It's not the Bass, it's you

[thezerech]

85% player
15% instrument/gear

I think this is 100% correct. If you're action is high you won't be able to play as precise. If your neck is uncomfortable you won't be able to be as precise. . Sure a professional set up could lower the action, but the most important thing is getting a bass that allows you to be the other 85%. If you're instrument is holding you back which it can, then find one which fits you. Also I'm sure that a great bassist can sound great with a crappy bass, they'll likely sound much better if they get the right instrument for the piece of music they're playing. Of course if you can't play none of that matters, because you'll sound just as crappy on a alembic as on an old Harmony.

 

[Jack Butler]

I completely agree that it's more about the player than the bass.
...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?

That's quite true. Some of the greats sound like themselves no matter what. Van Halen has said in interviews his style is partially the result of his inability to sound like the records he was trying to copy in the beginning. SRV sounds like himself, even when playing David Bowie tunes. I imagine if he played Iron Maiden covers it would sound like SRV playing Maiden.

 

[Patrick Verner]

I was at an Overkill show back in 1989. D.D. Verni's bass tech was playing the iconic line from Evil Never Dies at the sound check. He sounded just like D.D. Verni. I mean exactly the same. Gear doesn't matter? Please.

 

[Slpbass81]

The bass makes a small difference but where I see it is how it handles 3 hour gigs every day. I have an America jazz bass and an old squire p bass. My american bass requires little neck adjustment not matter what I throw at it. My squire has needed fret work and monthly truss rod adjustments. I usually view a higher priced bass as more dependable with better pickups which I view as worth it for what I need.

 

[Bassique]

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.

Good example of that is, if you listen the songs Going for The One and then Parallers from the same album, I believe Squire used a jazz bass in parallers. You can hear the difference in tone as Ric has more treble and mid "bite". But ultimately you can still hear its him playing in both songs coz of his original playing style.

 

[sl0pch0p]

my friend put it best, as long as your bass doesn't suck, then you're fine and the rest is up to you

 

[ashtray]

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.

Well, as a friend pointed out, when you have "unforgiving" gear you are forced to improve your technique. My guitar instructor would say to never practice using overdrive, even if the song you are playing is heavy overdriven power chords. He had me learn the songs (chords, lead runs) clean and then after that I could turn on the overdrive.

Of course after my lesson I'd play for 2 hours with the gain cranked - but he was right. The gain just masked any poor technique, and only playing clean could you actually learn and get better. With my bass gear its much the same. Too much eq and or compression through gear that sounds the same if you play with a feather or a hammer isn't going to help you learn to play better.

I've recorded myself playing a bunch of times, through various basses and rigs. I always sound like me. I might argue however that the higher end gear encourages me to play more and those "perfect notes" are more rewarding. I might also want to think that bc I've made my wallet lighter and need justification.

 

[yakmastermax]

It's not the bass, it's not you, it's your amp.

 

[SirMjac28]

This is something I discovered when I was a kid.

 

[honeyiscool]

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?

That's so true. I play in a band where I'm definitely the best guitarist AND the best bassist in the band, there are three of us, and nobody disputes that I'm the best player in the band. Not only that, I wrote a lot of the parts myself, even the ones others play, and I arranged just about all the songs. Yet, when we're recording, when I play everyone else's parts first to get the basic scratch track, it never sounds like the band. It sounds like a cover of my band's songs by someone who knows the material very well. When we get the other players to play their parts, then it actually sounds like the band.

Whatever the sound of your band is, if you subbed Billy Sheehan in for your bassist, your band would sound different. Even if he did his best to play exactly like you, he'd still be him, and the music would sound different. And for some, it might be better, but for some, it would be worse.

 

[bluesblaster]

Its the operator, do you really believe that a very talented young player( or even old player) of meager financial means that makes the most of his or her $500 bass is going to miraculously be so much better as a player when you put a eight thousand dollar Fodera in there hands ? of course not. I've heard guitar players play amazing solo's on mexican made strats too. Its pointless to argue something like this though, in most cases its just years of experience that can teach you these things.

 

[TyBo]

It's not the bass, it's not you, it's your amp.

Good one.

Yeah, I'd put it around here too. Maybe even 90% / 10%.

Jimi Hendrix played on a Flying V every once in a while. Still sounded like Jimi.

As long as what you are playing feels comfortable to you, the electronics are pretty reliable, it intonates and holds tune well, the brand name, headstock shape and logo, price point and county of manufacture really don't matter much unless having certain "name brands" is a status thing for you.

Hendrix actually did sound different on the Flying V, imo. Didn't quite have that open single coil tone with the Gibson 'buckers. Of course, his playing was still identifiable as Jimi - he had a very strong individual style.

My experience is that the instrument really does make a difference - I have some guitars that play like buttah, that I can fly on, and others that play like quicksand, can't do nothin' with 'em. I'm a pretty accomplished player by most reckoning, been at it for almost half a century ... the instrument matters, that's all. Not the brand name, but the instrument itself. Headstock shape matters too - a reverse Fender head has different string tensions than the standard one, plays different. Such things actually do matter, though it seems fashionable to say otherwise.

 

[Mike Sorr]

Sometimes high quality gear helps. I played a friend's Elrick singlecut 5 string through his Epifni head and 2x12 and couldn't believe it was me playing it. I've never played anything that sounded so incredible and so easy to play. I had a Geddy Lee Jazz that augmented my limited skills as well. A great bass that just feels good in your hands will do that. Sometimes a piece of gear will inspire your playing in a way that others just won't.

On the other hand, you can't polish a turd.

 

[RunBeerRun]

You can get a good sound out of any bass if you have a preamp that compliments it.

 

[Mattrill]

I've played gawd awful bass's and exotic bass's. Having a better quality bass makes it easier to play better. But Geddy Lee can probably YYZ just about anything. Once a player becomes fluent with their instrument just about any will do. What your looking for is one that talks back to you. One that feels right. Whether it's a cheap knock off or an Fodera. One that you can almost play blind folded. Took me almost 30 years to find it too. No one was more surprised than me it was a Fender.

Hey can I see a pic of your Fender

 

[joel406]

Hey can I see a pic of your Fender

Sure.

 

[Neveragain55]

Maybe not easier, but nicer. You know what you're doing you can work through the sharp frets or the urolled board edge or whatever else is not quite there, but in addition to the sound you hear there's the interaction with the instrument. Nicer stuff (whether that means expensive or not) is nicer to play on.

If you can get a similar sound out of two instruments, but one is a fight you have to grit your teeth for, and the other the pieces just feel good, there's a difference. From the sideline you can't tell, but if you're on top of it you sure can.

I honestly believe that everything your saying ultimately makes you a better player over time.....

 

[Neveragain55]

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!

Me too.....LOLOLOLOL

 

[Neveragain55]

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.

I absolutely agree, I think any one of us with enough determination & skill can make "almost" anything sound good, and that's not a slight on those of us that have worked hard to own very expensive basses.

 

[Neveragain55]

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...

Very cool & intuitive insight..............