Basses that are indeed, one trick ponies

[Baird6869]

That being said, the Gibson EB-0 comes to mind. Like EddieG said about the P - one trick, but a good one.

+1

Fender Precision.
One trick, but its a good one, and it bears repeating.

+1

I agree that the EB-0 and Precision basses are about as "one trick pony" as a bass can get but there is still lots of versitility with both.

I recently did a gig with a P bass, an Ampeg SVT and no effects... we played funk (with slapping), blues, reggae, classic rock and even Red Hot Chili Peppers. The P isn't my favorite bass for slapping or even my favorite "all around bass" (a Jazz or Stingray would be my choice) but I sounded fine and had fun.

 

[René_Julien]

P-bass lovers seem so easily offended. ??

"One trick" isn't necessary a negative remark...


(for the record: I respect the P-bass, but it isn't my cup of tea.)

 

[Baird6869]

P-bass lovers seem so easily offended. ??
"One trick" isn't necessary a negative remark...

I love P basses but have to agree with you.

All in the fingers...blah, blah, blah....

A P bass has always been my favorite bass BUT IT IS NOT THE MOST VERSITILE BASS IN THE WORLD!!!!!

 

[EddieG]

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???

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...

So because I think a Precision has pretty much one sound, you're trying to say that I, or anyone else who thinks the same, can't play?

Who are you????

A traditional Precision bass has one sound, it happens to be a sound that fits a lot of music, but one sound nonetheless.

 

[chris.gotfunk]

For the most part, this is a one trick pony but it is one h*ll of a trick!!!! It really is up to the player though.

 

[René_Julien]

A Music Man is a one trick pony.


Come to think about it: most basses are one-trick-ponies. That's what is so great,
you search for a bass that does the trick you desire.

 

[René_Julien]

I love P basses but have to agree with you.

All in the fingers...blah, blah, blah....

A P bass has always been my favorite bass BUT IT IS NOT THE MOST VERSITILE BASS IN THE WORLD!!!!!

Note that I don't say that I dislike a precision bass.
There will always be room for a P-bass in my collection, after I get all the gear I need/want first.
It just will never be my main instrument.
But something I need in my arsenal if I'm gonna be a versitale bassist.

Sometimes, a certain piece of music desires a P-bass. When you need the one trick of a P, no other bass can fill the shoes.

 

[jakeox]

Big Mouth Billy Bass. Now that is a one trick pony. Or fish. Whatever.

 

[kraigo]

The precision may not have the largest tonal variety, however that does NOT mean it is limited the ONE style.

One basic tone that has been proven to work for every style out there. It's my main bass and I don't feel limited by it at all.

KO

 

[Rickett Customs]

Panda,
To ask others in the OP "one trick pony" and not expect people to flame about it, is ridiculous...It's an open invitation.
I call troll on this one, especially since you have not replied since the first page.

 

[Phalex]

Pretty much every bass is a one trick pony. All they're good for is bass! And bass my friends is GOOD! My Precision does Rock just as well as it does Blues, or Country.

I guess I'm not a huge fan of "Tonal Variety". I have a couple of basses that I think sound the way they should, and I use that sound when I play bass. I can play the same song on my Ric, my P, or my fretless Carvin, and they each sound unique from one another, but the songs don't rock any less because of the bass I play.

 

[bigou]

Once again I think that comes down to the player as opposed to the instrument.

+1

 

[spade2you]

I love P basses but have to agree with you.

All in the fingers...blah, blah, blah....

A P bass has always been my favorite bass BUT IT IS NOT THE MOST VERSITILE BASS IN THE WORLD!!!!!

Exactly. I enjoy the P pickup, but IMHO (IMHO!) the lack of J pickup at the bridge seems like wasted real estate. I'll never own one without a J pickup at the bridge. Even though I have a lot of basses, I try to make 'em able to cover a wider spectrum of sounds. To me, the PJ bass is one of the most useful configurations out there.

 

[René_Julien]

Exactly. I enjoy the P pickup, but IMHO (IMHO!) the lack of J pickup at the bridge seems like wasted real estate. I'll never own one without a J pickup at the bridge. Even though I have a lot of basses, I try to make 'em able to cover a wider spectrum of sounds. To me, the PJ bass is one of the most useful configurations out there.

Although you may be right about that a P/J configuration is more versatile, I never liked the overall tone coming from a P/J configuration.
It sounded a bit to muddy compared to a single P-style.
On my fretless (which isn't a precision) I prefer the single P.

And on a precision I prefer the single P also.

Talking about the pickup configuration on it's own: the P-style pick up is one trick, but in my experience ideal for metal.
(Alongside the other styles previous posters mentioned.)

But that's just personal taste.
I would never go for a P/J configuration.
(Ironicly I just ordered a bass with P/J config, but I'm gonna take the pickups off and place some sort of humbucker at the bridge.)

 

[Oberion]

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?

With respect, you are talking utter nonsense.

Erm... read the quote again:

Originally Posted by unclekebm View Post
any-one who thinks a P is a one trick pony
either never played one or doesn't know how to play bass...

cheers


Now read your reply again, it is reactionary at best. A P-bass is not a one trick pony, and If you've ever played one, you would know.

 

[jsingles]

no such thing

 

[Tyrannius]

I think the definition of what a one trick pony is went over several people's heads. I'm looking at you, "its not the bass its teh player" people and your +1s.

 

[René_Julien]

I think the definition of what a one trick pony is went over several people's heads. I'm looking at you, "its not the bass its teh player" people and your +1s.

+1

That's what I've been saying.

Perhaps the OP wasn't clear enough.
The OP on the other hand mentioned "not suitable for different styles".
Well I don't agree on that with shaping the defenition one-trick-pony.

 

[maxiegrant]

Eh, I was just wanna mention Rickenbacker.
But it's mostly envy since I can't afford one. Well, I can afford one but I don't think it's worth the money, as much as I like the rics. But are they versatile???

I've played prog-rock on a Ric, obviously. I also played in a Doors cover band. And in a jazz band. And you can get a nice Beatles-like tone out of Rickenbacker. Not sure if that was intended . . . and also I've played Pixies tunes on a Ric, and I was in a top 40 cover band, with my Ric.

I would say the same thing about a Ric that has been said about the P. Anyone who thinks it's a one-trick pony hasn't played one.

 

[Buskman]

I've played prog-rock on a Ric, obviously. I also played in a Doors cover band. And in a jazz band. And you can get a nice Beatles-like tone out of Rickenbacker. Not sure if that was intended . . . and also I've played Pixies tunes on a Ric, and I was in a top 40 cover band, with my Ric.

I would say the same thing about a Ric that has been said about the P. Anyone who thinks it's a one-trick pony hasn't played one.

"Or doesn't know how to play bass"?