Earl Falconer of UB40 used a Steinberger headless thing extensively in the mid and late 80s. It seemed to do the job for multiple world-wide hits. The P-Bass seemed to be popular for ska, except when the likes of Horace Panter, etc., were using Jazz basses or Rickenbackers, etc.
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P-Bass great for Reggae?
- Thread starter Kevin1234451
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Earl Falconer of UB40 used a Steinberger headless thing extensively in the mid and late 80s. It seemed to do the job for multiple world-wide hits. The P-Bass seemed to be popular for ska, except when the likes of Horace Panter, etc., were using Jazz basses or Rickenbackers, etc.
Hell yes! Hofner are great for Reggae as proven by Robbie!!
I saw Robbie backing up Peter Tosh on that bass. It sounded humungous.
In another thread I was being told they have less... Anyway, I will have to create a thread with the spectrum analyses I did based on not just tracking the low end but normalising it over the frequency spectrum below that which a bass amp will produce.
I remember when I was touring as far back as the late 80's/early 90's playing with some Jamaican reggae artists, opening for acts like Burning Spear, etc - even back then you'd see all manner of basses onstage - Fenders, Hamers, Ibbies, total cheapos, you-name-it. Heck, for a while I was using a fretless five string P/J Tune. One constant though was most had a pickup somewhere in the neck position, or at least around the P position. I didn't see anyone using something with a decidedly bridge pickup-focused sound like a 'Ray (not 'Ray bashing mind you, was just an observation from my time in that world).
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Hell yes! Hofner are great for Reggae as proven by Robbie!
Hofner and jazz basses are what I think of when I think of classic roots reggae bass.
One of my fave bands of the 80's. I'd call that ska, but still, same family. Cool to see Steele w that L2000 there. Also a good reminder you can play this kind of music with a pick(god forbid!
) if that's your thing.
Literally any bass can be used for reggae. I’ve seen steinbergers, fenders, gibsons, Lakeland, and more.
Family Man and many others use a J, but if I recall correctly, he also solos the neck pickup, so it kind of functions in the same range.
Culture Club's "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" is an excellent example of something different. Pretty sure it's a Stingray and it still sounds really great for reggae, even if it's not a typical sound.
Also a nice hack is that One Control Bass Preamp. It can make any bass super thick for reggae without the boom of just EQ.
Culture Club's "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" is an excellent example of something different. Pretty sure it's a Stingray and it still sounds really great for reggae, even if it's not a typical sound.
Also a nice hack is that One Control Bass Preamp. It can make any bass super thick for reggae without the boom of just EQ.
A Precision bass is great for reggae. Roll the tone back, turn the volume up, and play really softly. Add flat or half wound strings and your doing even better.
That bring said, reggae is an expansive genre and players use different versions of the fat bass tone. An active preamp might be more appropriate for a modern reggae sound. A passive bass may give you something closer to roots, tone-wise. Keep in mind that the bass a player is photograghed with isn't necessarily what they used to record or use most often after or before the picture was taken. Players evolve and want different tones as they change so they could move to different instruments through their career.
That bring said, reggae is an expansive genre and players use different versions of the fat bass tone. An active preamp might be more appropriate for a modern reggae sound. A passive bass may give you something closer to roots, tone-wise. Keep in mind that the bass a player is photograghed with isn't necessarily what they used to record or use most often after or before the picture was taken. Players evolve and want different tones as they change so they could move to different instruments through their career.
- Nov 27, 2003
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- Rogue luthier employed at Knooren Handcrafted bass guitars
I guess I'm pointing to the incongruity of Modulus/Dingwall high-tech astronomical prices with the historical roots of Reggae music and the ingenuity it took to invent and produce it. But yes, you can seperate the bass lines and beats from what they once meant spiritually. I've done it too. Does that make sense?
Indeed, he played a Höfner Beatle bass, jazz basses, a Steinberger paddle and the PRS. All good for reggae too!
I think the deal with the JB vs the PB is you get a bit of a mid hump with a JB that is missing with a PB. That said, I see no reason you can’t play reggae on a PB.
The Marley family/dynasty shows I have been, I've never seen a P. Small indy bands as well. There were pointy Carvins and Ibanez even but no P.
Give it up already TB, P-bass is not the answer for everything.
Sure any bass could work, but dem reggae musicians know a thing or 2 about bass
Give it up already TB, P-bass is not the answer for everything.
Sure any bass could work, but dem reggae musicians know a thing or 2 about bass
Any bass can do just about anything, and P Basses work fine for reggae.
I would argue for that scooped, bottomless stereotypical reggae sound a J is better suited, but not a deal breaker to use a P.
I would argue for that scooped, bottomless stereotypical reggae sound a J is better suited, but not a deal breaker to use a P.
