I've been thinking lately.....

[pickles]

Everyone needs to let this sink in. I used to have all kinds of expensive gear. I now play basses that were $400 or less. They sound every bit as good as my Modulus, Smith, etc.

Don't let all the gear talk make up your mind for you. If everyone here was really honest, they would agree that for most gigs, they have gear that goes above and beyond what they really NEED. Most of your audience doesn't give a rip about what gear you use, as long as you are playing a nice line they can groove to.

And that's fine. Not everyone has the same gigs, needs or available financing.

I have a different take home message from all of this, which is that "expensive" and "good" are not the same thing. Even less closely related are "expensive" and "what you like".

Its not that I "don't need a better bass", its that my Hamer or '62RI would yield a great sound on any gig or session I could imagine, at any level. It would always be my playing that would make or break the date ... the basses are that good.

 

[Marcus]

That's funny, because my $3000.00 Zon Legacy Elite "speaks" more to me than any bass I've ever touched. Would I give up my other basses though? Heck no. Variety is the spice of life.

 

[danomite64]

I cleaned house a few years back; I sold a '91 L-2000, '80 Stingray, '96 Stingray, '96 Stingray 5 fretless, and an '80 Sabre. I kept 2 basses, both Warmoth parts Jazzes, and bought an Ibanez ATK that I thought sounded better than the EP 'Ray, and played/sounded as good as the pre-EB one. I'm still thinking about one of those Yamaha BB-614's; the righty I played in the store was quite nice.

 

[KeithPas]

I recently sold my Stingray5 and kept my modded Squire PBass Special so I donlt think you're crazy. I probably going to sell my Yamaha BB615 as well.

 

[ElBajista]

ya, you don't need a 5er, send me your 55-02 and/or your RBV.......

really, play what you need and fits the bill. I just recently got a 5er because I hate to d-tune....

Why do you dislike D-tuning? Do you mean with a D-tuner, or do you mean detuning the entire bass or E string?

 

[ElBajista]

Well, you don't need a D-tuner to tune to D you could try it a few times and see how you like it. Drop-D is fine for me as long as its a "part" that I know and have worked out. Improv on drop D freaks me out.

You could also detune the whole bass a half step, which not only gets you the range you need but typically also yields a fatter sound, and your Ebs would be open which would probably make everything easier on you.

I'd opt for the D-tuner because I found that I use the open strings (in standard tuning) for quick little changes in position, depending on the key in the song, or when I pull a Jamerson and pop some low open-string non-chord tones in here and there.

Plus, It would be easier for me to play on a D-tuned E string because all of the other strings are tuned standard. Less brainwork is better!

 

[zachbass02]

Why do you dislike D-tuning? Do you mean with a D-tuner, or do you mean detuning the entire bass or E string?

I just don't like playing with the E string dropped to D. And I also really hate having to retune to some off the wall non-standard tuning because some guitarist is trying to be Mr. Creative and can't come up with anything in standard tuning. Having dropped the E to D is something I've done for years upon years of playing, but I'm recently getting to the point where I don't like trying to remember the patterns when doing some sort of fill coming off the E, or D, up to the A string. That is just my preference. I know lots of guys here in Nashville who do this trick with great success and are phenominal players with it. I personally would rather have a 5er to get that low D.

As for detuning the whole bass, if you're trying to play/learn a song on the fly and you can follow a guitarists fingers or pianists fingers for the chord change as well as your ears, if they're not tuned down too or/and you remember that you're half a step or a whole step down from them, you're set up for a pretty big disaster.

My point is that, especially in a new situation, I always take the bass that I'm most comfortable with, no exceptions. If you have to make a good impression, first night on a gig, etc.. you don't want to have think about where your hands go or the odd tuning you're using to achieve a lower register. I recently had a gig with a blues guy that I got called for 1 hour before the show started. I had no charts, no cd, I had to walk in and follow this guy cold. It was rough, but I managed because I was comfortable on the bass I had with me and I could follow his fingers thankfully. The PA that was there wasn't conduscive to trusting ones ear. :scowl:

 

[Dr. Cheese]

LB -

Can you explain more about what you mean by "too active?" I am actually looking for a bass that has a more "hi-fi" sound -- I'm trying to cop that "Modern Urban Gospel" tone. (The benchmark is a Ken Smith but it's way too expensive. I realize that the Peavey Cirrus is supposed to be the next best thing but I have yet to play a Cirrus that "speaks" to me.)

I'm wondering if the 55-02 may be the ticket and I'm interested in hearing more about the sound of your Lakland.

Thread hijack: Iota, if the ken Smith is too expensive, and the Cirrus does not speak to you, then that is not your sound. There is no law that says you have to sound like Fred Hammons to play in church.

 

[James_B]

Yes there is a law that says you have to sound like Fred Hammons. It was passed yesterday, federal too....

Man if a bass speaks to you, then let it speak.

 

[pickles]

That's funny, because my $3000.00 Zon Legacy Elite "speaks" more to me than any bass I've ever touched. Would I give up my other basses though? Heck no. Variety is the spice of life.

I'm not saying that an expensive bass won't be the one for any particular person, just that it isn't the price tag that determines how well it fits you.

