Fact: It's not the bass

[TMARK]

A bass just needs to be set up well and not be defective. Everything else is preference. Then it's up to the bassist.

Case in point: a friend of mine is a killer bassist in the vein of Victor W. Not that good but damn close. We went to Sam Ash together when he was picking up a cabinet he ordered. He played a ton of basses while we were there through the same Hartke LH1000 and Hydrive 410. He sounded almost the same on every bass, from a G&L L1500 to a Fender Deluxe Jazz to an SX to an old Steinberger to a Music Man Sterling. He said he only played the basses that were set up.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

"Good sounding bass" is subjective and so is "good setup" to a certain degree. Both Billy Sheehan and James Jamerson play/played p basses, but their basses sounded different mostly because of the setup and string choice. I think Billy would sound like Billy on James' “funk machine“ and James would sound like James on Billy's "wife" although they would not appreciate the setup or string choice thus the tone of each others. James liked old flatwounds and his action high and, Billy likes roundwounds with the action low.

I think another confusion for some here is: "cheep bass" = "bad bass" and vice versa.

 

[jeffbassguy]

ive seen VW play an entry level 150 dollar stock ibanez and you would be hard pressed to tell that it wasnt a fodera if you werent seeing it first hand.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Those type of threads always feel like there is a mix between the sound coming out of the amp or it is the playing ...

I heard one of my basses been played by 3 different people and sound different because they hit the strings in a different way, have the EQ set differently etc
The playing is also a factor in a good sounding bass ... playing a rock walking bass line in a death metal band ... not sure even if you have the most amazing tone ever, it will sound crap because it doesn't fit.

 

[Thumper19605]

Scott Devine on his web sight said he was able to play one of his favorite bass players bass, and found he sounded like himself on that bass too.
I learned as soon as I stopped playing so hard and had an amp that had enough power to let that happen, my tone improved massively.
You have an amen here too.

 

[Fletz]

Geddy Lee probably wouldn't sound much like Geddy Lee on a Hofner with flats

Ok, so this part is totally true. If you saw he last tour where Geddy played like 26 different basses you saw him play a what's what of classic rock basses. As a Geddy acolyte, I have to say I didn't like it because it didn't sound like him. He played a semi-hollow Ric bass on Closer to the Heart and it sounded flat. It didn't sound like Geddy. That said, very few of the people in the packed house would notice or care. It kinda goes to my thread from a little bit ago about how people don't care what bass you play. Only the bass needs like us notice or give a rat's patootie. Geddy played like Geddy on the semi hollow Ric, it was his line, his style but it didn't sound right ... To me.

 

[Muddslide]

Honestly, for someone who says they cannot make a bass guitar sound good, you seem to have a lot to say. I learned on an $85 dollar bass. I worked every note i could get out of it and worked to make it sound good, despite it having the action of a bow. When i played my parts on a musicman while sitting in a guitar store, shockingly, they sounded better and were easier to play. It was like leveling up instantly. You are saying the bass makes no difference you are objectively wrong. Period.

Wow. I rarely see an internet post so completely off mark.

You must have intended to respond to another poster. Otherwise this is either a total but innocent misunderstanding of what I said, or a total but deliberate mischaracterization of what I said.

First off, I never said I couldn't make a bass sound good. I've been playing since 1978 and feel as though I'm a decent player--hopefully a little above average--and I have also owned and extensively played basses from a very wide spectrum. I can discern good instruments from poor ones.

Second, not only did not say (ever, anywhere) that "the bass makes no difference"-- in fact I have always, clearly said everything about a bass (as well as everything else, from cables to amps to strings, etc.) IS a variable that will--even if in the most minimal way--affect the overall sound.

My point is that these differences don't automatically equate to "quality." That is completely down to the individual. A player may, for all kinds of reasons, prefer the sound and feel of a cheap knockoff over a much pricier brand name bass, and any individual listener may as well.

Now I should have perhaps qualified my last post by saying "as long as your bass has a relatively straight neck, reliable electronics, intonates and holds tune..." but if you have those things, that's half the battle, and basses with those things can be had today at virtually any price point.

