Finally Arrived at a Simple Question: Which Bass?

[Count Bassie]

I love thinking up hybrids where some Gibson DNA gets combined with other iconic features:

CONCEPTS AND WILD IDEAS

Concepts and wild ideas By Brooks Bass Guitars that may some day end up being real bass guitars

www.brooksbassguitars.com

Gibson is excellent DNA.

 

[Gopherbassist]

This is TB, so I think the only acceptable bass is a Fender Precision with a three color sunburst paintjob and a tort pickguard.

Wait, that's backwards. It needs to be a tort paintjob and sunburst pickguard.

And the world's deadest flats.

 

[Count Bassie]

This is TB, so I think the only acceptable bass is a Fender Precision with a three color sunburst paintjob and a tort pickguard.

Wait, that's backwards. It needs to be a tort paintjob and sunburst pickguard.

And the world's deadest flats.

As long as that's the best you can do.

 

[BassicJazzy]

As long as that's the best you can do.

And never clean your strings or your fretboard. If you can see the frets, it's too clean. And don't bother tuning, just bend to pitch, 'cause tuning is for wimps.

 

[Count Bassie]

And never clean your strings or your fretboard. If you can see the frets, it's too clean. And don't bother tuning, just bend to pitch, 'cause tuning is for wimps.

Atta boy.

 

[Danny O Danny]

I love thinking up hybrids where some Gibson DNA gets combined with other iconic features:

CONCEPTS AND WILD IDEAS

Concepts and wild ideas By Brooks Bass Guitars that may some day end up being real bass guitars

www.brooksbassguitars.com

I just love the aesthetic gestalt you achieve on your designs Rob. The melding of elements from disparate sources (60's Gibson, 70's/80's Gibson, Rickenbacker, Fender, etc.) into a unified whole that seems like it always should have been.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I've been playing about 47 years, and I've done a few things that have been, for me, notable. I'm a bass player when I'm being my happiest, still finding my way, and will always be a bass player.
I'm looking at being 65 in a month or so, and I'm (again, or maybe still?...) asking myself: which bass? After years of trying out, guessing, concluding and asking again, through injuries, changes in styles and pursuits, skill sets and inspirations/seeking for inspirations, yadda-yadda... the stuff we all do... Well I've got this motley collection of useable sticks. But shouldn't I have that one that's my always-go-to, my Excaliber, blah blah blah? Maybe I just haven't made my music important enough? Maybe I see it as secondary to working and "having a life", and being something that my 'peers' see as justifiable?

I've got a neck-thru Epi Thunderbird,
a 2013 Sterling Ray 34ca (because a MM is too expensive),
a fretless mod Westone,
a Chickenbacker (used to have a Ric...),
a nice Fender knock-off built and given to me by a luthier friend I've known for 20 years,
and there's a '96 Tobias Growler sitting here a friend has offered to sell me.

I could let all this go for one that came along and fit me like a custom-made glove. The Stingray sounds great, but it's 11+ lbs. The neck on the Tobias is like warm butter on Teflon... but the Tobias sits a little funny, but not the Thunderbird. The Thunderbird sits perfectly- but is a long bass and tight spaces are tough. The Fender knock-off is light as a bag without bricks in it and sounds good, but the neck is too fat front to-back, and slows my left hand down just enough to be disappointing.
Right, nothing new here, life isn't perfect and what you get good at is dealing. I'm just trying to make that field of dealing a little narrower, so I'm venting here- though all this complaining makes me feel like a fragile, fussy poster child for some brand of lithium-based med... lol.
Oh yeah- when I was given the Fender type knock-off (branded the "Two Face", behaves like a P *or* a J, not a P/J. Interesting idea and a very nice bass actually! There's a story behind it, another post maybe), I had to promise 1) to play it, and 2) that I would never sell it. I may have to sand that neck down a bit to keep my part of the bargain... and I've been looking into that.
So if you've read all this, you're either feeling it or you need a life. Lol! But there's my post for the day. I'm one step away from gathering it all up and selling/trading for something that will give me buyer's/seller's remorse for a couple months, then find I've done the right thing. It's all about the process.

No need to reply, but please do if you have something that needs to land on your keyboard... but I'm just putting this down somewhere so I can see it, and either feel silly or inspire a move. Hope this hasn't wasted your time.

