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It's not the Bass, it's you

#42
ashtray said:
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. ;)
Click to expand...
true-
some gear (especially clean cabs and amps), will show deficiencies in your playing more. and bright strings of course.
 
#44
I agree that even lower end basses can sound good on the hands of experienced bass player. But I want you to think about this:
Cheap Squier through Harley Benton Combo vs high end Warwick, Spector etc. through Ampeg SVT. Your might be able to play the same thing on either of those choices, but with the latter it would arguably be easier and better sounding.

So the point is, good equipment can indeed make you find your style and sound easier.
 
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#45
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?[/QUOTE]

You know it.
My high school music teacher said "Fat fingers make good tone". I still believe different basses sound different, but it's still these old fat fingers that sound like me.
 
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#48
I would agree with most of the opinions here. I've gigged with Squier's etc, and they work fine, but when you get to a certain point as a professional player good gear does start to play a factor. Knowing you can rely upon an instrument/amplifier to perform flawlessly night in and night out is pretty important(at least it is for me ha!). Do you need a $10,000 Fodera? Probably not, but for some that sound/feel/experience is a big part of the reason they work a lot. Basically, buy what you can afford, get it set up, practice, take lessons, have fun.
 
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#49
I recently picked up a Five string TBC bass company bass on the cheap:D. After a couple of hours of installing new strings, playing with pickup height, intonation, fretboard relief I brought it to our next gig. My tone nut guitar player says Hmm? sounds like you!:smug: So I think no matter what you are playing, and you know the sound you are looking for, it won't make much of a difference. Maybe in your wallet.:thumbsup:
 
#53
Yep, the OP speaks truth.

But I still LOVE gear nerding. Always will.

keep-calm-and-ooh-shiny-7.png
 
#54
Neveragain55 said:
Many years ago in the early 80’s when I bought my first bass (a black Hondo II, 4 string) I let my next door “professional bassist” neighbor play it to get his opinion.


This guy has played with the Trammps, and many other R&B groups from the 70’s, he’s toured the world, done tons of session music, and still gigs today in a jazz band, and an oldies band where they do 70's covers.


He picked that damn (less than $200.00) bass up and the two of them together sounded like Stanley Clark & his Alembic…..pure magic.


Years later I got a crappy used Yamaha bass that had been ridden hard and put up wet. I let another “supper bass player” buddy of mine play it, and you could almost close your eyes and see & hear Jaco.


My present “pawn shop” ESP LTD B-104 that I got for $100.00 bucks - (after a professional set up), is blowing my freaking mind, and I’m constantly amazed at how it not only sounds in my hands, but also in the hands of others that are so much more experienced & skilled than me.


What am I saying: I’ve read dozens of posts of people comparing different basses, different tones, different everything, and I’ve seen a lot of people get really upset about their bass being harshly critiqued as “junk” or lacking in some way.


I submit to all of you, that ultimately it’s not the bass, although good electronics, exotic woods, good construction, etc. etc. helps…..


Ultimately it’s us, our hands, our skill, our passion, our dedication, and our efforts. The bass is the paintbrush, but your arms, hands, and fingers are Michelangelo………;)
Click to expand...
One of the best posts in a while. Once you reach a certain level of playing, most of what you pay for, IMO, is for feel and comfort, and, for me, those things are worth the extra cash.
 
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#57
Iridescentone said:
Good gear sounds better than crap gear, no matter who is playing on it. Except for non-hearing people, for them there is no difference.
Click to expand...

Maybe, but what constitutes "crap gear" and "good gear" is going to mean vastly different things to different people. Some people might look at a name on a headstock and say "oh, that's crap." Or look at a different name on a different headstock and think "now that's good gear!"

there are so many variables and this kind of thing is so subjective as to make statements like this meaningless.

For instance, some people absolutely despise Ric basses. Uncomfortable, unwieldy, too much midrange and not enough of anything else...can't understand how anyone can even PLAY those hunks of crud.

Other people love 'em, couldn't get along without one, make beautiful music with them and wouldn't have anything else for a #1.

Does that mean a Ric bass is "crap gear" or "good gear?"
 
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#58
ashtray said:
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. ;)
Click to expand...
I disagree. After I bought my Ampeg a few years ago, I did start to listen better my playing and I could to change some defects of playing and improve my sound.
At least for me is how gear X playing works.
 
#59
Sometimes it's just stepping back and listening to someone else play it. Sometimes I can hear something totally different when I play through a recording and then listen to it again while not playing....idk, like your brain interprets it differently when you're doing two things at once. As far as the whole player vs instrument thing, there are extremes on both ends. There are some instruments that nobody can make good noise with.

Someone's technique plays into how things sound for sure, but if gear didn't matter then nobody would buy expensive instruments with pricey electronics/pickups. I just try and keep everything balanced.
 
#60
What an odd thread. I don't agree with most of these posts at all. Sure you can sound GOOD on a cheap bass if you are really GOOD. That doesn't mean you are going to sound the same. I will never believe that Eddie Jackson would have sounded the same on Operation Mindcrime if he was playing a Squire instead of the Spector or Chris Squire playing a Squire instead of his Ric. Nope.
 
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