With all of the discussion of classic looks and tone, and the boutique praise, or active/passive conversations, I'm wondering what everyone prefers. Now, I know there is no "better" but only "better in ones mind". What do you dig and why?
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Classic VS Modern
- Thread starter stepswork4me
- Start date
what is a bright, clangy, trebly tone like Entwistle's live tone considered? I sort of have that. I have a dual output/dual amp/cab setup, so I have tons of lows and mids/highs....sounds pretty hi-fi to me, but it's all passive pickups in my bass.....
Alvaro Martín Gómez A.
TalkBass' resident Bongo + cowbell player
I go for a modern look with a versatile (both modern and classic) tone. I don't have anything against vintage instruments, but I hardly see myself playing a Fender-style instrument (not that I haven't done it, of course).
I'm heavily experimenting with the electronics in my J. While a classic J or P tone is totally fine, I just love to tweak and seek a clear, bowelmoving tone (by lack of better words to describe it)
Seems like I have gone through a couple phases. I tried a '76 RIC, '76 Ripper, '77 Guild, '79 Fender P. Decided I liked more modern tones and went with Lakland, EBMM, Warwick, and active G&Ls. Now back to passive with 2 Nash Js (Lollar), G&L SB-2 and L1K. Quite happy where I'm at now.
looks arent very important but i really like the looks of the 51 p and the jazz bass but i like a fairly aggressive modern tone. need to figure out how to make my jazz bass sound more modern.
I like it all! I got P bass, custom Fenderbird, a Stingray 5 HH, and a very very very nice boutique bass from Ansir. It's a passive five string with a pickup in the stingray spot. I love them all. All got their tone, although I like the Ansir the best. Through playing dynamics and the single tone knob, pretty much got any sound I want.
Modern(stacked, split, or double bladed humbuckers) or active pickups & a pre-amp would do the trick.
most of the time classic works for me.... (P with flats)
Does a Stingray count as modern? There are certainly situations where a Stingray sure works.....
Does a Stingray count as modern? There are certainly situations where a Stingray sure works.....
Sometimes an active bass seems to be easier to get the tone you want, especially at festivals with backlines. A basic P-bass is probably what I'd use if i only used one bass. I'm with atomicdog on the Bad Ass II, but my P-basses are string through and I think that accomplishes about the same thing. It gives you more sustain and the ability to get a more aggresive sound.
I like both classic and modern looks and sounds. Besides my Fender Jazz I also like different looking basses. Like Alvaro, I have a Gene SImmons Axe. Had owned a BC RIch Warlock and Virgen basses in the past. Just depends on what I am going for at the time 
To each his/her own though
To each his/her own though I have a Peavey Fury V and an LTD B206 both actives and modern. I keep trying to add a classic, P or J, but when I play them, I just don't get that feeling.
This.
The sound I have is bright, clangy, and aggressive. But it's not something I'd call "modern."
Why do we keep pretending that all modern tones are the same and all "classic" or "vintage" tones are they same when they so plainly are not?
Also, to the OP... it's "couldn't care less." Not could care less." Sorry, bit of a pet peeve of mine.
