LATIN MUSIC...WHAT BASS DO YOU USE?

[okcrum]

I agree with the opinion that almost any bass can do it fine in a tropical music setting (assuming that's what you mean with "Latin"). I just have three remarks:

1. If you plan to play modern Dominican Merengue (say, stuff from mid 90s on), a 5-string bass is a must. That's the only reason why I don't bring my beloved Steinberger XL2 to tropical gigs more often.

+1 to that.

2. You won't believe how great the Peavey T-40 works for playing old-school tropical stuff (from 60s & 70s).

I wouldn't have thought of that, but I am not surprised now that you mention it.

3. I know that almost anything can be done with EQ, strings and touch, but I'd never bring my Rickenbacker 4003 to a tropical music gig (actually, none of my bandmates have seen it). Tonewise, that's not the "spirit" of the instrument IMO.

Alvaro, you may have hit on the best way to phrase the OP's question: what are the basses you would NOT use for any flavor of Latin/CA/SA (not African, Asian, or Pacific ) Tropical music?

 

[bass12]

does everything have to be dissected into sub styles?? Latin is a style. Funk is a style, i know 5 different types of funk..5 different styles of Hip Hop, god knows how many styles of Rock..

it depends what you call a style! any one on the street would understand a style as they know it...as most people do... as certain broad style...just because you may obviously know every aspect and the differences between them...

im well aware of music and its sub genres..ive been listening to them for 36 years...OK...as most know it Latin has a certain feel and sound as a general feel...thats it...i didnt want the history of Latin music...

like i said i appreciate the knowledge but get of your musical high horse...i get it bro...

i feel like i asked what a white man was..."oh but there are so many types"???

With all due respect, my comments have nothing to do with being on a "high horse" - it's simply a matter of respect for both music and education. Your misconceptions regarding the spectrum of "Latin music" are common and this thread presents an opportunity to dispel certain notions and to exchange some knowledge. If you'd posted a comment about "the major 7th in a dominant chord" would you not expect someone to correct you? Your claim that "Latin music" is a style like "hip-hop" or "funk" is not at all legitimate. Anyway, I understand the intention of this thread but I firmly believe that failure to address certain misconceptions in any mature discussion of music is a disservice to the world of music itself. How's that for "high horse"?

 

[chuck3]

Interesting thread. I am taking a few lessons with a guy who plays various Latin styles exactly because I wanted to understand some of the subgenres that you all have mentioned better. Some, like basic bossa or samba, I do OK already. Others like the tumbao are harder - the ones where you are crossing bar lines. That is COOL but hard to do!

So far as what bass, in the city it's an Upton Hybrid upright, upstate it's an EBMM Sterling fretless with black nylon tapewounds and a lot of EQ adding lows and cutting highs. Through Genz Benz shuttles in both cases.

 

[okcrum]

With all due respect, my comments have nothing to do with being on a "high horse" - it's simply a matter of respect for both music and education. Your misconceptions regarding the spectrum of "Latin music" are common and this thread presents an opportunity to dispel certain notions and to exchange some knowledge. If you'd posted a comment about "the major 7th in a dominant chord" would you not expect someone to correct you? Your claim that "Latin music" is a style like "hip-hop" or "funk" is not at all legitimate. Anyway, I understand the intention of this thread but I firmly believe that failure address certain misconceptions in any mature discussion of music is a disservice to the world of music. How's that for "high horse"?

Pretty high.

IMO equating your view with respecting the music is a specious and commonly used PC argument. But I'll respect your view as yours. Please respect mine and the others' here. I am allowed to have a different one, with no "disrespect" for the music, nor lack of awareness of its subsets.

 

[bass12]

Pretty high.

Equating your view with respecting the music is a specious and commonly used PC argument. I'll respect your view. Please respect mine. I am allowed to have a different one, with no "disrespect" for the music, nor lack of awareness of its subsets.

Why would anyone respect ignorance?

 

[NickyBass]

Bass12..you sound like a man who knows his Latin....Salsa is very much what we play but most of the stuff is original so has no set style... Latin/Funk/Soul is pretty much what we do... take from that what you will..

