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Number One vs Bass Rotation—which is you?
- Thread starter bitterminnows
- Start date
Rotation.
I think my ears hear things differently from week to week, I flip-flop from rounds to flats because of that weirdness.
I think my ears hear things differently from week to week, I flip-flop from rounds to flats because of that weirdness.
It's a bit of both for me. I have a No. 1 bass that has held that slot almost uninterrupted for 25+ years, and if I am playing a gig or going into the studio it is almost guaranteed I am using it. I also use it most (but not all) of the time for songwriting or rehearsals with my current main band, which uses an altered tuning. However, if I am playing at home or messing around with other projects I'm just as likely to grab one of my handful of other basses, all of which offer something different enough that I enjoy playing them for different purposes or sounds (a fretless, a couple of five strings in different tunings, a classic P with flats), and when I am working on theory/practice I'll unsurprisingly more often grab one of the basses that is in standard tuning.
Rotation. In my country band i almost eclusively play Kubicki ex-factors, but in my 80's band could be Rick 4003, and one of 3 Stingrays, Modulus VJ, Bc Rich, or a few others. Depends on the mood and stage space. BC Rich weighs more and has the long pointy headstock so not as good for tight spaces as the Steinberger.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
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Long term rotation, typically months or years where one of my two (or even a guitar) will be the primary. But since I retired from gigging the bass with single coils gets way less play time at home due to the unfriendly electrical situation at home.
I tend to gravitate towards Having A #1 …but on a *per band* basis.
E.g., in my funk/soul/R&B band, I always bring the Lakland 55-02D. But in my rock/pop/jazz/musical theater horn band, I always bring my Schecter Venus B4 (1980s Jazz Bass clone), with my Steinberger L-2 as a backup. When I was in Debris —avant-jazz comprovisation instrumentals — I always brought my Modulus Graphite 6-string…but I also always had to bring a fretless and an 8-string (octave courses) bass as well.
The music dictates what instrument is required; then that determines which instrument is my #1 *for that project*.
E.g., in my funk/soul/R&B band, I always bring the Lakland 55-02D. But in my rock/pop/jazz/musical theater horn band, I always bring my Schecter Venus B4 (1980s Jazz Bass clone), with my Steinberger L-2 as a backup. When I was in Debris —avant-jazz comprovisation instrumentals — I always brought my Modulus Graphite 6-string…but I also always had to bring a fretless and an 8-string (octave courses) bass as well.
The music dictates what instrument is required; then that determines which instrument is my #1 *for that project*.
I’ve got a #1 that gets used most times, but there’s 3 more that get a little bit of gig time each year.
This! I bounce between long scale, short scale, basses with humbucker, single coils, both,basses with flats, rounds, pressure wounds. I enjoy every instrument in my stable. Variety is the spice of life and I love spicy!
Different basses for different gigs… modern country gets a five, trad country varies between a ‘51 reissue P bass, a couple big hollow-bodies, or a Jerry Jones.
My aggressive dark original alternative band almost always gets a parts Jazz with a John East pre, or occasionally a Bartolini equipped P bass.
Straight up classic rock cover bands usually call for a Fender of some kind.
Finally, I just got and have started using an awesome Gretsch Jet in my Rockpile/Dave Edmunds/Nick Lowe tribute project.
My aggressive dark original alternative band almost always gets a parts Jazz with a John East pre, or occasionally a Bartolini equipped P bass.
Straight up classic rock cover bands usually call for a Fender of some kind.
Finally, I just got and have started using an awesome Gretsch Jet in my Rockpile/Dave Edmunds/Nick Lowe tribute project.
Rotation between sixteen 21" scale bass ukes.
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I had a #1 for 25 yrs. Fender American Jazz 1982. I couldn't afford a #2-3 or 4. Now I have the luxury of rotation. It's a wonderful thing.
I have a current #1 and a modest collection of former #1s.
I've always been a 1 bass sorta player, and I was 1 guitar before that. I don't really get emotionally attached to them, it's just a function of choosing the one that's the best and not really having any desire to play the others "just because".
My #1 changes periodically. Usually, a new band or project where the old one just wasn't the right sound. Again, it's not much of an emotional decision, it's me wanting the right tool for the job.
I've always been a 1 bass sorta player, and I was 1 guitar before that. I don't really get emotionally attached to them, it's just a function of choosing the one that's the best and not really having any desire to play the others "just because".
My #1 changes periodically. Usually, a new band or project where the old one just wasn't the right sound. Again, it's not much of an emotional decision, it's me wanting the right tool for the job.
I don't gig, but I have several basses, I have two favorites, but I have other basses that do something better.
Basses that don't do anything exceptional get sold.
Basses that don't do anything exceptional get sold.
I rotated for almost 2 years between 4 basses. Then I got a fretless. Stuck on that, until I bought a better fretless. Now everything else just sits in the closet in their cases.
both of my basses necks are basically the same shape with the same action, the cool part is that the LB100 with flats sounds completely different than the Stingray with rounds
I only have one that functions. Then a friend has an upright I play when the jam moves to his place.
#1 : P bass, alder body, maple neck, Pure Vintage 63 pickups, Fender nickel rounds. Use it 80% of the time, never disappoints, full tone on all notes. A real jack of all trades with big balls. Extension of my fingers for the rocker/punk rocker I am.
#2 : P bass, Sycamore body, roasted maple neck, quarter pounder pickups, SIT nickel rounds. Punchy and articulate as hell with powerful bass notes. Perfect for live shows and jam sessions when "competing" against modern active basses. Usage of about 10% of the time. Never get lost in the mix with this 6.5 pounds little monster.
#3 : P bass (again!), 60's style, poplar body, Warmoth neck made of roasted maple and slab rosewood fretboard, PV 63 pickups, Fender flats. A blues machine, just sounds soooo sweet and deep. Use it only 10% of the time because it doesn’t rock hard enough for me but my buddies that play American folk or slow blues just love it when I calm down and play with them.
I could leave very well with my number 1 only if I couldn’t afford the herd.
#2 : P bass, Sycamore body, roasted maple neck, quarter pounder pickups, SIT nickel rounds. Punchy and articulate as hell with powerful bass notes. Perfect for live shows and jam sessions when "competing" against modern active basses. Usage of about 10% of the time. Never get lost in the mix with this 6.5 pounds little monster.
#3 : P bass (again!), 60's style, poplar body, Warmoth neck made of roasted maple and slab rosewood fretboard, PV 63 pickups, Fender flats. A blues machine, just sounds soooo sweet and deep. Use it only 10% of the time because it doesn’t rock hard enough for me but my buddies that play American folk or slow blues just love it when I calm down and play with them.
I could leave very well with my number 1 only if I couldn’t afford the herd.
My number one is a Mexican p bass that I put the rosewood neck from my American standard p bass on. Added some SD quarter pound pick ups' It is lighter than my standard and sounds great.
