DO Gibson basses need to be played differently?

[pcake]

If I played my Hofner the way I played my pbass, the bridge would have shot across the room and blown a hole in the wall. Each instrument has its own characteristics- so yes, I think there is a difference. With that said, you can play any kind of music with any kind of bass.

All I’m saying is there are differences but not limitations although some adjustments have to be made.

just another opinion

this, exactly this. every guitar - acoustic or electric - doesn't sound the same or have the same amount of sustain nor does every violin, piano or anything else with wood and strings. i have 2 small harps, and they sound completely different. one has much more sustain, but my favorite of the two has much less sustain and lower notes. i love it.

there's no reason the gibson should sound the same as the P bass, and there's no reason to play it differently to try and make it sound the same. and you can still play the same songs with both, with each bass adding a slightly different flavor to the songs.

btw, for some of what i play on bass, i actually prefer less sustain.

 

[2F/2F]

No.

 

[5StringBlues]

My old G3 didn't need to be.

 

[swink]

Use a spork, problem solved

Make sure you use the bass spork but be careful with the spork, it has a cutting edge so don't go beyond the 12th fret.

 

[zubrycky]

The late and great Bob Cranshaw used to say "a bass is a bass".

 

[Peaveylover]

Thanks for the replies. Perhaps I did mean brightness and sizzle when I said sustain. It just seems like my Gibsons have a much sharper and staccato attack than my fenders. Perhaps it's just a matter of the high end and not sustain like I thought. Great thread. Thanks!

 

[msb]

You have to take into consideration that Gibson has made around eighty different basses since they began . And many are very , very different . Aside from a three point bridge and a pickup my little DC Jr has almost nothing in common with a Tbird .
There’s a great reference book on Gibson basses …

 

[JohnnyChatter]

Every bass plays a little different friend. Two of the exact same bass can sound a little different even. I would never buy a Gibson bass expecting fender tones. But… strings help get that brighter sizzle your missing from your Fender. I play stingrays mostly but got a Gibson EB (very different bass than other gibsons) and if I plug it into a stingray preamp I get 90% of that stingray tone…
But I embrace the bass for its other sounds because dang with some knob twisting it has some great tones! When I get old and start my old school specials style ska band it’s the bass I’m using.

 

[JohnnyChatter]

Also post some pics!

 

[wiscoaster]

I agree with the OP. I have an Epiphone EB-0 (aka Gibson clone) which I bought mostly because when I was a kid my first guitar was a Gibson SG and I just love its looks. I wasn't too impressed with its sound. I think I called it "muffled" in another thread. Just the other day I decided to try playing it with a pick. Man!! What a difference that made. It just booms!! when played with a pick. Now I'm curious as to why....

 

[Ostie]

Not played differently. Used for different sounds or songs, but the technique shouldn’t change. Unless it’s popping/slapping. Then it’s probably not the bass to use.

 

[BassToGoGo]

Gibson and Fender basses are totally different animals, although there have been variances on both sides Baiscally Fenders mostly consist of bolt on maple necks with alder or ash bodies while Gibson is mainly set (glued in) or neck-thru neck construction, throw in different construction methods and it's easy to see why they are so different playing and sound wise.

I love my Gibsons. I also love my Fenders, though there are differences I pretty much sound like me on any bass for better of for worse.

 

[rockscott]

I think gibson under new mgmt is headed in a great direction. Their two newest basses, les paul jr dc & the non reverse Tbird are grand slams!