A bass for all styles? Help me....

[drTSTingray]

A Stingray 2 band (Classic or regular) would be my go to for your list -although as has been said above, part of the sound comes from the player. Alternatively a Stingray 5 is even more versatile.

Picking one of these up used would provide you with a highly versatile instrument at a good price.

[RFord04]

I'll echo what many have said and suggest a Jazz bass of some sort...

I've owned quite a few basses, including a Lakland 55-02 that I just sold, and a Warwick $$, just to name a couple of the more "versatile" ones. None of them were as versatile as my Jazz Basses, when used for a cover band, especially.

I ended up recently buying a Lakland Skyline 55-60 (Formerly known as the Joe Osbourne model), which is essentially a 5 string jazz, and to add to the overall versatility of the bass, I dropped an East J-Retro preamp in it, to boost and cut eq when necessary. I can say, for my cover gigs, it's the happiest I've been with a bass in a long time.

[johng999]

Fender Jazz has never let me down in a situation like yours.

[Alex1984]

A Jazz, a PJ, or an L2000 are good places to start from. The instruments are versatile, but the skills and chops mustn't be neglected.

[brorbjoern]

I'd take a passive P/MM bass with a splitcoil possibility for the MM pickup, hard center (ala purpleheart, wenge or ovangkol)/maple/ebony fb BO neck 2/3 alder 1/3 light ash body (Alder back ash front), a not too big bridge (something classy like a ETS two-piece, seems irrelevant but actually is important for tone too), small frets and a conical fretboard (woodier sound but easy enough playability and bendability in the upper register, 7,25-->9 og 10 inches should do fine or maybe 9->12). 41-102 gauge Circle K strings or the DR hellborg set for full tone with easy slapping (makes it easier to attempt James Jamerson while not using Flats). Graphtech saddle (don't go with metal, won't go well with the vintage tones IMO). Stick to 20 frets unless you really need more (for oldschool slap bass, and then just move back when it's time to TM).... And... have foam and picks in your back pocket. I guess that's the most important part... Tried to figure out a bass that'd help you fingers/pick reach their goal but... remember xD no bass is gonna cross the goal line for you (:

Ps. if you still need active electronics go for a really nice two-band system, and use your amp to set af nice mid EQ for the particular bass to aboid too much fiddlyness. and well... small boosts... the easiest way of shifting styles quickly is having your hand do it ;3

pps. have pedals or multiple preamp setups

ppps. hope you have loads of money :/

[dmrogers]

Sounds like you need to take a trip to the Atlanta Bass Gallery!

[progrockbass]

I just tried a Sadowsky Will Lee for the first time and it was fantastic. Like the active/passive option. Nice weight for long nights and the tones were great. He's a guy who has to pull a ton of styles out with his steady gig so it would likely cover everything you need. That said I think any Jazz variant would work...

[cdef]

This is how I look at it: get a good bass sound, then adapt your technique to get various flavors to suit the song. I don't much believe in twiddling knobs between songs to "dial in" an incidentally appropriate sound. It has to be there throughout the set.

[rapturebass]

hate to play the role of jaded, old traditionalist bassist (even though i'm still in high school) but you honestly just can't go wrong with a jazz, p, or musicman. adding some various preamp//dirt pedals (VT Bass being the most immediately obvious) and learning how to play with several techniques (including but not limited to: fingers, slap, old school picking, modern rock picking, tapping etc.) should allow you to coax about any sound you want.

[derridiandrift]

Interesting thread.

Nothing jaded about my perspective. I pick one of either a jazz or a precision as I'm walking out the door to the gig, and I make it work for all of the tunes. If I'm travelling I take two... usually one of each. I'm happy with the tone, and so is the band and the tech.

Done.

[Stumbo]

I have an '82 Ibanez Musician P/J passive/9v active 3 band eq., with old ground wounds on it. It has a thin neck, 24 frets and is a high quality build.You can get pretty much any tone you need from it. You just have to fiddle with the knobs. I palm mute when needed and also switch between pick and pluck.

Given all that, I'd pick up an SSS Musicman Big Al because all the tones are availble at the flick of a switch. Ask TBr Joe Nerve hi opinion.

Also, +1 to picking up a programmable eq. foot pedal or an effects unit that will get the tones you need from the basses you have.