Not since I became a slabebrity early on. That template remains today.
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Has your taste changed over the years?
- Thread starter jd56hawk
- Start date
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,153
- 256,476
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- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Made a decision nearly a half century ago about what kind of basses I would never play or own, and stuck by that.
Oh my!!! Where did your beloved Stingray go? new avatar!! but great picture
Just curious... what was it about a deadly pandemic that caused you to turn to the Precision bass?
For several decades this used to be my favorite bass:
But now, it's a tossup, between this:
...or this:
...though it has nothing to do with sound. I still love the sound of the Steinberger, and still bring it to every studio session I do. But I came to realize that it's easier to "dance" with a more conventional bass guitar. And by "dance" I don't mean Executing Choreographed Steps As Part Of Our Live Entertainment Act ...I mean forming a symbiotic physical partnership with the instrument where it and my body work together to construct the groove. There's something about the Steinberger that doesn't feel connected to my body; it's more like a prosthetic. Traditional instruments just integrate better with my hips and torso, and ultimately, hands.
Now, if I could find a traditional bass that sounded like that Steinberger, I'd be in heaven!
It shut down most venues that we were gigging at, and left me board and at home. So, I decided to try lots of different flatwounds, which lead me to trying the tried and true flats on a P combination. And, to truly try a bass or strings, I have to rehearse with it/them. So, when the band got together… I brought a P or a PJ (with the J turned down). I didn’t have to worry about getting anything dialed for a show, so I experimented. Worked out to my benefit.
my tastes have changed:
then: must be substantial (heavy!).
now: no boat anchors.
then: must be 'conservative' looking --- nothing too wild.
now: anything goes.
then: "cost is not an issue."
now: why pay more!?!
then: one great player is all you need.
now: eight great players are way more fun!
then: must be substantial (heavy!).
now: no boat anchors.
then: must be 'conservative' looking --- nothing too wild.
now: anything goes.
then: "cost is not an issue."
now: why pay more!?!
then: one great player is all you need.
now: eight great players are way more fun!
I started out wanting a Ric. But couldn’t make the cash outlay. So in order:
1. Aria Pro II “Thor Sound”. Sound was OK but not great. Traded for
2. Robelli compact body P J bass. Sounded pretty good but cheapness became objectionable.
3. A fretless German Warwick Corvette came my way at a fantastic price. Grabbed it; traded the Robelli for some other gear.
Here’s where I started to accumulate ‘semi-boutique’ basses with more than 4 strings…
4. Tune TWB53 5 string.
5. Conklin 7 string. Figured this could be my ‘stick’ substitute.
6. Ibanez BTB1206 6 string.
7. Cort 4 string fretless. Because as much as I loved the Warwick, it didn’t make the classic fretless sound.
Now we get to the issues:
- Cort rattled. Turned out the truss rod was snapped. Couldn’t hear it in the store, but heard it clearly at home. Returned for refund.
- Ibanez low B string never worked right, despite multiple string sets. Always floppy. And bass was always muddy sounding. Returned for refund.
- Tune TWB53 low B also had issues. Sad, because the bass was lightweight and sounded incredible. Almost piano-like. Eventually traded it for something.
- Conklin was amazing. Low B was perfect, the instrument was sonically versatile. But 7 strings was one too many. Eventually traded it.
8. Robelli copy of a Musicman 4string. Given to me as a gift. Needs work for fret sprout, but sounds and plays good. In storage til I do the fret work.
9. Peavey Grind. Acquired cheap, in excellent condition. Neck thru, plays great, sounds great. Keeper.
10. Takamine TB10 acoustic bass. Spectacular instrument. Can be played as if upright. But it led me to actual upright (which was owned by the bassist in my band), and so began to find itself unused. As it deserved to be played, I sold it.
11. Tobias KillerB 6 string. Very early one. Sounds great, plays great, no issues with low B string. Very versatile. This one is a keeper.
12. Ibanez Portamento 6 string. Great sounding and playing instrument… but far too sensitive to environmental changes. Constantly having to micro-adjust the truss rod and saddles to get the ‘mwah’. Sold.
Which brings me to…
13. Squier CV 70s Jazz. You’ve seen my recent posts about this.
So I’m now playing upright bass and (Squier) Fender Jazz as my main bass instruments.
Yeah, tastes change lol
1. Aria Pro II “Thor Sound”. Sound was OK but not great. Traded for
2. Robelli compact body P J bass. Sounded pretty good but cheapness became objectionable.
3. A fretless German Warwick Corvette came my way at a fantastic price. Grabbed it; traded the Robelli for some other gear.
