The Evolution of Bass Guitar Technology and Beyond...

[Tmoney865]

I did not find any discussion like this, so sorry if this is all redundant.

Looking back at the evolution of this Instrument and its milestones makes me appreciate 50 years of human endeavor of many who have helped me receive an inspiring instrument today:

1951 - Fender Precision Bass - the origin of the storm

1957 - Rickenbacker 4000, Double Truss Rod, Neck Thru Construction (Predecessor of the 4001) brought bright into focus

1960 - Fender Jazz Bass - the two pick up entry from Fender, exhibiting greater midrange which has made this instrument inseparable from modern music,

1966 - Rotosound Swing Bass 66 Strings - by John Entwistle - Guages emitting best sustain and tone achieved for all

1969 - Alembic - The Rise of the Boutiques - Multi-ply Stringer Necks, exotic woods, Active Electronics, in 1976 Graphite/Carbon Fiber Necks

1976 - Music Man Stingray Bass - an Icon of modern Rock Tone. Pickup position and configuration would impact further production in the Boutique market. Probably second most popular recording instrument to the Fender Jazz Bass, it brought in active electronics, and mid control to production Instruments

Late 1970’s - Carl Thompson’s Contra Bass Guitar - the 6 String is Born

1993 - Tunable Mixed Composite - BassLab - Claimed to not be sterile like Carbon Fiber, but more tuneable to the tone wishes of the client, similar to selecting a wood but in space aged material.

2001 - Lightwave S2 Optical Pickup System - I will not even begin to explain how important this is.

We all have come a longway baby!

Technology has not outpaced us, as with computers, as the above summary covers 50 years of development, as opposed to 20.

Not having thousands of dollars to spend on the top of the line Luthiers, Technology and wood, it appears that we commoners looking for the most for our limited buck have some considerations to insist upon in our instruments as very decent Technology is now very affordable:

Dual Stringer Necks

Dual Truss Rod Adjustments

Bartolini Pickups

18V Active Electronics

Variable Mid-Range Sweep Electronics - this is important and not to be overlooked! The 18V preamp exists because traveling bassists wanted to be able to plug into a power amp and Speaker and go. Don’t let the Manufacturers forget this!

17.5-20mm String Spacing at the Bridge

Still, even though I have all of this in my Ibanez BTB’s which I find nothing less than INSPIRING, all of that is yesterday, and is the least we should expect as purchasers/end users.

The future will be known when we see the Work of Basslab and Lightwave combined.

I might want to completely forget about even looking at the Status S-2 (except for settling for that as my Modern Instrument), and see that the future is a union of BassLab and LightWave marrying Material and Transmission Systems.

But I remember I was ridiculed by a Guitarist in High School when I got excited about the introduction of digitization of music on to chips and into programs. (Wonder where he is now? NOT!)

Wow…I am actually starting to get excited.

[mongo2]

1935 - Paul Tutmarc develops the Audiovox #736 electric bass guitar.

[tangentmusic]

Yes I agree... The bass guitar has come a long way.
But I think many of us would prefer a vintage Ric or Fender over any of the new models any day!

[Corvetti]

I would rather have a modern warwick my friend

[NecroticImbecil]

1980 - Steinberger L series bass. Not "sterile" as those who haven't actually played them have been led to believe. The rest of the tech the flyer can say better than I can.

http://www.steinbergerworld.com/fliers/80flier.jpg

[Jim C]

I too thought the only missing item was Steinberger; had an early L series from the Newburgh shop and it was not sterile at all.

[Tmoney865]

Why NS and his Bergers are not here is because Carbon Fiber was done first by Alembic.

Me Too Flash in the Pan products are not the issue.

I could talk about my Custom B.C. Rich that failed because of the lack of 2 truss Rods as Rickenbacker was insightful to produce. I could go on an on about my BTB's, but like the Corvette post and like the Steinberger, they are nothing new and just flashes of Me Too-isms when the question is Technological development and frontiers.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I'd say you're not only putting too much importance on Lightwave and Basslab as far as standouts in the history of the bass guitar, but you're vastly overemphasizing how integral they're be in the future. Both have been around for years, and both have gotten no further than niche popularity, similar to many other unique and interesting design elements that never took off into the mainstream. I doubt either technology will ever become a recognizable mainstay in bass technology (particularly the work at Basslab).

[Murphys Law]

NS should be there for the Headless instruments?

Just saying...

[DerHoggz]

Originally Posted by Tmoney865

1951 - Fender Precision Bass - the origin of the storm

1957 - Rickenbacker 4000, Double Truss Rod, Neck Thru Construction (Predecessor of the 4001) brought bright into focus

1960 - Fender Jazz Bass - the two pick up entry from Fender, exhibiting greater midrange which has made this instrument inseparable from modern music,
P basses tend to have more mids than J basses

1966 - Rotosound Swing Bass 66 Strings - by John Entwistle - Guages emitting best sustain and tone achieved for all
No

1969 - Alembic - The Rise of the Boutiques - Multi-ply Stringer Necks, exotic woods, Active Electronics, in 1976 Graphite/Carbon Fiber Necks

1976 - Music Man Stingray Bass - an Icon of modern Rock Tone. Pickup position and configuration would impact further production in the Boutique market. Probably second most popular recording instrument to the Fender Jazz Bass, it brought in active electronics, and mid control to production Instruments
P is probably more recorded than J or MM

Late 1970’s - Carl Thompson’s Contra Bass Guitar - the 6 String is Born

1993 - Tunable Mixed Composite - BassLab - Claimed to not be sterile like Carbon Fiber, but more tuneable to the tone wishes of the client, similar to selecting a wood but in space aged material.

