Double Bass - I don't really get it

[GretschWretch]

How are you concluding that the P-Bass was the defacto bass used? To start off with pop, three of arguably the biggest influential bands of the 60s - The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who - were not P-Bass users. Yes, there were several bands that did use them (Beach Boys, Moody Blues) but - more often than not - I see other basses used by influential rock and pop acts from that era: Gibson/Jack Bruce/Cream, Gibson or Ric/ Peter Quaife/ The Kinks, Jazz Bass/ Jimi Hendrix Bass Players, Jazz Bass/ Mel Scahcer/ GFR(he used both), Fender Jazz and Alembics on most of the 70s/80s Dayton-Ohio Funk bands including Aurra, Cameo, Lakeside, etc. In Motown, a lot of the songs attributed to Jamerson were actually done by Bob Babbit who - although he plays both P and J - primarily recorded with a Jazz Bass back in the day. In Prog Rock, its almost safe to say that the Ric 4001 spearheaded that......The "P-Bass Leads The Way In Everything" Mantra is quite a fallicy and has all the credibility of a Facebook Meme (which is also how it gets spread around)

Entwhiste, Wyman, and Quaife all used fenders at some point, P's for both Entwhistle and Quaife. I'll concede your point regarding the J's. Most of the other non-Fender users were one-hit wonders and bnds of the caliber of Tommy James and the Shondells. And what was performed with and what was recorded with often are too entirely different beasts. If we add in the fifties,
which I did and you apparently did not, the balance tips in favor of the Precision simply due to no real competition. Alembic IMO falls into the slappity time frame. From the perspective of now, it's all moot.

 

[Rib 13]

Entwhiste, Wyman, and Quaife all used fenders at some point, P's for both Entwhistle and Quaife. I'll concede your point regarding the J's. Most of the other non-Fender users were one-hit wonders and bnds of the caliber of Tommy James and the Shondells. And what was performed with and what was recorded with often are too entirely different beasts. If we add in the fifties,
which I did and you apparently did not, the balance tips in favor of the Precision simply due to no real competition. Alembic IMO falls into the slappity time frame. From the perspective of now, it's all moot.

Oh, cmon -- Now youre splitting hairs: Entwistle hardly used a P..Wyman NEVER used a P -- He did use a Mustang periodically. Quaife used his Gibsons and Rics more than any P

 

[GretschWretch]

Oh, cmon -- Now youre splitting hairs: Entwistle hardly used a P..Wyman NEVER used a P -- He did use a Mustang periodically. Quaife used his Gibsons and Rics more than any P

But Ray Davies preferred he use a Precision instead of the Ric. And I may be bisecting bunnies, but you're ignoring the fifties, and I'm immersed in a different thread. 'Bye.

 

[Rib 13]

But Ray Davies preferred he use a Precision instead of the Ric. And I may be bisecting bunnies, but you're ignoring the fifties, and I'm immersed in a different thread. 'Bye.

I'll give you the 50s -- You know why? Because there probably wasnt a whole heck of a lot of choices to choose from ....It wins that era by default.....Also: Many 50s rock/pop recordings were still using Upright Bass anyway

 

[One Drop]

I'll give you the 50s -- You know why? Because there probably wasnt a whole heck of a lot of choices to choose from ....It wins that era by default.....Also: Many 50s rock/pop recordings were still using Upright Bass anyway

Entwistle most certainly did use a P a LOT, and very famously. Babbit primarily recorded with a P.

Not getting into this silly argument, just setting some facts straight about two of my favorite bassists.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

nOT MEGHAN. tHIS ONE

The bass in that is weak, especially for a song that's supposed to be about bass.

 

[Rib 13]

Entwistle most certainly did use a P a LOT, and very famously. Babbit primarily recorded with a P.

Not getting into this silly argument, just setting some facts straight about two of my favorite bassists.

Everything I read about Babbit says that he used both a P and a J but primarily (not to be confused with "exclusively") the J during his Motown era, so one of us has our facts confused....Yes, I know Entwistle used a P here and there, but he mostly used his Fender VI in the early days and then went to a plethora of basses which includes a less-often-than-not P-Bass and a more-often-than-not Thunderbird among other instruments includinga Jazz and quite a few other things...None of this still negates The Beatles, Stones, both Hendrix bass players, Cream, etc and a ton of other influential bands of the era that did not use/rarely use/not known for a P-Bass

 

[Rib 13]

The bass in that is weak, especially for a song that's supposed to be about bass.

When she's mentioning "bass", I'm pretty sure she's not referring to the actual instrument or sound......

 

[Iridescentone]

Hey.
I've played bass for a number of years- electric only- mostly R and B, blues, rock....

I like to play jazz standards for fun and have often toyed with the idea of joining a small trio. However, most want up right acoustic and I just don't dig the sound. Or the size!

At the risk of being a jerk, not sure why anyone would play one of those. Cause it looks cool? Often the sound is so dull most will not be able to tell if the player is a half step off a chord tone on beat one. (Mic'd on stage is a bit better but seems rare)

I know I've pissed someone off by writing this. But I need to be enlightened on this instrument. Please explain.
Thanks!

You may as well be asking......"What is bass?"

