• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Bass for each style

I've played my Stingray with great results in rock, metal, red dirt (Texas country), and funk bands.
20200806_230120.jpg
 
While there are styles I don’t play, I can’t think of anything a Thunderbird won’t do well (because others do those styles on birds). Ok, two Thunderbirds- old and new style pickups.

Agreed that cosmetics are the main reason to pick a bass, so long as it’s a good bass. And most modern basses are.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Vanheusen77
I'm down to only one bass now, but I can make it 'sound' any way you need it to sound. It's a 5-string and my only regular gig these days is in a praise band. We play everything from Bluegrass to Hillsong to Chris Tomlin. Six songs every Sunday. I've also played one-night gigs in orchestras with it. It's both active or passive with humbuckers. Lots of switches and my GK Legacy has lots of switches and knobs plus I use a bass chorus and a limiter/compressor pedal, so I can make just about any kind of sound you may need with my one bass. But it's not been a quick deal. I've been playing and experimenting for many years. Many years! I use Warwick Black Label SS rounds on the E A D G, but I use a Ernie Ball Slinky nickel 135 on my low B. Things like that can make a difference. My BL will look at me during some songs with his mouth open and later say 'that's not how it's written - but that sounded great!' And if it matters - it's a 2008 German made Warwick $$ Corvette 5-string.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TrevorR
When I was a young metal buck...got roped into a country gig---- see what I did there?--- playing my Explorer. Yeah...got some looks but it sounded like a bass playing the bass parts...
Possibly because it's a non-reverse, my THUNDERBIRD has never gotten any askance looks or comments. If I'd ever been told "you need to play a 7ender", my reply woulda been "OK, you need to buy one for me. And not a P-the neck's too wide."
20180603153130.jpg
 
When I was a young metal buck...got roped into a country gig---- see what I did there?--- playing my Explorer. Yeah...got some looks but it sounded like a bass playing the bass parts...

Good for 'em...I had to sell my LP and buy "a Fender" to get in...
Bought a Memphis Telecaster Custom for $175 w/case...Strat-player tried it out, said "hell, this plays better than mine"...
Mission accomplished...
By the way, GP, I love that TBird of yours! She's purdy! (Partial, to 'birds in general, both bass AND guitar...interesting history.)
I used to have a non-rev powder blue TBird...a '76 reverse, too...miss 'em.
 
Last edited:
My main BG was a Warwick for a long time, and I feel like a lot of the Indie bands I was auditioning for back in the early 00's were like "who's this metal guy, and how quick-change we get him out of here?"
Had the same happen when I turned up for a country audition with my XL2, mainly because I was on my bike. They sent me home before I had it out of the bag, even though I tried to tell them I had a T40. Narrow escape from working with morons.

I think Jaco used only one bass no matter who he was playing with. Jeff Berlin seems to use only his signature Cort. Sean Hurley uses only one type -- Fender P -- but one with rounds and one with flats. Unless Marcus Miller has gone with Sire now, I believe he still uses the J bass his mother bought him when he was a teenager. I think Michael League still uses only a P bass and Joe Dart uses only his signature MM. Any questions?
Couldn't agree more.

Plenty of outlaw country with only 4 strings.
Excuse me if I sound dense, but what is outlaw country?

For years the only bass I had was my XL2. I used it in our band and we were in constant demand for parties, weddings etc. Often the gigs were very long (because the wife loved to play) and I never got any comments on looks or tone, but I always wore a black dress shirt and played it very vertically, so no one probably noticed the aesthetics. Songs ranged from classic to Aussie rock, some funk, smooth rock, the Who, some jazzy stuff etc and the set could vary a lot between one night and the next. Remember, to many bassists the XL2 sounds sterile and bright with no tone. But they're deaf and have probably never played one. Oh, and I DI'd into the desk for most of it.

Today, I'd simply use one of the 6s the same way, for everything, because it can probably do everything. Think of me as the pale Oteil, without talent. LOL.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dasherf17
Had the same happen when I turned up for a country audition with my XL2, mainly because I was on my bike. They sent me home before I had it out of the bag, even though I tried to tell them I had a T40. Narrow escape from working with morons.

Couldn't agree more.

Excuse me if I sound dense, but what is outlaw country?

For years the only bass I had was my XL2. I used it in our band and we were in constant demand for parties, weddings etc. Often the gigs were very long (because the wife loved to play) and I never got any comments on looks or tone, but I always wore a black dress shirt and played it very vertically, so no one probably noticed the aesthetics. Songs ranged from classic to Aussie rock, some funk, smooth rock, the Who, some jazzy stuff etc and the set could vary a lot between one night and the next. Remember, to many bassists the XL2 sounds sterile and bright with no tone. But they're deaf and have probably never played one. Oh, and I DI'd into the desk for most of it.

Today, I'd simply use one of the 6s the same way, for everything, because it can probably do everything. Think of me as the pale Oteil, without talent. LOL.

Waylon, Willie, David Allen Coe, any of those guys...I'm sure it's on the webnet...
Oh, an' by the by...you're not dense...you know what you know...y'know?
 
Good for 'em...I had to sell my LP and buy "a Fender" to get in...
Bought a Memphis Telecaster Custom for $175 w/case...Strat-player tried it out, said "hell, this plays better than mine"...
Mission accomplished...
By the way, GP, I love that TBird of yours! She's purdy! (Partial, to 'birds in general, both bass AND guitar...interesting history.)
I used to have a non-rev powder blue TBird...a '76 reverse, too...miss 'em.
Thanks. We've been together since 73(it's a 67). Plays really well. Custom Pickguard(original cracked).
 
  • Like
Reactions: dasherf17
I guess(make that "know")I'm weird, but sorta like Frank's hot sauce["I put that(stuff)on everything"], I've used my TBird for big band, concert band, jazz-trios, quartets, and quintets, a "Chicago" style horn rock band, a dinner music quartet(tuxes), a Miami Beach hotel lounge show and dance group, and a coupla other genres I can't recall ATM. I have 3 other basses-including a shorty for tight spaces-but the TBird is my numero uno.*...Always.

*Spanish for "ichiban":smug:
 
  • Like
Reactions: dasherf17