What is (without a doubt) the absolute Best Sounding Bass You've EVER heard? whether you owned that Bass or not. I never owned one, but I'd say the Fender Marcus Miller Bass is the best sounding Bass I've ever heard. What say you?
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Best Sounding Bass ever
- Thread starter madjazzbass
- Start date
In a live band setting the best sounding basses I’ve owned is my Devon basses that have had the Nordstrand DC pickups and Nordie 3 band preamp played through my Genzler stack. I’ve had 3 of these basses with this exact setup and everyone simply killed.
Chris Squire and Geddy Lee's Rics.
In 1976 I saw Chick Corea's Return To Forever opening for Blood, Sweat, and Tears at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Billy Cobham on drums, Al DiMeola on guitar, and Stanley Clarke on bass.
He was using Alembics, and after years getting a steady diet of hard rock the sound of Stanley's Alembics was mind-altering.
Even my mom was impressed enough to mention how good he sounded.
Stanley was wearing denim overalls/no shirt that night.
Billy Cobham on drums, Al DiMeola on guitar, and Stanley Clarke on bass.
He was using Alembics, and after years getting a steady diet of hard rock the sound of Stanley's Alembics was mind-altering.
Even my mom was impressed enough to mention how good he sounded.
Stanley was wearing denim overalls/no shirt that night.
It would probably be the Cort Rithimic, as played by Jeff Berlin. I own one and I absolutely love it but I think the best recording of it is Jeff's 'Joe Frazier Round 3'.
BassHappy
Supporting Member
For me, it's not even close. PRS #11 from 1977 has a special multi-tap Hi-A "Beast" pickup specially wound to Paul's specs by Bill Bartolini. It was rigged to a 9-position rotary switch which Paul modified from the original Bartolini guitar switch design. Nine different combinations of in out and of phase between the pickup coils. All usable - deep, warm, round, rich and full. Don't get overly excited. Not only has Bartolini never offered this exact pickup for sale - all the specs were destroyed in a fire. Only a handful were made from the original specs that Paul requested from Bill - and they went directly to Paul. It is not a standard Bartolini item and likely never will be.
For the crunch and edge - the bridge pickup was robbed out of my 1975 Rickenbacker 4001. A couple of years later, Paul came to a show and told me he thought he could improve on the sound of that pickup and asked me if he could re-wind it - which he did to his own exacting specs. I loved how it kept it's chain-saw crunch but at the same time got rid of a bit of the klack. As far as I know, it's the only Rickenbacker pickup Paul ever re-configured. So with the 9 position rotary switch and the Rickenbacker pickup there are 19 sounds. It wasn't just that it is the greatest sounding bass I have ever played or heard, it's also the fact that it is by far the most versatile. I used to love the backline shows, because this bass sounds great plugged into anything. Always a treat to "dial-a-brew" and hear it through different rigs.
Paul Reed Smith #11
For the crunch and edge - the bridge pickup was robbed out of my 1975 Rickenbacker 4001. A couple of years later, Paul came to a show and told me he thought he could improve on the sound of that pickup and asked me if he could re-wind it - which he did to his own exacting specs. I loved how it kept it's chain-saw crunch but at the same time got rid of a bit of the klack. As far as I know, it's the only Rickenbacker pickup Paul ever re-configured. So with the 9 position rotary switch and the Rickenbacker pickup there are 19 sounds. It wasn't just that it is the greatest sounding bass I have ever played or heard, it's also the fact that it is by far the most versatile. I used to love the backline shows, because this bass sounds great plugged into anything. Always a treat to "dial-a-brew" and hear it through different rigs.
Paul Reed Smith #11
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I play in churches, so our sets are pretty short - 4 or 5 songs is typical. I try to bring a bass that’ll fit the vibe overall. Once in a while, everything is just right.
The answer is not the bass. It’s the singers, musicians, the mix, the tunes, and maybe the last percent is the instrument. Probably less than that. Yes, I obsess about my basses, but mostly it’s to reduce distractions so I play well. A few times I’ve gotten there, and thought I brought the wrong bass, but...a change in attitude made it work just fine.
Tone is in... your head.
The answer is not the bass. It’s the singers, musicians, the mix, the tunes, and maybe the last percent is the instrument. Probably less than that. Yes, I obsess about my basses, but mostly it’s to reduce distractions so I play well. A few times I’ve gotten there, and thought I brought the wrong bass, but...a change in attitude made it work just fine.
Tone is in... your head.
That is one Beautiful Bass my man
Man. That’s a tough one. Lately it’s a bit of a toss up. Paul Turner from Jamiroquai gets an absolutely righteous tone on Summer Girl
And whatever bass was used on Kari Jobe Yourh For Christ live version of Revelation Song
Is just killer and throaty goodness.
Overall, I’m very happy with my Fodera YY5. I’ll admit it’s not the “end all be all” tone for me but I simply love playing it. I am very interested in playing a Ken Smith... just to see...
And whatever bass was used on Kari Jobe Yourh For Christ live version of Revelation Song
Is just killer and throaty goodness.
Overall, I’m very happy with my Fodera YY5. I’ll admit it’s not the “end all be all” tone for me but I simply love playing it. I am very interested in playing a Ken Smith... just to see...
I agree, any bass played by a great player. I knew a guy that because of family commitments could only afford a Squire J-bass, in his hands it sounded like the most expensive boutique J-bass.
