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Basses that surprisingly impressed everyone at a gig/practice

Bass4LifeRS

Bass4LifeRS

Oct 18, 2005
3,003
1,956
Norway
#1
Have you ever had or have a bass that you're testing out or just feel unsure about taking to a gig? And when you do, all are blown away by the sound and the fit with the band? I have a bass like that, and it's my Westone "the Rail" headless 4-string bass. It looks like a weird/cool bass toy, but actually works 100%. (can move the pickup for insane versatility)

Over the years I have brought to band practice many different basses (Pedulla, Warwicks, Fenders etc) but every time I bring this bass it totally blows us away because it sounds so good, with definition and punch and a tiny bit of old school sound.

Anyway, do you have a bass like that?

Pic of mine:
bf247ec8.gif
 
#3
This was one of those ideas (the movable pickup) that seemed like a really good concept that for whatever reason just never really caught on. I think it will again one day in a more traditional looking bass. That may be part of why it it did not catch on then. Kind of a sensory overload thing with the headless design, movable pickup and just the overall look in general. Too many things going on at once.
 
#7
azzyrazzy said:
Have you ever had or have a bass that you're testing out or just feel unsure about taking to a gig? And when you do, all are blown away by the sound and the fit with the band? I have a bass like that, and it's my Westone "the Rail" headless 4-string bass. It looks like a weird/cool bass toy, but actually works 100%. (can move the pickup for insane versatility)

Over the years I have brought to band practice many different basses (Pedulla, Warwicks, Fenders etc) but every time I bring this bass it totally blows us away because it sounds so good, with definition and punch and a tiny bit of old school sound.

Anyway, do you have a bass like that?

Pic of mine:
bf247ec8.gif
Click to expand...

That thing is so completely bitchen I don't even know where to start. If you ever sell it, sell it here on TB.
 
#12
I played a Jazz Bass through GK amps for several years, so the band was used to that sound.

One day, I walked in with an cheap-azz Ibanez SR and a Marshall amp. The GK had blown up the previous day, and I was getting the Jazz set up.

I sounded good.
 
#18
Catbuster said:
I played a Jazz Bass through GK amps for several years, so the band was used to that sound.

One day, I walked in with an cheap-azz Ibanez SR and a Marshall amp. The GK had blown up the previous day, and I was getting the Jazz set up.

I sounded good.
Click to expand...

I've been realizing lately how much I enjoy the sound of certain relatively cheap combo amps. Especially when paired with the right bass. I've been playing my Landing with Darkstars through my 15w Crate guitar combo (at low volumes, of course), and I LOVE the plucky, somewhat flat tone. I'd love to get a rig that sounded that way for live performances. Maybe with microphones?

And the sliding rail pickup idea is not a particularly space-age one: Alembic tried just such a design for one of their customers in the 60's. Maybe for Jack Casady? I think it makes a lot of sense.
 
#19
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Sorry for the bad quality picture. People obviously didn't know what instrument it was... and, actually, they thought it's a Korean imported no-name brand. This is the only bass even non-bass related people came to me and said that it sounded terrific.
 
#20
Had been playing J basses forever.
Took a Stingray to rehearsal one night and liked the way it sat in the mix; the live to 2-track recording backed it up; that was about 4 months ago and am dealing with the weak G string as the mid bump really works in the mix; Jazz is more fun by itself though
 

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