Have your tastes changed over time?

[MCS4]

A couple of decades later I'm still primarily an active, four-string, j-style type of player for most gigs and recording sessions. However, as time has gone by the percentage of time I spend jamming on other instruments for a change of pace or chasing a different type of tone or vibe has increased, particularly when playing at home or creating random music for myself -- although a lot of that is simply that I am lucky enough now to have the ability to own multiple basses and therefore can keep a few different options around that don't fit my standard sound.

 

[BarfanyShart]

I'm just a lot more open minded than I used to be. In addition to finally switching to BG as my primary instrument over DB (a hangup that actually kept me away from music for a decade), I'm using digital effects, short scales, experimenting with strings and tunings, etc.

 

[JimB52]

Always liked Fenders, particularly the Precision body and Jazz neck.
Started combining them about 12-15 years ago.

 

[G On Bass]

Then:
35", 19mm 5 strings ONLY, preferably through-body
Stiffest hexcore nickel stings I could find
15" cabs ONLY
1000W amps

Now:
34", 18mm 5 strings preferred
Light gauge stainless and flats
10" cabs, 12" cabs, whatever
Ear protection and just enough power to be heard.

 

[bucephylus]

The main thing that has changed for me is that my gigs have become much more limited. 20 years ago, I was doing Blues, R&B, Classic Rock, Jazz, Pit Orchestra etc etc. Almost anything that involved bass guitar. It just seems like much of that has dried up, with some gigs in the Classic Rock / R&B vein still going on.

So, most of my gigs are in that Classic Rock / R&B landscape. I’m still clinging to the instruments that I used to be able to use for the Jazz / Improv gigs; but, to be honest they are kind of gathering dust a bit. Which makes me sad.

The Classic Rock / R&B material does have a pretty wide range of mostly Fender-ish bass tones. I’ve gotten pretty absorbed by being able to cop that spectrum. This is the main instrument I’ve been using for that purpose.

 

[lbbc]

I think tastes change as we get older...some for aesthetics, sound, weight, scale length, type of neck etc.
Basses---I played whatever I could afford when first starting out (in 1973...30" Aria Beatle Bass). Then went through the Fender Pbass phase, then exclusively 34" active basses, then exclusively 34" passive basses. Now, I have 2--32" scale 24 fret basses...a 1986 Alembic Persuader and a 2013 Dave Pushic Custom Built bass.
Strings--whatever was available at my local music store until 10 years ago. Since then, exclusively SIT Powerwounds Medium gauge.
Amps--staryed with a Goya "The Tokyo Sound" bass combo, Peavey TNT combo, Ampeg SVT w/810 cab, Marshall 100 watt bass head w/Peavey 215 cab, Carvin 300 head w/Carvin 115 cab, Wharfedale 200C combo and for the last 8 years...Genz Benz 6.0 12T or 210T combo

Tastes and needs change but now at the ripe old age of 63....I think I am done

 

[mrcbass]

For sure. The deeper I get into this journey, the more I see my tastes change.

Took me several years before I "got" the difference between a P and J. Latched on to P exclusively for many years now, but am now finding a situation where a J is an option that would help.

Loved the feel and sound of flats for many years, but am now finding that rounds have a bit more versatility.

An like probably many of us, I go in and out of favor regarding use of effect pedals. This is typically situational and my preference is to not use them, but there are some cases where they make a difference in the band's sound.

In a broader spectrum, I used to take the hardline of "need to be generating income" from a band situation and actual kind of broke up a cool project I was working with because we had no gigging prospects after a year and a half. I now regret that choice. There are still some situations where there needs to be income stream for me to participate, but I am now in a project that is fun and therapeutic. We have intentions to gig, but if I worried about progress (they tend to be way slower than me in terms of developing new songs) that we're making, I'd go crazy. I have other gig outlets, so I'm just content to enjoy the ride on that one.

In terms of gig pay, I used to care a little more than I do now, but I'm at an age where potential stage time is running out, so my NEED from music is performing, not so much income.

 

[FirewalZ]

My tastes what what i prefer tonally absolutely changes and evolves over time. Every few years or so I find myself preferring different bass's and tone's.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

My tastes have come more or less full-circle as far as tone and bass shape is concerned.

I started with a pair Stingray’s (fretted and fretless), then traded the fretless for an L2500 plus cash. This lasted me about 10 years.

Then I went through a phase where I was looking for something different, and was on a Warwick infatuation kick. I wanted a Thumb 5 oh so badly! I never got the Thumb but I did go through a revolving door of a bunch of cheap basses from Rondo to find out what I was looking for. I also had a few Squier Jazz basses that never seemed to be keepers.

I wound up settling on a Dean Sledgehammer 5 that I added a 2nd pickup to - it was like a cross between a Thumb and an MTD Super5. I had that for 10 years. I wound up selling the Stingray.

Then I got another Squier Jazz V and went into a Jazz phase, and actually wound up with 3 Jazz shaped objects - Fretted 5, a fretless 5, and the monstrosity in my Avatar - a Jazz V body/neck with two MM pickups, like a poor-man’s Sandberg TM2, my “S[qu]andberg”.

