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best bass for reggae

#21
why does everyone assume P-basses with flats for reggae?

Don't get me wrong...I have a P-bass strung with flats and love it...

but the actual truth of the matter is, most reggae players will play just about anything, because like any genre of music, it is much more about style than tone. In fact, you may very well find more reggae artists using Jazz basses with roundwounds.
 
#26
I use a Jazz bass with steel roundwounds, and its not a problem at all. I keep both pickups dimed, roll off the treble and go. I do, however, bring my entire rig (six tens and 300 watts) when I know I'm going to be playing reggae - I find it takes a lot of amp to move those low frequencies.

Chris
 
#27
PilbaraBass said:
why does everyone assume P-basses with flats for reggae?

Don't get me wrong...I have a P-bass strung with flats and love it...

but the actual truth of the matter is, most reggae players will play just about anything, because like any genre of music, it is much more about style than tone. In fact, you may very well find more reggae artists using Jazz basses with roundwounds.
Click to expand...

I agree completely. I think most often the recommendation for a P-bass with flats comes from people that don't primarily listen to or play reggae. To be fair, there is a small percentage of the bass playing population that concentrates on reggae and they probably aren't hanging out on this board. I am primarily not a reggae player, but I have played a few reggae gigs and seen quite a few more. I think a P-bass with flats sounds awesome in a reggae context. I personally prefer a Jazz with rounds, played with the thumb, and a little palm muting, with a hint of grind...
 
#28
Personally, I don't think the reggae "sound" is one particular tone. While most people are familiar with the tone Aston Barrett got for Bob Marley back in the day, I've heard lots of reggae bassists go for rather different tonal combinations. Yes, for the most part they are heavy on the low end, with treble rolled off to some degree, but the similarity ends there. In some ways, reggae bass is more an attitude and "feel" in a rhythm sense (syncopation, etc.) than a tone, though obviously the bottom end needs to be covered.
 
#29
Steinberger has been known to be THE REGGAE BASS of choice during the 80's and 90's - it's got the deep tone and it''s LIGHT AS HECK! Been playing roots/dancehall for around 8-9 years and I would agree with most of the folks here in that any bass CAN work with reggae...it's all on the feel and the deep deep lows. I've had and used a Fender P, Fender Jazz, Warick Corvette, Thumb Bolt-on, Ibanez SG, and a Peavey Cirrus all for reggae and all basses held it's own (GAS is an evil but beautiful thing..). I currently play a Zon Custom 5 and is by far the best I've had - GAS may be cured (doubt it..) I prefer a 5-string for reggae, again for the deep lows but I recently seen Flabba Holt (Roots Raddics Band /Israel Vibrations) and Robbie Shakespreare play and the 4 they used was earthquakin.... Enjoy and good luck!
 
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#31
BartmanPDX said:
Personally, I don't think the reggae "sound" is one particular tone. While most people are familiar with the tone Aston Barrett got for Bob Marley back in the day, I've heard lots of reggae bassists go for rather different tonal combinations. Yes, for the most part they are heavy on the low end, with treble rolled off to some degree, but the similarity ends there. In some ways, reggae bass is more an attitude and "feel" in a rhythm sense (syncopation, etc.) than a tone, though obviously the bottom end needs to be covered.
Click to expand...

You are correct sir.

The amp and eq are as big if not bigger to the sound than the bass. I've used both P and J effectively for reggae. I've seen many others do the same. I've also seen plenty of 5's in the arena these days...they're a lot more compatable if you want to play reggae that's not 1970's oldies reggae. Keep in mind that all of the popular reggae in the US is basically oldies and tourist music. A true Jamaican or Rasta would rather talk Sizzla or Capleton or whoever has the newest dancehall boom-shot than Marley, Tosh or Toots.

Seen?
 
#32
i play reggae and ska for long,long time,this beats make bassists happy,i use a Jazz American that was stolen of my car :crying: but is great bass for reggae and don,t miss hearing the best bassist in the reggae,Robbie Shakespeare,amazinz bass lines,hear Black Uhuru,Israel Vibrations,etc,etc
 
#34
I have played reggae with my Alembic Essence four string strung B-D with DR lowriders through a sm400 and a svp-pro at the head into a Goliath 4-10 fantastic results..
I also am a proud owner of a brice Duglas five string.
I cut a new nut out of bone , and routed a groove to get at the trust rod.
Radiused the board to 12" and refreted and wow what a player.
 
#37
Mobay45 said:
Hell, I use my Stingray when I'm playing reggae! Just fatten up the bottom and just about any bass will work. (BTW, you wouldn't use the money you saved to buy pot but you might use it to buy some ganga.)
Click to expand...
Ganga---Mon!! yeah yeah yeah! Then a jazz bass using the Neck Pickup.. nice and low.. Rounds will really sound better me thinks............. Jazz basses can do just about anything.... any sound you want is right there in your fingers..
There's the formula for reggae.. Gonga,Jazz bass, roundwounds, experienced fingers, and a little more Ganga for good measure..
Yeah Mon!:smug:
 
#39
Mrdak said:
Ganga---Mon!! yeah yeah yeah! Then a jazz bass using the Neck Pickup.. nice and low.. Rounds will really sound better me thinks............. Jazz basses can do just about anything.... any sound you want is right there in your fingers..
There's the formula for reggae.. Gonga,Jazz bass, roundwounds, experienced fingers, and a little more Ganga for good measure..
Yeah Mon!:smug:
Click to expand...

A) Drug talk on TB is strictly forbidden.

B) Its NOT Gonga, or Ganga its Ganja.

C)If you were a Jamaican dread, you'd probably call it collie weed, tusheng peng, Ishense, herb or any number of other names.
 
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