• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Multiple Tones in One Bass?

1

18reisd

Aug 12, 2012
17
0
#1
Hey All,
I was just wondering what versatile bass would be for the music i play. My band plays a variety of different cover tunes and genres and my passive p bass can't cop every tone i need, and i dont want to haul multiple bass to a gig. We play everything from The Who, to The Beatles, to Rush, Radiohead, The Police, Pearl Jam, Zep, Frank Zappa, Stevie Wonder, Janis, etc... I'm looking to spend around 1250$ but i can push up to 1500$ or more if need be.
Go! :bassist:
 
#8
Not trying to Argue but...What could possibly be more fun than Jamming to those bands on a proper P-Bass. I've done it for years minus the Zappa but everything else you listed and tons more. I'm now doing it on A Ric and it's a bit harder to pull off but not too bad.
 
#14
NYCbassist said:
Not trying to Argue but...What could possibly be more fun than Jamming to those bands on a proper P-Bass. I've done it for years minus the Zappa but everything else you listed and tons more. I'm now doing it on A Ric and it's a bit harder to pull off but not too bad.
Click to expand...

Most of Zappa's bassists used a P bass :smug:

Back to the subject, The suggestions above are great.
I'de add Godin Shifter and If you can spend some more- Sandberg California VM (about 1850$ in the US).
 
#15
Used Fender Roscoe Beck Signature. All passive. Two buckers. You can split the coils in series, parallel, or single. I haven't found a tone I can't cop yet. And it will have a familiar Fender feel. It's a J neck but you get what I mean. Seriously, you can't go wrong with one.
 
#16
I think a passive J bass with fresh roundwounds can cop just about any tone.

Neck pickup wide open pretty much sounds like a P bass. Roll the tone knob off for a variety of mellower tones. Combine that with right hand techniques to get all of the flabbier sounds.

Both pickups wide open - tone wide open is a classic sound that works well for just about anything. Again combined with the right hand & tone knob you should be able to get a variety of sounds out of this position. It is also one of THE best slap tones. Throw a pick into the equation and a whole new spectrum opens up. From raw aggressive rock to muted punch.

The bridge position of course gets you the classic Jaco burp. When the strings are played closer to the neck it gives a wide variety of deeper tones but with a different midrange than the other pickup has.

I'd say that having a preamp built in would make any of these settings even more versatile but I find that the passive Jazz bass with great J sized humbucking pickups (in my case the Dimarzio Model J DP123 set) can do just about everything a bass needs to do. FOR ME the preamp adds a needless complexity in an already overly complex world. I have also found the Vol/Pan/Tone set up an easier way to navigate the tonal spectrum of the J compared to the Vol/Vol/Tone that is standard.

The Fender Jazz bass has done it all. Country, Blues, Jazz, Fusion, Pop, Funk, Dance, Latin, Reggae, Dub, Rock, Punk, Metal of every variety, Gospel, non-Western/foreign, Electronica...you name it. A jazz bass has done it.

Show up with your J. Plug it onto whatever is loud. Twist some knobs and get to work.
 
#20
My Carvin LB70 with the P-series electronics option makes all kinds of different sounds.
3-band EQ, pickup blend, coil tap, and a piezo pickup in each string saddle. The possibilities are kind of overwhelming

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

pseriesap.jpg
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back