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Help: I don't know what I want anymore
- Thread starter JazzyJacuzzi
- Start date
Sometimes, I just switch between active and passive, from a tune to another. The volume output is the same, Yamaha made sure of that. Other times I just change the treble or the bass in the pre-amp.
I have had Fender, Warwick, Sandberg, Sei, Ibanez, now I have a Maruszczyk, a Serek, and the only bass I use with this band is the Yamaha.
I have had Fender, Warwick, Sandberg, Sei, Ibanez, now I have a Maruszczyk, a Serek, and the only bass I use with this band is the Yamaha.
The justifications for Western consumption culture never contract, but only ever expand, huh?
OP, I applaud you for wanting to keep it simple, for going deep instead of wide, and for pushing back against the groupthink.
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I'm generally a passive bass guy myself, but to do what the OP is asking I'm wondering if something with a good preamp that can switch active/passive would do the trick. Maybe a Carvin/Kiesel? I remember trying one out at a GTG with the switch and the 18v preamp made for some really dramatic changes in tone.
Another one that comes to mind is the original Godin Shifter, if you can find one - three pickups and six different tonal configurations. That was a flexible bass.
Another one that comes to mind is the original Godin Shifter, if you can find one - three pickups and six different tonal configurations. That was a flexible bass.
BobDeRosa
Commercial User
- May 16, 2012
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- Owner, Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps
You might not like owning more than one bass, but with the breadth of your demands (which are all over the map), you better get used to it. Are you the same way when buying a car or a house? Yikes!
It's not the bass that has to be versatile, it's you
Based on what you said, I'd look for a bass with standard size soapbars (Bart or EMG sizes) in about J positions, and audition a few pickup sets to see what works for you. I'd start with Nordstrand Big Splits in it, they sound a bit like P and a bit like J pickups, so between all the pickup selection options you can cover a lot of ground. If you don't mind singlecoil hum and want a bit more edge, Big Singles work great too. There are also many other Nordstrand designs in soapbar size, and many pickup makers make many models in these sizes too.
For sure use roundwounds. You can get a good "flats" sound with muting. A small cap in parallel with the pickup(s) might help too...
If you want to experiment a bit, try also wiring your P bass in parallel, and use small caps to tune the resonant frequency. There's a lot more range in a P bass that way. Or, use a J bass and add small caps to make it darker and bolder. You can also buy a pre-assembled cap switch, like Stellartone Tonestyler. There are some pretty good clips on Youtube that give you an idea what type of sounds you get.
Based on what you said, I'd look for a bass with standard size soapbars (Bart or EMG sizes) in about J positions, and audition a few pickup sets to see what works for you. I'd start with Nordstrand Big Splits in it, they sound a bit like P and a bit like J pickups, so between all the pickup selection options you can cover a lot of ground. If you don't mind singlecoil hum and want a bit more edge, Big Singles work great too. There are also many other Nordstrand designs in soapbar size, and many pickup makers make many models in these sizes too.
For sure use roundwounds. You can get a good "flats" sound with muting. A small cap in parallel with the pickup(s) might help too...
If you want to experiment a bit, try also wiring your P bass in parallel, and use small caps to tune the resonant frequency. There's a lot more range in a P bass that way. Or, use a J bass and add small caps to make it darker and bolder. You can also buy a pre-assembled cap switch, like Stellartone Tonestyler. There are some pretty good clips on Youtube that give you an idea what type of sounds you get.
I would be looking at a Sandberg, maybe one of their California TM Superlites. I am in Europe, though, where shipping from Germany isn’t a problem.
After 20 years of playing, the L2000 Tribute is what I settled for. It's Swiss knife and it sounds so good.
My suggestion is to play with strings a little more. If I was stuck with one bass, I would try GHS pressurewounds, EB cobalt flats and TI jazz flats in that order. IMO, those strings do the best job at covering the most ground. Pair them with a PJ or dual humbucker bass like the L2000 or a Stingray Special HH and you have a very versatile instrument.
