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One Bass to do it all?
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
When I was in my gigging prime, I had 2 Stingray 4’s - a fretted and a Fretless. I used them both at every gig, and they were fantastic.
After GASing for a 5-string, I traded the Fretless for the L2500, which is now my #1. The fretted Stingray was sold in 2012 so I wound up with only the L2500.
I love it so much that I bought a Squier VM JV to use as sort of a beater and keep the L2500 locked away at home. But that put me down a Jazz bass rabbit-hole. I put together a Fretless Jazz V (because I still wanted a Fretless), and now have plans to do a 70’s Jazz V, ala the Fender Marcus Miller Signature as an inspiration. Why? Because I have pickups and a preamp sitting in a box...
So now I have 3 basses and plans for a 4th...but really don’t need more than one. Whenever I think about it, I drive myself crazy. Sometimes I feel like I should just sell the Squier, the Fretless parts bass, and the pickups and preamp sitting in a box, and just order a new Fretless L2500 (in Blue burst with natural body binding, just like the fretted). That way I will be back to when I was happiest...one fretted and one Fretless of the exact same bass.
I don’t gig anymore and will most likely never gig again...so why have more than the two to keep myself happy at home...?
After GASing for a 5-string, I traded the Fretless for the L2500, which is now my #1. The fretted Stingray was sold in 2012 so I wound up with only the L2500.
I love it so much that I bought a Squier VM JV to use as sort of a beater and keep the L2500 locked away at home. But that put me down a Jazz bass rabbit-hole. I put together a Fretless Jazz V (because I still wanted a Fretless), and now have plans to do a 70’s Jazz V, ala the Fender Marcus Miller Signature as an inspiration. Why? Because I have pickups and a preamp sitting in a box...
So now I have 3 basses and plans for a 4th...but really don’t need more than one. Whenever I think about it, I drive myself crazy. Sometimes I feel like I should just sell the Squier, the Fretless parts bass, and the pickups and preamp sitting in a box, and just order a new Fretless L2500 (in Blue burst with natural body binding, just like the fretted). That way I will be back to when I was happiest...one fretted and one Fretless of the exact same bass.
I don’t gig anymore and will most likely never gig again...so why have more than the two to keep myself happy at home...?
My only gig is church, and I honestly do not think anyone in the congregation cares what I play.
I think it helps to distinguish between versatility of tone and versatility of application. One bass might have a plethora of different sounds, all bad, while another might have a more limited tonal spectrum, but by sounding good at what it does, fit well into a lot of different musical contexts. The P bass is a good example of the latter, any bad two-pickup active bass illustrates the former.
I like to try to get both, which is why I no longer have a P bass, but I'd rather have a great P bass than a bad, but tonally versatile, bass.
As for fretless, I am selling mine and sticking to upright for fretless play. However, I would suggest focusing on getting a good bass tone, even if it isn't quite the one in your head, and then fitting it into the music.
I like to try to get both, which is why I no longer have a P bass, but I'd rather have a great P bass than a bad, but tonally versatile, bass.
As for fretless, I am selling mine and sticking to upright for fretless play. However, I would suggest focusing on getting a good bass tone, even if it isn't quite the one in your head, and then fitting it into the music.
Getting a good bass tone is my goal number one!
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Doc, use what feels best in your hands. If you dig your fretless Pedulla, perhaps a fretted version would suite you as well. I know they are expensive though.
Honestly, sounds like you've got most covered with the Pentabuzz and the Sire.
In my OP, I said would end up with four Basses. I just want my fretless work to be as versatile as possible.
Yes, the Sire and Pedulla are verging on perfect for the sounds I want to hear. My Peavey is really a great P-bass too.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,963
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
re: One Bass to do it all?
It all depends on ones personal philosophy and their individual approach to creating music. Once that's sorted - the details to anyone but that person are a mute point.
It all depends on ones personal philosophy and their individual approach to creating music. Once that's sorted - the details to anyone but that person are a mute point.
I'll swim against the current:
Over the years, I had 'this' bass for this sound, 'that' bass for that sound, I think the most I had under my roof was 7 or 8, ate up with GAS and gadget-crazy when I was single and I could piss away stooopid amounts of money feeding the GAS monkey.
I've had Alembics and Peaveys and Fenders and Yamahas and a few more still. Little by little, it dawned on me that whether they were passive or active, single-coiled or humbuckered, set-, bolt-, or neckthru, fancy wood or plywood . . . . . . . sooner or later, they all sounded like me. Give me any axe and any amp and about five minutes and I'm going to sound . . . . . . like me. Granted, I never did play fretless, and I've always been a finger or pick player. But it still sounds like me. I'll never sound like Stanley or Jaco or Jamerson or Squire or John Paul Jones, etc., which is fine: I sound like me, and that's OK too.
At the same time, I began to learn what you had to have to have a reliable, solid bass, and in some cases I can update parts, wiring, or pickups to eliminate a few places where I didn't agree with the original design brief. So now, I play Squiers or primo used pieces, I know what to keep and what to update . . . . . and I sound like me. I have no intentions of ever spending big money on an axe ever again: Been there, done that.
