I guess I've more just zeroed in on what I actually like than "changed" per se. 34" scale, at least five strings, tight spacing, passive electronics, a bright tone with a good amount of low mids. The one thing that's changed, that surprised me, is that I'd much rather have rounded contours and natural wood than anything angular and black these days. (Don't tell that to the new guitar I just ordered though, it'll be sad)
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how has your taste in basses changed?
- Thread starter pcake
- Start date
I've always liked variety and can appreciate a lot of different models and features. There are only a few things that have changed since I began:
- HATED precision basses at first. The look, the sound, everything. Now it's one of my favs.
- Used to only like a dark finish, but I now like brighter finishes with dark accents (hence my Buttercream Jazz with black trim)
- Hated flats for a while when my only experience was with Chromes, but I now love flats on the right bass. Even like Chromes now.
Still learning about some of the other things I prefer, but for the most part, based on what I've been exposed to, my tastes have held up.
- HATED precision basses at first. The look, the sound, everything. Now it's one of my favs.
- Used to only like a dark finish, but I now like brighter finishes with dark accents (hence my Buttercream Jazz with black trim)
- Hated flats for a while when my only experience was with Chromes, but I now love flats on the right bass. Even like Chromes now.
Still learning about some of the other things I prefer, but for the most part, based on what I've been exposed to, my tastes have held up.
I've moved from thump to clarity: after being really into a short scale, strung with flats, favoring the neck pickup, I switched to a medium scale bass with a more bridge-ward pickup and rounds.
I'm still aiming for warmth, depth, and sweetness of tone, but I want it to be defined, too. I find my spot in the mix more easily, hear myself better, and blend better with other instruments.
I'm still aiming for warmth, depth, and sweetness of tone, but I want it to be defined, too. I find my spot in the mix more easily, hear myself better, and blend better with other instruments.
I started off playing Pbasses and had a really good one , So for the longest time had no real interest in other basses . And then started picking up some others , mostly Leo Fender designs until I picked up a nice Ric and that became my go to bass . For some reason I picked up a Dano Longhorn , didn't use it much for some years and then began using it more and more until it became my favourite bass . Now I have about a half dozen shortscales and it looks like a Gibson DC Jr might replace the Dano if the bars ever open up . Recently picked up a Yamaha Samurai too but I suspect the Jr will prevail , we'll see ...
I used to like 35" 5 strings with high tension strings and 19mm spacing with all different pickups and layouts, yet I could never stop looking for basses and amps.
Now I like my Wilkins 34" 5-string PJs with low tension strings (flats, tapes and occasionally stainless) and 18mm spacing. My amps are also set with a few different Ampeg mix-n-match sets.
Needless to say, my playing has improved noticeably since settling the gear question and being able to really focus on tone and technique. But I had to go through the searching phase to know what worked for me.
Now if I could only find the right OD pedal...
Now I like my Wilkins 34" 5-string PJs with low tension strings (flats, tapes and occasionally stainless) and 18mm spacing. My amps are also set with a few different Ampeg mix-n-match sets.
Needless to say, my playing has improved noticeably since settling the gear question and being able to really focus on tone and technique. But I had to go through the searching phase to know what worked for me.
Now if I could only find the right OD pedal...
I’ve gone from playing P basses almost exclusively to playing P basses almost exclusively.
Huh....... After 40 years, I’m still playing Fender and Music Man Basses, although I now have them strung with both Flat and Round Wound stings. I continue to gravitate towards natural and Sunburst finishes, when possible.
To be honest, it’s a wonder that I’m still not wearing Wallabees and Levi’s Corduroy pants.
(I recently got a MIJ Mustang Bass, so I have a Short Scale on hand If I ever start having shoulder/elbow/wrist issues, which will eventually happen, if I play long enough.)
To be honest, it’s a wonder that I’m still not wearing Wallabees and Levi’s Corduroy pants.
(I recently got a MIJ Mustang Bass, so I have a Short Scale on hand If I ever start having shoulder/elbow/wrist issues, which will eventually happen, if I play long enough.)
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Figured out that frets aren't for me.
Branched out into EUB.
...that's about it.
Branched out into EUB.
...that's about it.
I went from a Fender J to a P, and then a string of double humbucker 5 strings, coming to rest on a Modulus Q5. I've found highly articulate instruments and amps are what works best for me. I love the sound of other people playing passive Ps, but in my hands I like the snap of that Quantum.
