Best Bass for Blues?

[lowdownwalt]

I agree!:

 

[doc540]

Speaking of blues, fingers, and poopyguitars, Carl Dufrene played up a HURRICANE on this piece of work.

Carl works with Tab Benoit.

Yes, Martha, that was painted with a brush and it's not a fretless....that's neck goo.

 

[Sleeq]

P-Bass.

It served Muddy Waters' bands from 1960 till the day he died. Can't get any bluesier than that

 

[pedro]

LOL!! I'll wager that that place has atmospher to spare.

 

[Funk 'N' Stein]

I'm always a little bemused by questions like this. In my admittedly not mainstream, but nonetheless strongly held, opinion, it's the Indian, not the arrow.

I think it's more important to have a bass that you LIKE, that fits you, and makes noise you like, and lends itself to whatever playing style (as opposed to musical genre) you prefer, than to try to find THE BASS for funk or blues or pop or....

If you're a musician, you'll find a way to exploit your instrument wherever you land. In fact, if you think about the history of each instrument that we now think of as defining a particular sound, it must be self-evident that the first person who used it for that was the only real musician: everybody who copied were doing just that: copying.

I have arrived at the age where, when I hear something played with the instruments it's "supposed" to be played on, my attention wanders. C'mon, guys, is this the best you can do? Every hear of creativity?

But mine is the minority view: everybody wants to sound like everybody else, and mimicry trumps musicianship.

Feel free to disagree. I'll pray for your soul.

Great post mate!

I heard a guy playing blues on an old Ibanez soundgear one day. One of the best blues bass tones Ive heard

 

[Barkless Dog]

I have seen some bass playesr who play five strings for blues (Johnny Winter's bass player several years ago) and it sounds great when they go down extra low on that B string. It kind of takes the song to a new level.

 

[spiritbass]

Amen, brother. I saw him workin' that rig at the Blue Note here in Columbia, MO. The last time I saw Tab & crew, Leon Medica (Louisiana's LeRoux) was handling the low end with a sunburst Peavey Zodiac - sounded great!

Ken

Speaking of blues, fingers, and poopyguitars, Carl Dufrene played up a HURRICANE on this piece of work.

Carl works with Tab Benoit.

Yes, Martha, that was painted with a brush and it's not a fretless....that's neck goo.

 

[Barkless Dog]

I never heard a low B string used in blues live before and with a trio, that low B shook the club and gave the songs huge foundations.

Also I might add the guy played his arse off and did not just stick to the basics, but not overplaying either.

Blues bass player really is an art, just as much as Jazz in my opionion.
It's a lot harder than you think, both not to sound cliche on one hand and on the other not overplaying.

 

[lunarpollen]

my preference for blues would be anything short-scale, with a pickup next to the neck, and flatwound strings

 

[Lincoln]

that's tough -

I have a j-bass that I use, but when I want a rootsy thud for blues, I palm mute and play with my thumb with my right hand. With my left hand I mute strings with my fingers. This coupled with the proper note choices and note spacing gives me the right feel for traditional blues.

 

[98mtd]

P Bass for Blues. Stick to a classic.

 

[pedro]

P Bass for Blues. Stick to a classic.

Sweet!!

 

[98mtd]

1977 P all-original. Any vintage Fender or stand-up bass would do good for Blues.

 

[Stumbo]

.110 E La Bella Deep Talkin' "Jamerson" Flatwounds or similar strings are a good start for any bass.

 

[ClassicRock55]

My Fretless Corvette with LaBella deep talking flats has some nice blues punch to it, although someday I aspire to own a nice P-Bass with some flats on it, jamerson style

 

[bassfrenzie]

All I play is blues.

P bass with rounds gives me soft & warm or a little more crunchy if I use my finger nails.

HATE breaking finger nails!!

 

[main_sale]

While I wholeheartedly agree that Fender basses are great for blues, and almost anything else for that matter, I like to be a little different from everyone else and favor a good hollowbody or semi-hollowbody for blues, such as a Gretsch G6072, Epi JC Sig, Gibson LP Sig or Guild Starfire II. Viva la difference!

 

[98mtd]

Great taste main sale. I appreciate when players display their uniqueness through taste, but you sure can't P on nobody without a P Bass.

 

[main_sale]

I love P-bass too, owning four of them at the moment. You'll never hear a discouraging word from me about a P-bass.

 

[CLMSHQ]

A 62' Jazz or a new 08' Jazz.....example:
Tommy Shannon of SRV and Double Trouble.