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"Modern" basses, what's to like?

Nobody

Nobody

Inactive
Jul 14, 2004
2,144
4,005
gravel
#1
I've had vintage style basses(Fender and the like) and I've had modern style basses(Ibanez) and I seem to like modern basses more. However, reading talkbass makes me want to want a Fender or some kind of vintage style bass because they are(seemingly) more popular now and are talked about more than modern basses. What I find myself doing is having to remind myself of why I like the bass I currently have(Ibanex SRX690) more than the vintage style bass that I think I might want to want perhaps sometime in the hypothetical near future. :eyebrow: Anyway..... I like the smaller tiltback headstock because it's lighter and and doesn't cause neckdive which helps with ergonomics. I like the smaller body because it's lighter and easier on the back. I like that the upper horn extends past the 12th fret making the neck not feel as long. I like the the thinner neck(although the SRX neck is not as thin as the SR necks so it's really close to a Jazz neck, kudos to the Jazz) than most vintage style basses. I like being able to cut OR boost different freqs on the fly. I like that it's a neckthru(not that all modern basses are neckthru or no vintage basses are neckthru). I like that I seem to be able to get around on modern basses better and I need all the help I can get.

I'm not bashing vintage style basses at all, I like the looks and vibe of them very much but for the reasons listed above I prefer more modern basses overall. What about you? If you prefer modern basses, why?
 
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#2
I've tried different new ergonomic and so called
advanced designs.

Yes, they have better designs for comfort and
cool stuff.

I am old and have arthritis. I need help. But, none
of the basses I have tried allow me to play as
easily as my first solid body electric bass. I don't
know why. It seems to be an extension of my body.

After 25 years, I can not top my Westone Electra.

Tabdog
 
#4
I guess most of my basses would be considered "modern" so, I like them. Only one of them is a modern shape, the rest are pretty much J style bodies

I don't really care though. As long as I get a sound I like, and I can play it I'm a happy camper.
 
#5
I like the basses that I like because I like them.

bread-toast.jpg
 
#6
Currently I'm growing steadily in appreciation for a bass that to me covers both worlds pretty well, an 80's Ibanez Roadstar RB-850. I traded a yamaha P-J for it that I loved in all aspects except to me it only was capable of "modern" tones.

The Ibanez with its coil splittable humbuckers and blend pot covers a ton of P and J -esque tones as well as many more including what to my ear are modern sounds, I'm thrilled with it. It seems to be a pretty much do-it-all-for-me bass.

I'll still keep my P and short scales , and always lean toward vintage, I've found the best of both worlds in this sweetie.
 
#10
I wasn't really talking about older and newer but rather vintage "style" and more modern "style" basses. You can get a brand new vintage "style" bass which is what I would do if I were to get one because they are cheaper than a true vintage bass. I have nothing against spending extra on an actual vintage instrument but I personally couldn't do it because I don't have much of that one stuff .... oh what's it called? ...... OH Yeah! Money! ;)
 
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#11
Modern.

Not really because of the tone or playability (I think I can find them in whatever era of basses) but I always tend to want to be unique. So, I decided to go modern when I was developing my own style so that people will not instantly link my playing to the influence even if they sound the same.

For example, if I do a nasal Jaco-tone while using a tobacco-burst, rosewood fretboard Jazz, people will immediately link or even compare me to Jaco instead of just focusing on my playing. Or, if I do some Miller slap and having natural-colored, maple fretboard Jazz bass or worse yet, an MM signature bass, people can't help but instantly relate me to him.

But if I did the above (Jaco-tone, Miller slap) but have a modern bass (I currently have an Ibanez BTB), people might recall the influence but not immediately and most will not compare. :)
 
#13
Vintage basses are like anything else. They are nice to look at and have the prestige. They also remind us of where basses came from. They still have the same electronics and sound that their fore fathers had. For some, right now thats not enough. For me its not enough. I want great pick ups and active electronics. These help you to contour the bass sound to whatever you need. Love to have on board eq. That way I can control my fret slapp and remove some mid, or make it tinny. This is done to fit better in the mix. I like to have an on board mid sweep knob. This way I can alter the mid frequency to make my bass sound metal or like a frettless. Active basses allow sound guys to get good even range when going direct into a mixer. They also give the "headroom" needed by going direct in without a DI or amp. This allows for us computer guys to take advantage of the plugins our DAW's have to offer. As far as comfort, I like the jazz bass feel. If a bass feels good, it feels good. Body contour or not. Active basses are very quiet. If you like single coil sound then active is for you. I CANT stand backing off a pick up volume control and hearing the 60 cycle hum. That makes me really angry cause its unnessesary.
 
#14
Pitmaster said:
Vintage basses are like anything else. They are nice to look at and have the prestige. They also remind us of where basses came from. They still have the same electronics and sound that their fore fathers had. For some, right now thats not enough. For me its not enough. I want great pick ups and active electronics. These help you to contour the bass sound to whatever you need. Love to have on board eq. That way I can control my fret slapp and remove some mid, or make it tinny. This is done to fit better in the mix. I like to have an on board mid sweep knob. This way I can alter the mid frequency to make my bass sound metal or like a frettless. Active basses allow sound guys to get good even range when going direct into a mixer. They also give the "headroom" needed by going direct in without a DI or amp. This allows for us computer guys to take advantage of the plugins our DAW's have to offer. As far as comfort, I like the jazz bass feel. If a bass feels good, it feels good. Body contour or not. Active basses are very quiet. If you like single coil sound then active is for you. I CANT stand backing off a pick up volume control and hearing the 60 cycle hum. That makes me really angry cause its unnessesary.
Click to expand...

If you like the sound of a pair of jazz pups and don't want the hum, Nordstand makes some noise-cancelling pickups, the NJ4SV and NJ4SE.

The SVs give you the vintage tone while the SEs sound more like humbuckers.
 
#17
I prefer to play five string basses with wide spacing at the bridge...that knocked me into the modern camp I guess. I like the different pickup and preamp options, but the main thing was wanting fivers.
 
#20
deste said:
Ibanez rb850, do you mean? My first "good" bass, way back in '85, and still my favorite. I have six more, "classic", short scale, fivers, but althouh now I'm mainly a J player, it still is my first one and only love. Great!
Give it good care, it's gonna be your best friend forever!
Click to expand...


Duh, yup, I stand corrected !
 

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