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Do you have a 'brand'?

#161
Hard to answer that, easier to say what usually doesn't work for me. There's the momentary adjustment period when I switch from a Fender to let's say an Ibanez, but both are comfortable. If I then pick up a Rickenbacker, then I essentially hit a brick wall and ill at ease with the bass. Not a matter of getting used to it, it's just not comfortable for me.
 
#162
JimmyM said:
Realistic:

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I had one of those Realistic basses as my first ever bass,which i plunked around on before i owned an amp...
 
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#163
cjj said:
I've owned and played a lot of different brands over the past 37 years, some I've liked some I've hated. Bit I keep coming back to Rickenbacker. They just "feel right" to me.
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Click to expand...

Well,you took the words right outta my mouth,CJ! I am happiest playing my Ricks,and they get the sound i want.
I also like my Carvin Ac40 fretless,and my Fernandes 8-string for non-Rick variations.
 
#168
Warmoth. Pick your scale (mine is 32"), pick your body type, body wood, neck wood, fretboard wood, paint/finishes (or none), binding/no binding, chambered/not chambered, routing, controls...the sky is the limit. Front route? Sure! Rear route? Why not! Belly contour, forearm contour, neck contour, any or all of the above. Use whatever pickups, bridge and tuners you want. End up with a bass custom tailored to you, that no one else on the planet owns, that no major manufacturer offers, at around the price of a USA-made off-the-shelf model from Fender. What's not to love?

I could spend days on their site speccing out new instruments. It's a fantastic concept.
 
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#170
For being bombproof, I really like Music Man. I have been using one live and for studio stuff, and it never causes any worry. With that said, I really like my pre-Gibson Tobias, and really want a Ric and/or black Alembic Spoiler. Gibsons also sound killer but the necks tear my wrist up for some reason. Basically, I'll play anything that doesn't suck.
 
#173
Gear-wise, I am a pretty simple person. I don't use effects. I don't collect more gear than I can use at one gig. I have not bought a new bass since 92. I like my signal flow to be: bass -> pre-amp -> power amp -> cabs -> ears. Not alot of stuff in between

Basses:
I am definitely a Fender guy.
I have given many other basses a fair try, but always float back to Fender P's and J's.

Strings: Ernie Ball Super Slinky 105-45's. Have used pretty much every brand of round-wounds in the past, but nothing feels as good as these to me.

cabs:
i am definitely an Avatar guy. I really can't think of any other cab I have heard that would pul me away from the Avatar stuff.

Amps: no specific brand, but I will always use a pre-amp and a power amp combo. I love the clean power you get with that set up. Right now I have a QSC and a Sans Amp RBI rack unit
 
#174
Spector. They just feel amazing. I have three of 'em.
That being said, I acquired a Pedulla Pentabuzz a few months ago, and I am completely in love with it. Spector cannot (will not) coat their fingerboards, and the Pentabuzz has polyester coating that comes standard.

I would never switch out one brand for another categorically. I love each brand for the applications in which I use them. I am not a fan of Pedulla's fretted 4-string basses; this is where my Spectors really deliver.
Amp-wise, I'm 99.7% Mesa/Boogie. I am toying with Glockenklang (why not try what many claim to have the truest tone?); I'll either be a two-brand amp guy, or lose a ton of $$$ in a buy/resale situation.
 
#177
I could never stick with just one. There are way too many great basses out there. I currently only own one Cort bass, a lovely B4 20th Anniversary, but I've owned and loved basses from all the following:
G&L US and Tribute
Lakland Skyline
Warwick German and Rockbass
MTD Kingston
Tobias
Normandy
Cort
Dean
Spector
NS Designs
Ibanez
 
#179
Even though I have 16 with another on the way, I would have to say it's Paul Reed Smith, since #11 was the only bass I played and owned from 1978 - 1999.

Sometimes I think the other 16 are simply humble but futile attempts to try and equal it: Custom Designed Viola, Roscoe, Rob Allen, Drake, Warwick, Gretsch, eight Fenders included. They are all actually quite amazing - but I think I continually try to fool myself into thinking I can surpass it some day. Fat chance. Frankly, there is a level where they don't even come close.

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BassHappy
 
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