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Basses that every player should have in their toolbox:

#62
IMO, most of the sounds I try to achieve are sounds that I've heard the big three produce (P-J or MM). Occasionally I do step out and try to get some Manring and other tones but for the most part, like most people I just stick to the basics.
With that said, I believe that the Warwick FNA Jazzman is one of the most versitile basses of all time. It has a switchable MM pickup in the bridge position and a single in the neck position. This along with the active preamp can Achieve MM tones as well as Jazz tones and get really really close to a p-bass. Not that I don't own others but this bass is a do it all bass for me.
 
#63
In Absentia said:
:spit:
Click to expand...

Do any of you who are true vocalists have three favourite sounds that you share and recommend for all? Of course not: You know that your voice is a recognisable product of you alone, never to be duplicated even if you sound terrible.:rollno:

And to dig into our wardrobes (lots of t-shirts for me), do we all have the same tastes in, uh, threads? And, for that matter, do we all have the same budget/s? It's amazing what a good bassist can get out of a cheap bass and atrocious what a poor bassist (who happens to have access to lots of cash; it's a cruel unfair world) can "get" out of a super-duper-everything-AND-the-kitchen-sink bass.:spit:

There are a very large number of us who are passionate about playing bass. Many of us congregate here, often to learn from one another but rarely to mimic: Why be clones? Most of us @ least do our best to choose the instrument/s that best express/es the music that's in our (hopefully) heads and, to be fluffy (but accurate), in our souls. And just like no two snowflakes are alike, neither are two bassists alike. How's that for bass poetry? I dig it.

I stand by this lil' essay and will swear on a stack of the books of your choice that I believe in the above with all my HEAD...oh, yeah, and soul.
 
#67
In Absentia said:
:spit:
Click to expand...

Kind of childish, don't you think? Not everyone needs or wants a fender P or J. Personally I do not like them. Since I started playing Stingrays in 96 I have never been asked to bring another bass for any project I have worked on. I've done studio work and live projects, country, rock, punk, and played in numerous churches. I work hard at sounding good in the mix and playing in the appropriate style. Does it always sound like me playing a ray, yes it does. That is OK with me. The ray is part of my sound and I prefer to be consistent with my sound.

If I had to pick three basses it would be three SR5s in different colors. You may consider it to be limiting me, but I can do lots with my tool of choise because I know it well.
 
#68
You know, I love boutique basses. I LOVE THEM!!! Give me a Ritter, a Zon, an MTD, etc. and I'd have problems sleeping at night. I love the look of exotic woods, and extra strings, and active electronics. It's all good stuff. But at the end of the day, when a producer, or a bandleader asks me to bring in my Fender, it feels great to know I'm covered.

I find that most people, not all people, that have all these brilliant, sexy basses that talk about how their voice is so original, and how the rest of us are sheep, couldn't play their way out of a wet paper bag. A great player understands that there are merits in any bass.

Besides, the original topic was basses that every player should have in their toolbox, not my bass destroys everything and I'm gonna let you know it.
 
#69
PsyDocHill said:
Do any of you who are true vocalists have three favourite sounds that you share and recommend for all? Of course not: You know that your voice is a recognisable product of you alone, never to be duplicated even if you sound terrible.:rollno:

And to dig into our wardrobes (lots of t-shirts for me), do we all have the same tastes in, uh, threads? And, for that matter, do we all have the same budget/s? It's amazing what a good bassist can get out of a cheap bass and atrocious what a poor bassist (who happens to have access to lots of cash; it's a cruel unfair world) can "get" out of a super-duper-everything-AND-the-kitchen-sink bass.:spit:

There are a very large number of us who are passionate about playing bass. Many of us congregate here, often to learn from one another but rarely to mimic: Why be clones? Most of us @ least do our best to choose the instrument/s that best express/es the music that's in our (hopefully) heads and, to be fluffy (but accurate), in our souls. And just like no two snowflakes are alike, neither are two bassists alike. How's that for bass poetry? I dig it.

I stand by this lil' essay and will swear on a stack of the books of your choice that I believe in the above with all my HEAD...oh, yeah, and soul.
Click to expand...

Yet again, I firmly believe that you should play what you feel. But, TO ME, I need a couple of Fenders and a MM. All I asked was whether people agreed or disagreed for the spirit of conversation. This is not a thread to make you buy Fenders. This isn't about some scientific formula for the right bass tone. I can only handle so many threads about "should I get this bass" or "look at my new bass". Let's talk about something different.
 
#71
wazzel said:
Kind of childish, don't you think? Not everyone needs or wants a fender P or J. Personally I do not like them. Since I started playing Stingrays in 96 I have never been asked to bring another bass for any project I have worked on. I've done studio work and live projects, country, rock, punk, and played in numerous churches. I work hard at sounding good in the mix and playing in the appropriate style. Does it always sound like me playing a ray, yes it does. That is OK with me. The ray is part of my sound and I prefer to be consistent with my sound.

If I had to pick three basses it would be three SR5s in different colors. You may consider it to be limiting me, but I can do lots with my tool of choise because I know it well.
Click to expand...

No, not childish at all. Keep it light in here, chief. :rollno: :bassist: :ninja:

No offense intended.
 
#72
I am in the camp that a Stringray is certainly not anything that is needed, almost any active bass would suit its place imo.

I think a player NEEDS something that can do the low key accompanying type tone that you hear on a lot of old motown. Jazz with the tone rolled off, rolled off precision (arguable the king) work great in these situations. In addition to an active 5 jazz with a passive tone control, I have a Rob Allen which provides a pretty good thump, and of course the original, a 42 Kay M1 upright. Personally, I have no need for a precision when I have my Kay.

In fact, I could do with just the 5 jazz and the Kay. I seriously could cover a LOT of ground with that. But the R bass and the Roscoe Thunderbird are just way too cool to overlook in the fun dept.

Basically it bores down to something that you can serve the role without calling a lot of attention to yourself, and something to bust out when you do want attention.
 
#76
As a bassist that has earned a living for 10+ yrs on the instrument, what in my opinion every bassist should have in their "toolbox" is a good attitude. Being on time, positive, flexible, and easy to get along with are much more important to your success in this business than the instruments you play. I've never been hired/fired for the instrument that I use. Be able to play well (which the majority of the time means solid and supportive, not flashy) and learn to sing a little bit. Just my 2 cents.
 

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