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Identify the SX vs. Fender in the mix thread

#281
bassbenj said:
Hey, I'm an old dude with two SX basses and only one Fender and it ain't "old" it's MIM.

And I did just listen to the clips. And I don't have "golden ears" and I doubt that I could have picked the SX out without any hint. But once I HAD the hint the validity of my comments on pickup swap become obvious...or did they?

What my ears heard was that both basses sounded VERY good. But what I would have been looking for had the pickups been factory would have been that slightly more "edgy" sound of SX factory pups. I love that sound so there's a chance I would have recognized it. Personally I have no idea what Lollar pickups sound like so how could I pick them out?

But now here's what I found on listening. The Fender sounded exactly like... well... like you expect a Fender to sound like. That standard "old school" sound that we've heard so many times. The SX in spite of the different pickups STILL had that slightly more "modern" tone. Not hideously modern mind you, just a tiny "edge" to it that I really like. And let me say these are really minor differences I'm talking about! But I find it interesting that the SX bass sort of kept it's tone even with the pickups swapped. Or maybe it's just that lollar pups sound kind of like SX pups?

So my bottom line is (no surprise) I like the "modern" edge of the SX has best. It sort of speaks to the listener that this is a recent recording and not one from the vault. On the other hand if you want to exactly duplicate all that old stuff out there, then spend the cash. Clearly an old Fender still sounds exactly as it did when the old recordings were made!

As for how a bass feels when you play it, that is a personal issue. I hated the feel of "old" Fender basses when I played them back when they were "new" Fender basses. But that is a different issue from tone.
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A good portion of what you are describing about the SX , I would attribute to fresh out of the pack strings that didn't get "played in" a little to take the edge off for that particular session.

The more "modern" sounding bass in my fleet, is the 2008 American Standard actually.
 
#282
Brad Johnson said:
Funny stuff. Completely clueless but hey...
:D

Some of you have a pretty weak grasp of what a fact really is. No wonder my "whining" is bothering you.

No point dealing with this person any further. You're imagination has got the best of you.
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rofl.gif
 
#283
Brad Johnson said:
....I would still bet serious money that most don't play in a band. Not even going to an occasional open mic. Why do you think they do? Do most bassists you run into in real life play in bands?

I don't know any instrument where most people who play it play in bands... how do you figure basses break that trend?
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Most bassists who are concerned about how their instument 'sits in the mix' are in a band--which, after all, is what this thread is about.

There are a million little things 'wrong' with the test, but as a whole, most people who posted couldn't hear much of a difference. I don't think that the intention of this thread was to provide difinitive scientific proof that SX basses can hold their own against a 1964 Fender. It was just a fun thread that went downhill once things started getting too serious.

I do agree with you on other aspects, though. Like I said earlier, tone isn't the only reason to pick a bass---and for me it's not even the most important. So, I would say that, strictly from a tonal perspective, in this particular example, I was impressed with the (non-stock :smug: ) SX as compared to a '64 P.

If I were holding the basses---or listening to them in MY personal real world situation, I might be able to distiguish the two---but going purely by the sound clips of the mp3's through my headphones---I couldn't pick them apart. I think I even picked one SX track and one Fender track as my favorite.

I think that we can all agree that it is possible to get a good sounding set up on almost any budget. I don't mind paying more for my gear because I have a specific set of requirements/preferences.
 
#285
Surly said:
Is the 08 recorded somewhere?
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I have some stuff that was recorded off the board at a show somewhere, and there are a couple of youtube vids around of the band where I'm playing the 08 American Standard, but the sound quality isn't up to snuff on any of it IMO.

I haven't (and probably wouldn't without an upgrade or two) use that bass in the studio , as it doesn't sound quite as good (IMO) as the other two.
 
#290
lucas vigor said:
Hi Mongo, can you please post a link to your playing? A youtube or myspace song example would be nice.

here is a very recent example of me playing last weekend. Do I have the right hands? Now, of course the music us old dudes play may not be up your alley, but this is me with a very cheap acoustic bass. It's a beginner bass, made of cheap materials.

http://www.youtube.com/user/MagickFilms
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Diggin' the pedal steel. Old ? Aren't we both about the same age?

Soooo it seems you're sharing your experience getting some good results with an inexpensive upright bass here ?? Hmmm ineresting. :D

Cool band by the way. I like it.
 
#291
savit260 said:
Diggin' the pedal steel. Old ? Aren't we both about the same age?

Face it, we probably are old....you just look better.

