Do you prefer a bass that has lots of "Bells and whistles" (i.e. Alembic) or a bass that's more of a "one trick pony" (i.e. Fender P Bass) ?
Just curious....
Just curious....
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"Bells and whistles" vs. "one trick pony"
- Thread starter Dark Horse
- Start date
I always liked bells & whistles, but I'm finding out more and more that I like a tweak away until I find a sound I like...then it stays set like that. I'm starting to feel that I'd rather just have a plain jane P bass and be totally happy with what I can do with my hands.
Although I have been favoring bells and whistles basses lately, the truth is that I really don't switch tones that much.
When I had a Stingray, I regularly fiddled with the knobs and switches, which is what I am doing with my current two pickup bass. The fact is that if I couldn't get basic tone I liked, I wouldn't fool with a bass no matter it's electronics.
When I had a Stingray, I regularly fiddled with the knobs and switches, which is what I am doing with my current two pickup bass. The fact is that if I couldn't get basic tone I liked, I wouldn't fool with a bass no matter it's electronics.
I picked one trick pony. I'm becoming more and more of a fan of my Fender Jazz daily....I know it's not quite as simple as a Precision, but now-a-days it still is pretty simplistic. I like knowing exactly what to do for a certain tone and then doing more of the fancy tone shaping on my amp now-a-days. I was much the opposite when I was a little younger though.
Yes.
I have an Alembic Rogue. I love the sound and feel, but I like the convenience and repeatability of bass and treble cut, flat or boost switches, and the variations I get with the filter and Q switch. It's as close to best-of-both-worlds as I can imagine. I say that because I can't afford a Series II and I want to be happy with what I've got!
I have an Alembic Rogue. I love the sound and feel, but I like the convenience and repeatability of bass and treble cut, flat or boost switches, and the variations I get with the filter and Q switch. It's as close to best-of-both-worlds as I can imagine. I say that because I can't afford a Series II and I want to be happy with what I've got!
Tough question. I've got a couple of both, and I like it that way. Sometimes I'm going for an iconic tone, and I don't want to spend any time or effort getting it. I pick up the iconic tone bass. Other times, I need the "kitchen sink" bass because the song(s) demand it.
Why do people think Pbasses are one trick ponies ? You can get an incredible variety of sounds on one depending on the strings and the touch .
each year I find I lean more and more toward single PU basses with a fairly baked in tone...P basses, Rays and a Jack Casady make a nice team imho...not that they can't be versatile...but they have (imho) a pleasant 'built in' tone
on the other hand my old Bongo was great and recorded so well in different positions....
guess a single H Bongo is in the cards...
on the other hand my old Bongo was great and recorded so well in different positions....
guess a single H Bongo is in the cards...
Well, my Jazz isn't a one trick pony... But it isn't a "bells and whistles" bass either. I find more simplistic passive basses to be easier to use than active basses with all those different controls.
I would call a P-bass a "broadly useful Pony" rather than a "1-trick pony".
Just because it has a limited range of tones doesn't make it limited in application.
Just because it has a limited range of tones doesn't make it limited in application.
I like them both. I have an active BTB with all kinds of knobs and on board EQ. I also have a Fender P. They both get a lot of play time.
I like a flexible active pre, especially something super flexible like a Bongo's got. I do love straight up passive Jazz basses, and the P bass sound (though i hate the typical P bass execution) but I really lean hard towards the ability to tweak my sound specifically while I'm playing. I fiddle with knobs while I'm playing
At the end of the day if I could put a Bongo preamp in every one of my basses I absolutely would, no question.
At the end of the day if I could put a Bongo preamp in every one of my basses I absolutely would, no question.
I'd go for a simple bass with two elements. I really want to have the choice of neck and bridge pickup. A volume knob for each will do. I hate a lot of knobs on the bass, like equalizer and other gimmicks. The pedals and amp are better equipped to shape the sound.
If I were to buy a P-bass, I'd go for one with the J-element fitted as well. Alternatively I'd add one.
If I were to buy a P-bass, I'd go for one with the J-element fitted as well. Alternatively I'd add one.
each year I find I lean more and more toward single PU basses with a fairly baked in tone...P basses, Rays and a Jack Casady make a nice team imho...not that they can't be versatile...but they have (imho) a pleasant 'built in' tone
on the other hand my old Bongo was great and recorded so well in different positions....
guess a single H Bongo is in the cards...
I think keeping one bass that's got a large amount of versatility for recording purposes is a good choice. It is nice to be able to get as close as possible to that exact sound in your head during recording situations. Even if I do prefer simplicity now, I'd still bring some sort of active bass into the studio with me as well as my Jazz.
True, but I used it as an example because it's one that most people can relate to.
That said, you can take ANY bass from ANY manufacturer and get an incredible array of tones just from attack, touch, etc. .....so in a way I guess you'd have to say that there's no such thing as a "one trick pony".
But since we can't have a poll if there's no such thing as A"one trick pony", I'll stick with the P Bass as an example.
See above.
I currently own a passive PJ but almost never use the J pickup. Just the tone I prefer.
In my younger years I was attracted to "bells and whistles" but found that the only tone that made me happy was a good old P-bass.
In my younger years I was attracted to "bells and whistles" but found that the only tone that made me happy was a good old P-bass.
I don't like to do too much knob twiddlin' on a bass. I like to find what I think is the "best" sound out of a bass and leave it like that. If I start to stray from that sound, it usually means I want to be playing a different bass. I certainly don't have anything against basses that can cop more sounds, but if I want a P bass sound, I'll grab a P. If I want a Stingray sound, I'll grab a Stingray. I don't expect any bass to be the "be all, end all" as long as it sounds good. 
