I think since Fenders invented the electric bass they are timeless. Everything gets tweaked and improved on. Some things get cheapened or worse, but Fender basses are pretty much the same. Most, if not all, other basses are variations of one of the two original Fenders.
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Are there any "timeless" basses?
- Thread starter Just Wrong
- Start date
Audiovox might disagree about Leo inventing the electric, but their version likely isn’t considered timeless.
hasbeen
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The P and J are indeed timeless. They were designed before most people on TB were born and they are still and always have been the go-to bass for studio sessions. Things that come and go are called a fad. Timeless and classics hold on even though there will be fads.
Tutmarc's "bass fiddle", designed to be played horizontally, was not a bass guitar either.
Leo's invention and Tumarc's share virtually nothing save being an amplified lower register stringed instrument.
Leo, clearly, got it right.
I am reminded of a gig I played, opening for another band in the 80’s. I was chatting with the bass player in the other band, who was playing a Steinberger through an 8 space rack into a sophisticated bi-amped stack of speakers. I asked him how he liked his rig and he said “it’s really cool—sounds just like a P Bass”
I almost died suppressing a giggle…as I set up my Ampeg V4 and plugged in my P bass…
I almost died suppressing a giggle…as I set up my Ampeg V4 and plugged in my P bass…
The P bass is the fundamental sound of electric bass. Its timeless.
Jazz bass, Ric, and Stingray are also timeless. If it’s a type of bass that is often imitated I would say that definitely puts it in the direction of being timeless.
Jazz bass, Ric, and Stingray are also timeless. If it’s a type of bass that is often imitated I would say that definitely puts it in the direction of being timeless.
The 736 has 4 strings and a 30 inch scale. Seems fairly "bassish" to me. I've always heard it referred to as a bass guitar, and there are quite a few threads on here discussing it... but I'm not so tied to the idea that it's worth arguing about.
There were people doing it different, mostly outside of mainstream pop music so you had to go looking but they were there, keeping the faint pulse of old school instruments going. Like REM starting out, they were consciously going against all the synths and other fad sounds, going for something not so of the moment, and were doing jangly rickenbacker rock in 1983.
hasbeen
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This. When I bought my first Fender, the guitarists began to drool on first sight, and after rehearsal couldn’t stop the praises of the tone and bollocks it has. I had been anti-fender for years until one day a switch flipped in my head and I began GASsing for a real P. Plus, they feel like nothing else to play on. Large rugged,and 100% business, no nonsense.
When you know, you know.
a fair example is the famous Live Aid from the 80's.
count how many Fender P and J are on the stage, one band after another, and how many Stein/Spector/Stingray ecc are there. you'd be surprised
also, in the last 10/20 years vintage Fender and flatwound became the new fashion, and if you listen to contemporary pop music, most is still recorded with a P or a J, often with flatwound, as it was in the 80's and 90's, early 2000's ecc.
the difference is that in those periods there still were some research and innovation in the bass world, so many young or important musicians were making endorsement for new instruments.
however, commercial/pop music was mostly recorded with P and J. think about Madonna's hits recorded by Guy Pratt with a 60's Jazz bass. pure 80's imagery.
Bonnie Tyler's hits were recorded with a 70's P bass.
I agree with most of this, but Guy Pratt recorded some of Madonna’s songs with a Spector NS-2.a fair example is the famous Live Aid from the 80's.
count how many Fender P and J are on the stage, one band after another, and how many Stein/Spector/Stingray ecc are there. you'd be surprised
also, in the last 10/20 years vintage Fender and flatwound became the new fashion, and if you listen to contemporary pop music, most is still recorded with a P or a J, often with flatwound, as it was in the 80's and 90's, early 2000's ecc.
the difference is that in those periods there still were some research and innovation in the bass world, so many young or important musicians were making endorsement for new instruments.
however, commercial/pop music was mostly recorded with P and J. think about Madonna's hits recorded by Guy Pratt with a 60's Jazz bass. pure 80's imagery.
Bonnie Tyler's hits were recorded with a 70's P bass.
hasbeen
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Fair enough. My estimation is based on how they're a mainstay in recording and stage sessions. Adding to that, their distinctive tone.
For a select few, being that they are extraordinarily expensive.
A timeless instrument would seem to be one that all can have access to, like a P bass….
I don’t have a subscription to the OED; but, GOOGLE claims the OED definition of “timeless” is:
not appearing to be affected by the process of time passing or by changes in fashion
One could argue that the bass guitar is “timeless,” in the sense that the audience, who is utterly unaware of differences in bass guitars, simply identifies a bass guitar as a bass guitar. They do expect to see one in modern musical ensembles, or at least aren’t surprised by them.
I have it on good authority from my wife that they all sound like bass guitars.
I suppose a first consideration is whether the pop music we get paid to perform is affected by the passing of time or changes in fashion.
So-called “Classical” music carries that label, because it is essentially performed with similar intent and style centuries after it was created. We can probably consider that art form to be effectively timeless. At least as long as humans exist.
BTW, Homo sapiens has been around for about 200,000 years, or about 10,000 generations. We have had recorded history for about 4000 years, 200 generations, or 2% of our existence. We have understood that the earth was not at the center of the universe for about 400 years, or 0.2% of our existence. The veneer of civilization is thin.
There are other ways of looking at the instruments. My 1962 Jazz Bass is essentially the same instrument as my 2018 American Professional II jazz Bass. One could make similar statements about the P, Hofners, Rickenbackers, etc. Our capitalist system tends to discard designs, which don’t meet the market needs, and retain designs which work and sell.
I am pretty sure that cork sniffing the various instruments is timeless, and that musicians were doing it three centuries ago. Does that count?
not appearing to be affected by the process of time passing or by changes in fashion
One could argue that the bass guitar is “timeless,” in the sense that the audience, who is utterly unaware of differences in bass guitars, simply identifies a bass guitar as a bass guitar. They do expect to see one in modern musical ensembles, or at least aren’t surprised by them.
I have it on good authority from my wife that they all sound like bass guitars.
I suppose a first consideration is whether the pop music we get paid to perform is affected by the passing of time or changes in fashion.
So-called “Classical” music carries that label, because it is essentially performed with similar intent and style centuries after it was created. We can probably consider that art form to be effectively timeless. At least as long as humans exist.
BTW, Homo sapiens has been around for about 200,000 years, or about 10,000 generations. We have had recorded history for about 4000 years, 200 generations, or 2% of our existence. We have understood that the earth was not at the center of the universe for about 400 years, or 0.2% of our existence. The veneer of civilization is thin.
There are other ways of looking at the instruments. My 1962 Jazz Bass is essentially the same instrument as my 2018 American Professional II jazz Bass. One could make similar statements about the P, Hofners, Rickenbackers, etc. Our capitalist system tends to discard designs, which don’t meet the market needs, and retain designs which work and sell.
I am pretty sure that cork sniffing the various instruments is timeless, and that musicians were doing it three centuries ago. Does that count?
I get what you are saying . U was thinking about adding Sadowsky to the list . When people want a good 5 string Jazz bass, Sadowsky is what immediately comes to my mind .
In fact , I think there is an entire different list that doesn’t include Fender when it comes to timeless 5 string basses.
I’m going to mention the top ones that come to my mind .
Yamaha BB
StingRay5
Sadowsky Jazz 5
Ken Smith 5
For 5 strings , I’m thinking these have been on many more stages and recordings and weekend gigs than most other offerings .
