Need Help Choosing a Punchy Bass

[Webtroll]

My US SUB Stingray is punchy as hell and sounds like it fits the description you're looking for. I also have a new SUB which I like as much but will be modded because... it's what I do? My Precision is one of the best sounding basses I've ever owned, as were all of the Precisions I've ever owned; a little plain alone but awesome as hell with a band.

 

[Tbone76]

If I may suggest another bass, you may want to look at the Warwick Rockbass Corvette $$. It's a passive double humbucker bass, volume, volume, tone, and a push/pull series/parallel switch on each volume pot. It can cop all kinds of tones, and it flat out THUMPS! I just picked one up 2 weeks ago and couldn't be happier. I bought it to be something different than my P and J, and it didn't disappoint. Add in top notch construction and a decent price, what's not to like?! Andy Irvine also has a demo on Youtube.

 

[chuck norriss]

Your advice is really appreciated on this:



Here's what I think of when I think of "punchy" bass sound:


attack. I think he's playing a Fender P actually...

gnarly

 

[bassmanchu]

gnarly

Right?

 

[gregmon79]

Hi SanDiegoHarry - Yeah, I actually mentioned that in my OP. I also acknowledged that articulation (RH technique) is a major factor, which isn't quite cutting it on my jazz bass.

My real question is how do Music Man basses and P-basses compare? Any insight you care to share about the basses or pickups would be great.

Music man basses and P basses are sort of worlds apart. Sort of. P basses, you get a GREAT tone. But it's limited. You can go really high end then roll the tone knob off and get really muffly/deep bass. A music man is more of a dingy kind of trebly, higher voiced bass. You can't get a P tone out of an MM and you can't get an MM tone out of a P IME. However, and this is why I brought up the ATK, you can get a P'ish tone out of it AND an an MM tone. Best of both worlds IMO. The P and MM are both great basses. Just, different. I still think the MM will bring more punch to the game. But it's how you play them that counts really.

 

[Phalex]

Punch = Active IMO

Active J
Active P
Active MM

Punch

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Hi SanDiegoHarry - Yeah, I actually mentioned that in my OP. I also acknowledged that articulation (RH technique) is a major factor, which isn't quite cutting it on my jazz bass.

My real question is how do Music Man basses and P-basses compare? Any insight you care to share about the basses or pickups would be great.

Well, that's a very wide open question. I'm one of those odd guys who has never been able to get a good tone out of a P-bass. They just don't like me, I guess. I've owned several PJs and normal Js'...

But you have to narrow this down a bit - there are a ton of P-type basses out there, and a a few variants of the Music Man as well. I've owned a few of those - and I preferred the Sterling - it seemed to be a bit more "modern" sounding than the Stingray - - but the 'Ray sits really well in the mix...

This is why guys like me buy basses, hang onto them for a while then sell them - never quite *happy*!

 

[bassmanchu]

Music man basses and P basses are sort of worlds apart. Sort of. P basses, you get a GREAT tone. But it's limited. You can go really high end then roll the tone knob off and get really muffly/deep bass. A music man is more of a dingy kind of trebly, higher voiced bass. You can't get a P tone out of an MM and you can't get an MM tone out of a P IME. However, and this is why I brought up the ATK, you can get a P'ish tone out of it AND an an MM tone. Best of both worlds IMO. The P and MM are both great basses. Just, different. I still think the MM will bring more punch to the game. But it's how you play them that counts really.

Hey gregmon, this is exactly the kind of info I need. Sounds like I have to go out and play all three through the same amp to get a real impression.

Which would you choose for R&B or Soul? Do Stingrays a wider range of sound (more highs on top of the same lows), or just not have the lows of the P-bass or ATK?

 

[lowphatbass]

If you're looking for something in a reasonable price range I would suggest trying a G&L Tribute.

 

[bassmanchu]

If you're looking for something in a reasonable price range I would suggest trying a G&L Tribute.

Yeah, price is definitely a factor. I'm looking for either used (which can be MORE expensive for p-basses or other "vintage" instruments) or the lower-end of a really good brand.

 

[artfahie]

I have a '63 P and a 5-string HH Stingray.... I don't even bother with the P anymore... waiting for a new Dimension (4-string HH)... very similiar to the Stingray.... using an MarkBass amp combo doesn't do any harm either. I play with several big bands... you can tell when I drop out, it's like the whole band just shrivels-up sound wise.