Here’s where I started to accumulate ‘semi-boutique’ basses with more than 4 strings…
4. Tune TWB53 5 string.
5. Conklin 7 string. Figured this could be my ‘stick’ substitute.
6. Ibanez BTB1206 6 string.
7. Cort 4 string fretless. Because as much as I loved the Warwick, it didn’t make the classic fretless sound.
Now we get to the issues:
- Cort rattled. Turned out the truss rod was snapped. Couldn’t hear it in the store, but heard it clearly at home. Returned for refund.
- Ibanez low B string never worked right, despite multiple string sets. Always floppy. And bass was always muddy sounding. Returned for refund.
- Tune TWB53 low B also had issues. Sad, because the bass was lightweight and sounded incredible. Almost piano-like. Eventually traded it for something.
- Conklin was amazing. Low B was perfect, the instrument was sonically versatile. But 7 strings was one too many. Eventually traded it.
8. Robelli copy of a Musicman 4string. Given to me as a gift. Needs work for fret sprout, but sounds and plays good. In storage til I do the fret work.
9. Peavey Grind. Acquired cheap, in excellent condition. Neck thru, plays great, sounds great. Keeper.
10. Takamine TB10 acoustic bass. Spectacular instrument. Can be played as if upright. But it led me to actual upright (which was owned by the bassist in my band), and so began to find itself unused. As it deserved to be played, I sold it.
11. Tobias KillerB 6 string. Very early one. Sounds great, plays great, no issues with low B string. Very versatile. This one is a keeper.
12. Ibanez Portamento 6 string. Great sounding and playing instrument… but far too sensitive to environmental changes. Constantly having to micro-adjust the truss rod and saddles to get the ‘mwah’. Sold.
Which brings me to…
13. Squier CV 70s Jazz. You’ve seen my recent posts about this.
So I’m now playing upright bass and (Squier) Fender Jazz as my main bass instruments.
Yeah, tastes change lol
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,054
- 45,952
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Not so much. Started with a fretless four in 1972, bought a nicer one in 77, owned that for 40 years. Eventually replaced that with one I’ve now owned for 23 years, picked up a second one that was gifted six years ago, have less than zero GAS. None of these are/were mainstream brands, and I like it that way! 
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Yes and no.
I used to be seeking those ever eternal “greener pastures”. These days the big positive is that I’m much clearer on what I want. A passive Jazz with Barts.
Turns out I always circle back to my customized J basses. I have both my main fretted (it hasn’t changed in 41 years and GHS Pressurewounds) and main fretless gone through 3 pickup changes and TI Flats).
It’s both a comfort and sound level that I’m hard pressed to find duplicates even among other Jazzes.
I used to be seeking those ever eternal “greener pastures”. These days the big positive is that I’m much clearer on what I want. A passive Jazz with Barts.
Turns out I always circle back to my customized J basses. I have both my main fretted (it hasn’t changed in 41 years and GHS Pressurewounds) and main fretless gone through 3 pickup changes and TI Flats).
It’s both a comfort and sound level that I’m hard pressed to find duplicates even among other Jazzes.
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Not really. Still quite happy with my Fenders basses after 50+ years.
In life, the only constant is change. Nothing is stable.
Yeah I used to like all kinds of stupid things. Now Im cool with a P bass. 
Nothing has really changed in my taste since the late 90's and I got my first Musicmaster. At one time owned 3 of them, down to 2 now. But also have a custom Tele and Mustang parts basses I love.
FSO's, short scale, passive, 4 inline tuners, single pickup. That's my niche, your mileage may vary.
FSO's, short scale, passive, 4 inline tuners, single pickup. That's my niche, your mileage may vary.
Same, I was content with what I had.
Wife walked in while I was watching a BassTheWorld video on the home theater unit. She evidently like what she saw and heard. I ended up with this budget toe-in-the-water multi-scale, thanks hun!
Cat seems to like it too
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Forty years ago I liked basses a lot.
I still like basses a lot.
So, no.
I still like basses a lot.
So, no.
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,153
- 256,476
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
I'm coffee'd up and ready to play the Ray. Deciding if I want to bring the 'Ray or the Cat bass to classes this afternoon
Not in basses. Still like Sound, playability and esthetics in that order. I used to prefer redheads but life brings other factors of greater importance, like not crazy.
I currently have no short scales iin my stable. The Cat bass has been on the radar. It's either that or what that Liverpudlian played
