Anyone here double on a Keyboard Bass?

[first inversion]

hello ladies and gents,
I am a middle aged hack, but I have great fun with a band of great people like me who are still at it despite white hair. We have no keyboard player. We play a wide variety of stuff, including some jazz, but mainly classic rock.
I hold down the bass parts with a solid state rig and pretty clean tone; I have never done well with pedals. There are now a few tunes that the group wants us to do, that on the recordings seem to use key bass (or synthesizer) for the funkier basslines (think Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" or "Use Me" by Winters).
I took years and years of piano lessons back in the day,and could clearly play the notes, but dont know exactly what my choices are for an instrument. I see all sorts of short keyboard synthesizers for sale for $350 to $500 that I might actually want to buy, but don't know anything about what to look for, and what might work best in a lo-tech environment, like between my ears.
The idea would be to maybe get something decent that I would maybe use on one or two songs per set, to let us sound ok with some material we have avoided until now.
Any advice from his group would be highly valued.
Many thanks for any thoughts on this.
-first inversion

[mjac28]

Hi I have a Raven piano bass I had restored last year the bass is subsonic sounds really good it's from the mid to late 60's I think the same Japanese factoy built these and the Rheem version I may be willing to part with it I have it tucked away in a closet shoot me a message if you want me to post some pics
Mike

[A.Scovanner]

Re. budget I was in a similar spot as you a couple yrs ago when I wanted to get something to play around with and I ended up with the Alesis Micron. Great little board, bunches of preset sounds, for bass and otherwise. Lightweight, small footprint, less expensive than the Korgs with those wee little keys (which seemed quite flimsy in my experiences of trying them out).
Alesis Micron Analog Modeling Synth and more at GuitarCenter.com.
(I'm not associated in any way w/ GC other than I have a GC card. But in looking for links to put on here for ya, it seems some of the other big online music houses aren't stocking it right now...Don't know if it's the holiday rush, or if it's getting replaced soon...)
Hope that helps.

[Kitsapbass]

I "double" on keyboard bass...

I bought a used Yamaha SY-22, which I use when we have a keyboard based song in the cover band I play with...

Does that count?

[mjac28]

My message didn't post before but I have a Raven piano bass from the mid to late 60's had it restored last year and tuned only thing that got me upset was the tech was unable to make it so the cord detaches after use like before now it it permanently attached doesn't effect anything I still have the original cord I was told I could get it back the way I want but she just sits in the closet anyway. I have to say this thing gets subsonic it is a wall shaker google "Raven Piano " for pics I will post pics of mine if anyone is interested I may be willing to part with it it is similar to the Rheem I think the same Japanese factory made both units.

[mjac28]

Oops I mean google Raven Piano Bass sorry

[darius8]

The Doors never had a bass player; the keyboardist did all the basslines.

OK, I was corrected by Mellowinman that they did have bass players.

[darius8]

We have a keyboardist but I double as 2nd keyboard/bass. I use an M-Audio controller and a Korg Triton.
The M-Audio controllers the awesome plug-in synths that comes with FL studios: Sytrus, Morphine, PoiZone, Toxic BioHazard, Harmless and Wasp.

[Motasimo]

I play both bass guitar and keyboard bass. I use a Microkorg XL and the bass patches cover everything you can need. Small, lightweight, battery powered. Just use an A/B box into your amp or run it thru your PA in stereo.

[mellowinman]

Originally Posted by darius8

The Doors never had a bass player; the keyboardist did all the basslines.

Except for on almost every song.

Larry Knechtel, Douglas Lubahn, Kerry Magness, Leroy Vinnegar, Harvey Brooks, Lonnie Mack, Ray Neapolitan, and Jerry Scheff ALL played bass on Doors albums.

Very few studio Doors songs have keyboard bass on them.

Keyboard bass is a weak replacement for bass guitar.

[natw42]

Originally Posted by mellowinman

Except for on almost every song.

Larry Knechtel, Douglas Lubahn, Kerry Magness, Leroy Vinnegar, Harvey Brooks, Lonnie Mack, Ray Neapolitan, and Jerry Scheff ALL played bass on Doors albums.

Very few studio Doors songs have keyboard bass on them.

Keyboard bass is a weak replacement for bass guitar.

