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Bass compilation video: Ken Smith, Sadowsky, Roscoe and more!

#2
My favorites were the Ken Smith, Fender, and the parts Jazz. It think it is hard to beat a Jazz for this song because that is most likely what Verdine White played on the original.

You definitely have a distinct slap tone. I think the Ken Smith works well for you. I am pretty sure I would get different tone out of your Sadowsky Modern than you, mind you, not better, just different.:bassist:
 
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#3
All these sorts of demo and comparison vids are supposed to give me some idea of what these things sound like, but for me, they just don't.

Recorded by someone who knows what they're doing, any bass sounds great. How these are recorded are all over the place, and I'm real sure listening to them on my phone or even my 2.1 computer speakers on my desktop tells me nothing I can use.

Let me strap one on, let me play it through a good amp, THEN I'll know. Even if it sounds like the Greatest Thing Ever (miss you, AB), what if I don't like the neck, it's too heavy, there's just lost these things don't tell me, and often the guys playing them are nothing like what I do, or frankly, a LOT better than me. Of course they'd sound good . . . . on a Mustang, much less some expensive, small-builder, wonderful bass.

These are great for lots of guys, but not so much for me.
 
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#4
Dr. Cheese said:
My favorites were the Ken Smith, Fender, and the parts Jazz. It think it is hard to beat a Jazz for this song because that is most likely what Verdine White played on the original.

You definitely have a distinct slap tone. I think the Ken Smith works well for you. I am pretty sure I would get different tone out of your Sadowsky Modern than you, mind you, not better, just different.:bassist:
Click to expand...

I totally agree with your choice of favourites. I never thought of my slap tone as distinct though! :cool:
 
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#6
J Wilson said:
All these sorts of demo and comparison vids are supposed to give me some idea of what these things sound like, but for me, they just don't.

Recorded by someone who knows what they're doing, any bass sounds great. How these are recorded are all over the place, and I'm real sure listening to them on my phone or even my 2.1 computer speakers on my desktop tells me nothing I can use.

Let me strap one on, let me play it through a good amp, THEN I'll know. Even if it sounds like the Greatest Thing Ever (miss you, AB), what if I don't like the neck, it's too heavy, there's just lost these things don't tell me, and often the guys playing them are nothing like what I do, or frankly, a LOT better than me. Of course they'd sound good . . . . on a Mustang, much less some expensive, small-builder, wonderful bass.

These are great for lots of guys, but not so much for me.
Click to expand...
Of course, there’s no substitute for hands on experience. But if only it were that easy! :bawl: The Smith, Roscoe, and the Modern Vintage were all bought sight unseen, stores around here don’t carry them. Videos don’t tell the whole story but they are somewhat useful even if only to let you know what you don’t like.
 
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#7
I custom ordered an Alembic I'd never heard, held in my hands, played, or even seen in person.

I knew the specs (fingerboard radius, nut width, all the numbers) and trusted I'd like it. I was wrong, I loved it.

I suppose I've been at this long enough, you show me some good pictures of a bass, a solid set of all the specs, and generally I'll have a mostly correct idea of what it's going to be. I've never owned a bass that over time didn't clue me in on a few things it didn't tell me on the first date, they all age differently and reveal small details over time. Add in string choice what kind of amp it is, and it's remarkable how in the general ways, a lot of basses . . . just sound similar.

And ultimately, the surprise of whatever it really is when I get it and working it into what I do is the real fun of it. Like I say, I've been at this a long time, and I know what I wouldn't buy, what won't work for me, so I suppose it's not the shot in the dark for me it may be for a lot of guys.

But I know I'd never buy a bass for any amount of money thinking, 'gee, it sounded way better than this in that video on my phone' !
 
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#10
Bass Viking said:
One problem with bass demo videos: they’re often more about showcasing the player’s chops than the instrument.
Click to expand...

I thought you did a good job of competently playing a very recognizable bass line the same way on several basses, plus you were well recorded. You did a fine job, in my estimation.
 
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#14
Thanks for taking the time to put this together. I like hearing the comparison in a context with consistent playing from one bass to the next. I think the Modern Vintage sounded especially great for this song! There’s never a bad time to listen to a Smith well played and the Roscoe too ;) The M5 was slightly lower level than the others so I think we’ve missed a little something in the comparison with that one. I really enjoyed this!
 
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#17
Bass Viking said:
Here's a comparison video of my basses. In order:

Ken Smith BSR 5MW
Sadowsky M5 24
Roscoe SKB
Warwick Thumb
Modern Vintage Jazz
Parts bass: Warmoth neck, Squier VM Jazz body, Lindy Fralin pickups
Taylor Mini Bass

All the basses were plugged into my Zoom G5n Multi Effects Processor and from there into my Zoom Q2n 4K video recorder.

Click to expand...

Best sounding to me was the Roscoe with the Modern Vintage in close, second position .. I like classic sounds
Ah, great and relaxed playing style :thumbsup:
 
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