 

[bassmanchu]

But you have to narrow this down a bit - there are a ton of P-type basses out there, and a a few variants of the Music Man as well. I've owned a few of those - and I preferred the Sterling - it seemed to be a bit more "modern" sounding than the Stingray - - but the 'Ray sits really well in the mix...

That's really interesting. What about it is a more modern sound to you? Sustain, balance, brighter/darker tone? Do they make them with both active and passive pickups?

This is why guys like me buy basses, hang onto them for a while then sell them - never quite *happy*!

Yeah - I'm trying to resist that urge. I used to have a Fender American Deluxe V Jazz, a Mexican fretless Jazz, and an '80s Jazz but they were lost in a family house fire years ago. Could have replaced them but insurance money went to more important things and I ended up with a run-of-the-mill Mexican Standard Jazz. Not complaining, but now I need something else. The start of an endless cycle, I'm sure.

 

[ngh]

you could try installing a series parallel switch in your J. j pickups in series tend to produce what I consider punchy tone, also gives you a little more output. and if you do it using a push pull pot than it is a totally reversible mod

 

[Nightvision]

Fender P Bass, G&L L2000 or MM Bongo.
Don't buy a Stingray you will be disappointed.

 

[dougjwray]

Have you considered doing the series/parallel mod to your Jazz Bass? (Or having someone do it?)
Jazz Bass pickups are normally wired parallel, but when they're wired in series, they function more like one big, humbucker. Because you are still getting some sound from the bridge area, you get more of a Stingray tone than you would get from a Precision... but the tone is definitely louder and thicker than what you get from regular parallel Jazz wiring.
I have two Fender Jazz Basses, and both have been modified with a push-pull switch so that I can have my choice of series or parallel. The parts cost almost nothing, the work is pretty cheap to have done, and it's reversible-- no carving up of your bass is involved.
You can read lots about it and get diagrams if you do a search on TB.


Having said all of that, my Fender Precision Basses usually supply the type of punch that I prefer.

EDIT: While I was writing that, NGH got the word in first!

 

[Osztertag2112]

Wait!!!! Before buying a new bass get some new pickups for your jazz, maybe a p/j set up. I would got with an active preamp to help boost your mids. Im not sure which type to recomend, but im sure many here can help you

 

[Nightvision]

A G&L SB-2 is a good idea too.

 

[Bebo]

Find a used Lakland with Bartolini pups and preamp. The punchier I have found this side of a Sadowsky Will Lee.

 

[gregmon79]

Hey gregmon, this is exactly the kind of info I need. Sounds like I have to go out and play all three through the same amp to get a real impression.



Which would you choose for R&B or Soul? Do Stingrays a wider range of sound (more highs on top of the same lows), or just not have the lows of the P-bass or ATK?

For R&B? Hmmmmmm. Not really sure. It would def need to be a 5'er IMO. Never played R&B so can't really help that much in that arena.

But yes, playing all three would help. You'll have luck finding all those basses in stores but the older ATK 300's are fair and few in between used in stores like GC IME. I did find mine at a Sam ash years ago though. See, I wanted an MM since I started playing about 14 years ago. My first bass, that I still have and play all the time, is a '99 Squier P. I've heavily modded it. But after I got that ATK, it's an early 90's model I believe, I stopped wanting an MM. Those older ATK 300's don't have s**t on a MM. Now I'm sure many will disagree, that's why it's called my opinion. Nothing wrong with an MM, just too cranky for me. But since someone just threw the G&L out there, that may be one you want to look at too. You want versatility? Yeah, those G&L's are it. The ATK is too, but the G&L even more so. I think it's the L2000 you'd want to look at. But in the end, playing them through you choice of rig is what you're gonna wanna do. It's up to you. The newer ATK's that can usually easily be found in stores are decent, but they just ain't got the awesomeness that the older 300's do IMO. Sorry for rambling. Long day.

 

[bassmanchu]

Wait!!!! Before buying a new bass get some new pickups for your jazz, maybe a p/j set up. I would got with an active preamp to help boost your mids. Im not sure which type to recomend, but im sure many here can help you

I've got active pickups on this bass - they're the original pickups. Not sure what active pickups they were putting on Mexican jazz basses, but I've read some good things about Bartolinis as an upgrade.

you could try installing a series parallel switch in your J. j pickups in series tend to produce what I consider punchy tone, also gives you a little more output. and if you do it using a push pull pot than it is a totally reversible mod

Have you considered doing the series/parallel mod to your Jazz Bass? (Or having someone do it?)

Thanks for the tip! I actually hadn't heard about this before. I might also consider the series-parallel switch wiring if I go that route.