how has your taste in basses changed?

[Adhesive_X]

Started with PJ then JJ then double soapbars.....now all my basses are HH or H.
Also, I went through a it has to be a graphite neck phase for years. Now they're all gone.
The only bass that still intrigues me that's not an H is a Thumb 5.

 

[Pet Sounds]

I've always been drawn to what I call the major food groups of bass: Fender Precision Bass, Fender Jazz Bass, Rickenbacker, Hofner and StingRay -- and I own examples of each. But I've played out with a P-Bass w/flats almost exclusively since the mid '90s because that's how long I've been in a Motown/Stax band. It's always been the right tool for the job.
In recent years, I've been also playing in a classic rock band and the soul band has been playing more '70s funk, so I've been playing my Nash J-63 J-Bass with rounds and it works surprisingly well with both bands. I still love my P-Basses, but it's been fun to explore the Jazz.

 

[FloydianAnimal]

My preferences at a high level have changed from favoring active 5 string basses to favoring passive 4 string basses (or simple active controls like a 2 band EBMM Stingray). I still own a couple active 5 strings but I used to own a handful- now I have 8 basses with 6 of them being 4 strings and of those 4 are passive and 2 of them are simple active.

 

[Sid Fang]

Two things that don't bother me, and that I don't even really think about, are scale and nut width. I'm surprised at the obsession. For me, those are like dating a girl who has blonde hair or brown hair. Either is fine as long as the whole thing works.

I don't know about "obsession", for some of us, it's an issue. I spent 30 years playing basses that had very different materials, electronics, and layouts, but all of which followed the Fender model of 34" scale and 19mm string spacing at the bridge. My fingers and brain know that geometry too well. When I bought my first 5-string, I bought it on the basis of tone, sustain, and left-hand playability, and ended up with a Schecter Stiletto Elite, 35", 16.5mm. Wonderful bass for the money. But after playing it for months, it became clear that, while my big hands had little problem working the longer scale, the tighter spacing played Hell with my right hand plucking reflexes. Some people adjust quickly and without even thinking about it, but not me, not on the right hand. I'm sure I could have trained for it with enough investment of time and effort, but given the family and the day job, I don't have unlimited practice time, and I wanted to use the time I had on writing and learning new material. Limiting my 5ers to 18-19mm just seems to be the better option, given that there are excellent 18mm spaced instruments out there.

 

[Yellow Bang66]

when i first started playing bass in 1994 and for years after, i played black PJ basses with rosewood fingerboards. then i changed... i started thinking a little variety couldn't hurt. i got a minty green (ibanez called it lime) mikro. i enjoyed it. the world didn't end.

now i have a red bronco (maple neck, fingerboard is part of the neck), a surf green mustang, a wood finish GSR100EX, a roadster orange mezzo (i always like that orange, but it didn't used to fit in with my dark color scheme). i also owned a sunburst traveler TB-4P that i sold.... apparently along with all my black basses. my semi-hollow ibanez SRH500 doesn't even come in black.

when i went to order my smallguitars.com bass, i went with daphne blue, and it was then that i realized both of my black basses, only bought to mod, aren't even with the basses i currently play. * gasp *

and the only bass i'm pondering now is a short scale EBMM stingray. not a PJ, not black.

i also moved from long scale to short scale, but that wasn't so much taste as injury. on the other hand, i love my short scales - i just hadn't given any a chance before that. sort of a machismo thing - can women have machismo?

so what - if anything - has changed when it comes to your bass taste / preferences?

For some reason I really like, metallic finishes, i really dislike old pastel paint jobs ( butterscotch, daphne/sonic blue) but they are growing on me!also tobacco bursts looked really dated & old fashion to me on the cusp of tacky looking like '70s shag carpet or wood paneling. who knows maybe i just havent seen one thats done right! I used to think Gibson T-bird basses were cool until a friend pointed out how "gumby/ugly" they look! He responded NOPE!, NOPE! every time i said otherwise! after reading all the bad reviews I conceded,I soon realized I just wanted something "different" than my fenders! Until I saw the new Dingwalls D-roc basses! I now have severe GAS Pangs!! tastes do change, mine often do though i'm not easily swayed by current fads (flatwounds), but i can be pursuaded! I recently thought Pbass' were boring but I have learned appreciate their simple charm!

