Commodity Basses for Studio

[scrubjay]

1.some brand of passive P-bass w/GHS flats
2.Epiphone Jack Casady w/GHS brite flats or tapewounds
3.some kinda active J-bass, maybe 5-string w/roundwounds
4.Ashbory or U-bass or something fretless, shortscale, and upright-ish sounding w/appropriate strings

 

[DinoRock]

Fender American Standard P-bass 4 string with DR flats legend
Fender American Standard J-bass 4 string with Rotosound rounds 66
Rickenbacher 4003 with Rotosound rounds 66
Ibanez SR4005E 5 string with Rotosound rounds 66

 

[DwaynieAD]

Fender p with flats
Fender p with rounds
Fender jazz with rounds
Music man 5 with Rounds

 

[buldog5151bass]

P with rounds, like Sunbeams (if they want flats, too bad)
J with rounds like roto swing
5 string active (Stingray?) with rounds like Hi beams
Hollowbody like Epi Jack Cassidy with flats

 

[eadg98005]

Fender Precision w/ TI flats
Fender Jazz w/ TI flats
MM Stingray w/ Chromes (flats)
G&L 2000 w/ Sunbeams
All thru Countryman 85 DI

 

[Neon Blues]

Suppose there is a studio being set up that will be used for a wide audience, from demos by high-school garage bands to the next multi-platinum album by <name your own artist>.

Suppose you are charged with purchasing 4 new commodity basses (nothing custom; no Alembics, Carvins, etc - just run down to a local super store and purchase 4 new off-the-rack mass produced basses).

Suppose again that when the band showed up, they had no gear with them and were required to use what you purchased with no modifications other than the strings you had the music store install (yes, they did a proper tune up after string installation).

1. What 4 new commodity basses would you provide for use to your clients? Be specific and decisive

2. What strings would you put on each?

Let's assume your job of selecting basses for studios depends on customer satisfaction.

Let's have some fun...

(Note: there is no connection between this scenario and my reality.)

This is fun!

Fender Jazz Bass - Stock Rounds
Fender Precision Bass - with Fender Flatwounds
Musicman Stingray - Stock Rounds
Yamaha TRB / Ibanez SR800/ Warwick Rockbass or similar - Stock Rounds

If there is more of a budget:
63' American Vintage Precision - La Bella Flats
American Deluxe Jazz Bass - DR Fat Beams
Musicman Stingray Classic - Slinky's
Yamaha BBNE2 - whatever they come with

 

[tuba_samurai]

Fender Precision 4
Fender Jazz 4
MusicMan HH 4
Yamaha TRBX505

Dunlop Nickel rounds for all

 

[Antisyzygy]

Precision Bass - Rounds with ashtray and removable mute
G&L L2000 - Rounds with a Jazz neck
Ibanez SR - Rounds - Not sure on precise model, just a good one
MusicMan Sterling V - Rounds

I have no real preference for string brand, though in a studio like that I might get nano-web ones so they last longer.

If I could pick 5 basses I'd put a Jazz in there and pick a different bass than the G&L for the second additional one. The G&L just feels to me like it'd give one more overall tone options with these limitations.

 

[Jughead6]

I'm in an anti-Fender mood today:

Sandberg California VM Nighthawk (P bass) with flats
Sandberg California TM Supreme (J bass) with rounds
Gibson SG with rounds
Hofner Contemporary Club with flats

 

[jasper383]

P Bass with flats
5 string active J Bass with steel rounds
hollowbody with tapes
something unusual like a Danelectro, Hofner, Rumblekat, Kala U Bass, etc.

I did it with just four. I saved the studio money.

 

[SirMjac28]

Tribute L2000, fretted, with Elixirs
Fretless Jazz with Elixirs
5 string Line 6 Variax bass with Elixirs
Buy some decent amp plugins with the rest

+1 You could get away with just the Line 6 to be honest this bass is a wonder.

 

[thabassmon]

P with flats
Ray with rounds
J with rounds
Corvette 5 with rounds

 

[Luckydog]

4 pbasses with flats because everyone knows thats what makes my job as engineer easier

 

[MegaSwing]

Precision w/ half-rounds
Jazz w/ single coils and rounds
Jazz w/ dual coils and rounds
Jazz w/ dual coils and flats

 

[Mystic Michael]

Suppose there is a studio being set up that will be used for a wide audience, from demos by high-school garage bands to the next multi-platinum album by <name your own artist>.

Suppose you are charged with purchasing 4 new commodity basses (nothing custom; no Alembics, Carvins, etc - just run down to a local super store and purchase 4 new off-the-rack mass produced basses).

Suppose again that when the band showed up, they had no gear with them and were required to use what you purchased with no modifications other than the strings you had the music store install (yes, they did a proper tune up after string installation).

1. What 4 new commodity basses would you provide for use to your clients? Be specific and decisive

2. What strings would you put on each?

Let's assume your job of selecting basses for studios depends on customer satisfaction.

Let's have some fun...

(Note: there is no connection between this scenario and my reality.)

"The" band?

My first reaction would be to ask, 'What kind of band shows up to a recording session...without any musical instruments?'

MM

 

[nicopiano]

1- Jazz Bass (rounds)
2- P Bass (rounds)
3- P Bass (flats)
4- MM Stingray 5 strings (rounds)

Round = DR Hi-Beam, medium (sound awesome for recording, even if on the bright side)
Flat = D'Addario Chromes, light balanced set

 

[newyorkiddo]

Not sure of the basses, but I would definitely have the bassist decide on what strings they want and set up the bass accordingly

 

[LUCE]

Suppose there is a studio being set up that will be used for a wide audience, from demos by high-school garage bands to the next multi-platinum album by <name your own artist>.

Suppose you are charged with purchasing 4 new commodity basses (nothing custom; no Alembics, Carvins, etc - just run down to a local super store and purchase 4 new off-the-rack mass produced basses).

Suppose again that when the band showed up, they had no gear with them and were required to use what you purchased with no modifications other than the strings you had the music store install (yes, they did a proper tune up after string installation).

1. What 4 new commodity basses would you provide for use to your clients? Be specific and decisive

2. What strings would you put on each?

Let's assume your job of selecting basses for studios depends on customer satisfaction.

Let's have some fun...

(Note: there is no connection between this scenario and my reality.)

Budget?

 

[pbass6811]

I agree with almost all the posts so far.

A P-bass
A J-bass
A Stingray
A modern 5 with Soaps(Spector or Sadowsky)

You may want a fretless or make the Jazz bass a fretless...

 

[Ragoo]

GL M2000 with Elixr rounds.
GL L2000 with LaBella flats.
German carved back double bass with Thomastik weichs.
GL ASAT fretless with Thomastik flats.

You now have the sounds of every bass in existence. Enjoy.