Keep it simple, stupid!

[PB+J]

I'm not sure how to take the idea. Does keep it simple mean "old fashioned?" Or "does it mean uncomplicated?" Or does it mean "sticking with what works?"

I play a passive Dingwall five string. It's been my only bass for 4 years now, after many years of trying every kind of bass from high end boutique to low end import. A lot of the time I play through an avalon U5, with no eq controls. Am I keeping it simple? Neither one of those is "classic" gear, but the dingwall, aside from the fanned frets, is no more complicated than a J-bass.

Speaking for myself, I generally like less options, less knobs. I don't like onboard preamps, or mid sweeps or etc. It's just distracting. I don't really care that much about the amp, because whatever amp you give me I'll sound like myself within five minutes or so. Mostly I want the amp to be light and easy to carry.

My experience with working professional players is that they are very good at keeping it simple, in the sense that years of experience have taught them economy--physical economy of movement, and economy with the setup and the gear. Less variety, more reliability. But there's nothing simple about they do, it just looks that way.

 

[Beepo]

I've got a bunch of modern basses(see sig.), but I always bring along my old P to studio sessions, and it always wins easily making it to the tracks. The producers like the new basses, but keep on asking me to do one take with the P, and that's the one they always use.
So there you go

 

[ThunderLizard]

J- I find it liberating to play my P bass... one tone, one volume. Plug and play. Low maintenance at it's finest.

 

[Tommygunn]

-Plug in
-turn knob 180o​
-play

Simple as it gets... great tone too!

 

[J. Crawford]

As I said guys, dont turn this into a flame thread. I was just asking.

 

[Thorsoundcore]

Please dont take this thread wrong, I mean no harm. Im just wondering who out there is happy with their simple, or classic, bass? I am a huge fan of Foderas, Fbasses, etc., and I plan to buy some when Im older, but my GAS has been entirely cured by a simple P bass. I have 3 now! They just sound soo good to my ears, sit well in the mix, and my band and local sound engineers just love it.

Im sure there are, but how many of you out there are fully happy with a simple bass, like a Fender P or J, etc.

Im just inquisitive. I like seeing other basses who keep it simple.

Again, I mean no harm! Im not one to cause a fight here on TB, Im just inquisitive.

Here is my main bass, with his little sisters in the background. I think of it as a he, because hes got my back like a best friend. I wont name him though.

i know exactly what you mean jordan.i like basses that look normal to me(yes,the simple ones)music man,fenders,gibsons,etc. pretty much any simple bass brand you can think of.most of the exotic basses i see around here(like the basses from john turner's collection for ex.,not trying to offend btw john )just kind of turn me off.there just not my thing..

 

[Shy Guy]

I greatly regret selling my p recently , out of all my basses nothing felt as 'right' as a p.....oh well, g bass on the way

 

[SteveC]

A Sadowsky RV-4 and a Yamaha BB605 modded with Bartolini electronics is as simple as I can get. I mostly play the Sadowsky - your basic "J" bass with a little extra "umph" I guess. I keep my Yamaha around as it was my main bass for a long time and it has a different tone and vibe from the Sadowsky. More modern with "burpy" mids. It's also a 5'er if I find I need that at all.

No fretless, no 6 string, no EUB, etc. My amp is a simple little GB Shuttle combo. My only pedal is a tuner and SOMETIMES a BBE Compressor.

 

[Tommygunn]

I wasn't trying man... I love me some p! I got 3 and 2 hove only the volume, I'm a simple man

 

[rayzak]

Basses are "simple"...
J, P, 2eq Ray, Ric

Amps.... not so much

 

[Joe Gress]

Ok.

And:

 

[AMJBASS]

I am a BIG fan of the Fender Precision. Having owned more than my fair share of high end basses, I always come back to the P-Bass. They work for almost everything I do(when not playing Upright). Simple and reliable.

 

[Medium-II]

Actually, a '51 Precision is as simple as it gets...

That being said, I totally get it.

I just love the sound of simple, passive pickups. My basses are as follows:

• MIJ Lawsuit Hofner
• Aria Pro II RSB Medium-II
• S101 Aerodyne Jazz Copy (on it's way)
• Ibanez GSR100 w/ SDQP Basslines and flats

All passive, all bolt on, all warm and fuzzy.

While I do love the feel of Warwicks, Alembics, and Spectors, I just don't like active basses. I prefer a hot, gritty passive (with flats if they work with the bass)...

BTW (@Joe Gress): I love the VMP with the VMJ neck. How does she play? I'll bet you can pull some sick growl outta that one!

 

[Green Mind]

Basses are "simple"...
J, P, 2eq Ray, Ric

That really is the best looking Ric I've ever seen. Exactly like I'd like my copy to look or even better, if I had a real one.

 

[Burlington]

I've been getting rid of most of my Fenders sadly (I'll be keeping a couple!). I've just really enjoyed being able to play with my EQ on the fly. And for the type of music I play, I really feel active pickups work the best.
But if I was in a classic rock cover band, P-bass all the way!

 

[bass4worship]

keep my P-bass at church at all time, no battery needed.......

 

[mongo2]

K.I.S.S. is my middle name.

 

[rayzak]

That really is the best looking Ric I've ever seen. Exactly like I'd like my copy to look or even better, if I had a real one.

Thanks man. It's got its issues, but I love it. It's an '82 4001 and it's a player.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Thanks man. It's got its issues, but I love it. It's an '82 4001 and it's a player.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one with Pergo that shows its edges a little too much

 

[Tom Howland]

I dig many types of basses.
And lust after them all.
But, a vintage 60's P-Bass is my desert island bass.
My current 1966 CAR P-bass.
Is my go to bass.
Light weight, resonent, fat tone, like butter.
I still look for the "Holy Grail " P-Bass. (someday)