 

[HalfManHalfBass]

Used to insist on active basses, now: always passive
Used to insist on 5 strings, now: mainly 4s
Used to insist on 19mm spaced 5s, now: 18mm
Used to insist on 24 frets, now: 21/22 are plenty
Used to insist on graphite necks, now: only wood
Used to not care about fret metal, now: insist on stainless steel
Used to not care about weight, now: very interested in light basses!

 

[Chad Michael]

"Taste in basses changed"

- more love for fretless electric
- more love for upright

This gentleman bought a complete basket case, took the time to rebuild it. Warms my feelers <c:

 

[80jazz]

I used to love high tension strings and higher action because I used to really pound on my basses. Then I smartened up. Now I prefer light gauge strings and low action. I can play much better when I'm not fighting the strings.

I discovered this too about 6 years ago.

I have also discovered that I like the MM/P configuration almost as much as 2 single coil pickups on a bass.

 

[GoesThump]

Interesting question. I've gone from mostly round-wound strung basses w/2 pickups (Ric 4001, PJ, etc) to flatwound strung things with one one pickup. (Mustangs mostly, but I also have a Ric 3000).

The change came in steps. First it was the flatwounds, then the single pickup basses.

I calculate that at this rate I will be playing basses with no pickups at all by 2033.

GT

 

[alaskaleftybass]

B@d@ss!

 

[Jack Deth]

First bass at 14 y/o was found in a trash can in Memphis TN. Doctored it to a playable state (brand eludes me), covered it in Rock 103 stickers to hide the damage, played in until I saved up for over a year of cutting yards and bagging groceries to get a BC Rich Warlock. My change in taste is that I am now able to afford what sounds good, and am grateful, ever grateful, to remember what that feels like.

 

[Nick Danger]

My first real left handed bass was an Ibanez Soundgear SR500L. My taste in basses changed when I got a bass with passive electronics (MIJ '62 Reissue Jazz). The sound is so much better IMHO. I've tried other active basses but they just don't have the tone I like. Now I play a Warwick Corvette 5 string (passive) and love it!

 

[Jason Harris]

Was always out there and wanting more out there basses when i started
And if anythings its only got weirder!
1: Fender P bass (Flats Standard)
2. Schecter Johnny Christ Signature bass (Stainless Steel Drop D)
3. Stingray 5 (Currently Unused)
4. Emprador 60's Jazz Bass (better then fender and super heavy tone) (Drop C and Drop C#)
5. Ibanez 1605e BTB (Drop Ab and Eb
6. Fernandez Explorer Bass (Painted white and wrote Eet Fuk like James Hetfield) (Eb)
7. Warwick 1989 Streamer (Standard)
8. Ibanez ATK 99 (Drop B)
9. Ibanez EHB 1505ms (Drop A or Standard same thing)
10. Gibson Grabber (Standard

 

[KaraQ]

The first bass I ever played was a friend's Fender P-bass, 1991? or so, when his band needed a fill-in player. About the same time I was figuring out that I had probably wasted the last couple of years trying, quite unsuccessfully, to learn guitar. My hands and chords and small strings spaced closely together did not work well together. Playing bass that first time was completely different, made me want to learn more!
Went to buy my own bass, and instantly fell in love with a new (at the time) Ibanez SR800, all black, twin J-style pickups, & active electronics. Played that for years, until I damaged all four fingers on my left hand, and stupidly let my brother-in-law talk me into selling it to him.
After several years, I started getting strength & feeling back in my fingers, and decided to try relearning to play. Tried several basses at the store, ended up I still loved the feel of Ibanez basses. Was slow going to relearn what I had forgotten, and get my hand up to speed again (still a work in progress), and I ended up adding a 5-string Ibanez.

Then...I played a Thunderbird (an Epiphone), which caused me to buy it, and then a 5-string one recently.
I play the Ibanez guitars almost never now, just something about the T-birds that just really clicks with me

TL: DR
Thunderbird > others, imo

 

[The Owl]

Got completely away from active electronics.

