I'm 74, lighter weight trumps features
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Has your taste in basses grown simpler or more complex?
- Thread starter socknroll1
- Start date
Bell curve.
Started simple (4-string, passive, few knobs), went complex (5 and 6-strings, active preamps with several knobs), and now back to simpler... but with a twist. Although I don't have one in my arsenal, my ideal bass would be a 4-string with active pickups but passive VVT controls. This way I get the power of active with the simplicity of passive.
Started simple (4-string, passive, few knobs), went complex (5 and 6-strings, active preamps with several knobs), and now back to simpler... but with a twist. Although I don't have one in my arsenal, my ideal bass would be a 4-string with active pickups but passive VVT controls. This way I get the power of active with the simplicity of passive.
Voted Both. Most of my gear is simple passive (either 1 or 2 pickups), Range of wiring from simple on/off switch (thunderbird dual pickup) to 4 band active preamp (stingray build), & anything in between Volume or two, master tone (or dual tone in the case of my EB-2 & Rick bass clones). I don't play all basses the same way, i think that's where i get away with varying tones & use them for certain songs i write with my band. My main basses usually just a P or a J (or my 2 band EQ Yamaha BB clone w/reverse split coil pickup)
& while there's only one other complex bass i'd love to own (Gibson Les Paul triumph bass), everything else is simple. Mind you i do play with effects into my rig also as a tone shape (range of drives, flanger & delay, loops to carry portions of songs). It's simple to me, but complex to another, i leave my fx settings as is, no endless knob turning most times (unless its the delay or if i need a little bit of a certain drive character).
& while there's only one other complex bass i'd love to own (Gibson Les Paul triumph bass), everything else is simple. Mind you i do play with effects into my rig also as a tone shape (range of drives, flanger & delay, loops to carry portions of songs). It's simple to me, but complex to another, i leave my fx settings as is, no endless knob turning most times (unless its the delay or if i need a little bit of a certain drive character).
Neither (which wasn’t an option).
I still like the same basses I started with and I like a lot of other basses as well. I’m primarily interested in how a bass feels and sounds. How it gets there - complicated electronics or a single pickup - doesn’t matter much to me.
I still like the same basses I started with and I like a lot of other basses as well. I’m primarily interested in how a bass feels and sounds. How it gets there - complicated electronics or a single pickup - doesn’t matter much to me.
Had to think about this. I demand more from the instrument, in terms of quality and consistency, but I do less with the features, rarely touch preamp settings, or use boost.
And only 4 strings, no multi scales, no headless, etc. Just give me a simple J or P bass, or a PJ fretless.
That, and reasonable weight and balance.
And only 4 strings, no multi scales, no headless, etc. Just give me a simple J or P bass, or a PJ fretless.
That, and reasonable weight and balance.
I am finding that, although I own several basses, I pretty much only use one with no effects. Super-simple and it sounds great.
I've been playing for 10 years. The bass I started out playing is simpler than the one I play now. But, generally speaking, I wouldn't say my tastes have gone in a single direction like "simpler" or "more complex". They've mostly just gotten more specific. I like complexity where it helps me. I like simplicity where it helps me.
Where complexity is concerned, I like having options, but I want them to be simple options. Usually how I interpret this is to have less knobs and more switches, because switches are harder to screw up in the moment. Knobs are fiddly, and you can screw up the positions. The only knobs I usually want on a bass are passive volume and tone, or possibly a VTVT or passive treble/bass sort of situation.
The options I usually like are pickup switching and wiring options. To this end I also prefer 3 pickups. That arrangement gives you broad voicing changes that don't require "dialing in". I'm not about that life where I vary the position of the tone knob by 2 degrees and get a sound that I refer to as "the sauce". Nor a 4 band active preamp to carefully sculpt the exact sound I want on the bass. I want broad strokes that all sound different from one another and can be tweaked later on in the chain if I want. Usually, frankly, I don't do much tweaking, aside from adding effects.
As far as number of strings go, I pretty much only play 4s, but that's a matter of circumstance-- it wasn't a conscious choice, it's just what I've purchased. I have a bit of a controversial opinion on string number, which is that I would go for 4 or 6 but not 5. I understand why 5 is a sweet spot, but it just doesn't really fit my priorities. 4 is great for ergonomics and 6 is great for getting all the notes you might want... but 5 is just kind of the worst of both worlds, to me. It's less wieldy than a 4, and you have to decide whether you want a low B or a high C. So, I suspect that when I find the "right" 6 string for me, it'll be a regular on my roster.
I could see myself going back to simpler arrangements, but I think it would require a lot of simply not caring whether my sound is the exact right sound that I want, or potentially being in a band situation where I only really need one sound. That just isn't really where I am right now. For the sake of the poll I'll answer both.
You know man ..it always goes back to a good P Bass ! 100% in mix just sits right .Simple 2 knobs,looks cool .Done.That said got a Dingwall D-Rok bout 10 months ago 5 string took me 8 months to use it (no active pre amp ) was so accustomed to that need time to adjust,now can’t put it down insane Bass lot of $ but worth it just needed time to settle in..and a vintage micro tubes pedal on 70s side .Full send as we say .
Me then: 6 strings, active, long scale, all the knobs and switches!!!
Me now: Passive, medium scale (32”), 5 string.
Me now: Passive, medium scale (32”), 5 string.
Simpler.
'69 Les Paul Bass rewired to stereo, 5 way pickup selector, neck/both/bridge/stereo/reverse stereo.
Explorer body with Thunderbird pickups vol/vol pickup selector neck/stereo/bridge no tone pots
MIJ Dan Armstrong
Modified U-Bass with DiMarzio "rail" pickup. No controls. When you are 3' from the amp you don't need them. Alembic F2-B preamp.
'69 Les Paul Bass rewired to stereo, 5 way pickup selector, neck/both/bridge/stereo/reverse stereo.
Explorer body with Thunderbird pickups vol/vol pickup selector neck/stereo/bridge no tone pots
MIJ Dan Armstrong
Modified U-Bass with DiMarzio "rail" pickup. No controls. When you are 3' from the amp you don't need them. Alembic F2-B preamp.
