• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Guitarist Needs Bass Advise

A

A6stringthing

Feb 26, 2020
12
12
#1
I am a guitarist with a studio full of Gibson & Fender Guitar’s and Marshall and Friedman amps. So I know that side well. Recently I got a cheap Sterling MM bass so I didn’t have to bug friends to lay bass tracks. Now I’m bitten by the bass bug lol. I really enjoy the other side lol.

So now I want to buy a better bass. I was thinking MM but then figured a Fender P bass. Or should I go Jazz? So I think I settled on a Precision with a Jazz pickup as well since it’s only for recording. So now I need to figure out rosewood or maple? Ash or alder?

I played and enjoyed an American Performer P Bass. Is that a good upgrade or should I go with the elite series? I think I prefer the passive tone.

I write and play mostly rock. Some favorites are AC/DC, RUSH, Tesla, Black Crowe’s, Triumph but I also love ABB and Steely Dan and TOP.

Sorry for rambling trying to give a good idea of background. Any advise would be great!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr_Moo, Tricaptain, Bass Man Dan and 1 other person
#2
A P-bass would work just fine. It doesn't so much matter how high-end of a model you go with (IMHO). Its more important to find one that feels & sounds good to you. There is also no reason to get rid of the Sterling, it can give you some more options for tracking.

If you want a more versatile bass check out the G&L L2000. People refer to them as a "swiss army bass" cause the controls allow for a lot of variety. I think they sound like a cross between a stingray and a jazz bass. Despite being really well made, the used market for US-made G&Ls is kinda soft so there are often great deals to be had.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nFinnyD, Gilmourisgod, Mr_Moo and 6 others
#4
Job one for a studio that wants to have bass gear is to get a P-bass and an Ampeg amp (or suitable sims in your DAW). That stuff is going to get you most of the places you want to go. If you wanted to do something Rush-flavored, more bass forward, you might want to bust out the Stingray or a Jazz bass.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ross W. Lovell, Gibson Victory, macmanlou and 2 others
#5
scottfeldstein said:
Job one for a studio that wants to have bass gear is to get a P-bass and an Ampeg amp (or suitable sims in your DAW). That stuff is going to get you most of the places you want to go. If you wanted to do something Rush-flavored, more bass forward, you might want to bust out the Stingray or a Jazz bass.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I have some UA Ampeg plug ins that sound great. I plan to get an SVT pro 2:or something as well. Right now I have a PF500 that sounds decent.
 
#9
I recommend a PJ if you are going to own a single bass.

Performer vs Elite? Depends on the particular bass. You can turn the Performer into active or the Elite into passive if you like; but if the wood quality & resonance & feeling-good isn't there, those can't be added later on.

I would definitely pick a resonate & lightweight Performer without dead spots over a heavy Elite with a dull E string. Believe me, both exist somewhere in the market.

Theoretically though; the Elite is supposed to be a higher quality & more versatile instrument.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NoSlapForYou, Gooney, Claymore and 2 others
#12
I'm going to buck the trend, and say Peavey T40. Very, very flexible sonic palette and modestly priced secondhand compared to the boutique fender clones.
There are even charts floating around on this forum that show how to dial them in to mimic a range of different basses. Only drawback is they're legend for their weight, but in a studio, that should be less of an issue.

Edit: I'm going the other way, so I bought a PRS Standard 24.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jackcrow, Mr_Moo, allen_m and 1 other person
#15
A9X said:
I'm going to buck the trend, and say Peavey T40. Very, very flexible sonic palette and modestly priced secondhand compared to the boutique fender clones.
There are even charts floating around on this forum that show how to dial them in to mimic a range of different basses. Only drawback is they're legend for their weight, but in a studio, that should be less of an issue.

Edit: I'm going the other way, so I bought a PRS Standard 24.
Click to expand...
That’s too funny! I had one and liked it. I’m Definitely a Gibson guy. May get a EB-0 one day because I love the bass on the first Boston record.
 
#16
A6stringthing said:
They do sound good! Definitely has more treble. As suggested I am going to keep my Sterling as a different tone. It plays great.
Click to expand...
I have 2 Sterling 5 stringers (licenced by EB made in Indonesia), the SUB is the one I leave at a studio...That bass can sound allot like a P if you pluck it near the neck. The SUB, which has a high output pu, works great with flatwound strings, super punchy (I use Labella Low Tension because they feel like 10y.o. worn flats) so that's another sound option as well. The Sterlings have a unique comfortable but not too thin neck, you can try tons of basses and not find one that plays better, and there are so many options available, your second bass upgrade might be a revolving door. (that's why I have 12 basses) I recommend the Schecter CV for a do it all sound option, P, Jazz, PP, PJ are all doable. (It almost has as many sound options as a Peavey T-40 but a few lbs lighter)(it's still aint light being ash)
 
  • Like
Reactions: nFinnyD and DiscoRiceJ
#17
Reedt2000 said:
If you want a more versatile bass check out the G&L L2000. People refer to them as a "swiss army bass" cause the controls allow for a lot of variety.
Click to expand...

I still regret selling my L-2000 years ago. It is indeed the "swiss army knife" of basses. With just a few clicks or twists you can get that thing to sound like a whole bunch of other basses and they are (for me anyway) very comfortable to play. My L-2000 was the first bass I ever owned that I thought sounded great with roundwound strings.
 
  • Like
Reactions: A6stringthing and Reedt2000
#19
I, too, started on the guitar side, and from my perspective basses are a lot less tone-sensitive than guitars. By which I mean I think there's a greater difference between the tone of a Tele and of a Strat, than there is between the tone of a P and of a J. To my ears, anyway. YMMV, and that's fine. I generally prefer brighter-sounding instruments overall, so for me it's all Teles and Ricks and Jazzes and such. But that's as far as I'll go.

Get something ergonomically sound (as far as nut width) and with a decent amp, it'll sound fine as long as you can play it well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: A6stringthing and Mr_Moo
#20
oldfclefer said:
Just about every studio I've been in has a passive p that's set up for their equipment. I've always used their basses for tracking. I've read that rosewood is the preferred fingerboard for studios, and that's been the case in the studio basses I've used.
Click to expand...
Pro studios are very time concsious operations, so it makes sense for them to be able to get a sound quickly that experience tells them how to fit into the mix well. Doesn't mean it's best, just efficient. A self owned studio, not on the clock does not have this issue.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr_Moo and oldfclefer

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back