Bandmates and your basses

[2cooltoolz]

I've brought in to rehearsal about 6 different basses in the year and a half I've been in my band. On my #1, I've changed necks (RW to Maple), changed pickguards and added a Jazz pickup to it (a P5). No one said a word. Doesn't matter what I show up with, crickets. I'm on the third variation of my rig......

They couldn't care less.

 

[LinusKarlsson]

The band I'm in actually discusses thing like that on a regular basis. What sound the keys player should use for a particular solo, if a straight 4/4 beat works for a particular riff or if I should play a particular part with a pick or fingerstyle. And so on... I think it's a good thing actually.

My band mates usually prefer the sound of one of my P-basses (Fender HW1 with rounds) with comments on how good it interacts with the organ parts (we are a trio with hammond organ, bass and drums) and fills out in the low end. I agree with them. They do however prefer the looks of my Ibanez Black Eagle. I agree with them on that one also, to some extent. I on the other hand don't think it's as comfy to play as the P-bass.

 

[Nick Danger]

My bandmates didn't really care which bass I used until I got my Schecter Baron-H Vintage and Tech21 DP-3X pedal. Now that's all they want me to play.

 

[BurnOut]

Mine don't really care which bass I play. They do seem to prefer flats to rounds. I brought a rat P bass once to rehearsal, they truly hated it, I didn't use it the whole time just a couple songs. The reviews I received were less than good.

 

[India_Sierra]

I've had one bass that the dudes in my band had issue with and it was an Ibanez BTB 405 . I modded it with Aguilar Super Singles and a Bass Mods pre . I thought it was an awesome bass but they just didn't like the Pointy bass for some reason , just the looks I guess . Oh well , I have a couple great basses now that they like .View attachment 3202742

What a strange thing to say. I used to have a BTB 405QM when they were new. I loved it, but never thought it was pigeonholed to any genre by it's looks.

 

[dan1952]

The drummer has mentioned it twice when I brought the Precision (Squier Japan, SQ #), but that's it. The upright bass gets noticed right away ("Hey, you brought your cello!").

 

[pcake]

Nope. Quite the opposite. They always tell me that no matter what bass or rig I bring, I always sound like me.

that's what almost everyone i ever played with said no matter what i played.

I've brought in to rehearsal about 6 different basses in the year and a half I've been in my band. On my #1, I've changed necks (RW to Maple), changed pickguards and added a Jazz pickup to it (a P5). No one said a word. Doesn't matter what I show up with, crickets. I'm on the third variation of my rig......

They couldn't care less.

i would take that as a challenge! bring in a ubass or the mothman and i bet they'd notice

or how about one of these
NS Design NXTa 4-String Omni Bass - Sunburst
or an all white thunderbird with a naked lady on the front?

 

[AlexanderB]

In my band (modern-ish bluesrock, Clapton, John Mayer, SRV etc + own material), I get many comments and thoughts on my choise of bass.
Number 1 for the band mates is the 2010 Fender Am Std Jazz with SS Lowbeams. Only praises.
1994 Jazz Bass Plus V with EMGs is also a favourite for the songs were a lower range is needed. Big, smooth and modern tone with loads of low end.

OTOH, my 1982-ish MIJ Squier JV Precision with Nickel
Lowbeams does not get much love. It is a great bass, but they really do not like the Precision voicing. Too thick and unrefined, and I agree to some extent.

The MIK Dano Longhorn with XL rounds is well liked, and totally accepted as second choice after the 2010 Jazz.

 

[oZZma]

Me and my bandmate chose together the only bass I use in the band (although it was my proposal)
We always discuss what we need, what is better sound-wise, we discuss what to buy as for pedals, amps, cymbals, we also discuss how to tune the drums.
We are a duo so every little change affects heavily the sound so we are both very involved in the other one's choices
We have of course the final word on our own gear but we always share our ideas BEFORE we buy something for the band

 

[chaak]

Progressive Metal original band i am currently in I have been using my Spector NS5 for a year now ever since we came together and formed the band, not a word from anyone although i know it fits there sonically and range wise. Brought my Fender P AVRI '63 two weeks ago to practice and everyone was mind blown by it and complemented me all night and told me to always bring it. Strange though I was planning on stringing it with flats but now that would not work in that context.

 

[delta7fred]

Our guitarist prefers my Violin bass. We are a 60s band and he is a huge Beatles fan and to him it fits the image better than my G&L's (which I keep telling him are all P basses and fit the image just fine).

It was about 3 months before the drummer noticed I was playing a 5 string (L-2500), to him bass guitars have 4 strings so it came as quite a surprise to see 5.

 

[Watchootognbout]

I have a new six string bass.
I'm not going to say anything about it when the band gets together.
See if anyone notices anything different.

 

[Wisebass]

Hi db59

Do any of your bandmates prefer any of your basses over a different one

Me: Which bass?

Guitarists: Bring the Fender. (The only brand they know )

Keyboarders and horn section: Bring the fretless. (Jazzers )
Rarely happens because I play mostly rock.

Drummers and singers: Bring the red one. (No comment! )

So I show up with the Fender and the fretless (which is "the red one" )

greetings


Wise(b)ass

 

[Flamingo21]

I have a new six string bass.
I'm not going to say anything about it when the band gets together.
See if anyone notices anything different.

Let us know what happened!

 

[oZZma]

Hi db59

Drummers and singers: Bring the red one. (No comment! )

 

[delta7fred]

In one band I swapped from a white fretted P to a black fretless J and 2 gigs later nobody had noticed.

When I swapped from a rack mounted power amp + preamp to a class D amp our guitarist got quite worried after I had loaded in because and he couldn't see my rack case (so he does notice some things). If he brings a different guitar or amp I immediately notice and always comment on it (never unfavourably).

 

[Dana R Gregory]

Back in the 70s, I tried different basses with the band I was playing in and was told by all that they preferred the sound of the Fender bass. I have played several different basses, all with the same strings, in church and was told they sounded good. However, when I started playing a Dean Edge 5 string, I was told several times that it was the best sounding bass I have ever played there. Needless to say I still play it and plan to hang on to it as long as they like it.

 

[lbbc]

My guitarist likes the sound of my G&L JB2 Tribute (he says it's "punchier") but I prefer my custom Dave Pushic...sits great in the mix and is a 32" scale bass (easier to play to me).

 

[dpaul]

The female lead singer in one of the bands I play with always compliments how ‘clear’ sounding my Spector bass is. I borrowed a Brubaker Brute one time (I was in between basses, one going out to a buyer and another I had bought coming in) for a rehearsal with the other cover band I play with, and they only commented how ‘ugly’ the bass was. Besides that, not much notice or comments from any other musicians about my basses..

 

[Stempelloos]

One of our guitarists used to give his opinion about my bass.
Or about how he liked to hear a bass in the band.

He had played bass in a occasional band.
He wasn't too fond of the sound of a fretless played finger style.
So he often tried to let me play his Jolana Rick copy with plectrum.
Which I sometimes did.
Later he gave me a Cimar Jazz bass copy that a colleague of him replaced with a Fender.

Next offer he made, was to propose a deal on his Epiphone Genesis bass.
He said that he would give it to me if I sold my fretless.
After my fretless got stolen, he gave me his Jolana D-bass.
When I bought a Höfner Cavern, he said he wouldn't play with that bass.
So he was kind of opinionated about what he likes to hear in a band setting.