• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Best bass to play for singing

R

RonChase

Aug 15, 2008
1,163
7
#1
I thought I would throw out to the bass community a discussion about what makes a certain bass better for singing bassists?I found it to be a bass that you can move around with while playing and singing,I favored the Dano or Hof for this,I found for just playing other peoples sessions I favor the long scales but for running around and singing on stage I favor the short scale what are some of your thoughts on this???:bassist:
 
#7
Even a big stage? I have played stages that seemed no bigger than a postage stamp and yeh no running but Rock n Roll is a sight and sound thing I guess that small stint in theater made me more aware of choreography
 
#12
The best bass for singing is the bass you play all the time. This means you do not have to look at it very much to play it in tune, especially for he first seven frets/semitones. This also means you have no comfort issues with the bass or any other niggles that would distract you. For me it is a fretless Rickenbacker.

To sing and play bass, you have to learn your bass part very precisely, then completely forget about it. Of the two disciplines, bass takes more time to learn, but once you lock it in I find even complex parts simple. On the other hand my singing never "locks in" quite as much as that and I have to put a little more thought into inflection and pitch than I do with bass, where it's gotten like riding a bike for me.
 
#13
I sing just fine with whatever my favorite is at the time. 1st was a schecter stilletto custom, latest peavey cirrus 5. I love this bass, so easy to play I can completely focus on my vocals. I go over the bass lines enough to where I don't have to think and can just focus on vocals.
 
#18
I play acoustic guitar, piano though mainly bass - not simultaneously, that is - while singing, and it doesn't matter that much what basses am I playing with, as long as it's comfortable, has an easy action, sounds "good enough" to get along with the music as a whole. Bass has its tremendous role to shape the overall chords and rhythm, the composition itself, and I think that's just about being a singing-bass player is all about; Composition. Getting into the composition first, before getting into that "singing-bass player" thing.
 
#19
Rob Martinez said:
Hofner Icon. Short scale, fast neck, light as a feather, thumpy tone for days with flats on it!!
Click to expand...

I find the problem with the Hofner Icon is it's too iconic, people just see it as a beatles bass. So any genre played thats not that kinda era I feel it looks out of place, though for singing I probably would agree that a short scale light weight bass would be beneficial.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back