Coming full circle. Let's hear it!

[benthughes]

I started out playing a cheapy p-bass for years and since then have been chasing tonal nirvana. I "upgraded" my Ibanez p/j for an Ergodyne with active electronics in search of "the tone"

I've owned some basses from the best manufacturers over the years. I've owned Zon, Status, Skjold, Musicman,Warwick, Modulus, Elrick ect... All were great basses in their own respect; great playing, good sounding and fantastic build quality.

Today I was playing my Spector USA NT buckeye bass that I bought as the be all end all years ago. The sound was clean, clear and precise. It plays great, balances well and the action is spot on... I just wasn't digging on it... Then I picked up my passive Mike Lull P/J. It plays well and sounds huge! Not super clean and kind of rough around the edges but absolutely wonderful. My absolute 3 favorite basses are my Lull, a Fender P/J and a G&L L-2500. Last month I played a Fender 60's reissue P-bass and it was lovely!

I see so many " help me find my sound" threads and can't help but think about this. Tell your story of how you got to where you are now, I really don't care if you're rocking a MTD or a crap parts bass. All I care about is that if you've played a bit and feel like you've tried everything.

 

[T. Alan Smith]

When I 1st started playing(I was 21 and it was 1991) I immediately fell in love with the EBMM Sterling. After employing a Fender, a Washburn and a Carvin the following years, I finally got my EBMM, but opted for a 'Ray. Been a satisfied camper since.
yeah, not much of a story

 

[chadhargis]

+1 on the G&L L-2500. I have one and it's amazing.

 

[Pilgrim]

I see so many " help me find my sound" threads and can't help but think about this. Tell your story of how you got to where you are now, I really don't care if you're rocking a MTD or a crap parts bass. All I care about is that if you've played a bit and feel like you've tried everything.

I see those threads too, and I think that most of them are searching for something they have convinced themselves they need - but will never find. They're just spending money seeking something that they would find if they spent more time playing the gear they already have.

If you want to find "your" sound, than pick up one of the instruments you own, start playing it, and adjust it and the amp to the most pleasing sound you can get. THAT is your sound. Learn to live with it. Unless your equipment is junk, you're not going to make a radical change in it by swapping basses or amps.

If your equipment is inferior or defective, then yes, you can improve it by upgrading. But changing from an Epiphone to a Gibson or a Squier to a MIA Fender is NOT going to change "your sound".

Much more of the sound is in your playing technique than in the equipment. (aka: the sound is in the fingers.)

I sound like me whether I'm playing my '63 P, Gretsch hollowbody, Squier Bronco, MIM Jazz, '64 Gibson EB-0, P/J fretless, Gretsch 2202, Univox hollowbody or DeArmond Jetstar. I learned it by playing all this stuff through various amps, and I always sound like me.

YOU are "your sound". Your equipment is not.