You're right about the Door's line-up of bassists, but I gotta disagree about that last part there. There are so many recorded examples of fantastic keyboard basslines. While it doesn't necessarily sound like a bass guitar, it certainly can fill the bass role very well IMO

[Musicfreak1988]

I do. I am a freelancer and sometimes you just can't get around synthbass. I use a Roland V-Synth and/or a Clavia Nord Lead Anniversary (2X) and/or a Moog Voyager, depending on the songs.

[darius8]

Originally Posted by mellowinman

Larry Knechtel, Douglas Lubahn, Kerry Magness, Leroy Vinnegar, Harvey Brooks, Lonnie Mack, Ray Neapolitan, and Jerry Scheff ALL played bass on Doors albums.

Very few studio Doors songs have keyboard bass on them.

My fault for not reading thoroughly in the bios.
It's funny that those bass players aren't mentioned as official members of the Doors. I only read that Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, and Robby Krieger were the official members.
OK I retract that statement..

[natw42]

Hugh McDonald has been playing bass for Bon Jovi for years and isn't considered an official member of the band. Some bands work that way - for example my band doesn't have an official drummer, but various drummers we've relied on. Even if we pick a steady one down the road, they wouldn't be considered a member but rather a hired gun, unless we found someone integral to our songwriting process.

to take it back on topic, I too rock the keyboard bass. I use my Roland XP-50 because it's what I got and it suits me fine. At the OP's price point buying new, I've heard good things about the Alesis however.

[Holdsg]

Nat's being modest. He does this cool keys and hammer/tap bass thing where he plays both at once. I'm not that advanced, but do play my korg m-50 along with bass on stage. I'm with you on the mini keys. Give me a full Keybed, please. We have a keys/ bass club if you are interested.

[natw42]

Nah, not being modest, just didn't think that little trick was relevant to the discussion at hand.

For songs that require a keyboard part but have busier basslines where I can't tap on bass, I'll just split my XP-50 and play key bass with the left hand and melody with the right. That's actually how I became a bass player - I was originally just on keys jamming with my brother. I would always play basslines and key parts at the same time instead of more conventional keyboard parts. I eventually stepped up to the 'real thing' and have developed a larger passion for the bass guitar.

That being said - I still think there is a time and a place for synth bass.

[natw42]

btw - here's a link to the keyboardists turned bassists thread: Keyboard players turned bassist club

[superdick2112]

I use my keys & Taurus mainly for Rush & prog rock covers, and I play key bass on a single original - a monophonic walking bass part.
It would take some serious woodshedding for me to get as good on keys as I am on bass, so for now, I'm mainly adding texture & having fun on the Rush covers. If were were going to play songs like "Superstition" or "Magic Carpet Ride", we would be looking at adding a dedicated keyboard player, preferrably one who could play a bit of guitar as well.
I play all real analog synthesizers, but for your needs, it sounds like a nice mid-priced Roland or Yamaha board would do nicely - look for one that has piano, organ and synth sounds all in one unit.

[Deepwoods]

I have the Micron. It is an amazing little piece of gear that I would definitely recommend.

Originally Posted by A.Scovanner

Re. budget I was in a similar spot as you a couple yrs ago when I wanted to get something to play around with and I ended up with the Alesis Micron. Great little board, bunches of preset sounds, for bass and otherwise. Lightweight, small footprint, less expensive than the Korgs with those wee little keys (which seemed quite flimsy in my experiences of trying them out).
Alesis Micron Analog Modeling Synth and more at GuitarCenter.com.
(I'm not associated in any way w/ GC other than I have a GC card. But in looking for links to put on here for ya, it seems some of the other big online music houses aren't stocking it right now...Don't know if it's the holiday rush, or if it's getting replaced soon...)
Hope that helps.

[onosson]

I use a Nord Electro, and double on most of my gigs. The Hammond settings offers a split which allows you to set different drawbar setting for left and right hand, and makes a great substitute for bass guitar. The rhodes sounds on the Nord also have lots of low end in the bottom range. I also do the "tapping" thing sometimes, depending on the situtation - especially if I'm using a clav sound as they aren't as strong in the lower register. The only thing it doesn't really offer are good synth sounds, but that's not really what I'm going for anyways.