But now, I am seriously GASsing for another Stingray…

Full-Circle…

[but I still have no love for Headless, multi-scale, or headless multi-scale…]

 

[luciens]

My taste in basses changed pretty dramatically when I finally gave up trying to be a musician. And decided that I was only ever going to be just a bass player (I'm like the Salieri character in Amadeus: "why did God give me such a love of music, but leave me mute?"). So since I don't make my own music or compose, I no longer need all the strings I used to have, and have gone back to basic 4 string basses.

Also, like most of us older guys, I've been rediscovering the disco/soul/funk "classics" going back to the 70's and 80's and so forth. So that has influenced the kinds of basses I'm attracted to also.

So after years of 5 and 6 strings, my current stable is a Tony Franklin and a Jaco Artist Jazz bass. And a fretted L2000 for when I really feel like using a thermonuclear weapon..


L

 

[TTA]

Same

Yes, mostly aesthetic - I used to love coffee table, ultra-convoluted fancy top woods. These days I need light classic colors (sonic blue, surf green, vintage white).

Also have finally admitted, after decades playing and many basses, that nothing really floats my boat like a passive JJ, maybe with a series/parallel push pull but that's as far out as I go

Same… i prefer solid colours now… not fancy woods.

bjt o went from passive to being quite happy with active. I just needed to find a preamp that i actually felt was worth using (darkglass). The frequencies are very useful for bass.

 

[drumvsbass]

The idea of what a perfect bass tone is, and that being one singular thing.

 

[Rob112]

I went through a Warwick phase, then a fender phase, and now I’m loving Ibanez premium stuff which ironically I used to think was not that great of a brand. As I get older I realize I like them all in there own way, but until my kids are older it’s hard to convince my wife I need more gear than I have. Maybe there is some good tip threads on the topic? Haha

I feel like you can make something decent out if almost anything, and do not shut down musical experience with biases. There is typically a reason why many things stay on the market; it’s someone’s bag.

 

[Diminishedfilth]

About 20 years ago, I got into 5-string basses, and of course, I took everything I read as gospel. Had to be 35” scale, neck-through, multi-laminate, exotic woods, NASA grade electronics, so that’s what I bought. After a hiatus from playing music, the Covid-19 lockdown got me back into playing again, exchanging ideas with some old band mates through DAW, and wanted another BEADG. I just went with a Fender Jazz V. It’s no slouch, it’s an American Deluxe with blocks, binding and an EMG pickup swap, and it’s my favorite horse, but I could definitely see my 25 year-old, know-it-all self, simply dismissing the idea of such blasphemy… “ 34” scale extended range?”

 

[mellowgerman]

When I first started a little over 20 years ago, I lusted after 5-string ESP, Ibanez, and Warwick basses, Gibson Thunderbirds and Explorers, and crazy designs like those being made by Basslabs at the time.
Within about 5-6 years, my music taste had shifted and I discovered Jefferson Airplane. Once I figured out that Jack Casady was getting that tone with a Guild Starfire bass, I knew I had to get my hands on one. When I finally did in 2009, there was no going back. I've still tried droves of other basses since, but at this point, my two old Starfires, strung with Maxima flats are really all I need.

 

[GreyBeard]

Certainly, when I first heard classical music it all sounded the same, now I have tons of recordings and can tell the difference between different conductors on the same piece of music. When I started playing electric bass I went for the deepest tone I could get, now I go for a more balanced tone.

 

[Mili]

Yes, From smooth tone of Pbass to Growly Jazz Bass tone. Actually I love growl and I will be so happy if I know how can I have growl with PBass and La Bella Flats!

 

[neddyrow]

Thanks for all the replies!

I really enjoyed reading your replies. They really run the spectrum of no change to 180 to full circle back to the old stand by. Very interesting bunch you guys are.

As for amps and cabs - I have changed quite a bit. I thought 15" were the only way to go but now all I have are 8" cabs. I Have a Revsound 48VT, MAS 18 and 28. As for amps, the same. I went from heavy tube to solid state to class D. I love my 2 Acoustic Image Amps. Since I love my bass tone (Strictly Nordstrands), I like the flat amplification of the AI heads and 8" speakers. I do also have a Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 so I can add a little tube growl when the feeling arises.

 

[Bright Midnight]

Not that much.
My old collection.
View attachment 4574854
Some from my new collection.
View attachment 4574855View attachment 4574856View attachment 4574858

@JD, that looks like you have way too many basses my good man. We've been hearing dire warnings from professionals on Talkbass that owning too many basses is detrimental to your health. A simple cure is to send some of them to some of those Talkbass brothers. We can give you some addresses. PM me for further help.

 

[jd56hawk]

@JD, that looks like you have way too many basses my good man. We've been hearing dire warnings from professionals on Talkbass that owning too many basses is detrimental to your health. A simple cure is to send some of them to some of those Talkbass brothers. We can give you some addresses. PM me for further help.

I'm actually giving two away...none of those in the photos, though!