I'd repeat the oft-repeated 'the sound is in your hands', if not your very DNA. You are more than able to keep buying and selling bass after bass if that makes you happy, but I'd first consider just what the hell are you looking for that this ever-lengthening list has not yet found? Sometimes, you get something close with an amp you like, and you just dig in until it hits you what you're REALLY after, and sometimes you find you're already there.
And you can worry yourself into a corner about all this, you mentally start chasing your tail. Park 'em, go fishing, bowling, a drive in the country, whatever: There's more to life than just this, and fresh air and time away can clarify a lot of things.
Over the years, I had 'this' bass for this sound, 'that' bass for that sound, I think the most I had under my roof was 7 or 8, ate up with GAS and gadget-crazy when I was single and I could piss away stooopid amounts of money feeding the GAS monkey.
I've had Alembics and Peaveys and Fenders and Yamahas and a few more still. Little by little, it dawned on me that whether they were passive or active, single-coiled or humbuckered, set-, bolt-, or neckthru, fancy wood or plywood . . . . . . . sooner or later, they all sounded like me. Give me any axe and any amp and about five minutes and I'm going to sound . . . . . . like me. Granted, I never did play fretless, and I've always been a finger or pick player. But it still sounds like me. I'll never sound like Stanley or Jaco or Jamerson or Squire or John Paul Jones, etc., which is fine: I sound like me, and that's OK too.
At the same time, I began to learn what you had to have to have a reliable, solid bass, and in some cases I can update parts, wiring, or pickups to eliminate a few places where I didn't agree with the original design brief. So now, I play Squiers or primo used pieces, I know what to keep and what to update . . . . . and I sound like me. I have no intentions of ever spending big money on an axe ever again: Been there, done that.
I'd repeat the oft-repeated 'the sound is in your hands', if not your very DNA. You are more than able to keep buying and selling bass after bass if that makes you happy, but I'd first consider just what the hell are you looking for that this ever-lengthening list has not yet found? Sometimes, you get something close with an amp you like, and you just dig in until it hits you what you're REALLY after, and sometimes you find you're already there.
And you can worry yourself into a corner about all this, you mentally start chasing your tail. Park 'em, go fishing, bowling, a drive in the country, whatever: There's more to life than just this, and fresh air and time away can clarify a lot of things.
I can play any style I want on my 5 string j bass. If I had to have only one that probably would be it. It isnt the best at anything per see but is usable at everything if that makes sense. Seeing that I dont have to only use 1 I will keep using the ones that are the best at the tone and feel I'm looking for. I got a Rickenbacker, Bc rich warlock with dual p pups, 3 Warwicks, fender 5 string j bass, Ernie ball Bongo hh ect. All of them do their own sounds that are awesome and hard to replicate and there are many more I need to add to my arsenal.
I’ve had the same Fender Jazz Bass since 1988 and for most of the period that I played music full-time it was my only bass. In recent years I’ve added other electric basses to my collection, but this one is still #1. Many of the bassists I admire played one instrument (more-or-less) their entire career and I agree that “versatility” is overrated. No one has ever asked me to produce an electric bass sound that this one could not provide.
- Steve
- Steve
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The most recorded bass in many styles of music.. Is a P bass.. Sometimes a J.. It's not right or wrong.. It's just truth.. But you gotta figure out your own style.. I'm a p bass with a jazz neck.. Dead strings guy.. Good luck
+1. It's not my only bass but it's very versatile and has character.
I suggest you to get one anyway and maybe add a 5 string.
Man. I couldn't imagine having just one bass, honestly.
I mean, I just made a track tonight using two analog synths thru my pedalboard to create drums, pad, lead melody, then my BTB7 7-string mutant to create a "guitar" riff done in a sampled style. Then used that bass to lay an R&B style bass line, with the blend turned slightly toward the neck.
It's got almost a native scoop to it, even in passive mode, so gets a particular sound *naturally* that I could maybe get with another bass, but it'd take effort and no guarantees. I picked up that bass and had the tone I wanted, sparkly yet woody and girthy.
In the last few weeks, I recorded two bass lines with my vintage P with flats, and those are going on a local folk-infused artist's album. The BTB7 would not have done the sound I wanted in the least!
Some cats do make a career with their developed signature sound, and that's awesome. Pino is one of my heroes, for example. I'm not good enough to make that work lol but maybe I'll end up narrowing down as I continue to improve as a bassist. Who knows?
I mean, I just made a track tonight using two analog synths thru my pedalboard to create drums, pad, lead melody, then my BTB7 7-string mutant to create a "guitar" riff done in a sampled style. Then used that bass to lay an R&B style bass line, with the blend turned slightly toward the neck.
It's got almost a native scoop to it, even in passive mode, so gets a particular sound *naturally* that I could maybe get with another bass, but it'd take effort and no guarantees. I picked up that bass and had the tone I wanted, sparkly yet woody and girthy.
In the last few weeks, I recorded two bass lines with my vintage P with flats, and those are going on a local folk-infused artist's album. The BTB7 would not have done the sound I wanted in the least!
Some cats do make a career with their developed signature sound, and that's awesome. Pino is one of my heroes, for example. I'm not good enough to make that work lol but maybe I'll end up narrowing down as I continue to improve as a bassist. Who knows?
True.
The same is for players who play both rounds and flats.
