Basses that command authority on stage

[marlond]

Here we go!!!!

Yes, yes, yes!!!!

And then jaws hit the floor when I fire up the internal neon lighting.

And yes!!!

Very cool Ric!
You're from Seattle - where are you playing in shot?
I played a '73 4001 for about about 30 years - I truly regret selling that bass.

And my Purple Thunderbird

I'm playing Hell's Kitchen in Tacoma!

These are the kind of basses that when you take it out of the case, people do a double take.

+1 for the one that lights up!!!!

 

[SpecialBlender]

My custom Neo Fish Bass gets some curious looks when I strap it on...

And then jaws hit the floor when I fire up the internal neon lighting.

Man that is something. I want one so bad. Hope it plays as sharp as it looks.

 

[VincentGrim]

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Well, that is technically me being a fool backstage before going on...But a crowd definitely approves of a thunderbird on the stage.

 

[Luckie]

I don't have any gig photos with this bass since the last round of mods.

The bass commands, but at 5'6", I do not.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

Give me some of yours or ones that you know.

Basses don't "command authority". The player does. And on any instrument he or she chooses.

 

[marlond]

Basses don't "command authority". The player does. And on any instrument he or she chooses.

This is very true.

But every time I take my Ric out of its case at a gig, someone is double taking or coming up to me to talk about it.

I'm sure that does not happen to someone playing a black Fender P bass.

I want to see basses that attract people to have to say something about it.

 

[hoshbrown41]

Basses don't "command authority". The player does. And on any instrument he or she chooses.

"NO FUN ALLOWED"

 

[plangentmusic]

If anything, an ostentatious bass connotes a less serious player to me.

Play your ass off and THAT will command attention -- the good kind.

 

[superdick2112]

Joe Nerve & SurferJoe,

The Fish Bass was built for me about 16 years ago by a Pennsylvania Luthier by the name of Rich Roland. His company is named "Neo", and the official model name is the Neo "RockBass".
It has a graphite neck that runs the length of the body, with a molded white translucent acrylic top, and a matching flat back.
The pickups & preamp are by EMG, double-shielded with copper foil to prevent noise from the neon.
The hardware is all by Gotoh, in black powder coat.

With hardshell case, the price was a tick over $3,500.00, and it took over a year to be delivered.
Due to it's value, age and rarity, I seldom take it to gigs anymore. These days, my main stage basses are a White Spector Euro 4 LX, a red sparkle EBMM Stingray, a JetGlo Ric 4003 and a MapleGlo 4004Cii.

 

[KayXero]

I don't have any gig photos with this bass since the last round of mods.

The bass commands, but at 5'6", I do not.

Woah....its like a strat bass to me now.

Ya know I always wanted to give this mod a try. Having a full p and j setup together to TRULY get the best of both worlds. I would def have a good 3 or 5 way switch on the thing so I could set it up to go solo p or dual j and all the pickups together.

God I envy you right now. Skittles strato-PJ bass ftw

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

But every time I take my Ric out of its case at a gig, someone is double taking or coming up to me to talk about it.

I want to see basses that attract people to have to say something about it.

But that's not "commanding authority". Your hair could be on fire, and you would get a lot of attention, but that is by no means "commanding authority".

 

[SurferJoe46]

Joe Nerve & SurferJoe,

The Fish Bass was built for me about 16 years ago by a Pennsylvania Luthier by the name of Rich Roland. His company is named "Neo", and the official model name is the Neo "RockBass".
It has a graphite neck that runs the length of the body, with a molded white translucent acrylic top, and a matching flat back.
The pickups & preamp are by EMG, double-shielded with copper foil to prevent noise from the neon.
The hardware is all by Gotoh, in black powder coat.

Does it seem to 'boom' a particular freq or range of notes?

What I mean is does it seem to have notes that really stand out and others are more subdued?

Any 'dead' notes?

Just interested.

 

[Luckie]

But that's not "commanding authority". Your hair could be on fire, and you would get a lot of attention, but that is by no means "commanding authority".

Gosh, how could we be so wrong?
We'll stop entertaining ourselves, because you have shown us the error of our ways.

 

[Joospocks]

But that's not "commanding authority". Your hair could be on fire, and you would get a lot of attention, but that is by no means "commanding authority".

You're right, the only bass that truly commands authority in this way is .....


THE MOTHMAN.

I'm very sorry. Next time I'm tempted to kick a dead horse talkbass meme, I'll try to think of something worthwhile to contribute instead.

 

[abngourmet]

This one:

 

[superdick2112]

+1 for the purple T-Bird, and for the pink bass!

I used to have a pair of custom shop Jackson concert basses, with the piezo-only pickups - one in yellow & black tiger stripe, and the other in pink & black tiger stripe.

The ladies all loved the pink tiger...

 

[Duke21]

Your bass doesn't command authority. YOU do.

agree!

 

[stepswork4me]

If anything, an ostentatious bass connotes a less serious player to me.

Tell that to these guys...
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[Jim Carr]

Basses don't "command authority". The player does. And on any instrument he or she chooses.

+1

Sad to say, the "my bass looks too cool" school of thought seems to be
in charge here. Yet, that is probably all fine, in that it is given
to the young or the novice to generate and extoll such familiar passions,
however unmusical such passions may be, and regardless of how grumpy
it makes the grey heads feel.

IME it is only the bassist that has any authority, and in particular, it is
rhythmic "authority" of same that is the real passion generator for the audience,
no matter what said bassist's bass looks like.

BTW, plenty of cool basses above, here is me with one of mine:

 

[RichC123]

I usually get a lot of questions about my bass after a gig. It is a Special Edition Dingwall ABII.

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