Soooo it seems you're sharing your experience getting some good results with an inexpensive upright bass here ?? Hmmm ineresting. :D


That bass is about 1800, which I am guessing in electric bass comparison might be equivelent to say, an Ibanez or other 400-500 dollar range bass. My bass has a good tone (INMHO) but I did try 6-7 basses and that one seemed to be the most resonant. And for the record, I did try an 18,000 dollar bass very recently, german made, vintage, and it did not sound as good as mine. So, you got me there! It's always possible to get a great sound out of budget gear. I just don't agree that it's the norm. Admittedly, though, construction and price with acoustic basses seem to go hand in hand. The cheap acoustics generally do not sound very good.

Cool band by the way. I like it.
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Thank you, Savit. I like your band/bands a lot as well. You are a super solid player.
 
#293
lucas vigor said:
but this is me with a very cheap acoustic bass. It's a beginner bass, made of cheap materials.
]
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Very Nice music! As I'm now in the mood for a Mai Tai :D, I'm thinking you should get the house gig at Coca Palms in Kauai.

Say, next time you guys get together, play your high dollar upright so we can compare it in the mix against the "beginner bass, made of cheap materials." :)
 
#294
lucas vigor said:
here is a very recent example of me playing last weekend. Do I have the right hands? Now, of course the music us old dudes play may not be up your alley, but this is me with a very cheap acoustic bass. It's a beginner bass, made of cheap materials.
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Just for you, I checked out the video. I work with a pedal steel player in a country and texas swing style. As for your playing, I'm not going to comment since anything I say will probably show up in another thread as some sort of imagined slight against you.

I'm quite familiar with beginner uprights since I've played them and provided a couple (one a beginner and one intermediate) for my son who has been playing classical and jazz upright for 7 years.

BTW, I started playing music in front of audiences nearly two decades before you started so you may want to be careful with any assumptions about age. My repertoire includes music ranging from the 1920's to present day. And yes I've even played "Tiny Bubbles"
 
#296
Jim Dep said:
Very Nice music! As I'm now in the mood for a Mai Tai :D, I'm thinking you should get the house gig at Coca Palms in Kauai.

Say, next time you guys get together, play your high dollar upright so we can compare it in the mix against the "beginner bass, made of cheap materials." :)
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I really don't have another bass that would be considered hi-end (but I wish I did!) I have played a lot of really good ones, though...never owned one myself!
 
#297
mongo2 said:
Just for you, I checked out the video. I work with a pedal steel player in a country and texas swing style. As for your playing, I'm not going to comment since anything I say will probably show up in another thread as some sort of imagined slight against you.

I would still like to hear it. At the least, I might enjoy it if it is Texas Swing. As to your opinion of MY playing, I am sure whatever comments you make would not be an "imagined" slight. Nope. I am sure they would be very real slight. The way you are talking, I am sure you have an ego the size of Texas. But for everyone else, check out my version of Roly Poly on the myspace. That's Texas swing, and I played all the instruments on it. Hey, at least I put my stuff out there. That last performance featured two guest percussionists, and that's the only two songs someone posted. My bass playing is not meant to be flashy in that group. It's Hawaiian music. Link Removed

I'm quite familiar with beginner uprights since I've played them and provided a couple (one a beginner and one intermediate) for my son who has been playing classical and jazz upright for 7 years.

BTW, I started playing music in front of audiences nearly two decades before you started so you may want to be careful with any assumptions about age. My repertoire includes music ranging from the 1920's to present day. And yes I've even played "Tiny Bubbles" Great. Let's hear some of it. I have been playing music in one shape or form since I was 6, and I am now in my mid-forties.
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Link Removed
 
#299
savit260 said:
I have some stuff that was recorded off the board at a show somewhere, and there are a couple of youtube vids around of the band where I'm playing the 08 American Standard, but the sound quality isn't up to snuff on any of it IMO.

I haven't (and probably wouldn't without an upgrade or two) use that bass in the studio , as it doesn't sound quite as good (IMO) as the other two.
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You gotta do those upgrades and see if there's any difference. I still agree with your thoughts on strings having the most influence on tone.
 
#300
A good recording, through good equipment, can make anything sound good. The ****ing Champs use cheapo old guitars, aside from a Fender Strat and a Gibson Les Paul, through old Marshalls and get pure metal. They also have more recording gear listed in their liner notes than guitar equipment.

Did we ever get a straight answer what's what? I haven't kept track of the 15 pages.

By the way, is that one song a Jaws reference?
 

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