I dunno. Over the last 60 some years I’ve been playing bass, and having played or owned something like 25-30 different basses I’ve come to the conclusion they all sound and play like a bass. It’s just that some are more refined than others and as refinement increases they come with an higher price point. Further, most have some sort of “Character Flaws” that may be off putting.

The other conclusion I came to is weighing in all these factors is based on cost, sonic utility, and functional playability, and dependability, your basic MIA Fender PB or Fender PBj on the average is a pretty safe bet. It’s the Stanley hammer in the world of bass tools.

I’ll add this as well, a bass’s tone is only as good as the rig you are using to produce your sound. Having a 10k-20k Alembic plugged in to a 40 rumble doesn’t make much sense to me.

 

[hooky_marr]

As long as that's the best you can do.

Sorry I’m late - got caught between the moon and New York City

 

[Count Bassie]

I dunno. Over the last 60 some years I’ve been playing bass, and having played or owned something like 25-30 different basses I’ve come to the conclusion they all sound and play like a bass. It’s just that some are more refined than others and as refinement increases they come with an higher price point. Further, most have some sort of “Character Flaws” that may be off putting.

The other conclusion I came to is weighing in all these factors is based on cost, sonic utility, and functional playability, and dependability, your basic MIA Fender PB or Fender PBj on the average is a pretty safe bet. It’s the Stanley hammer in the world of bass tools.

I’ll add this as well, a bass’s tone is only as good as the rig you are using to produce your sound. Having a 10k-20k Alembic plugged in to a 40 rumble doesn’t make much sense to me.

Good sense on all counts. I've got 5 and they're all fun and useful in their own right. Looking for improvement is what got us all where we're at though, it's that proverbial journey where desire might be more engaging than the destination. So I'm having some fun with it.
But I'm with you on the Stanley (E-string?) hammer!

Been using a Mesa TT-800 into an older Schroeder 1210R cab. That's a pretty potent little rig, I like what it's been giving up.

 

[hooky_marr]

I suggest Ibanez as several models might suit your needs.

Ergonomically, it’s hard to beat their EHB headless series. They have 4 and 5-string versions, in regular and fanned fret versions. Regular 34” scale 4s, Their multiscale 5 is available with a 35”—33” range, or a “short multiscale” 32”—30”.

The classic Soundgear series is a best seller because it’s fast and comfortable. The current series have all the options you might want.

If you want to go vintage… maybe a Roadstar II RB924 or RB950. Versatile, usually light-ish, unique design, great sound, very versatile.

 

[MrAB4003]

Gibson is excellent DNA.

This might be your answer for the question "which bass?". Sell what you don't play and buy a Gibson of some kind. It doesn't have to be another Thunderbird. It could also be an EB-3, Les Paul Jr. DC, one of their semi-hollows, or even a 2013 era EB-4.

 

[Wasnex]

Finally Arrived at a Simple Question: Which Bass?​

Simple question....

Good luck!

Shouldn't I have that one that's my always-go-to, my Excaliber, blah blah blah? Maybe I just haven't made my music important enough?

IMHO it's okay if you do but it is not strictly necessary.

I have 9 or 10 basses. Don't remember the exact number. My #1 bass guitar is a Yamaha TRB6P. It's my only 6-string bass guitar. I feel that playing a 5- or 4-string for very long starts to reduce my fluency on the TRB. If it were not for this, I would play my other basses more often.

My #1 electric upright is a NS Design EU6. It's one of the 9 or 10 basses in my collection. I use a different fingering system on upright.

I want a real acoustic upright, but have not been willing to put in the effort to find one I like.

The point is that ideally I would have three #1s.

 

[R&B]

Interesting thoughts here. I’m at the point where I’m ready to divest the majority of the herd and focus on the music. Still, selling is a lot of work!

I’ve owned a lot of basses. For me, the sweetest spot on the price/performance curve is a pair of Japanese Sadowskys (say, a PJ and a single-coil JJ). But I’ll hang on to a couple of Fenders and maybe a G&L for old times’ sake.

 

[HeavyJazz]

For me, the sweetest spot on the price/performance curve is a pair of Japanese Sadowskys (say, a PJ and a single-coil JJ).

