Nothing that can't be achieved with a proper setup, though.
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It's not the Bass, it's you
- Thread starter Neveragain55
- Start date
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
I can take Stanley Clarke's Alembic and make is sound like a really bad Squier. Guaranteed. That takes serious reverse talent, and I got it, baby!
Is there a double like button around here somewhere?
I'm just as guilty though. If I played as much as I fiddled around here, I might be mediocre.
This is going to sound like I'm being a deliberate d-bag, but it's not intentional.
I was wondering if you could delineate what "limitations" of your "cheapies" are and what your "pros" have that are lacking in the others?
I mean, a Squier or Epiphone (or SX, etc.) may always be just that, regardless of what you do to mod or upgrade them, but it's been my experience that a cheapie can be made perfectly giggable and playable even if you might spend a little cash to get there with regards to pups/electronics, hardware, setup, etc.
My "best" bass at the moment (though I've sure owned a slew of more expensive and "nicer" ones) cost me $320. Actually, I got a HSC priced at $130 thrown into the deal, so essentially the bass was $190. Cheap.
I bought $16 chrome knobs for it, a $25 pickguard and $4 cream pickup covers. All cosmetic.
I did buy a used replacement pickup ($55) and a new premium wiring harness and jack ($30) because as decent as it was, I thought it could sound better and I like messing with stuff.
Bridge and tuners are fine and fully functional. I don't feel the need to replace them.
So, cosmetic mods aside, I'm basically into this one for $275 and I think most people playing it, if they knew their stuff, would say it's a darn nice bass.
Very true- I once traded a Ken Smith 6 because it sounded TOO good. *I was 19 year old knucklehead*
What makes it even better was that the Modulus Quantum 5 that replaced it exposed the incredible inadequacies and mistakes in my playing! (with piano string clarity- ouch)
Now that I'm a grown Goose and much better player I know I can get my sound out of almost any functional bass. I also know that the timbre of a Smith or another warm bass better resonates with my personality than an aggressive Modulus...
What makes it even better was that the Modulus Quantum 5 that replaced it exposed the incredible inadequacies and mistakes in my playing! (with piano string clarity- ouch)
Now that I'm a grown Goose and much better player I know I can get my sound out of almost any functional bass. I also know that the timbre of a Smith or another warm bass better resonates with my personality than an aggressive Modulus...
I agree with the op but if I slightly disagree about one thing, it's that a really nice bass can inspire you to play better. It does for me. I felt limited after playing my ebmm sterling since I was 16, although it's a wonderful bass. Once I bought my first modulus, the feel and especially the sound of the musicman became overshadowed. The light from God's nipples shone through my speakers when I played it. I realized what I'd been missing all these years, and I think it's inspired me as a player more than most things.
That said, a paintbrush is just an inanimate object without the painter. And a bass only sounds as good as it's player.
That said, a paintbrush is just an inanimate object without the painter. And a bass only sounds as good as it's player.
Have you ever noticed that some basses bring out things in your playing that other basses don't? Or that some basses inspire you to play more than others? Or that, regardless of how you might sound to the room, there are subtle responses with some basses that simply make you connect better with them on a musical level?
I wouldn't disagree. But "really nice bass" is pretty subjective too. I'd say a bass that feels and sounds right to YOU can inspire you...that could be a $350 Squier, a $1800 Ric or a Fodera.
But I am not saying you are wrong and there is certainly something to be said for ANY instrument that is well crafted and plays like butter. You usually get those things by spending more, 'tis true.
Yup.
Yea I meant to imply all of what you said. The fact that I found an instrument that is right for me changed my playing for the better. It could be any instrument for anyone.
This is a great thread. There are often threads that ask, "How do I sound like this guy or that guy?" I am of the opinion that it is really hard to sound like someone other than yourself. That's the point that I believe many players are missing. You sound like you and they sound like them. Be yourself.
You could have Jaco ( or any other well known player) play pretty much any bass and a listener who knew Jaco would likely say, "Hey that sounds like Jaco."
Someone earlier said, "It's the magician not the wand." I completely agree.
You could have Jaco ( or any other well known player) play pretty much any bass and a listener who knew Jaco would likely say, "Hey that sounds like Jaco."
Someone earlier said, "It's the magician not the wand." I completely agree.
I've read interviews of Geddy where he talks about going back to his Jazz basses because he was missing the big bottom they had compared to his other basses. Everyone, at any level, will sound different on different equipment, it's physically not possible to sound the same unless what you're playing on is exactly the same. Your style will come through, but you will sound different. Geddy, and anyone else who has to work with their sound gets that. The tone I get on my Reverend is nothing at all like the tone I get from one of my P/J basses, and it never will be, even with the same player (me) playing exactly the same lines. The difference is so obvious it always surprises me when people swear they have no difference from bass to bass. I think this topic is mostly mistaken for style, not tone. Every player has a unique style that will always come through. Plus bad technique will sound worse than good technique on the same bass as well, so a much better player will of course make any certain bass sound better. That player's style will make it sound like them too, so we will hear our own basses differently in other player's hands.
There's two points in this thread that really stand out. 1). I know my own limitations as a player won't make me sound like Geezer or Matt Sharp, and I've become at one with that what I play is mine and mine alone, for better or worse and 2). really good basses make you feel really good an inspire me to play better. Someone mentioned a Dan Armstrong. I got one recently and I can't put it down. It makes me want to play more and that, in turn, makes me better (but a better version of me, and I'm cool with that).
I completely agree that it's more about the player than the bass.
Still, each bass has it's own voice.
While I can make my J sound kinda like my P, it's much easier
and better to just pick up the P, if that's the sound I am after.
Another thought for you all.
Many of us have said something on the order of
'I just can't sound quite like Jaco '(or any other player you care to name),
but did you ever think you that they probably could never sound exactly like you, either?
Still, each bass has it's own voice.
While I can make my J sound kinda like my P, it's much easier
and better to just pick up the P, if that's the sound I am after.
Another thought for you all.
Many of us have said something on the order of
'I just can't sound quite like Jaco '(or any other player you care to name),
but did you ever think you that they probably could never sound exactly like you, either?
OP, you've got "cheap ears"!
And I mean that in the best way possible. It certainly makes you immune to one of the worst afflictions to plague TB members (not gonorreah, but GAS).
And I mean that in the best way possible. It certainly makes you immune to one of the worst afflictions to plague TB members (not gonorreah, but GAS).
+1
however,
it takes a long time as a musician to develop his/her craft to a level where they have their own little style that some can instantly recognize.
TBH-I am surprised at how many bassists kinda sound the same; its hard to find a voice especially on a bass.
I've "chased tone" for years - and have only recently come to gather the "trifecta" of tone: bass, amp, cabinet. What I've quickly discovered (and really knew all along having gone down this road with the guitar) is that the better gear only hides your defects LESS than cheaper gear. My current setup will punish me for improper technique with no mercy. Every once in a while I play a note and think "wow! That's the stuff!" and then resume my normal playing. Hahaha
When I was gigging, I found Indonesian Yamaha sounded better than my USA Deluxe Fender. Maybe it was just kinder.
When I was gigging, I found Indonesian Yamaha sounded better than my USA Deluxe Fender. Maybe it was just kinder.