I play Baby Bass with a salsa group:

The tone doesn't quite lend itself to soul/funk, though. It is super thumpy and tubby. No sustain.

Do you want to stay closer to the funk/soul sound, or more toward the salsa tone?

For a salsa tone on electric, the Ampeg AEB1 basses with the 'mystery pickup' get a nice Baby Bass tone. They are quite rare and expensive these days though. You can talk to a custom builder to get an updated version.

For the funk tone, that hints at salsa, maybe a P bass or even J bass would be a good place to start.

 

[chuck3]

I play Baby Bass with a salsa group:

Nice bass there.

 

[okcrum]

Why would anyone respect ignorance?

I think you missed my point.

 

[okcrum]

I play Baby Bass with a salsa group:

The tone doesn't quite lend itself to soul/funk, though. It is super thumpy and tubby. No sustain.

Do you want to stay closer to the funk/soul sound, or more toward the salsa tone?

For a salsa tone on electric, the Ampeg AEB1 basses with the 'mystery pickup' get a nice Baby Bass tone. They are quite rare and expensive these days though. You can talk to a custom builder to get an updated version.

For the funk tone, that hints at salsa, maybe a P bass or even J bass would be a good place to start.

Sweet bass. You can still find them around for a pretty penny, like the AEB-1s. True, you can get a sound like that with a P or J to get going.

Here's the guy doing new build AEB-style basses:

http://www.xstrange.com/index.html

 

[bubinga5]

With all due respect, my comments have nothing to do with being on a "high horse" - it's simply a matter of respect for both music and education. Your misconceptions regarding the spectrum of "Latin music" are common and this thread presents an opportunity to dispel certain notions and to exchange some knowledge. If you'd posted a comment about "the major 7th in a dominant chord" would you not expect someone to correct you? Your claim that "Latin music" is a style like "hip-hop" or "funk" is not at all legitimate. Anyway, I understand the intention of this thread but I firmly believe that failure to address certain misconceptions in any mature discussion of music is a disservice to the world of music itself. How's that for "high horse"?

i appreciate your passion on this subject and should really have taken your post as an positive insight...and maybe learned something from your knowledge.. i understand your your fear of misconceptions and feel the same regardless of my previous posts...

i can be too quick to post sometimes...thankyou for your post bro...

 

[Mikio]

Perhaps a Latin bass =)

http://www.aysbass.com/

 

[bass12]

I think you missed my point.

It's possible.

 

[bass12]

i appreciate your passion on this subject and should really have taken your post as an positive insight...and maybe learned something from your knowledge.. i understand your your fear of misconceptions and feel the same regardless of my previous posts...

i can be too quick to post sometimes...thankyou for your post bro...

Hey - no worries. Thanks for your understanding. There are a few thoughts that I'd like to share but I'll PM you just to keep things tidy.

 

[DWBass]

+1 Bobby Vlaentin plays an ampeg Scroll and he's one of my favorite salsa bass players

I have this dvd. And it's a good one too!

 

[FunkyMan]

Yamaha and Ibanez = LatinBass Machines

 

[chuck3]

just got the Oscar Stagnaro book/Cd - very good.

Tumbao, baby.

 

[EdMerc]

I have to point this out - "Latin" music is not a style.

Beat me to it. "Latin Music" doesn't mean anything other than the regions they originate from.

I could play you hard rock, Latin music (Puya).
I could play you Latin pop (Shakira)
Latin Salsa (El Gran Combo)
Latin Merengue (Los Hermanos Rosario)
Latin ballads (Luis Miguel)
Latin Jazz/Blues (Newyorican Soul)

The list goes on.

... but try a Fender Jazz. You can never go wrong with a Fender jazz.

 

[DTF]

is romanian music latin music? or swiss music sung in romansh?

just playing devils advocate , latin is a poor word choice when describing anything ,due to its definition

 

[Stranger Danger]

Probably an El Tu Que?

 

[Martin89]

Yamaha and Ibanez = LatinBass Machines

+1 in the humor that everyone I see playing Latin styles locally uses some form of active 5 Yamaha or Ibanez. The guy I know who plays the most Latin styles plays a red active 5 Fender Jazz but often switches out for a Yamaha P/J active 5. I think he mostly uses the J in the bridge position...