 

[pickles]

I'd opt for the D-tuner because I found that I use the open strings (in standard tuning) for quick little changes in position, depending on the key in the song, or when I pull a Jamerson and pop some low open-string non-chord tones in here and there.

Plus, It would be easier for me to play on a D-tuned E string because all of the other strings are tuned standard. Less brainwork is better!

For me, drop-D is way more brain work than retuning the whole bass to Eb, thats why I suggested just trying it out. A D-tuner just automates drop-D tuning, but with practice you can make that shift pretty quickly. Tune the 12th fret "E" string harmonic to the open D string and you're done.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

I agree with EB. I was very close to selling my SX 5er, but I am glad I didnt. Its all stock but it sounds and plays fantastic. I just wish the string spacing wasnt so tight near the nut.

 

[Human Bass]

Yes, you are! I have a lefty Deluxe just like yours. I tried a Yamaha BB614 not too long ago, factory-fresh from and online retailer, and although I'm a Yamaha fan, I though that this new one were just too "bubget."

I keep an open multitrack recording of all the basses I but and sell, to compare, and I although the Yamaha keeps up easily with most others basses, it really felt cheap in my hands.

I would say try it, but don't sell the Deluxe first to get the BB.

My MIA sounds reallyawesome, beatiful and defined low-end. no doubt about that, but im having problem with the neck...is comfy but not thaaat comfy and the action is medium-low and i already face some fret buzz.

 

[Tom]

The stock finish, however, is this really icky, goopy gloss finish.

That's what I figured. At least it's a fixable problem.

 

[Interceptor]

Well, back to original question.

I've recently gone down the same road, and now am down to one bass. What is left is the one that really plays nice, has no noise issues and sounds good enough to not have to worry about it.

I was ready for a change in instuments, and went shopping with a very open mind. I had grown tired of noise issues with single coil pickups and necks that felt clumsy above the 15th fret. After obtaining wife acceptance for going for a high end bass, I came home with a Schecter Diamond Elite. We're talking $400!

For me, once I became comfortable with the idea that less than 1% of the audiences I ever play in front of care if I use a XYZ super bass, it all came together. Play what ever instrument gets out of your way the best - it is how you'll play your best.

 

[ElBajista]

For me, drop-D is way more brain work than retuning the whole bass to Eb, thats why I suggested just trying it out. A D-tuner just automates drop-D tuning, but with practice you can make that shift pretty quickly. Tune the 12th fret "E" string harmonic to the open D string and you're done.

I figured on a D-tuner because of the fact that I only play at Church, where I can't be tuning between songs. I need to be able to switch in and out of standard tuning with not much time to spare. All of those traditional Mass parts done in succession make for great practice in agile musicianship!

 

[ElBajista]

That's what I figured. At least it's a fixable problem.

Sandpaper is a wonderful tool! My next plan is to completely remove the gloss finish in favor of a Tru-oil finish.

 

[stingray69]

Everyone needs to let this sink in. I used to have all kinds of expensive gear. I now play basses that were $400 or less. They sound every bit as good as my Modulus, Smith, etc.

Don't let all the gear talk make up your mind for you. If everyone here was really honest, they would agree that for most gigs, they have gear that goes above and beyond what they really NEED. Most of your audience doesn't give a rip about what gear you use, as long as you are playing a nice line they can groove to.

And that's fine. Not everyone has the same gigs, needs or available financing.

+1

Although IMO this is very true..sadly a comment of this nature seems to open a big can of worms here on TB. There are tons of guys on this forum who will argue to the end of time the virtues of their multi-thousand dollar basses being SO much better, blah blah blah. I know everyone here on TB has found better "B" strings, more supportive tones, equal or better playability on "lower line" instruments whether they want to admit it or not, at least I have. It's just a real slap in the face when you realize that a bass that costs a fraction of the boutique models is giving your boutique a run for its money. I'm not saying it happens all the time, but it does happen. Don't get me wrong, I used to own several of the aforementioned high $$$ basses. But anymore IMO, I feel that the name on a headstock or the figured wood (or lack of) should never be the be-all, end-all measuring stick for a great playing & sounding bass.

 

[Juniorkimbrough]

I agree with you, Jazz bass is my thing.....regardless of whatever else I try I always come back to my Jazz's.

 

[BartmanPDX]

You're not crazy.

I think what you like is a passive, single-coil Jazz bass sound. Your 55-02 and RBV will not give you that sound.

My advice is to try some other single coil Jazz basses. By all means, keep the SX, but you may want to look for a trade/sale on the other basses. You may find another single coil Jazz bass that does it for you even more than the SX, with better playability.

I had the same epiphany. I liked my Lakland DJ w/J-retro, but preferred the sound in passive mode, which is NOT the strength of the J-retro. I had a Bongo which I liked, but it's tone just wasn't my thing in the end. I found a used Sadowsky UV70 with single coils and it's the best sounding bass (to me) I've ever played, and feels like a dream.

Gotta love them single coils. Go try a Lakland JO or DJ and see if it floats your boat. Maybe you can arrange a trade for your 55-02 with someone headed in the opposite direction tone-wise.