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Best Bass for Blues?

#84
this one definitely nails the blues thing

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#85
For blues , or just about anything else , I use my Fender 62 US Jazz Reissue with the Duncan Antiquity1s , or maybe my Gibson Thunderbird, or my Les Paul Flat top, just depends . Those are the three main basses I use. As for amps I use my Ampeq B200R, or my BA500 . Just depends there again, but mostly the B200R, its got an XLR out, & it's also got that nice old school sound .
 
#86
I hate to rain on the parade here, but the real Blues guys don't have (or need) a bass player. Let's all just get over our not-so-bad selves. :eek::D

Edit: Don't have should have read didn't have. If you have ever spent time listening to the earliest recordings of old-time Blues artists, you will notice that very few had a bass player accompanying them (and certainly not an electric bass). Even in our modern times, have you ever listened to a great Blues singer/guitarist play solo? :)

M. M.
 
#88
The Blues is in the heart... if you feel it, you can play it on probably any bass. I have a P, a J, a SCPB, and a G&L L1000. They all do the blues. I mostly see jazz basses but,recently saw a player with an old Danelectro that was just unbelievable. My 2¢ :)
 
#90
Stumbo said:
But we're in the "TalkBass" forum, not the "Talk Old Timey Blues" forum. :help:
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Point well taken. I will henceforth throw all of my spare time into starting the 'Talk Old Timey Blues' forum. Robert Johnson will thank me. He didn't need no stinkin' bass player. :p:):D

P.S. Emoticons in this post and in my previous post indicate humor.

M. M.
 
#92
blowinblue said:
I will henceforth throw all of my spare time into starting the 'Talk Old Timey Blues' forum. Robert Johnson will thank me. He didn't need no stinkin' bass player.
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I watched "Crossroads" many times (Ralph Macchio, Joe Seneca, Jami Gertz, Steve Vai). Robert Johnson is at the top of the list for blues players. I went out and bought the Crossroads CD (Ry Cooder) and RJ CD and have enjoyed them both many, many times.
Can't get better than that.:crying:
 
#93
pedro said:
Well I reckon it depends on what kind of blues ya wanna hear. You want to hear Robert Johnson - have at it. But for me, I'd much rather listen to Ray Charles or Aretha sing the blues. And Ray and Aretha always had a bass player.
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Again, point well taken. I'd rather listen to Ray and Aretha, too. Myself, I don't happen to play any Robert Johnson tunes. I play modern electric Blues rock. But I certainly appreciate where my kind of music came from. My point (since it didn't seem to come through)...it's fun to discuss what kind of electric bass is best suited to the Blues, but let's not take ourselves too seriously. If my point still doesn't come through...I don't know what else to say. Please return to your regularly scheduled programming. :o;)

M. M.
 
#95
Barkless Dog said:
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.
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Should check out Eric Czar's playing with Joe Bonamassa on the live at the Rockpalast DVD...
 
#97
blowinblue said:
Again, point well taken. I'd rather listen to Ray and Aretha, too. Myself, I don't happen to play any Robert Johnson tunes. I play modern electric Blues rock. But I certainly appreciate where my kind of music came from. My point (since it didn't seem to come through)...it's fun to discuss what kind of electric bass is best suited to the Blues, but let's not take ourselves too seriously. If my point still doesn't come through...I don't know what else to say. Please return to your regularly scheduled programming. :o;)

M. M.
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Your point is understood. I just never really cared for that kind of blues. I like little bit more melody, harmony, groove and meat attached to something 'blues oriented'. Don't much care for guitar based blues either.
 
#98
pedro said:
Your point is understood. I just never really cared for that kind of blues. I like little bit more melody, harmony, groove and meat attached to something 'blues oriented'. Don't much care for guitar based blues either.
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Agreed. Thank goodness there's a need in modern Blues for bass. Otherwise, I'd have to learn how to play guitar. :eek::eek:

M. M. :D
 

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