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Oh look another "What bass is this?" thread!!!!

Which bass did you prefer

  • Frederick

    Votes: 2 40.0%

  • Jeffrey

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Justin

    Votes: 3 60.0%

  • Larry

    Votes: 1 20.0%

  • Nicholas

    Votes: 1 20.0%

  • Stanley

    Votes: 1 20.0%

  • Ulrich

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Wally

    Votes: 3 60.0%
  • Total voters
    5
Rickplaysbass

Rickplaysbass

Feb 11, 2024
1,079
4,064
Houston, TX
#1
Kinda...

I posted a Totally Blind Multi Bass Shootout the other day and it was pretty fun. Had some good interaction on here and it's still getting some hits every now and then. But I had several people reach out to me to tell me that they didn't use recording software so they couldn't really get the most out of it.

So last night I took an hour and learned a new song and recorded it with 8 different basses. I went straight into an Arkham Oracle preamp (it's for sale right now, but this ordeal may have convinced me to let it live at my house since it doesn't fit my board) and straight into the track. I could definitely use some compression, eq, and a little automation here and there but here are those 8 basses on the same track in a semi-mix.

Tell me which is your favorite (you can choose up to 3 in the poll) and try to guess what bass each name is. Winner gets... well nothing really. But you can brag online about how great your ears really are and how you can tell the difference between a fly fart and a mosquito shart.

New Shootout #2
 
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#6
shojii said:
Oh, it's shorthand for: "I take my hat off to you, well done". Origin, chapeau = French for 'hat'.
Click to expand...

Good to know. I'll add it to my list of French phrases. C'est parti

SuperTheBass said:
I'll need to listen on better speakers in the AM. Through my phone they mostly sound the same. Thanks for doing another one of these. The first one was a lot of fun.
Click to expand...

I actually need to reupload them with a bit more bass in the mix. I'll be on it tonight.
 
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#7
shojii said:
Love this. Such a pure form of evaluation, with social bias removed. Chapeau.
Click to expand...

shojii said:
Oh, it's shorthand for: "I take my hat off to you, well done". Origin, chapeau = French for 'hat'.
Click to expand...

SuperTheBass said:
I'll need to listen on better speakers in the AM. Through my phone they mostly sound the same. Thanks for doing another one of these. The first one was a lot of fun.
Click to expand...
Got the mixes adjusted and re-uploaded. Should be a little better now.
 
#8
Nice playing.

I found I eliminated a couple pretty quickly and then they're were about 5 that I liked with one standing out from the rest. I ended up voting for Fredrick Stanley and Wally, with Wally being the best by a decent margin for me.

Looking forward to finding out it's a squier bronco.
 
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#10
I enjoyed participating in this, thanks. I listened on my best headphones without touching my volume level once I began. I suspect my mind was playing "choose the relative loudness" between the tracks though. If I had another pass with different intent, like "which bass suits the track stylistically the best?" I'd be choosing more J pickup type basses rather than P that I'm guessing I chose.
 
#11
OnlyFlats said:
I enjoyed participating in this, thanks. I listened on my best headphones without touching my volume level once I began. I suspect my mind was playing "choose the relative loudness" between the tracks though. If I had another pass with different intent, like "which bass suits the track stylistically the best?" I'd be choosing more J pickup type basses rather than P that I'm guessing I chose.
Click to expand...
Out of curiosity, which one did you choose?
 
#12
Rickplaysbass said:
Out of curiosity, which one did you choose?
Click to expand...
Fred, Justin, Wally
Wally was played first so my mind was comparing every other track to that.

During the listening I had the thought: wouldn't it be fun to do another shootout, with the premise that each take was a different bass, but some tracks were actually just different mixing of other instruments? Eg cut bass on those keys version; higher kick drum level version; compression turned off the bass mix version; distortion added at low level to the bass version; etc.

It was an interesting thought...
 
#13
OnlyFlats said:
Fred, Justin, Wally
Wally was played first so my mind was comparing every other track to that.