I'm not trying to be a jerk. I think you are a cool forum dude, for sure. I just believe it is objectively true that what constitutes "quality" is a totally subjective, individual matter that can't be defined by price, materials, brand name, date of manufacture or country of origin.

 

[Fletz]

Took me 30 years, but I finally get it: No one cares... what you play

 

[Eidolon0274]

It's an 80/20 thing for sure, unless we're talking about the worst gear ever made.

 

[VinnyIuspa]

Of course the player has to be good, but you generally never see a great player playing a crumby bass, live or in the studio. You know why? Cuz better basses sound and play better.

 

[TyBo]

I saw an interview with Brian Setzer (talking about guitar, which is analogous to bass), where he said that Stevie Ray Vaughn handed him his Strat on stage - so Stevie's guitar, pedals, amps, etc. - and Setzer commented that he didn't sound like Stevie Ray when he played it, still sounded like himself. So there's that. However, he went on to say that in order to really get "his" sound, he needed a Gretsch guitar with Filterton pickups and a Bigsby - nothing else would quite cut it. I think that's a good summation. The instrument makes a difference, it just does. But just having the same rig as one of your heroes will not make you sound like them ... might get you a little closer to it, but to really have it, it's gotta be in the hands.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Ok, so this part is totally true. If you saw he last tour where Geddy played like 26 different basses you saw him play a what's what of classic rock basses. As a Geddy acolyte, I have to say I didn't like it because it didn't sound like him. He played a semi-hollow Ric bass on Closer to the Heart and it sounded flat. It didn't sound like Geddy. That said, very few of the people in the packed house would notice or care. It kinda goes to my thread from a little bit ago about how people don't care what bass you play. Only the bass needs like us notice or give a rat's patootie. Geddy played like Geddy on the semi hollow Ric, it was his line, his style but it didn't sound right ... To me.

I was at the Boston show and yes, certain basses he played definitely sounded sort of strange. I would have preferred if he stuck to Fenders, the Ric double neck and that's about it.

 

[FlatwoundFunk]

Honestly, for someone who says they cannot make a bass guitar sound good, you seem to have a lot to say. I learned on an $85 dollar bass. I worked every note i could get out of it and worked to make it sound good, despite it having the action of a bow. When i played my parts on a musicman while sitting in a guitar store, shockingly, they sounded better and were easier to play. It was like leveling up instantly. You are saying the bass makes no difference you are objectively wrong. Period.

If I'm reading what you wrote correctly (only one cup of coffee in me), sounds like a set up issue. Not that you played a better bass. I'm a MM lover but sounded better is really subjective.
FF

 

[covermego]

OK - Enough of this nonsense......... I think I know the final answer to all this........

"BassMatch . Com" Just fill out the 50 page profile.

 

[AdamK]

CV basses are better

VM

 

[madjazzbass]

It's an 80/20 thing for sure, unless we're talking about the worst gear ever made.

WorstBassgear.com?

 

[FlatwoundFunk]

Took me 30 years, but I finally get it: No one cares... what you play

I remember that thread. REALLY HELPED me refocus. Thanks for that one.
FF

 

[Kmonk]

Okay, so it's my opinion. But my opinion is that the thread title is, in fact, a fact.

I've heard too many basses played by a as many bassists, ranging from a Squier to a Fodera and everything in between, that sounded both fantastic and awful. It's the player, period.

The better the player, the more he or she will be able to draw the quality out of the higher end basses. But that same person will still be able to bring a subpar bass to life. Either will sound fantastic.

Anything in the hands of someone like myself will all sound pretty much the same. Yes, a turd.

Can I get an Amen!

I disagree. A bad bass in the hands of a great player will sound better than a great bass in the hands of a bad player, but a bad bass will never sound as good as a great bass no matter who is playing it. I have yet to find a Squier or MIM that sounds as good as my MIA Fenders or Alembics.

 

[fuzzychaos]

What about that armless guy that plays with his feet? Tone is in his toes, i guess?


This thread is too finger/hand centric.

 

[madjazzbass]

VM

Well, since I didn't get an answer to my "What's a CV Bass"? question, I take it that this is what it is: Warwick German Streamer CV Electric Bass