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Essential Bass Arsenal
- Thread starter DRay521
- Start date
I think you're over thinking it.
Leland Sklar brought one bass to his sessions... 2,500 worth.
OP hits most of what I have/desire. Currently own a J, P, a fretless P/J, and a “modern” double soapbar 5. Also have a little U-bass and a student quality plywood double bass (which doesn’t get enough play tbh).
If I had to expand beyond that, I’d definitely consider a 6-string, a hollow body (short scale), and an acoustic-electric bass. Then maybe even a Fender Bass VI.
If I had to expand beyond that, I’d definitely consider a 6-string, a hollow body (short scale), and an acoustic-electric bass. Then maybe even a Fender Bass VI.
"Need" is a relative term.
Michael Rhodes has done a zillion recordings on a P bass.
Our own Mr.Sklar has done a zillion recordings on a modded (I think) Yamaha with two P pickups. He's done quite a few more with a very modern Dingwall signature 5 or Warwick HoBo.
Nathan East has done a zillion recordings with a "modern(ish)" Yamaha bass.
In the right hands, any bass will do.
That said, gathering basses with different voices is part of the JOY of being a bass player. So get what you want and enjoy them.
Your list is more than complete already.
Michael Rhodes has done a zillion recordings on a P bass.
Our own Mr.Sklar has done a zillion recordings on a modded (I think) Yamaha with two P pickups. He's done quite a few more with a very modern Dingwall signature 5 or Warwick HoBo.
Nathan East has done a zillion recordings with a "modern(ish)" Yamaha bass.
In the right hands, any bass will do.
That said, gathering basses with different voices is part of the JOY of being a bass player. So get what you want and enjoy them.
Your list is more than complete already.
The only thing I’ve found that’s truly “essential” for any modern music of any genre is a 5 string bass and a pitch pedal (Digitech drop, Electro-Harmonics pitch fork, Mooer pitch box, etc). You can pretty much play anything, especially if you can go up or down a couple semitones.
Personally, I can pretty much get whatever I need with a 5 string and a 4 string with a drop tuner (just because I prefer a 4 when playing drop tuned stuff and pedaling off an open string).
Most basses can get you just about whatever tone you want by changing strings, playing position and technique, pedals, modeling, plugins, and adjusting your eq. There is so much technology in effects and signal processing that requiring a certain bass for a certain sound has almost gone the way of the dodo.
Personally, I can pretty much get whatever I need with a 5 string and a 4 string with a drop tuner (just because I prefer a 4 when playing drop tuned stuff and pedaling off an open string).
Most basses can get you just about whatever tone you want by changing strings, playing position and technique, pedals, modeling, plugins, and adjusting your eq. There is so much technology in effects and signal processing that requiring a certain bass for a certain sound has almost gone the way of the dodo.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Some great answers here! But I should’ve pointed out in the OP, this is really just a “for fun” thread, I’m not searching for suggestions. I’ve got my GAS bucket list narrowed down, and if I ever come across something on it I’ll throw out an offer, but I’m pretty happy with what I’ve got for now.
And of course I agree, tone is in the hands, musicianship is most important, etc etc etc…the intended point is to list basses that you feel necessary to cop any sound a producer or artist may want. If that’s one bass for you, awesome! If it’s 20, have fun!
By the very nature of the question you posted, I’m not sure what other kinds of answers you could have expected, even if only “for fun”….
Most of my sound is in my own head.
That's a tough one, and I think it is totally subjective from one player to the next. Kind of one of those things where "ask 10 people, get 10 different answers".
I know people who would say all they need is a single Jazz (or Precision) bass and they can get any sound THEY want out of it.
Then there are people who will say "Well, you need a Precision, a Jazz, a Stingray, a Ric, a hollow-body of some kind, a fretless and an old upright."
I think we each have an idea of what we want and will get what we need to chase a tone or tones. I know I have my own method to my madness. What works for me, won't work for others.
I know people who would say all they need is a single Jazz (or Precision) bass and they can get any sound THEY want out of it.
Then there are people who will say "Well, you need a Precision, a Jazz, a Stingray, a Ric, a hollow-body of some kind, a fretless and an old upright."
I think we each have an idea of what we want and will get what we need to chase a tone or tones. I know I have my own method to my madness. What works for me, won't work for others.
My days with Fender basses were over more than 40 years ago (I have nothing against them, they just aren't me).
Although I have other basses, what I'd show up to a session with is a Ric and a G&L L-2500. That combination can deliver a range of tones and lets me have my sonic signature.
Although I have other basses, what I'd show up to a session with is a Ric and a G&L L-2500. That combination can deliver a range of tones and lets me have my sonic signature.
1. Active J
2. Passive P/J w/ rounds
3. P with Flats
4. Stingray
5. Something Shortscale
I’ve been really digging the deep bass-y sound of short scales! It seems pretty trendy at the moment. I’d probably snatch a JMJ mustang! Love the flats on a shortscale
2. Passive P/J w/ rounds
3. P with Flats
4. Stingray
5. Something Shortscale
I’ve been really digging the deep bass-y sound of short scales! It seems pretty trendy at the moment. I’d probably snatch a JMJ mustang! Love the flats on a shortscale
I'm good (see sig), with a pass on boutique and fretless,
but a hollowbody sounds interesting.
A bass that you like, and a back up in case that one breaks a string or has a dead battery during a gig.
I personally think that having a variety of tones is mostly overrated, and that there is plenty of variation on one bass from your right hand technique.
that said, I have or have had most of the standard bass types over the years with the exception of a Rick, a semi hollow, and a Thunderbird. Ultimately, I gig an active J and a passive P pretty interchangeably
I personally think that having a variety of tones is mostly overrated, and that there is plenty of variation on one bass from your right hand technique.
that said, I have or have had most of the standard bass types over the years with the exception of a Rick, a semi hollow, and a Thunderbird. Ultimately, I gig an active J and a passive P pretty interchangeably
Minimoog.
The Moog bass has been so widely used that even Michael League often has a Moog on stage.
The Moog bass has been so widely used that even Michael League often has a Moog on stage.
IMO, artists/producers that asks for a particular bass model for a recording because "that's the right one", most of the time don't really know what they want. They just expect the image rather than the actual sound to conform to their expectations. IE if the track sounds kinda "beatles" they'll expect you to bring a Hofner or any bass that looks like a violin even if the tone they have for refference was probably recorded with either a Ric or a Fender Jazz or VI rather than with the iconic beatle bass.
