Best bass for Americana! (with data)

[Gravedigger Dav]

I think this is truly the best bass for metal.

 

[City]

Both...I didn't record that...maybe I should've. The guy from Marshall Tucker Band was playing with his thumb.

I'm already disqualified because I don't own a Fender.....and I love that genre....guess a G&L would be close enough....for a bar band I guess

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Bases on these data, the most common and therefore "best" bass for Americana music is...

A butterscotch Fender Precision with a tortoise pickguard and rosewood fingerboard!


DISCUSSION
It was no surprise that the trusty Precision was the most common bass. That result is identical to one reached for the Firefly Festival. Another similarity with the Firefly Festival results was the preponderance of of rosewood fingerboards however, six (6) of those fingerboards were blocked while blocked rosewood fingerboards were completely absent at the Firefly Festival. The final similarity was the distribution of pickguard colors with tortoise being the most abundant, followed by white, then black.

What was a surprise was the most common color of butterscotch. My eyes may be failing me and I may have actually been looking at natural basses but they all appeared to have more "color" and less grain than natural wood. Apparently, butterscotch is a "thing" with Americana bassists. Sunburst, the most popular color at the Firefly Festival and therefore amongst "rock" bassists, was not even the second most popular color at Southern Ground. That honor went to white.

Does this mean I have to buy another P?
Okay, No Problem

 

[No Vice Novice]

Wonder if any of the basses were shared?

 

[elgecko]

Wonder if any of the basses were shared?

It did not appear so but I can't say with any certainty.

 

[neddyrow]

not one double bass? i guess i don't know what americana music is.

these seem like rock/blues/country bands. guess i have to change my database.

 

[elgecko]

not one double bass? i guess i don't know what americana music is.

these seem like rock/blues/country bands. guess i have to change my database.

Two, Kacey Musgraves and Zac Brown Band. They're listed as "upright".

 

[Holdsg]

That Stingray that Zac is playing is a Ball Family Reserve redwood, limited edition bass (and quite rare and beautiful, by the way), the "block" is actually an inlay of the Ball Family Reserve logo.
Just thought someone would want to know that.

Okay, it had one "block"...my bad!

View attachment 849223

 

[Holdsg]

Was the bass player for ZBB actually playing a double bass/upright? or electric upright, because that's what john hopkins used to play (EUB) when he was bass player for ZBB.

 

[elgecko]

Was the bass player for ZBB actually playing a double bass/upright? or electric upright, because that's what john hopkins used to play (EUB) when he was bass player for ZBB.

They got a new bass player, Matt Mangano. He was playing an actual double bass...it looked like a Kay.

 

[Pilgrim]

Hey, I've heard of FOUR of those bands! I'm not as obsolete as I thought I was....

 

[matthewbrown]

NOTHING ABOUT STRINGS?! jk...

 

[trothwell]

What butterscotch basses are currently available from Fender?

 

[elgecko]

What butterscotch basses are currently available from Fender?

According to this, none.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[Rib 13]

It is an interesting study, but - like was pointed out earlier by myself and others - its only based on observational data

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

A butterscotch Fender Precision with a tortoise pickguard and rosewood fingerboard!

"Butterscotch" is actually an uncommon color for Precision Basses. Could these basses have actually had a natural finish?

- Steve

 

[Bassa Nova]

Sure that bass used by Tim Lefebre of Tedeschi Trucks was a Fender P? Could it have been a Moollon Classic P? I know he has a sweet Fender P in natural.

 

[fishdreams]

I have often wondered if my impression that everyone in NYC plays a 4 string Fender (except if they play fusion), is correct. Maybe i should start tracking data too....

 

[elgecko]

"Butterscotch" is actually an uncommon color for Precision Basses. Could these basses have actually had a natural finish?

- Steve

It is 100% possible. The color settings of my TV may be off but according to my understand of butterscotch and as mentioned in my first post, the basses appeared more yellow/gold/amber (read colorful) than and less "grainy" then natural finished Fenders I've seen.

I'm trying to find pics.

Muddy Magnolias (kind of looks natural now )

Packway Handle Band (still looks butterscotch)

Kacey Musgraves (The Kent still looks butterscotch, the P looks natural now)

Marshall Tucker Band (still looks butterscotch)

 

[elgecko]

Sure that bass used by Tim Lefebre of Tedeschi Trucks was a Fender P? Could it have been a Moollon Classic P? I know he has a sweet Fender P in natural.

I think Oteil Burbridge was playing with them?