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Help: I don't know what I want anymore

#81
The thing (for me) about having just one bass is you have to really know it which takes some time to suss out. It would drive me mad trying to figure out all the settings on one bass for each musical application if the bass had eq switches and bells and whistles. I use a different bass for different applications.
 
#82
J_Bass said:
I'm missing something here.

How many basses do you guys take to a show? 2? 4? 10? One per song?

One or two pedals, a bass with some options, like active/passive and 2 band eq, so that you don't have to mess with the amp, tone shaping with the right hand, and let's go.
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An even better question: how many singers do you guys take to a show? :laugh:
 
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#85
My answer might be a little out of left field, but here goes:

What about a Fender Player series Mustang with a switchable active/passive preamp installed?

The L2000 is a fantastic choice and incredibly versatile, but, for my money, my Mustang is the most playable bass I own—I just love the neck and the weight. Plus, while it lacks the versatility of the L2000 it gets a lot of breadth simply. If you added a switchable preamp to that I think you’d have a ton of tonal options at your fingertips in a very playable package.

Finally, I’ll add that I find the playability of the Mustang increases its versatility. Namely, I keep rounds on it because it’s so very easy to palm mute due to its length.

Good luck with the search!
 
#86
IMG-4058.jpg
 
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#88
e 45-105 h
Gorn said:
Maybe experiment with some new strings on the basses you have before you spend three grand?
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I have to agree. My 4HH Stingray Special wears flats - just like 20 of my 23 basses do. After listening to some "Stingray with flats", demos, I chose the strings that one guy liked best; the 45-105 Galli JF4505 Jazz Flats. I have to say; he was right. All the low end you could want, but plenty of low-mids, as well. They have good mids and highs for those harmonics, too. Plus, they are fairly flexible; they broke in quickly (for flats), and I didn't find them sticky at all. What I did find, is that they are as smooth and slick as wet ice. I don't use pedals/effects at all, but between the bass' pre-amp and the amp, I can make the bass sound like pretty much anything I'd want. You just might like them, too...:cool:

4SG said:
You lost me at “I don’t like owning more than one bass.”
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Well, as you can see from the above post, we are at different ends of the "how many Basses" spectrum, but... no worries; you do you. Again. I think you might like the Gallis - or any "Modern" sounding, midrange forward flats. I use all kinds of flats on all kinds of basses, and the "modern" flats are by far the most versatile of them all...:)
 
#90
REV said:
Flats on the Stingray? Jazz bass neck on the P bass?
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Yeah; why not? As you can see above, I'm rockin' flats on my Stingray (Special); I'm not alone, either... As for "Jazz neck on the P bass"? My '78 Fender P-Bass doesn't have a Jazz neck - not exactly, anyway. It came from Fullerton with the optional "A" contour neck; which, except for the block inlays, is pretty much identical to a Jazz neck. I've been happily playing it for the last 33 years, too... If it had come to me with the stock '78 neck? I probably wouldn't have bought it; and if I had? That neck would have gone bye-bye pretty quick. Lots of people have Jazz necks on their P-Basses...:cool:
 
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#92
GIBrat51 said:
e 45-105 h
I have to agree. My 4HH Stingray Special wears flats - just like 20 of my 23 basses do. After listening to some "Stingray with flats", demos, I chose the strings that one guy liked best; the 45-105 Galli JF4505 Jazz Flats. I have to say; he was right. All the low end you could want, but plenty of low-mids, as well. They have good mids and highs for those harmonics, too. Plus, they are fairly flexible; they broke in quickly (for flats), and I didn't find them sticky at all. What I did find, is that they are as smooth and slick as wet ice. I don't use pedals/effects at all, but between the bass' pre-amp and the amp, I can make the bass sound like pretty much anything I'd want. You just might like them, too...:cool:


Well, as you can see from the above post, we are at different ends of the "how many Basses" spectrum, but... no worries; you do you. Again. I think you might like the Gallis - or any "Modern" sounding, midrange forward flats. I use all kinds of flats on all kinds of basses, and the "modern" flats are by far the most versatile of them all...:)
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How are the Gallis tension wise?
 
#93
Medium scale 32".....thank me later...those Serek basses look nice but the prices!!! lots of medium scale basses out there online from boutique $$$$ to inexpensive $....medium scale is just so comfy with a thud in the fundamental.....
 
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#97
Go find a Music Man Big Al SSS. They’re not super easy to find because they’ve been discontinued, but there are always 1 or 2 on the interwebs for sale. You can get just about any tone you want out of it. 1.5” nut with a tremendously comfortable profile, 3 humbucking single coils (arranged like a Stratocaster), an 18V preamp with 4 band controls, active/passive switching with a passive tone control, even a series mode for the back 2 pups if you need that extra punch. It really is the most versatile bass I’ve ever played. It can be your Swiss Army knife. It can pretty much do it all.
 
#99
JazzyJacuzzi said:
How are the Gallis tension wise?
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IMO, They're pretty similar to Fender 9050L flats. Tension, as in "lbs. of pull needed to bring strings to pitch"? About average for flats of that gauge; tension isn't as low as the 142.6 lbs. of TI Jazz Flats, but nowhere near the 214.4 lbs. of the Roto RS77LD Monel Flats. If you mean "tension", as in "Stiffness"? Again, they're about average. Not as flexible as the TIJFs, but not as stiff as most La Bella DTFs. Except for the tone (which is a little more on the on the "bassy" side), and the feel (smoother, and not as sticky right out of the package), Gallis are a lot like the Fenders. In fact, they would be a possible choice, too. I have the 9050L's on a couple of my basses, and I quite like them...:cool:
 
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#100
JazzyJacuzzi said:
TL;DR: I need a light versatile bass that can get me from Gloria Jones' Tainted Love to Muse's Starlight, passing by Dua Lipa's Don't Start Now and Queen's Don't Stop Now.

I've been playing bass for over 15 years now and have owned quite a few Jazzes, Precisions, PJs, Stingrays and even a Warwick at one point. In the past two years, I've had an American Original 60s Jazz and American Original 60s Precision, which I have recently sold for a Music Man Stingray Special HH.

Thing is, I don't like owning more than one bass. I always end up playing my favourite one and leaving the others in the closet.

I loved the tone of the Precision with La Bella flats best, but it didn't work for the faster songs and those where the bass needed to cut through the mix. The nut width (1.73) wasn't the greatest either. The Jazz worked for those songs, but sounded thin for modern pop.

I like the feel of the Stingray HH, but I don't know about the tone. It works great for some things, but too hi-fi or aggressive on other things.

I've been going around music stores trying stuff this past week, but most of them don't have all that many basses. I really enjoyed the Squier 60s Mustang. I've been eyeing Serek basses for a while and was thinking maybe I could get them to build a short scale versatile bass, but I'm worried having a short scale bass as my sole instrument will be limiting. I also really enjoyed the American Professional II Precision. But again, it's not the most versatile instrument.

But again, everything seems, I don't know, disappointing? What would you be looking at with $3k?
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How about putting round wounds on your P bass for a brighter sound. Turning down the tone control and/or a bit of foam under the strings at the bridge will give you that Motown vibe.
 

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