 

[One Drop]

Everything I read about Babbit says that he used both a P and a J but primarily (not to be confused with "exclusively") the J during his Motown era, so one of us has our facts confused....Yes, I know Entwistle used a P here and there, but he mostly used his Fender VI in the early days and then went to a plethora of basses which includes a less-often-than-not P-Bass and a more-often-than-not Thunderbird among other instruments includinga Jazz and quite a few other things...None of this still negates The Beatles, Stones, both Hendrix bass players, Cream, etc and a ton of other influential bands of the era that did not use/rarely use/not known for a P-Bass

I'd let it go:

The Ox's first proper bass was a P, he played the slabs and made the legendary Frankenstein one made from P parts, Live at Leeds, etc.

John Entwistle Gear | John Entwistle Bass Gear | Whotabs

Babbitt's Motown bass was a P with LaBella flats and it was the sound associated with him in this era. Go to the source:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

We can split hairs all you want bit both of these bass giants are as closely associated with the Precision as much if not more than any other bass.

 

[carl h.]

I didn't think this thread could get dumber, I sit corrected.

 

[mongo2]

That's how it feels to me the times I've had to play bluegrass with an electric.
I know it's done successfully all the time, and usually sounds good enough, but to me it just feels wrong.

That's another genre where I might use my washtub or Kala.

Old school aluminum uprights were for outside band gigs. They didn't sound great but you could carry on top of your car, pour out the rain water and gig.

Decades ago I tried an aluminum bass that was painted brown but very chipped on the edges. I always wondered if it came from the factory painted like that.

 

[FirewalZ]

Hey.
I've played bass for a number of years- electric only- mostly R and B, blues, rock....

I like to play jazz standards for fun and have often toyed with the idea of joining a small trio. However, most want up right acoustic and I just don't dig the sound. Or the size!

At the risk of being a jerk, not sure why anyone would play one of those. Cause it looks cool? Often the sound is so dull most will not be able to tell if the player is a half step off a chord tone on beat one. (Mic'd on stage is a bit better but seems rare)

I know I've pissed someone off by writing this. But I need to be enlightened on this instrument. Please explain.
Thanks!

Im in pretty much exactly the same boat: "I've played bass for a number of years- electric only- mostly R and B, blues, rock....I like to play jazz standards for fun and have often toyed with the idea of joining a small trio". However, I love the sound of an upright and found a place to rent one month to month, this way I can return it anytime. I've been playing through some simple blues changes from Youtube, focusing on just getting a good tone and intonation. The rental has real high action and my hands are a bit sore when I play it so I'm taking it slow. I don't know what normal action is on an upright but it does have a bridge height adjuster.

 

[mongo2]

The bass in that is weak, especially for a song that's supposed to be about bass.

Well, it is only half an upright.

 

[Rib 13]

I'd let it go:

Babbitt's Motown bass was a P with LaBella flats and it was the sound associated with him in this era. Go to the source:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

We can split hairs all you want bit both of these bass giants are as closely associated with the Precision as much if not more than any other bass.

Thats one funny-looking P-Bass (and I have other photos from that era: some with the P many with the J....Like you, Im a fan too )

I'll give you Entwistle --- none of this which negates that the "P-Bass Was the First and Foremost Priority Bass for Everything" Fallacy with the other mentioned acts (particularly The Beatles)

dont worry about responding -- ive had enough of this thread anyway lol

 

[One Drop]

Thats one funny-looking P-Bass (and I have other photos from that era: some with the P many with the J....Like you, Im a fan too )

I'll give you Entwistle --- none of this which negates that the "P-Bass Was the First and Foremost Priority Bass for Everything" Fallacy with the other mentioned acts (particularly The Beatles)

dont worry about responding -- ive had enough of this thread anyway lol

Sorry, you don't get to choose if I respond or not. Read the link to his own website I posted, he played the J before Motown and his reknown started the time he switched. In his own words:

"The equipment I was using also had a lot to do with developing my style. I had been playing the '60 Jazz Bass on all of the RoyaItones and Del Shannon stuff, until a producer asked me to use a Precision, so l switched to a red '63 or '64 P-Bass. That was stolen a few years later, and I bought one of the first CBS Precisions, which I still play. At the time, I strung it with LaBella flatwounds and used either the mute or a sponge to deaden the strings. When the strings got gunked up, I'd boil them in lemon water to bring them back to life. Most of the dates were 4-track, and I was usually recorded direct. A few of the studios made you bring an amp, which in my case was either an Ampeg B-15 or a Kustom. We never used cans (headphones); we listened to a big monitor in the middle of the floor, just like at Motown."

I also said I wasn't getting into the silly argument about the P being this or that. I just wanted to set the record straight about the basses these guys played.

You know there's nothing wrong with being wrong once in a while, it won't kill you.

 

[carl h.]

You know there's nothing wrong with being wrong once in a while, it won't kill you.

It's too bad there aren't much in the way of consequences for being wrong, and an ass about it, on the internet.

It annoys me when $1 minds start spewing $2 words

 

[Rib 13]

You know there's nothing wrong with being wrong once in a while, it won't kill you.

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.................

 

[Rib 13]

It's too bad there aren't much in the way of consequences for being wrong, and an ass about it, on the internet.

It annoys me when $1 minds start spewing $2 words

just thought we were having a conversation about it....didnt realize "ass" was being made

 

[One Drop]

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.................

Okay.