I normally like on my 6 strings, presumably casue of the vintage curved fretboard radius. I had already done a fret level. Now it will bend okay close to a full note.
How much bending do you bass guys do in youer playing, and what kind of basses do you use to facilitate that?

[Clef_de_fa]

On a fretless I never bend and on a fretted I'll only do somekind of vibrato sideways because a classical vibrato just doesn't work as well with fret.

So ... I don,t bend string like a guitar player do. I also think that with such big string and high tension you won't be able to bend the string to a minor second.

[Lo-E]

I bend as little as possible - my back's not so good.

[Bassamatic]

It is hard to hear anyway for bass - I save it for ending notes. Otherwise it can just sound like you're out of tune.

[dustinfennessey]

Originally Posted by Bassamatic

It is hard to hear anyway for bass - I save it for ending notes. Otherwise it can just sound like you're out of tune.

not sure you cant hear it...i do a lot of bending (post metal) and it really sticks out in a good way IMO...but then again i use a ton of effects and a ton of tube distortion that might be the reason you can hear it...i use a Modulus VJ 4 as my primary with the action as low as it can go...just my 2 cents

[nysbob]

Tons on a fretted bass...but I play mostly fretless.

[emblymouse]

Yes, lots. I started very early on as way to avoid using my pinkie which was not up to it. Now I have all 4 cylinders firing but bending is very established in my style.

[PlungerModerno]

Stop yer startin' whit all that prittle prattle!

Marzipan's a private matter!


I can't do it fast or accurately with my pinky... but the rest is fine. Need more practice to get good. I don't use it more than say - hammer-ons or slides.

[FrednBass]

Specially when jamming or improvising. Sometimes i use guitar-blues-licks, then the bending comes right in hand

[JimmyM]

I bend when I think it's needed. I've had people on here be critical to me about string bending before, like they say, "You should play guitar," or "Bending has no place on a bass," that kind of drivel. Screw those idiots.

Anyway, I feel the same as you. I like a flatter radius for that, too. I sold a 79 Precision a few years back for (mostly) that reason.

[kevteop]

I pretty much never bend notes. I like big strings for the toanz, and I would rather have big-string toanz than bendiness.

[ShiftyShift]

I started out on guitar (playing blues) so when I switched to bass the bending was just part of my technique. I use it from minor vibrato to screaming leads. Its understandable why a lot of people with a low radius don't bend, as it frets out ridiculously quick. I also don't understand why people say you can't bend thick strings. Its very easy with some practice, and I believe it sounds quite good.

[SBassman]

None.

I'll slide when the song calls for it.

[stratovani]

I save the string bending for my Strat!

[sammyp]

Originally Posted by stratovani

I save the string bending for my Strat!

i'm with ya bro! i can't get into trying to bend the old G string on a bass at all .....a wound G string on an acoustic is bad enough!

[Atoz]

Originally Posted by SBassman

None.

I'll slide when the song calls for it.

This is also what I do most of the time. I don't think the quality of the basslines I've played has ever suffered as a result of not bending.

[BigDaddyMick]

I'll bend when the song calls for it, like N.I.B.

[Red Rover]

You can call me Bender Bending Rodriguez

[godofthunder59]

I bend a lot! Bass of choice 60's Non reverse Thunderbirds super low action.

[kanonfodr]

I run a low action on my Schecter 6-string bass, and one song I do calls for some heavy-duty bending (at least 3 semi-tones) on the low B string. I'm pushing it all the way into the D string .

I use bends to add discord to a part, but it only works when there's just a little bit of stuff going on otherwise yes: it will only sound like you're playing the wrong note.

Peace,
Greg