• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

If there could be only one....

bthiemann80

bthiemann80

Mar 31, 2007
612
117
Central Illinois
#1
I don't know if this topic has already been discussed, but I was curious as to what bass you would choose if you could only use one for the rest of your career. It seems I'm always going between basses for different projects but have always wondered what someone like yourself who has been a part of so many professional groups and recordings in so many genres would choose if there could only be one choice of bass guitar.

BTW, I admire your ability to play many styles of music in a way that seems organic and adaptive w/out sounding the least bit sterile. Keep making bassists like myself wish they played kazoo instead! hahj/k
 
#2
Firstly, thank you for the praise: I feel that you've encapsulated what I like to think of as my goal....if I'm at least getting partially there in my work, then I'm extremely grateful!

As far as your question (which is a very good one that I have ruminated on in the past), I do believe a late '60's to early '70's Fender Precision with roundwounds would be the weapon of choice...always records good, the most useful tool for the maximum range of styles. 2nd in line would be a tie between a Thunderbird (one of my frankenstein ones) and a Guild Starfire. 3rd in line would be a late '60's Jazz, probably.

Thanks again!
JMJ
 
#3
I appreciate the response, and a very solid choice I might add. I myself am most often caught between a precision and jazz style of bass even after years of playing many different types of basses. Though the choice would be heart wrenching, I would probably make a similar decision myself.

While we've never met in person, I believe we may know some of the same people. I was once in a band called Revis which was originally called Orco which was managed by the same people who managed Ima Robot at the time, Mike Barzman, Darren Romanelli and John Zagata. We ultimately left their management with John and signed w/ Epic and became Revis about the time you started playing w/ them but got the chance to hang out w/ Tim and Alex and some of the other guys who were playing w/ them at the time for a bit. Really good guys, hideously talented. I enjoyed the music, and especially w/ you playing bass. Anyways, just thought I'd share that w/ you, take care man!

Bob
 
#4
Justin

First of all, let me just add my voice to the chorus of praise here on the forum. I've always loved your work with Beck and now thanks to this forum I've discovered some of the other great stuff you've done too. I remember being blown away first hearing, and then learning the bassline on "Sexx Laws" and really on Midnight Vultures generally - a great record.

I'm saving up for a good bass, right now I basically have nothing (an old beautiful J copy, just sold my nice but not my style Fender Urge 1). I've always been a J guy, but because of your sage advice I'll try a P and see which grabs me.

But *someday* I'd love a Starfire or some kind of hollowbody like that. I used to have a B-301, which was a great bass to learn on since it was so heavy and big every other bass after was easy to play! I'm wondering if you've played one (a B-301) and if the neck of the Starfire is like that - the B-301 was pretty chunky as I recall (sold it years ago to a crazy woman in Seattle).

Is the one you're playing here <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S1wL87JywI&feature=related> a 70's model? What rig are you playing it through. The tone sounds great.

Again it is so cool you are on here shootin' the sh*t with us.

Thanks Eric
 
#5
bthiemann80 said:
I appreciate the response, and a very solid choice I might add. I myself am most often caught between a precision and jazz style of bass even after years of playing many different types of basses. Though the choice would be heart wrenching, I would probably make a similar decision myself.

While we've never met in person, I believe we may know some of the same people. I was once in a band called Revis which was originally called Orco which was managed by the same people who managed Ima Robot at the time, Mike Barzman, Darren Romanelli and John Zagata. We ultimately left their management with John and signed w/ Epic and became Revis about the time you started playing w/ them but got the chance to hang out w/ Tim and Alex and some of the other guys who were playing w/ them at the time for a bit. Really good guys, hideously talented. I enjoyed the music, and especially w/ you playing bass. Anyways, just thought I'd share that w/ you, take care man!

Bob
Click to expand...

I'd hate to derail, but I was in a punk rock band that opened for Revis quite a few years back at The Downtown in NY! Small world!

And yes, I'd have to agree with JMJ. After years of delaying the inevitable, I finally picked up a P bass (a five string Lakland), and it is "the tone" I've been hearing in my head since the beginning, especially through an SVT:D

Thanks for your contributions, JMJ!
 
#6
if i had a dollar for everyone who found fender and ampeg was their sound after years of thinking they hated them, i would own...well, i'd own a couple extra pedals, i guess.

me, fender and ampeg was what i started with, and though i had a couple dalliances along the way with other stuff, it's what i'll be ending with, too.
 