During the listening I had the thought: wouldn't it be fun to do another shootout, with the premise that each take was a different bass, but some tracks were actually just different mixing of other instruments? Eg cut bass on those keys version; higher kick drum level version; compression turned off the bass mix version; distortion added at low level to the bass version; etc.

It was an interesting thought...
Click to expand...
Very diverse choices there.

Passive P
Passive J
Active 5 w/ Bartolini Soaps
 
#14
Rickplaysbass said:
Very diverse choices there.

Passive P
Passive J
Active 5 w/ Bartolini Soaps
Click to expand...
Ha ha! I feel that proves my theory that I wasn't listening for the tone but my perceived relative level of the instrument across the tracks instead. I appreciate that feedback.

I'll have a second pass on studio monitors and see what I choose, as my brain will now integrate that knowledge and will try to listen beyond it's perception of level.

Really enjoying this, cheers
 
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#15
OnlyFlats said:
Fred, Justin, Wally
Wally was played first so my mind was comparing every other track to that.

During the listening I had the thought: wouldn't it be fun to do another shootout, with the premise that each take was a different bass, but some tracks were actually just different mixing of other instruments? Eg cut bass on those keys version; higher kick drum level version; compression turned off the bass mix version; distortion added at low level to the bass version; etc.

It was an interesting thought...
Click to expand...
I really enjoy doing these, and I have a few plans in mind to spice things up a little.
 
#16
OnlyFlats said:
Ha ha! I feel that proves my theory that I wasn't listening for the tone but my perceived relative level of the instrument across the tracks instead. I appreciate that feedback.

I'll have a second pass on studio monitors and see what I choose, as my brain will now integrate that knowledge and will try to listen beyond it's perception of level.

Really enjoying this, cheers
Click to expand...
Fred and Stanley.

It was much more fun playing through my studio monitors in my treated room. What I tried to focus on is an even fullness to the bass tones that compliments the style of music, not just what my ear prefers. Wally got a notable mention for great sustain. Larry was in the running for a bit. I guessed Nick would be a genre typical instrument (ie not a P or mudbucker, something with a bridge pickup)

I had distracting thoughts about mix notes, which always come to mind when I'm doing critical listening.

My conclusions: the hot playing and the relative levels are most important! Hot band, every player is smoking. All the bass tracks are fine with a little finessing during the mix. Live none of it would matter, just play your favourite instrument that inspires you to find the pocket and doesn't get too muddy in the rooms you play.

I'm going to take a dose of my own advice and step away from my tone chasing rabbit hole I've been down with my live rig.

Cheers!
 
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#17
OnlyFlats said:
Fred and Stanley.

It was much more fun playing through my studio monitors in my treated room. What I tried to focus on is an even fullness to the bass tones that compliments the style of music, not just what my ear prefers. Wally got a notable mention for great sustain. Larry was in the running for a bit. I guessed Nick would be a genre typical instrument (ie not a P or mudbucker, something with a bridge pickup)

I had distracting thoughts about mix notes, which always come to mind when I'm doing critical listening.

My conclusions: the hot playing and the relative levels are most important! Hot band, every player is smoking. All the bass tracks are fine with a little finessing during the mix. Live none of it would matter, just play your favourite instrument that inspires you to find the pocket and doesn't get too muddy in the rooms you play.

I'm going to take a dose of my own advice and step away from my tone chasing rabbit hole I've been down with my live rig.

Cheers!
Click to expand...
MusicMan Dark Ray 5 string and a parts P bass.

I'll write up a whole "answers revealed" post later tonight. Then I'll get to work on my next "shootout." I have some ideas for that one.
 
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#18
ANSWERS REVEALED

Fred - Fender Parts P
Jeffrey - Jackson Minion w/ GZR PJ set
Justin - JMJ Signature Mustang
Larry - Serek Lincoln w/ Gibson Thunderbird+ pickup
Nicholas - Fender Jazz w/ Aguilar DCBs
Stanley - MusicMan DarkRay 5 string
Ulrich - Fender American Ultra w/ Lindy Fralin PJ set
Wally - Warrior Active 5 string w/ Bartolini Soapbars

Every bass was run into an Arkham Oracle Preamp straight into my Interface. No eq or compression on the track.
 
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