Maybe that's why I own a L2000 and a T40, two really versatile basses make me twice as versatile.
And my T40 was converted to fretless before I found it, and now has flats on it.
You've been looking in the completely wrong direction.
What you really want is a pedal board!
Get one with room for around 8 Pedals and a quality power supply like a Cioks DC-7 plus a tuner.
From there, start filling up space with at least two preamps and a compressor for utility, plus a HPF because talkbass insists on these.
What you really want is a pedal board!
Get one with room for around 8 Pedals and a quality power supply like a Cioks DC-7 plus a tuner.
From there, start filling up space with at least two preamps and a compressor for utility, plus a HPF because talkbass insists on these.
This right here. Active/Passive Everything from warm and subdued to bright and clanky... and if your extended range requirements don't take you lower than D, you can forget about a 5 string. $3K might be tough in today's market, but they do exist.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I think you just enjoy GAS. There is no "magic" instrument.
I totally get your preference for owning one bass!
The way I see it, you need two pickups, versatile strings, and - maybe - a preamp or pedal of some sort to expand your tonal options.
It sounds like you've bonded least with your Stingray. Your Jazz, on the other hand, sounds like it's almost there: What about adding a preamp or a pedal to your Jazz to fatten up the sound when needed? Or perhaps changing to a thicker-sounding set of pickups?
In terms of new basses: A PJ offers a degree of sonic versatility alongside the straight-up P sound you like. And as has been suggested, the L-2000 is very versatile (if you get a G&L, don't forget to use the volume control as part of the tone stack). Another idea would be a P-MM, for instance from Sandberg or Maruszczyk.
For versatile strings that respond well to different playing techniques and bass/amp settings, two stand out to me: GHS Pressurewounds and Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Rounds.
Finally, I don't have much experience with preamps or pedals, so I can't offer anything beyond suggesting that they could be a tool further expand the sonic palette of your bass. (In the meantime, don't forget that there are bunch of knobs on your amp...)
The way I see it, you need two pickups, versatile strings, and - maybe - a preamp or pedal of some sort to expand your tonal options.
It sounds like you've bonded least with your Stingray. Your Jazz, on the other hand, sounds like it's almost there: What about adding a preamp or a pedal to your Jazz to fatten up the sound when needed? Or perhaps changing to a thicker-sounding set of pickups?
In terms of new basses: A PJ offers a degree of sonic versatility alongside the straight-up P sound you like. And as has been suggested, the L-2000 is very versatile (if you get a G&L, don't forget to use the volume control as part of the tone stack). Another idea would be a P-MM, for instance from Sandberg or Maruszczyk.
For versatile strings that respond well to different playing techniques and bass/amp settings, two stand out to me: GHS Pressurewounds and Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Rounds.
Finally, I don't have much experience with preamps or pedals, so I can't offer anything beyond suggesting that they could be a tool further expand the sonic palette of your bass. (In the meantime, don't forget that there are bunch of knobs on your amp...)
A lot of great advice in this thread. Worth taking your time and considering all these many options (instruments, effects / amps, playing technique, methods for dialing in tone, picking specific strings, etc.).
What I personally ended up doing, after having owned a variety of basses, is going with one style of bass ( to keep them very similar feeling in my hands) that I liked the best. For what I do, there is enough variation (strings, electronics) to serve my needs through having mulitple versions of the same style instrument. I'm not really an effects guy (yet) but I did go with the same general amp as well (different sizes for different rooms) that I could afford AND fit in my car
Take your time, see if a particular line of basses feels best in your hands. Try different strings. Try dialing in different sounds. See if a pedal board adds to that. See if another amp works better for the sounds you're looking for. I would think you can find solutions to suit all your needs, given enough time.
What I personally ended up doing, after having owned a variety of basses, is going with one style of bass ( to keep them very similar feeling in my hands) that I liked the best. For what I do, there is enough variation (strings, electronics) to serve my needs through having mulitple versions of the same style instrument. I'm not really an effects guy (yet) but I did go with the same general amp as well (different sizes for different rooms) that I could afford AND fit in my car
Take your time, see if a particular line of basses feels best in your hands. Try different strings. Try dialing in different sounds. See if a pedal board adds to that. See if another amp works better for the sounds you're looking for. I would think you can find solutions to suit all your needs, given enough time.
