Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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 free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Do you have a "Blues Machine"? Let's see it!
- Thread starter Neon Blues
- Start date
Me and my "blues machine":
With Bluesalot, we deliberately use acoustic instruments, albeit amplified if needs be. I play this Eko through an HX Stomp, making particularly use of multiband compression to give it a more upright-ish sound.
The said, the actual "machine" here are my feet, playing my own Prkno P-1 electrified plank, substituting a drum set…
With Bluesalot, we deliberately use acoustic instruments, albeit amplified if needs be. I play this Eko through an HX Stomp, making particularly use of multiband compression to give it a more upright-ish sound.
The said, the actual "machine" here are my feet, playing my own Prkno P-1 electrified plank, substituting a drum set…
Not strictly limited to blues, but if that was specified… I’d probably grab this over my 5 string jazz. (Shown here with both original and replacement necks)
Don't own it anymore, but I bought a Westone "The Rail" bass as a joke for $10 from a pawn shop. Just thought it was funny lookin', but might at least be an average player. After some tweaking, that silly looking bass was perfect for any old country or blues gigs I got. Thing was surprisingly punchy and clear.
Sold it, among 95% of my stuff, years ago (The Great Gear Offload" LOL). One of two basses I regret selling over 40+ years of playing.
Sold it, among 95% of my stuff, years ago (The Great Gear Offload" LOL). One of two basses I regret selling over 40+ years of playing.
A lot of blues guys are using these classic beauties.
There’s a deeper woody tone you can get with a hollow body bass. And with a little palm muting you can get a convincing upright feel. And for that old school thump you will probably go for flats and an amp that will give you some serious thump with some authority.
I’ve been running a big orange Gretsch hollow body , stung with Thomastik flats into a great tube preamp , to a Forte amp with Berg cabs.
I’ve been running a big orange Gretsch hollow body , stung with Thomastik flats into a great tube preamp , to a Forte amp with Berg cabs.
Last edited:
Having spent 2 decades in a blues trio and being heavily influenced by Keith Ferguson & Dusty Hill, a primitive slab bass always worked well.
This is my blues machine. This ‘63 Jazz (and I) played behind Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Otis Rush, Hubert Sumlin, Sam Lay, Eddie Taylor and many other legendary blues artists in the ‘70’s in Chicago. I bought it “used” in ‘73. When I saw the term “blues machine” it came right to mind.Do you have one? What do you classify as a Blues Machine?
Like the OP, I play a short-scale 5-string these days and I still play lots of blues, but this $200 Jazz Bass was my one and only back in those days.
Precision Basses all the way for me
Different ones for different era's if its a dedicated blues gig
Early blues and trio gigs
These two cover bass duties for anything after 1960
and the latest addition - for those Texas blues nights
Different ones for different era's if its a dedicated blues gig
Early blues and trio gigs
These two cover bass duties for anything after 1960
and the latest addition - for those Texas blues nights
Last edited:
