Most unforgiving bass guitar?

[TolerancEJ]

If you're not already familiar with fretless, I recommend taking the dive. You don't have to start with a pricey bass.

Focus on playing using your ears instead of watching the fingerboard. It takes time, but train yourself to hear when you are in-tune and when you need to adjust.

 

[J.Wolf]

Ive had this experience with amps and cabs more than basses. Even a super clear bass through a sub par amp will give you a lot more cushion for bad technique etc...

I had a guy play through my rig not long ago, coming from his hartke combo, and he was like "man my bass sounds really bad through your amp, lots of hum, fret buzz, and static-y pot noise". Yep my friend, you're welcome.

 

[ZuluFoxtrot]

Turn your treble all the way up when you practice.

 

[Toothyfish]

Treble up, even boost the mids, and a bit of drive. Anything the brings out the upper mids and highs.

Also fretless helped me learn to be precise on finger placement and getting notes to flow together.

 

[Andy Krishak]

I have small hands and like thinner Jazz necks. When I need to really work, I grab one of several basses. I have a Schecter 5 string that is drop tuned 1/2 step and I have heavy gauge DR Hi-beams with an extra heavy B. Gives a real physical work out. Or if I am not wanting to crush bricks, I use my one home built with more of a P-bass style neck (std tuning, DR mediums). When I go back to a jazz, my speed and accuracy is way better....and using a lot of treble is a good thing as well, which I do anyway.

 

[J.Wolf]

but, come to think of it. This was unforgiving as it was cool. BassLab L-Bow. All composite/monocoque, hollow throughout. Clear as a bell, and didnt let you get away with squat.

 

[KevMuso]

Any bass will do, but:

• Use heavy strings;
• Play through a clean amp (or better still, DI & headphones);
• Don't use any effects, especially not a compressor or limiter.

 

[muller1007]

Alembic basses, especially Series 1 & 2, definitely do the trick!

 

[togril]

If I wanted to work on my chops, and I do, I might use an instrument that revealed every excruciating detail of my technique, or at least crank the tone knob. What's the most revealing bass guitar/strings combo you've ever played? Did it make you better or did you abandon t?

For me it would have to be a Wawrick Streamer (straight through neck) with DR Hi Beams. If you have a fretless neck it will help your muscle memory. But that is all, and is equal on a fretted instrument. This makes a real difference, not having to look at the neck. Playing with a blindfold will create wonders! Your muscle memory and feel for the 'pocket'. That last one turned me into a real player (classical Double Bass) and my teacher made me always play and paractice like that. It makes the ears the primary sense. Try it!
T xx

 

[Bass1958]

No contest.

View attachment 3306739

Jameson's P-Bass was notoriously difficult for anyone else to play.

 

[MustangWally]

Years ago I had an early MusicMan bass, the 2 pickup version of the Stingray with onboard EQ. Damn that thing kept me on my toes! I had Rotosound 99's on it ('piano' strings) and ran it through a 1,000 watt stack and I really had to be on top of my game every night. It was a great sound but there was no room for error, none at all. These days a Mustang PJ is quite sufficient thank you

 

[bassbenj]

Alembic basses, especially Series 1 & 2, definitely do the trick!

Fretless one for the ulitmate.

 

[Usidore T Blue]

For me it would have to be a Wawrick Streamer (straight through neck) with DR Hi Beams. If you have a fretless neck it will help your muscle memory. But that is all, and is equal on a fretted instrument. This makes a real difference, not having to look at the neck. Playing with a blindfold will create wonders! Your muscle memory and feel for the 'pocket'. That last one turned me into a real player (classical Double Bass) and my teacher made me always play and paractice like that. It makes the ears the primary sense. Try it!
T xx

Starting today! Thanks!

 

[Usidore T Blue]

Turn your treble all the way up when you practice.

Oh yeah to tone pot is definitely a way to go, but I would like it to sound nice while I do it.

 

[Usidore T Blue]

but, come to think of it. This was unforgiving as it was cool. BassLab L-Bow. All composite/monocoque, hollow throughout. Clear as a bell, and didnt let you get away with squat.

View attachment 3312778

What is the point of the bow? I am thinking to change the resonance of the neck?

 

[Usidore T Blue]

If you're not already familiar with fretless, I recommend taking the dive. You don't have to start with a pricey bass.

Focus on playing using your ears instead of watching the fingerboard. It takes time, but train yourself to hear when you are in-tune and when you need to adjust.

I may buy a fretless neck for my Squier.

 

[btmpancake]

Coming from playing long time flats on a jazz to recently playing rounds on a Ray. I'm like;
''what the hell just happen?''.

 

[Furutan]

Try a fretless. It will force you into cleaning up your technique, improving your hand position, and into being far more precise. It's like a calisthenics program for an athlete - you may never use a fretless on stage, but it provides a great workout, and the better you are at it, the greater the benefit.

 

[J.Wolf]

What is the point of the bow? I am thinking to change the resonance of the neck?

I think it was to increase the overall stiffness and energy transfer. Not sure if it was the bow or the construction but that thing was like a frickin bell.

 

[Kinky Afro]

My Ken Smith is very unforgiving. It sounds awesome but there is nowhere hide bad technique or mistakes.