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i'd just source the best sounding and playing bass with 60's jazz bass style electronics.
it's impossible to be more versatile.
it's impossible to be more versatile.
IMO/IME, the Sadowsky preamp with the VTC really adds a lot to the J Bass platform. Consider a used Metro JJ or PJ.
Another option worth considering is a Lakland with the J/MM configuration. Incredibly versatile, though I wish they had a passive tone control.
Another option worth considering is a Lakland with the J/MM configuration. Incredibly versatile, though I wish they had a passive tone control.
I agree with advice on trying an G&L L2000/2500.
That said, any one bass will be a compromise. The G&L won't do a P bass as good as a P bass does. It won't do a Jazz bass as good as a Jazz does. It won't do a Stingray as good as a Ray does. It won't do a Hofner Beatle bass at all. It won't do any kind of semi-hollow tone.
It WILL be incredibly versatile. It WILL go from very edgy, modern tones to warm and thick tones. It gets in the same neighborhood as a P, a J, and a Ray.
Another thing to consider would be a few pedals. You will also need several different EQ options. Perhaps the Source Audio EQ would get you done. You'll need a mild overdrive. A compressor wouldn't hurt either. (Those G&L MFD pickups are HOT!) A two-channel amp like the Mesa TT800 would be another way to get you to the Swiss Army knife of bass gear.
Many of us have gone down this (bumpy, steep, rocky) road. Most of us get to a point where we compromise. And that's not a bad thing.
I play in a cover band that handles everything from modern country to old soul to pop to funk to rock. I have a pretty versatile bass. But it doesn't "nail" every tone. I have a Mesa TT800 with the Boogie Channel set to an old-school tone, and the Subway Channel set to a more "modern" tone. But it doesn't "nail" and Ampeg SVT or a GK 800RB or an Eden World Tour or a Fender Bassman or a Fliptop or (you get the point).
Here's the thing. Nobody cares. Get close. Nail the songs. Put on a show.
Do all of that and both you AND your audience will have a blast. Don't bang your head against a wall trying to chase after every tone on every song. You don't play like all of the players on the original recordings anyway. It's a fight you can't win. But, then again, you don't have to.
That said, any one bass will be a compromise. The G&L won't do a P bass as good as a P bass does. It won't do a Jazz bass as good as a Jazz does. It won't do a Stingray as good as a Ray does. It won't do a Hofner Beatle bass at all. It won't do any kind of semi-hollow tone.
It WILL be incredibly versatile. It WILL go from very edgy, modern tones to warm and thick tones. It gets in the same neighborhood as a P, a J, and a Ray.
Another thing to consider would be a few pedals. You will also need several different EQ options. Perhaps the Source Audio EQ would get you done. You'll need a mild overdrive. A compressor wouldn't hurt either. (Those G&L MFD pickups are HOT!) A two-channel amp like the Mesa TT800 would be another way to get you to the Swiss Army knife of bass gear.
Many of us have gone down this (bumpy, steep, rocky) road. Most of us get to a point where we compromise. And that's not a bad thing.
I play in a cover band that handles everything from modern country to old soul to pop to funk to rock. I have a pretty versatile bass. But it doesn't "nail" every tone. I have a Mesa TT800 with the Boogie Channel set to an old-school tone, and the Subway Channel set to a more "modern" tone. But it doesn't "nail" and Ampeg SVT or a GK 800RB or an Eden World Tour or a Fender Bassman or a Fliptop or (you get the point).
Here's the thing. Nobody cares. Get close. Nail the songs. Put on a show.
Do all of that and both you AND your audience will have a blast. Don't bang your head against a wall trying to chase after every tone on every song. You don't play like all of the players on the original recordings anyway. It's a fight you can't win. But, then again, you don't have to.
