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Basses that are indeed, one trick ponies

#42
I agree it's more to do with the player than the bass, and Rics usually always get this undeserved title. They are, in fact, one very versatile bass, loaded with lots of different sounds. Those sounds all have the distinctive Ric trademark tone to them, but versatile either way. Same with a P bass. Now, the Gibson EB's, that's a different story.
 
#44
This thread (along with the hundred or so others about 'one trick pony' basses), would qualify for the...

"Most cliched/repeated thread on Talkbass- Hall of fame" -thread...if such a thread existed (along with P Vs J and 4 Vs 5 etc etc etc)

PS: it would probably also garner the distinction of being the...

"most cliched thread containing other cliches which contradict the original cliche"...i.e.

"one trick pony?".... no way.... "it aint the bass it's the player" or "it may be a one trick pony...but it's a hell of a trick!"
 
#46
spade2you said:
Why? Can't a guy play what they chooses to play? Just because someone has a 6+ string bass doesn't automatically mean they need to shred for every song.
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I agree with you that people should be free to buy and play whatever they want. I'm more than aware that those who play 6+ stringers don't shred on every tune. I have run into a bass player that had a killer multi string bass but all he did was play on the E and A strings in a very, very, simplistic fashion because he couldn't play any better than that! He also claimed to be an experienced pro! Yeah right! I hope he eventually became a better player, but at the time it seemed as out of place as if one had handed a 16 year old kid the keys to a Porsche 911 right after they just passed their drivers exam. Sorry if I offended any multi string owners out there.
 
#47
thumpbass1 said:
I agree with you that people should be free to buy and play whatever they want. I'm more than aware that those who play 6+ stringers don't shred on every tune. I have run into a bass player that had a killer multi string bass but all he did was play on the E and A strings in a very, very, simplistic fashion because he couldn't play any better than that! He also claimed to be an experienced pro! Yeah right! I hope he eventually became a better player, but at the time it seemed as out of place as if one had handed a 16 year old kid the keys to a Porsche 911 right after they just passed their drivers exam. Sorry if I offended any multi string owners out there.
Click to expand...

Don't be sorry. You are entitled to your opinion.
 
#52
I personally think a good player can make a sorry bass sound great, but the question is not about the players, it's about the basses. That being said, I think there are many basses that are very versatile and there are may basses that are tailor made for one style. I think P-basses are horrid. I think that way beacuse the tone they produce does not fit my style at all. I do however like the P/J combonation on many other basses.
I think single pick-up Stingrays are not very versatile basses, they seem to have "that" tone and nothing you do can change it enough to cross over into some genres. Here again the dual pick-up versions are extremely versatile basses.
 
#53
EddieG said:
Erm..........how on EARTH did you come to that conclusion?? So if you've never played a Precision or Precision style bass, you don't know how to play bass?:rollno:

With respect, you are talking utter nonsense.
Click to expand...

WHAT!
did i say that? look at my post...

"any-one who thinks a P bass is a one trick pony,
either never played a P bass or doesn't know how to play bass"

where in that post do you see what you said???:confused:

you can be a great player and have never played a P...
but if you think a P is a "one trick pony" then see above quote

thank you and good-night...
 
#54
ive always considered a ken smith a one trick pony in that a ken smith is always gonna sound like a ken smith. Its a very good sound but at the same time very distinct.

Oh yeah a washtub bass too... very much a one trick pony in every sense of the term...
 
#56
John Wentzien said:
Since the "p" has been played on probably more cuts than any other bass, and in every genre--I'd have to say it is the "Most Versitile" of ALL basses.
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Which proves that it this has absolutely everything to do with the player, and absolutely nothing to do with the bass being used.

I don't know what P bass you're using, but mine has one tone. And by that I mean if you play the same note with your picking hand in the same position, and fiddle with the knobs, nothing really happens. The volume is pretty much off or on, and the tone control varies from "damn does that sound good" (about 0-3), and "woah... way too much treble." At least on my P bass... Of course, I make all sorts of different tones with my fingers. It's the rider, not the bicycle that wins the race.
 
#59
ErebusBass said:
Which proves that it this has absolutely everything to do with the player, and absolutely nothing to do with the bass being used.

I don't know what P bass you're using, but mine has one tone. And by that I mean if you play the same note with your picking hand in the same position, and fiddle with the knobs, nothing really happens. The volume is pretty much off or on, and the tone control varies from "damn does that sound good" (about 0-3), and "woah... way too much treble." At least on my P bass... Of course, I make all sorts of different tones with my fingers. It's the rider, not the bicycle that wins the race.
Click to expand...

I agree it is the rider of the pony..
(BTW I play a Jazz)
 

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