Great basses you never see anyone well known using

[Joe Nerve]

Am I "bass" obsessed, or "talkbass" obsessed?

This morning I woke with the nagging question on my mind, how come I never, ever, saw a single picture of anyone famous playing a Warwick Fortress Flashback?

And then I wondered...

what other great basses is this true about?

 

[Alrod]

I guess it all depends on your definition of "Great". You have people that claim $300 Squires are great (even better than boutique) and that you don't need anything else. I really don't see any famous people using them live or in the studio. Sure you can dig up a photo here and there of someone famous using or talking about one but that is the exception rather than the rule.

 

[Tupac]

P Basses and Music Man Stingrays of course.

 

[MtManiac]

P Basses and Music Man Stingrays of course.

And the ever elusive Jazz bass and slightly more common boutique copy.

 

[MtManiac]

All kidding aside, I rarely see Rickenbackers these days. A ton of Jazz basses and non-Fender Jazz variants, slightly fewer Stingrays, P basses, Thunderbirds.

Not too many Les Paul basses or Explorers. Or Flying Vs.

I never, ever see Danelectros or Alembics.

 

[Muziekschuur]

Lots of Danelectro's on Pinkpop this year (Holland).

 

[Wallace320]

"Shack"
I think is a German luthier brand, and very good (and even stylish so no exaggeratingly excentric at all) looking basses.

I can be wrong, but can't recall any world famous bass player playin'/openly endorsin' 'em...

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[PDQbass]

Hofner violin bass (apart from Paul McCartney).

 

[Russell L]

Jazz Bass Specials from the '80s. Don't see 'em these days much, and I'm not talking about the modern Duff McKagan version. It ain't like the old ones.

 

[cfsporn]

All kidding aside, I rarely see Rickenbackers these days. A ton of Jazz basses and non-Fender Jazz variants, slightly fewer Stingrays, P basses, Thunderbirds.

Not too many Les Paul basses or Explorers. Or Flying Vs.

I never, ever see Danelectros or Alembics.

Take a look at what I like to call "English Major bands." Most call them indie rock/pop. Lots of Rickys in that genre.

 

[john_g]

G&Ls

 

[BulbousMoses]

And to add to the OP's question, I would love to know what gets used in the studios of well known artists. I'm willing to bet that there are more than a few funky, lesser known basses being used in studios moreso than live.

 

[SteveHeissner]

Anything from Squier... especially VM and CV.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Good point on the Fortress Flashback Joe, I don't recall seeing any BIG names playing one. I wonder how much of that is just the small numbers of them made for such a short amount of time.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Honestly, I'm shocked NOT to know of more players in general, who are playing any of Michael Dolan's custom work.

 

[stambroker]

Peavey TL-5/Millenium/Cirrus
Carvin SBx000
Brubaker Brute

Also, as a sidenote some major bassist needs to start playing a Cutlass so MusicMan reissues them.

 

[ShiftyShift]

The higher end Deans are dang good, and I hardly see guys playing those. And a +1 on what guys use in the studio (other than the obvious)

 

[MNAirHead]

"Shack"
I think is a German luthier brand, and very good (and even stylish so no exaggeratingly excentric at all) looking basses.

I can be wrong, but can't recall any world famous bass player playin'/openly endorsin' 'em...

Cheers,
Wallace

Dude from Ray Charles' band played one....

I'd add a Bogart... closest we can find is Tony Levin (when outside of his Stinkray endorsement)

----

Peavey TL-5/Millenium/[DEL]Cirrus[/DEL]Carvin SBx000
Brubaker Brute

Also, as a sidenote some major bassist needs to start playing a Cutlass so MusicMan reissues them.

Tons of folks who still play Cirrus... John Taylor... Bill Dickens... and on and on.

 

[Tampabass]

aside from Tony Franklin, I don't believe I've seen anyone in a "major" band playing a Tony Franklin fretless P.

 

[fraublugher]

I had to google to see one , forgot about these ,and Ya MM is right only @ 700 made?