2001 - Lightwave S2 Optical Pickup System - I will not even begin to explain how important this is.
As stated above, very unimportant, little effect on market

We all have come a longway baby!

Technology has not outpaced us, as with computers, as the above summary covers 50 years of development, as opposed to 20.

Not having thousands of dollars to spend on the top of the line Luthiers, Technology and wood, it appears that we commoners looking for the most for our limited buck have some considerations to insist upon in our instruments as very decent Technology is now very affordable:
So are we all supposed to insist on these things?

Dual Stringer Necks

Dual Truss Rod Adjustments

Bartolini Pickups

18V Active Electronics

Variable Mid-Range Sweep Electronics - this is important and not to be overlooked! The 18V preamp exists because traveling bassists wanted to be able to plug into a power amp and Speaker and go. Don’t let the Manufacturers forget this!

17.5-20mm String Spacing at the Bridge

Still, even though I have all of this in my Ibanez BTB’s which I find nothing less than INSPIRING, all of that is yesterday, and is the least we should expect as purchasers/end users.

The future will be known when we see the Work of Basslab and Lightwave combined.
No

I might want to completely forget about even looking at the Status S-2 (except for settling for that as my Modern Instrument), and see that the future is a union of BassLab and LightWave marrying Material and Transmission Systems.

But I remember I was ridiculed by a Guitarist in High School when I got excited about the introduction of digitization of music on to chips and into programs. (Wonder where he is now? NOT!)

Wow…I am actually starting to get excited.

Plus, dual truss rods are not even close to necessary.

[johnk_10]

personally, i'd much rather play a mid 50's-early 60's fender p bass thru a Sunn 2000S or a vintage SVT than anything that's come along since.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Originally Posted by Tmoney865

I could talk about my Custom B.C. Rich that failed because of the lack of 2 truss Rods as Rickenbacker was insightful to produce.

How did your B.C. Rich "fail" because it didn't have two truss rods? Truss rods add no stability to the neck- only adjustability. They can actually reduce stability- most luthiers won't put them in basses with less than six strings, and even then some luthiers won't put two in as the one rod can provide enough adjustability even with the wider neck.

[BurningSkies]

Thanks for pointing out the obvious DerHoggz.

I'd also like to say that hanging your hat on basslab and lightwave seems like a mis-fire.

Also, does anyone with an 18v preamp actually plug into a power amp and speaker? I know I don't. I've never ever heard that as a rationalization for an 18v onboard.

[vin*tone]

Originally Posted by Tmoney865

...1976 - Music Man Stingray Bass - an Icon of modern Rock Tone. Pickup position and configuration would impact further production in the Boutique market. Probably second most popular recording instrument to the Fender Jazz Bass, ....

Really? I would have thought P Bass > Jazz > Ray.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Also, does anyone with an 18v preamp actually plug into a power amp and speaker? I know I don't. I've never ever heard that as a rationalization for an 18v onboard.

I've never heard of anyone doing it or saying it would be a reason have one. I doubt it would boost your signal to an appropriate level to drive a power amp either. You'd probably either
A. drive it with a very low signal and get very little out of the power amp
or
B. crank the preamp to the point of near distortion

[embellisher]

Originally Posted by Murphys Law

NS should be there for the Headless instruments?

Just saying...

Yep. Ned wasn't the first to produce an instrument with a composite neck, but this was like nothing ever produced up to that point.

[Tmoney865]

Bryan,
Thanks for the post and observations.

Yes they have been about for a while, but I am looking at Technology itself. Certainly impact has alot to do with the shaping of the landscape, did the idea take off or not.

The next question is, has the Tech not taken off because of price? Or just Marketing?

If the quest for the Perfect Bass can be quantified into criteria and possibly specifications (i.e. attack, sustain, and clarity ) as demonstrated by BassLab and Lightwave, then their research should be significant. That is should be.

So, the question remains, what is in the coming evolutions? Are BassLab Materials and LightWave Transmission systems in that future?

If not, what is?

If there is nothing else, why not those ideas?

If not these ideas, and none others to know, then have we reached the full evolution?

You have convictions, but not elaborated, and I honestly am interested in your observations.


DerHoggz,
I am speculating that a Double truss Rod would have saved my MockingBird NeckThru that had a twist in it. That was a bad chapter,a nd I see the Dual system as some insurance, especially with the wider necks I play with now.

Any further technical observations are very welcomed.

I cannot help but always seek to learn. Sometimes it is a character flaw.

[johnk_10]

not sure about that Carl Thompson "the 6 string bass is born" bit. fender's bass VI came out in 1963 and their Bass V came out in '65.

[vin*tone]

I'd add pickup configurations to this.
51 P bass - SC pup,
57:P bass - First humbucker config.
Stingray - first H bridge pickup , 78 Sabre first HH..

(I think)

[Tmoney865]

RE: 18v PReamps

See David King Bass on line


Bryan,
I think you see where I hit the problem with the Rich. There was twist is the wood per two or three luthiers. I gave it and playing up for a while after that.