Too true! If I were forced to liquidate, I'd probably hang onto 2 MIJs, 2 NYCs, (both with a PJ and JJ each) and one non-Sadowsky.

 

[TeaTime]

Ok. It was a fictional characterization, also meant to be lightly self-deprecating. That doesn't make it any better I guess. Careless of me...
The lithium remark in particular was callous, yeah I shouldn't have gone there. I have an aunt who uses such a cocktail after finally having arrived at it through a years-long search. I love her, and wouldn't go to such a place- certainly on purpose. It was not meant to offend.
I apologize to the community for having offended. Especially after everyone has been generally edifying and helpful. Message received.

If I might. I do think the word "hate" is overused, and maybe not specific enough to drop on something you happen across and find offensive. It's a really strong word, and here it becomes too general. In fact as your comment progresses, the tone seems dismissive of my character at-large, dressing me right down to my bass guitar quandary. Pretty condescending, but at least you're thorough.
Maybe I'll bring it to my therapist.

*(I'll just add that I'm generally nice to people.)
*(Done editing.)

Sorry for hitting out at you. I'm around a lot of neurodivergent music kids, and what seems like a funny off-hand comment to most can often hit them like one more reminder that they are always outside, always wondering if they are really accepted, and if self-sufficiency is in their future.

Over the last couple of years there has been an increase in bullying towards them, both in person and online. Some people appear to be feeling very empowered to express their hate from a position of social comfort. Now there is a growing push to deprive them of the meds and therapies that allow them to do all the things everyone else takes for granted - school, work, more typical social behaviors, etc. That's not what you were doing - you made a comment about your situation, a poke at your own indecisiveness. You meant no harm.

Basses? Obviously there are a lot of right answers for different people. For off-the-shelf goodness I've never seen a Reverend that disappoints. Mercalli or Thundergun are rock machines. One is bolt-on, one set neck. Different headstock alignment. But ultimately they play and sound very similar to each other, with a different visual vibe. My guitar guy used to say the Thundergun always sounded better because of the name.

Note on the Thundergun I did sand off the paint-finished neck. A simple bit of work.

 

[Count Bassie]

Sorry for hitting out at you. I'm around a lot of neurodivergent music kids, and what seems like a funny off-hand comment to most can often hit them like one more reminder that they are always outside, always wondering if they are really accepted, and if self-sufficiency is in their future.

Over the last couple of years there has been an increase in bullying towards them, both in person and online. Some people appear to be feeling very empowered to express their hate from a position of social comfort. Now there is a growing push to deprive them of the meds and therapies that allow them to do all the things everyone else takes for granted - school, work, more typical social behaviors, etc. That's not what you were doing - you made a comment about your situation, a poke at your own indecisiveness. You meant no harm.

Basses? Obviously there are a lot of right answers for different people. For off-the-shelf goodness I've never seen a Reverend that disappoints. Mercalli or Thundergun are rock machines. One is bolt-on, one set neck. Different headstock alignment. But ultimately they play and sound very similar to each other, with a different visual vibe. My guitar guy used to say the Thundergun always sounded better because of the name.

Note on the Thundergun I did sand off the paint-finished neck. A simple bit of work.

Firstly, I appreciate your retake there in my snickery remark. Yeah I do get the problems, both socially and, and concerning the new red tape obstructing reasonable and necessary care. My wife worked in healthcare for years asking the developmentally disabled, and 20+years ago it was hampered with the apparent inconvenience of people in charge who weren't actually personally invested. I get the sentiment... We as a people can do better, when forced...

You're the second rec for Reverend, the one I heard with a subscription was pretty cool.
I'm now thinking, from inspiration taken from a link to a builder, that a Thunderbird style body might be my answer. That ergonomic seems to really work for me, so maybe just moving the Sterling neck and hardware into a DIY 'Bird shape would answer my angst...

Thanks for getting back with the generous perspective, and the recommendation. I appreciate it!

 

[The Golden Boy]

I guess I'm like 45 or so years into this adventure.

I just got my first Fender Precision last month.

Out of my basses, there's nothing like *THE* bass. Maybe that'll change with the P- but I think my Jazz has been the most versatile over the years.

 

[Metal Sombreros]

A nice Jazz or Rickenbacker will set you up