I was an early adopter of 5/6 strings. I do keep a few 4's around but I tend to drop them a whole step across the board get into that 5 string range. Unlike a lot of you that left Fender and came back I have never re-acquired my taste for them(if I ever had it and my first fender was a 1966 P - at the time it was just an old bass). My hands aren't tolerating 5 and 6 strings like they used but some wide necks are comfy enough. I still would love to find the right 6 that didn't hurt to play after 30 minutes. So I guess my taste has been heading in one direction the whole time. I like that I have found a Fender-style bass that plays/feels more like a modern bass while satisfying the need for a traditional looking instrument.
As always, tastes are subject to change with notice and YMMV.
As always, tastes are subject to change with notice and YMMV.
This is the very essence and core of GAS. I've always been motivated to buy basses that are quite different than what I already own.
Early years - played Fender and Rickenbacker, tried to sound like Geddy
Later years - realized I will never sound like Geddy, own zero Rics or Fenders
Later years - realized I will never sound like Geddy, own zero Rics or Fenders
I experimented with a variety of basses for ten years before I figured out that I'm strictly a P-bass guy. Not necessarily Fender, though: I've got a great USA Fender (60th anniversary limited edition) that I love, but also a D Lakin Bob Glaub that I love equally. I very much doubt that I will ever buy another bass.
(Well, maybe if Julie Slick would sell me her Lakland custom Glaub).
(Well, maybe if Julie Slick would sell me her Lakland custom Glaub).
I find that most of my desire to buy new basses is rooted in thoughts I have about what I will feel and sound like when I play them. Rather than being about a need.
In these situations, if I can spend 15 or 20 minutes playing one of the basses I already have, my thoughts move to becoming a better player and away from what a new instrument would sound like.
Seems healthy.
In these situations, if I can spend 15 or 20 minutes playing one of the basses I already have, my thoughts move to becoming a better player and away from what a new instrument would sound like.
Seems healthy.
I started by playing a variety of large-scale solid bodies. Most were Ps, or P/Js, but never a Fender. I owned a couple of Ibanez, Yamaha, BC Rich and some forgotten brands.
Now I mostly play double humbucker hollow body short-scales. This is due to my 500/1 addiction. I have a variety of 500/1s, including a solid body, a single coil blade pickup and a fretless. So I get variety while maintaining muscle memory, limiting GAS and playing something I like.
Now I mostly play double humbucker hollow body short-scales. This is due to my 500/1 addiction. I have a variety of 500/1s, including a solid body, a single coil blade pickup and a fretless. So I get variety while maintaining muscle memory, limiting GAS and playing something I like.
Man, I've been through all sorts of basses, woods, finishes, fanned/parallel frets, electronics... In the last few years pretty much settled in on fiver Js (34" scale, rosewood board, burst finish) or variations of it.
Hmn...well, a few months ago I did place an order with the Sandberg factory for a build. It's a cosmetic departure for me: matched headstock, gold hardware.
Hmn...well, a few months ago I did place an order with the Sandberg factory for a build. It's a cosmetic departure for me: matched headstock, gold hardware.
I'm with you there. I've had several basses pass through my hands since I started playing circa 1994 and it's only now that I feel like I have my two "forever" basses. It's like with dating- you go out with multiple people to really discover what you value most.
And what's interesting is discovering that what you think you want isn't always what's best for you. A bass that's totally your type on paper may not move you when you play it whereas a bass that isn't really your type may give you that "OH YEAH!!!!" feeling when you strap it on.
Both of my forever basses are testament to that, as they run counter "my type" in multiple ways. Like, if I were designing my dream bass from the ground up, it wouldn't be anything like my current basses. And there is a good chance I may not like it as much.
But perhaps that's the beauty of it all. I love my forever basses to bits and GAS for nothing else.
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I found that I preferred Rickenbacker basses early on, and pretty much stayed with that. The only change is now I prefer 5 strings.
I started at the same time you did - I was a guitar noodler, some pals were putting a band together, needed a bass, decided to try it... First bass was some sort of cheezy P copy. Since then I've tried lots of other things, but a 34" 4-string has held up as my personal normal.
The only changes in my tastes that I can think of are that I like a lighter bass now that I'm in my 50's and then there's the issue of neck dive. I used to think it was something I was maybe supposed to forgive if I found a bass that was otherwise a nice build or sounded reeeeeally good. Now I just about take it as a personal insult when an instrument can't hang on a strap without wanting to do some gymnastics on me.
I've never really thought much about shorter scales, but lately I've been looking at some funky models from Reverend. A couple of their long scales might be fun, but they also have a couple of shorter-than-34" options that seem pretty cool. I'm hot to test drive their Dub King.
