Have you got fast basses and slow basses?

[terribilino]

Weird question, I know, but I remember watching a youtube video of MarloweDK introducing his basses, and at one point he was extolling the virtues of his Marcus Miller, saying that it was 'faster' than the other jazz bass he'd just introduced. But he still had that other bass. So maybe he had it for sentimental reasons, or maybe because he's a pro and he knows that for certain kinds of gigs, that bass is fine.

I am most definitely not a pro - I admit it, I'm probably in contention for the worst TBer (I've got a day job, though!) - and I've only got one bass. But I was wondering: do any of you pros or serious amateurs have 'faster' basses for certain kinds of music? And what makes it faster? Is it the the string tension, the string gauge, the low action, etc? And if you do have one, why do you keep your 'slower' bass(es)?

Thanks!

 

[Matt-77]

My Ric is a slow bass and lets you know it, I have to attack it first before it attacks me but good for the heavier style of dirty rock we play. If I wanna get some twiddly bits into the mix or a solo I go for my Ibanez SR1500 the slim profile neck is a breeze to fly up and down on. I have a P bass copy that I use to practice in the house with a neck and string spacing that is a bitch to play but if I master anything on that I know I'll breeze it on my other basses. When gigging I always take the Ibanez and another bass that pretty much just takes my fancy on the day, I'm using the Jag at the moment as a general all rounder with a quick neck also it gives me the grunt and clean sound I use but doesn't quite have the mellow active sound I like with the Ibanez.

 

[not_jason]

My EB3 and my roommates old P-Bass are both sluggish basses. They have their own sort of appeal. You have to be much more deliberate when you play them, and I think that often results in better playing. For me at least.

 

[Pilgrim]

I have fast and slow finger days - but no fast and slow basses. I would imagine that as the action gets higher on a bass, it effectively becomes "slower".

 

[Kwesi]

I think that the only thing that can make a bass "fast" or "slow" are the overall ergonomics, neck shape and finish, body shape, and string type (SS vs. Nickel). Even then I hesitate at calling any bass fast or slow because while some basses seem to encourage faster playing (Ibanezs, 70s Jazzes, Elricks) others aren't so much (Some Warwicks, P Basses) but there are so many people that play however they like despite the speed that bass may "inspire". My Spectors didn't have the fastest neck profiles but I was able to play them as fast as any other bass because they felt comfortable to me and though it may have been an adjustment at first I like the bass enough to get past that.

It's pretty much up to you, not the bass but everyone has their own preferences.

 

[M.Wrenn]

All of my basses have their uses. Some are "faster" purely because the necks are thinner, the action is lower, and they have a large string gauge, but the only reason they are faster is because I prefer those specs. My "slower" basses have their uses (they are generally brighter than my others for funk, rock, etc., and one is fretless) and i believe you should never get rid of a bass if its useful to you, and unless the neck youre playing on is a branch with a 13 lbs headstock and the strings are an inch and a half of the board, your speed really shouldnt change THAT much from bass to bass anyway

 

[vinxbass]

My American Standard Jazz V is a med-slow bass. I've got a Carvin LB75AP Anniversary that I would say is my fast bass. The strings on it are closer together so it makes it a bit faster to play on.

 

[terribilino]

All of my basses have their uses. Some are "faster" purely because the necks are thinner, the action is lower, and they have a large string gauge, but the only reason they are faster is because I prefer those specs. My "slower" basses have their uses (they are generally brighter than my others for funk, rock, etc., and one is fretless) and i believe you should never get rid of a bass if its useful to you, and unless the neck youre playing on is a branch with a 13 lbs headstock and the strings are an inch and a half of the board, your speed really shouldnt change THAT much from bass to bass anyway

You find the larger string gauge plays faster? That really intrigues me, because I want to try something larger when I next change strings. I thought thinner was supposed to be faster. (You say, of course, that it's your personal preference that determines that, but still, I find it interesting. I was really happy when I went from the a light gauge d'addario round wound to a medium gauge, and I want to go even thicker - or maybe flatwound, dunno yet... ).

 

[Jefenator]

I don't usually think in those terms. Maybe that's because I instinctively set up most of my axes for "slow". That means: higher action, thick flatwound strings and sometimes a foam mute.

But when I play the Dingwall 6-string, with its thinner strings, comfy neck and low setup, I feel like a jackrabbit. So I suppose that would be my "fast" axe.

It's unclear to me whether MarloweDK was referring to ergos or sonic response. Both certainly come in to play. And faster isn't necessarily better.

 

[Bassmickeyd]

I believe fast and slow refers to the shape of the neck and the finish on the neck. The finish on the back of the neck can slow your hand down while moving up and down the neck. I prefer to either remove the finish or use steel wool to buff it down. I've always found 70's Fender bass necks slower than 60's necks.

 

[M.Wrenn]

You find the larger string gauge plays faster? That really intrigues me, because I want to try something larger when I next change strings. I thought thinner was supposed to be faster. (You say, of course, that it's your personal preference that determines that, but still, I find it interesting. I was really happy when I went from the a light gauge d'addario round wound to a medium gauge, and I want to go even thicker - or maybe flatwound, dunno yet... ).

I have a really light touch so I feel like I get a better response with less pressure from the heavier gauge, if youre the same way you'll probably like heavier gauge strings. Flats are kind of interesting, I'm not a huge fan of them but I can definitely play fast with flats, the texture of the string just isn't my thing, I'd definitely give em a shot if I were you.

 

[terribilino]

I don't usually think in those terms. Maybe that's because I instinctively set up most of my axes for "slow". That means: higher action, thick flatwound strings and sometimes a foam mute.

But when I play the Dingwall 6-string, with its thinner strings, comfy neck and low setup, I feel like a jackrabbit. So I suppose that would be my "fast" axe.

It's unclear to me whether MarloweDK was referring to ergos or sonic response. Both certainly come in to play. And faster isn't necessarily better.

Here's the link. From about 3:00 to 4:30. He says the reason he uses the Marcus Miller is 'playability'... ie. he can play faster on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZQUkLwwoB0

 

[MagnusNord]

My friend has an Ibanez SR400 and it "feels" way faster, and lighter and has a slimmer neck but I still prefer my ray. I like the heft and thicker neck and plus the Ibanez's tone is no as versatile.

 

[Luckie]

Jaco called frets speedbumps...

 

[Thorsoundcore]

honestly, i don't think that its just the fretboard that makes it seem "fast" or "slow", i think the neck has something to do it.
epiphone thunderbird= moderatly fast/slow fretboard.SLOWWWWWWWWWWW neck..

and that would be because of the finish on it.

 

[terribilino]

Thanks all!

 

[J. Crawford]

I have fast and slow finger days - but no fast and slow basses. I would imagine that as the action gets higher on a bass, it effectively becomes "slower".

This is exactly how I feel. Some days I can pull off Pino runs, and other days I can barely play a major scale.

 

[NorCal Dog]

ya,, my slow basses usually hangout, stacked in the corner

while my fast basses get loaded up & travel close to 80mph to gigs