Not to be a downer or anythin, but a bass is just a tool (unless you become attached to it then it becomes your best friend like my p-bass) Doesn't the person make the funk? How bout the jam? I mean as long as it's in one piece isn't any bass bieng played by a really great player a great sounding instrument???
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Does the bass really matter???
- Thread starter Rock-Bassman
- Start date
This is one of those 'shows up every month' topics, but it's a valid question.The simplest way to put it IMO is that a bad bass player will sound bad on anything, and a good bass player will sound good on anything. However, a good bass player with a very high quality 'tool' (as you put it) will not only sound better tone wise, but many times will be able to focus more on 'creating and making music' than 'making a mediocre instrument sound good'.
Does that mean that paying a bunch extra for wooden knobs and multilaminate exotic body woods has anything to do with anything? Of course not. But a simple, high quality instrument with the ability to take a great set-up and produce even tone and nice sustain through its entire range can really be a wonderful thing!
The simplest way to put it IMO is that a bad bass player will sound bad on anything, and a good bass player will sound good on anything. However, a good bass player with a very high quality 'tool' (as you put it) will not only sound better tone wise, but many times will be able to focus more on 'creating and making music' than 'making a mediocre instrument sound good'.
Does that mean that paying a bunch extra for wooden knobs and multilaminate exotic body woods has anything to do with anything? Of course not. But a simple, high quality instrument with the ability to take a great set-up and produce even tone and nice sustain through its entire range can really be a wonderful thing!
Well put. This is is more or less what I think about the subject.
Huh... it seems like you guys have a point
The only reason I brought this up is that it seems like there are 1000000000 different bass models....
The only reason I brought this up is that it seems like there are 1000000000 different bass models....
Everyone has their own taste, whether it's what the bass looks like or how it sounds. A great player can get the sound he wants out of almost any bass. I say almost because some basses can be a bit limited, but most will at least get a half decent sound.
For the most part I'll buy that. However, I've picked up a few basses that I don't think ANYone could have made sound good. I think everybody is in search of that perfect tone to THEIR ears that may only be obtainable with one particular brand/bass or another. Not to mention that different basses may "play" very differently (I hated the first Jazz I ever had because of the narrow neck). If you're not comfortable with the ergonomics of a bass, you will never get everything out of it.
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It takes some of both. If you are a lousy player, no bass will save you. But, if you are already competent, sure it makes a difference. I'd like a bass with a comfy neck that makes sounds I like. You don't need to spend a jillion dollars to make that happen, but I like some basses better than ohters.
As one who spent decades trying to find the ultimate bass that would really make me a bass player, I ultimately have to say no, it doesn't make a difference.
There are things you have to select on the bass to make it fit you - neck width, scale, PU placement, string spacing and above all setup - but once you get that, the rest really doesn't make a big (or even noticeable) difference in your sound (unless the instrument is really a piece o' crap).
As someone else said, if you suck you suck on everything you play. If you're good, you're generally going to sound good on anything. If you're mediocre (I fall into this category), you sound mediocre on everything too.
Like I heard Eric Johnson say once in an interview, at some point you have to stop chasing equipment and get on with the business of making music.....
LS
There are things you have to select on the bass to make it fit you - neck width, scale, PU placement, string spacing and above all setup - but once you get that, the rest really doesn't make a big (or even noticeable) difference in your sound (unless the instrument is really a piece o' crap).
As someone else said, if you suck you suck on everything you play. If you're good, you're generally going to sound good on anything. If you're mediocre (I fall into this category), you sound mediocre on everything too.
Like I heard Eric Johnson say once in an interview, at some point you have to stop chasing equipment and get on with the business of making music.....
LS
The simplest way to put it IMO is that a bad bass player will sound bad on anything, and a good bass player will sound good on anything. However, a good bass player with a very high quality 'tool' (as you put it) will not only sound better tone wise, but many times will be able to focus more on 'creating and making music' than 'making a mediocre instrument sound good'.
Ditto. That's a really good way to say it!
BP ran an interview with Anthony Jackson recently, and Jackson made a comment toward the end along this line. He talked about wanting an instrument good enough that the limitations on his performance were his, and not the instrument's.
True, tho for most of us, that's not a very expensive bass at all. I.e. my G&L's are far higher in quality than necessary to ever hinder my playing ability.
However, I can be hindered significantly by a bass that has logistical problems, like my tobias 6 string. In fact, it was originally much more expensive than my G&L's but, because of terrible neck dive and poor PU placement, it's actually a worse bass for me than my much cheaper L2500.
But a fancy Conklin, Alembic, Smith?..... nah, what comes out of the jack on that will be about what comes out of the jack of my G&L. Believe me, I've tried and verified this
LS
It does to an extent, if you have a bass that is a dog to play then you will never want to play it or practice at all, If you have a bass that is comfortable (for you) and plays well witha good setup then that is all that is needed to then practice to get to the point that the bass is holding you back.
Will that happen? probably not unless you want to go for more strings.
Will that happen? probably not unless you want to go for more strings.
A while back I had to finish a gig with my drummer's bass (a Rogue 5 string) when the preamp in my old bass crapped out. It was very hard to dial in a decent tone (didn't sit well in the mix), the B string was just mush and it just didn't feel right in my hands which affected my playing somewhat.
Did the audience notice these things? Probably not. At least not nearly to the degree I did. So it really depends on your perspective. It mattered a lot to me as a player, but it still got the job done.
I will say this though: I see a lot of comments that a better bass doesn't make you a better player. I disagree to an extent. My current go to bass (you can see it in the link in my sig) is exactly what I wanted. Certainly not something everyone would like, but it is so comfortable that it makes playing easier. Plus, having a bass you really enjoy the tone and feel of just makes you more likely to want to pick it up and practice.
Did the audience notice these things? Probably not. At least not nearly to the degree I did. So it really depends on your perspective. It mattered a lot to me as a player, but it still got the job done.
I will say this though: I see a lot of comments that a better bass doesn't make you a better player. I disagree to an extent. My current go to bass (you can see it in the link in my sig) is exactly what I wanted. Certainly not something everyone would like, but it is so comfortable that it makes playing easier. Plus, having a bass you really enjoy the tone and feel of just makes you more likely to want to pick it up and practice.
But a fancy Conklin, Alembic, Smith?..... nah, what comes out of the jack on that will be about what comes out of the jack of my G&L. Believe me, I've tried and verified this
LS
I hate to be a prick, but I think we established you did NOT have a USA Conklin. Please don't bash the USA models of you don't have any experience.
The discussion about your unplayable Conklin that you weren't sure of the origin. Furthermore, you also critiqued my Conklin for not having the pickups in the G&L position.
Er, that was the subject matter of another thread entirely. Scroll up (its that little arrow thingy on the right of your screen) and read my post in _this_ thread again. You'll note that issue as well as you and your basses were not addressed in any way.
I'd suggest slowing down a bit on the caffeine.....
LS
I say the bass does matter in the sense that many, many basses get a perfectly good tone and are playable. The catch is to get the bass that has the tone you want, and is truly comfortable to you.
