• 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 freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Dedicated Synth Bass forum?

Don't know if this is a possibility, but I would love it if there were a Synth Bass sub-forum.

I've kind of gone on a deep dive on synth bass over the last few years and it's crazy how little information there is out there (especially for people coming from bass rather than keyboard)

Would be great to have a space that's geared toward bass players to share tricks, tips, etc.
 

This thread looks great, and I will definitely be taking a look, but I’m talking about actual keyboard synth bass. It seems far more common these days for sideman type gigs to require players that can play electric and synth. Would be awesome to have a hub for info that’s directed towards people coming from playing bass guitar.

After coming from the world of electric bass where there’s a wealth of tutorials and information for pretty much anything, I was really surprised how little info there is about synth bass online.
 
I would be surprised if there is enough interest to justify a sub-forum. Perhaps you could initiate and maintain a club thread?
What might be a standard level of interest to justify a sub-forum? No snark, serious question.

A sub forum makes sense to me bc synth/key bass players have just as many “focus groups” as regular bass. So helpful threads might be about brand reviews, performance reports, repairs, setup, styles, models, mods, performers…

I don’t currently perform or own key bass, but I have in the past and likely will in the future if I’m lucky. I’d follow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: the baint
I’m interested. I’ve always been interested in making synth sounds with my bass. Actually got me into synths. Started a little collection last year, been playing more than bass (or drums…) just for convenience (space, travel, headphones…).

Modwiggler is great.
There is also the Electronic Music Producers forum on GearSpace. Also decades on knowledge.
I find Electronauts useful as well sometimes.

Curious about these gigs requesting bass players play synths? Genres? Expected hardware?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Elkins
I’m interested. I’ve always been interested in making synth sounds with my bass. Actually got me into synths. Started a little collection last year, been playing more than bass (or drums…) just for convenience (space, travel, headphones…).

Modwiggler is great.
There is also the Electronic Music Producers forum on GearSpace. Also decades on knowledge.
I find Electronauts useful as well sometimes.

Curious about these gigs requesting bass players play synths? Genres? Expected hardware?

Most of these gigs seem to be in the R&B, pop and hip hop realms. More often than not, I'm seeing Moogs, but definitely some variation there. Novation bass station seems to show pretty often as well.
 
Don't know if this is a possibility, but I would love it if there were a Synth Bass sub-forum.

I've kind of gone on a deep dive on synth bass over the last few years and it's crazy how little information there is out there (especially for people coming from bass rather than keyboard)

Would be great to have a space that's geared toward bass players to share tricks, tips, etc.
There have been these threads as well, lots of info and perspectives…
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/have-you-played-keyboard-bass.1661572/

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/synth-bass.1588996/

Those may be closer to what you had in mind.

Then, look up any references to Domi with JD Beck, her left hand stuff is amazing…
 
Last edited:
What might be a standard level of interest to justify a sub-forum? No snark, serious question.


I am just a regular TB member so I don't have this sort of data. But I have seen failed attempts to get other sub-forums added that seemed like higher interest items than synth-bass. Maybe there is more interest in synth-bass than I am aware of, and I just don't see it. I am sure the founder "paul" has a way of assessing/weighing the need.
 
I am just a regular TB member so I don't have this sort of data. But I have seen failed attempts to get other sub-forums added that seemed like higher interest items than synth-bass. Maybe there is more interest in synth-bass than I am aware of, and I just don't see it. I am sure the founder "paul" has a way of assessing/weighing the need.
To be fair, I do seem to remember that this has come up in the past. I think, at the time, one argument against implementing a sub-forum was that this platform was designed to serve bass players of the strung variety, and an assumption was made that synth forums would provide a better opportunity for community around the topic.

But I think it's a valid ask, for the reasons stated, including that while synth forums may be broad (and I don't know myself, as I don't frequent them), they a) aren't as deep in the bass arena (no pun intended), and b) don't have the needs/experiences of low-enders in mind, limiting applicability.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wasnex
To be fair, I do seem to remember that this has come up in the past. I think, at the time, one argument against implementing a sub-forum was that this platform was designed to serve bass players of the strung variety, and an assumption was made that synth forums would provide a better opportunity for community around the topic.

But I think it's a valid ask, for the reasons stated, including that while synth forums may be broad (and I don't know myself, as I don't frequent them), they a) aren't as deep in the bass arena (no pun intended), and b) don't have the needs/experiences of low-enders in mind, limiting applicability.
That’s pretty much it, considering that electric bass guitar and upright/acoustic/double bass have their own separate worlds. The fact that there are now outboard effects pedals that allow electric bass to mimic keyboard-based synthesizer sounds does muddy the water a bit. Not to mention all the various electronic triggering devices attached to stringed instruments, with varying degrees of technical success, that have come down the pike over the decades.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Elkins