Recommend me some songs to REALLY test a bass

rainbownorth · #1 11-13-2006, 03:47 PM

Ok, so i gotta meeting at work today at 6, and I figure ill hang about at the local rockshop until then....Im on holidays from uni atm and i got a hankering to go drool over some basses I cant afford. BUT! I am looking at saving up some money to buy a new bass. At the moment ive got a Cort C action bass. Its fairly entry level, it looks really nice, but its awkward to play (I find ill have to adjust the strap to play 3 out of 4 songs i play) and the tones sort of average to fair.

So this is sort of serious, sort of not. Im happy with it but i will replace it, simply because its so awkward to play, and i feel there must be basses that are more comfortable and better sounding. At the moment, im looking at spending maybe a grand NZD. Which will get me something like a Warwick Rockbass Fortress or a Fender MIM P bass, at least at retail price in the country I live in. Im LOVING the look of the fortress (that extended horn looks like it would be really comfortable for me personally), and i hear good things about the way it plays.

So i guess theres two parts to this question:
1. What would everyone recommend for a bass around this sort of price range? (I realise noone here will know what 1k new zealand means, which is why ive pointed out some of the basses i can afford at absolute MAX)

2. What should i play to really test these out good and proper? Ill probably just **** around on them for 20 minutes or so respectively anyway, play some of the stuff i enjoy playing, but what do YOU guys think i should play to truly find out how good these basses sound, and how comfortable they are playing challenging songs?

As always, any feedback will be appreciated.Roger Roger, Over and Out.

Jimbow · #2 11-13-2006, 04:37 PM

I'd look for a used Geddy Lee jazz... I don't even like regular Warwicks but I've never played a RockBass so I can't comment on those.

Armueller2001 · #3 11-13-2006, 04:47 PM

Rock basses suck IMO... might as well spring for a used real Warwick.

As for songs, I always try Sweet Child O Mine..uses all strings, good slides, high notes, has it all

rainbownorth · #4 11-13-2006, 05:09 PM

Yeah......well, i dont have that sort of money for a REAL warwick. theyre like 3000 new here. The cheapest ive seen for a USED one is like 1700. I dont have anywhere near that sort of money.Itll take me long enough to get a grand, so ive decided thats my uppermost limit, end of story.

Besides im left handed, and finding used left handed basses at all is a pain in the anus. Finding a good one, of a specific make and model, in good condition, for cheap is gonna be like trying to find water in a desert.Hell, ill be lucky if they have the models im after in lefty new at the shop im going to.

Earthday · #5 11-13-2006, 06:44 PM

RHCP - Aeroplane is my test song. Uses all the strings, high and low notes, slapping and fingerstyle, slides, trills, it's got it all.

But really your test song(s) should be one(s) where the bassist sounds like the sound you're going for.

RareBear · #6 11-13-2006, 06:49 PM

I Fought the Law by The Clash.

ToR-Tu-Ra · #7 11-13-2006, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RareBear

I Fought the Law by The Clash.

Man, It's been ages since I've listened to that song! I'll go put in on my player now...

Armueller2001 · #8 11-14-2006, 02:25 AM

Check out ebay for used warwicks

cowsgomoo · #9 11-14-2006, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainbownorth

what do YOU guys think i should play to truly find out how good these basses sound

plug into an amp & set it as transparent as you can

play EVERY note on the thing, from top to bottom, with a variety of pickup/volume/tone settings, right hand techniques (fingerstyle, slap, pick if you use one) and varying picking position/strength

if it's a Fender, listen especially to C# on your G string... is it as loud as the other notes?

forget about playing tunes and concentrate on listening to the sound the bass is making... (you'll impress more 'serious' musicians if you play a slow chromatic scale from bottom to top because it sounds like you know what you're doing and listening for

)

ras1983 · #10 11-14-2006, 05:38 AM

just start doing runs up and down the neck. scales, pentatonics, chords, play some walking lines, take a solo in the upper register, play palm-muted style, just do everything and anything.

i personally wouldn't use a particular song to test a bass, i would just do everything i know to see how it feels in my hands.

rainbownorth · #11 11-14-2006, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armueller2001

Check out ebay for used warwicks

Yeah...see the thing with ebay is that, it takes months for things to arrive from anywhere. By which time, if ive decided i dont like it, i cant return it. Its not really a viable option for something i cant play beforehand.

Besides, like i said, left handed basses are few and far between new, theyre even more scant used.