This may be a broad generalization, but I feel there are just a few unique bass tones, and then a bunch "copies" of those tones.
The obvious is the P and the J -- the standards. There have been too may imitations and , in my opinion, no one has really improved it. The exception is Sadowky. I see then as Fenders, just a little hotter, a little slicker, a little more solid. (But not always, and at a considerable increased cost. Still, they know what they are, set out to do it, and succeed).
Another unique sound is the Ric, though no one has really matched the Rick sound, but you can get a pretty close emulation with EQ and overdrive.
The Alembic pups produce their own sound, that in one way seem special and in another way seem to sound like something other than what a bass should sound like. I haven't heard any competitor coming close to that.
Musicman basses have a definitive sound. Very aggressive. These have gotten a run for their money as of late because preamps are getting more powerful and less expensive. The MM SUB Ray is 300 bucks and dare I say sounds pretty, pretty, close to its cousins that cost four times as much. (If you get a good one). The funny thing about the BONGO, it is meant to sound like 10 different basses but they all still all sound like Musicmans!
Hollowbodies, such as the Hofner have a sound all their own that cannot be obtained with a solid body. Then again, a Hofner Icon does the trick for just a few hundred bucks. (Only FLATS allowed on this one!)
I also feel Ibanez is right up there with unique bass tones. They sound like nothing else with a distinct clarity. (Some may sound "thinness.") Ibanez created their own market, starting out as a budget alternative with ultra thin necks and sophisticated Japanese electronics. Almost 40 years later, they're still battling their "lowerlevel" persona but not only have outstanding boutique-style basses but have some really high end stuff that are indeed less expensive than the competition. A bass with a quality preamp and bartolini pups for $500? Good luck matching that. No one has gone up against Ibanez and beat them at their game.
Honorable mentions : Ken Smith have a sound. Roscoes too. (They're actually quite similar).
"No" sound? I think the reason Steinbergers fell out of favor goes beyond the design and the fact that the tone was so innocuous. Fodera's sound good but don't have a personality that stands out as original. Some say they have the ability to sound like many basses, and that may be true, but you'll never get a real P or J sound or an MM or an Ibby sound out of them. Close, maybe.
So...what do you think? What basses have never been reproduced ? And which classic sounds do you feel have been successfully duplicated and improved?
The obvious is the P and the J -- the standards. There have been too may imitations and , in my opinion, no one has really improved it. The exception is Sadowky. I see then as Fenders, just a little hotter, a little slicker, a little more solid. (But not always, and at a considerable increased cost. Still, they know what they are, set out to do it, and succeed).
Another unique sound is the Ric, though no one has really matched the Rick sound, but you can get a pretty close emulation with EQ and overdrive.
The Alembic pups produce their own sound, that in one way seem special and in another way seem to sound like something other than what a bass should sound like. I haven't heard any competitor coming close to that.
Musicman basses have a definitive sound. Very aggressive. These have gotten a run for their money as of late because preamps are getting more powerful and less expensive. The MM SUB Ray is 300 bucks and dare I say sounds pretty, pretty, close to its cousins that cost four times as much. (If you get a good one). The funny thing about the BONGO, it is meant to sound like 10 different basses but they all still all sound like Musicmans!
Hollowbodies, such as the Hofner have a sound all their own that cannot be obtained with a solid body. Then again, a Hofner Icon does the trick for just a few hundred bucks. (Only FLATS allowed on this one!)
I also feel Ibanez is right up there with unique bass tones. They sound like nothing else with a distinct clarity. (Some may sound "thinness.") Ibanez created their own market, starting out as a budget alternative with ultra thin necks and sophisticated Japanese electronics. Almost 40 years later, they're still battling their "lowerlevel" persona but not only have outstanding boutique-style basses but have some really high end stuff that are indeed less expensive than the competition. A bass with a quality preamp and bartolini pups for $500? Good luck matching that. No one has gone up against Ibanez and beat them at their game.
Honorable mentions : Ken Smith have a sound. Roscoes too. (They're actually quite similar).
"No" sound? I think the reason Steinbergers fell out of favor goes beyond the design and the fact that the tone was so innocuous. Fodera's sound good but don't have a personality that stands out as original. Some say they have the ability to sound like many basses, and that may be true, but you'll never get a real P or J sound or an MM or an Ibby sound out of them. Close, maybe.
So...what do you think? What basses have never been reproduced ? And which classic sounds do you feel have been successfully duplicated and improved?