 

[GeoffB]

Like everyone else here, it seems, I started with a non-Fender. First a Ric, then Ibanez, Yamaha, Gibson, Lakland, etc. That was 45 years ago.

Somewhere along the way, I discovered that no one in the crowd cares at all what I'm playing, except for gearheads and I avoid those guys at gigs.

So it's about comfort, playability and sound. For me that's Fender P or J. I prefer P because they're quieter. I prefer maple necks, always use passive pickups (Rio Grande usually get put in there). Boomers or Rotosound Medium Lite. No pedals.

Current rig is a GK 500 Watt into a Bergantino 212. Sounds great. weighs far less than the dual SVT you see in the photo. These basses with this rig give me a sound I just love. I'm done searching!

 

[Mark Stelmaszek]

Huh! Funny you ask, I started out with a 1976 P Bass I bought new (actually my first bass was a musicmaster but I'm not counting that one) and Just recently got an American Original P Bass. Essentially a 63 reissue with a 9 1/2" radius neck and taller frets. I did the Jazz bass thing for quite a while and I still love my Jazz Bass there is something about a P Bass that's rock solid and just perfect in it's simplicity.

 

[dingwallxx]

Thanks OP for this post, this is something I just realized and was pondering as well. I just pull out my 2003 Fender American precision out of the case 3 days ago(haven’t touched it for for almost a decade as the sound I was looking for was different). Before this I’ve been playing Dingwalls, Stingrays, Sadowsky, G&L and my number one- Kubicki ex factor. Long and behold my first Fender P bass from high school is currently my favourite bass and is giving me so much joy and inspiration. Maybe is the feeling of new “old” or is because the sound I am hearing in my head at this stage of my life now aligns with what the P bass is about. Deep fat bass tone with no thrills. I love the simplicity and sound coming out of GK M800 with Neo 2x12s. Just massive massive sound!

 

[Distillatekid]

when i first started playing bass in 1994 and for years after, i played black PJ basses with rosewood fingerboards. then i changed... i started thinking a little variety couldn't hurt. i got a minty green (ibanez called it lime) mikro. i enjoyed it. the world didn't end.

now i have a red bronco (maple neck, fingerboard is part of the neck), a surf green mustang, a wood finish GSR100EX, a roadster orange mezzo (i always like that orange, but it didn't used to fit in with my dark color scheme). i also owned a sunburst traveler TB-4P that i sold.... apparently along with all my black basses. my semi-hollow ibanez SRH500 doesn't even come in black.

when i went to order my smallguitars.com bass, i went with daphne blue, and it was then that i realized both of my black basses, only bought to mod, aren't even with the basses i currently play. * gasp *

and the only bass i'm pondering now is a short scale EBMM stingray. not a PJ, not black.

i also moved from long scale to short scale, but that wasn't so much taste as injury. on the other hand, i love my short scales - i just hadn't given any a chance before that. sort of a machismo thing - can women have machismo?

so what - if anything - has changed when it comes to your bass taste / preferences?

I've been using Alembic's Series Short Scale for about 10 yrs now & I love it! Besides my shorty the only other bass I use is my Double Bass. I 've owned a 73 Jazz, 71 Ric, and lots of other basses but "My Go to bass" is the Distillate Series Short Scale. Bottom what ever bass takes you to "that place" in your soul is "The Bass" for you.

 

[roccobass]

I’ve been Fender oriented since I started playing 40 plus years ago. Did a bit of experimenting in last 12 years and have returned back to egg so to speak.

Others may disagree, but in my opinion, the Fender Jazz ( or even the Precision) are the most ergonomic styles body and necks I’ve played. If you don’t like the pick ups, trade em out. Same for the necks. I do like stock Fenders. What used to pass for the Standard was ok by me. I like the basic model because there’s less to get in the way in case you do trades out or upgrade. No active for me. Don’t get me wrong. Fender’s not perfect. I find clunkers out there.. Below is my current stable of electric basses. Yes, both are FrankenFendered.