#7
btheimann, I remember hearing about your band but never actually heard it. :( Glad that you guys continued on from that point in time is well, cool. And of course, like others, I ended up hearing more about Revis than Orco, so there you go.

ETTthompson: No, that bass in the Beck on Nigel Godrich's "Under the Basement" video is a reissue Starfire, circa '99. I like it in some ways better than my two prized vintage ones, and it tours great. By the way, I hadn't seen those videos since they were first streaming on Nigel's site, I didn't know they were on Youtube, thanks for sharing. Thank you, and you're most welcome!

flyingfinbar: you're welcome! And I know that Lakland makes a good bass, for sure....I love that you found a tone you had been hearing in your head - that's always so great. I still haven't found mine. :)

G'night!
JMJ
 
#8
Thanks Justin - any idea if the Starfire's neck (reissue) is at all like the Guild B-301? Ever played one of those?

I'm saving up a for a real bass, probably will get a Am Std P or J - but tempted by a hollowbody! Maybe for the second bass someday.

On the video - what *isn't* on YouTube? It's a cool series of vids. Were they live in the studio like it says on YouTube? And, who is that drummer? He's great.

Thanks Eric
 
#9
Dunno about the B-301 vs. Starfire necks.

Get an Am Std P and a hollow something! You need both!

Those vids originally weren't allowed to be put up, they were BBC content that they weren't letting go of. Hence my surprise.

Those were absolutely live. Unfortunately the sync is off, but yes, very live and we spent many hours line checking the tones and balance to perfection. Plus, I daresay, everyone in that band is hot s&&t. :) Drummer is Matt Sherrod.

Best,
J
 
#10
Thanks Justin!! You're right I do need both...

I agree that everyone in that band is amazing - yourself included. I'd love to know the other personnel - put names with faces. I got Jamie Lidell (going to check out his CD's next).

In the one of "Cellphone's Dead" is that you doing the synth bass with the Steinberger? What are you running it through to get that sound? The phrasing on the CD made me assume it was a keyboard - very clipped. Nice work if so.

Cheers, Eric
 
#11
Brian Lebarton: keys/samples
Matt Mahaffey: guitar/keys/samples/turntable
Matt Sherrod: drums
Ryan Falkner: percussion/dancer
Moi
Beck

Everyone sings except Ryan only a little here and there.

On Cellphone's Dead, it's mostly the sample during the verses & choruses, I'm just playing straight bass underneath it for support. You hear the Steinberger only in the intro/bridge/outro.
 
#12
jmjbassplayer said:
Firstly, thank you for the praise: I feel that you've encapsulated what I like to think of as my goal....if I'm at least getting partially there in my work, then I'm extremely grateful!

As far as your question (which is a very good one that I have ruminated on in the past), I do believe a late '60's to early '70's Fender Precision with roundwounds would be the weapon of choice...always records good, the most useful tool for the maximum range of styles. 2nd in line would be a tie between a Thunderbird (one of my frankenstein ones) and a Guild Starfire. 3rd in line would be a late '60's Jazz, probably.

Thanks again!
JMJ
Click to expand...

JMJ,
Why would you choose the late '60's-early '70's P & a late '60's Jazz vs. the Pre-CBS?

Do you prefer a Jazz neck profile on the P basses?

What would be your year range for the Thunderbird and Guild Starfire?
Thanks,
Steve
 
#13
'Cuz that what I have...they feel right to me. I don't really like Jazz neck profile on P's, my 70's P is pretty thick, actually.

T-Bird: my ones - frankenstein. '90's bodies w/ 70's pickups, badass bridge, bone nut.

Starfire: late 60's probably like mine (i have a '67), though I adore my reissues.
 
#16
JMJ & others - to follow up on the last post - just played a '73 P at GC. Wow, it was great (see it here: Invalid Link Removed). The AmStd was really great but this blew it out of the water. I'll have to save my pennies if I want to aim for that one.

Anyway, my question - this thing had a pretty rounded radius fingerboard (7-1/4"?), I know with guitars the issue with this is deep bends fretting out, is there any disadvantage to it for bass? What radius do you prefer? I really liked it.

It was a little over $2k - probably be gone by the next time I get that much scratch together, but I'm tempted to save for one like it, even though it'd put my guitar goals for awhile...

Thanks Eric
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back