Leo didn't play guitar either...but he sure knew how to design and build them!That makes him even less of a bass player. Accountants don't have a funky bone in their body
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Play it the way Leo intended
- Thread starter Phrankho
- Start date
Serendipitous timing meets great marketing.
I love DR Legends. I have them on 3 of my basses. IMO, T.I's and LaBella DTF's (which I both also love) have nothing on the DR Legends. Smooth as glass and killer sound.
$0.02 alternate POV....
Just maybe, Leo Fender didn't actually intend for the Precision be played any rigid, specific way. Would he not have known full well, that both guitar players and upright players alike, would simply apply their playing techniques (except arco, obviously) to the new fangled instrument? Fingers, picks, and slap (like the upright players were already doing). Hence the pickguard.
He even provided a tug bar in case a player might want to use a bare thumb, or a thumb-pick. Leave the covers on, take them off, reverse them. Ignore the tug bar, or use it. Play sitting or hang it off a strap. Like maybe a basic platform to work from, with several playing style choices on tap.
Just maybe, Leo Fender didn't actually intend for the Precision be played any rigid, specific way. Would he not have known full well, that both guitar players and upright players alike, would simply apply their playing techniques (except arco, obviously) to the new fangled instrument? Fingers, picks, and slap (like the upright players were already doing). Hence the pickguard.
He even provided a tug bar in case a player might want to use a bare thumb, or a thumb-pick. Leave the covers on, take them off, reverse them. Ignore the tug bar, or use it. Play sitting or hang it off a strap. Like maybe a basic platform to work from, with several playing style choices on tap.
I don't think Fender, the man or the company, ever believed that the electric bass was only supposed to be played one way in terms of right hand technique. This is from the Fender Bass Instruction Manual that came with your new Precision or Jazz Bass in 1960 (the late 50s version mentioned only the Precision Bass):
So fairly early in the history of the Fender bass a variety of right hand techniques were described, even during the "tug bar" era. There's an even earlier document (April 1952) pictured on page 6 of The Fender Bass Book that says "Playing is done in 'finger style', similar to a classical guitar"
I keep my 1972 Precision Bass set up pretty much how it would have come from the factory, with flatwound strings and a foam mute pasted to the underside of the bridge cover. It's just a sound that I really like. I call it the "original Fender bass sound" which I think is what the OP is aiming for as well.
- Steve
So fairly early in the history of the Fender bass a variety of right hand techniques were described, even during the "tug bar" era. There's an even earlier document (April 1952) pictured on page 6 of The Fender Bass Book that says "Playing is done in 'finger style', similar to a classical guitar"
I keep my 1972 Precision Bass set up pretty much how it would have come from the factory, with flatwound strings and a foam mute pasted to the underside of the bridge cover. It's just a sound that I really like. I call it the "original Fender bass sound" which I think is what the OP is aiming for as well.
- Steve
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Great post and LOVE the bass! That pickguard is a beaut. Original?I don't think Fender, the man or the company, ever believed that the electric bass was only supposed to be played one way in terms of right hand technique. This is from the Fender Bass Instruction Manual that came with your new Precision or Jazz Bass in 1960 (the late 50s version mentioned only the Precision Bass):
View attachment 5359365
So fairly early in the history of the Fender bass a variety of right hand techniques were described, even during the "tug bar" era. There's an even earlier document (April 1952) pictured on page 6 of The Fender Bass Book that says "Playing is done in 'finger style', similar to a classical guitar"
I keep my 1972 Precision Bass set up pretty much how it would have come from the factory, with flatwound strings and a foam mute pasted to the underside of the bridge cover. It's just a sound that I really like. I call it the "original Fender bass sound" which I think is what the OP is aiming for as well.
View attachment 5359367
- Steve
I don't think Fender, the man or the company, ever believed that the electric bass was only supposed to be played one way in terms of right hand technique. This is from the Fender Bass Instruction Manual that came with your new Precision or Jazz Bass in 1960 (the late 50s version mentioned only the Precision Bass):
View attachment 5359365
So fairly early in the history of the Fender bass a variety of right hand techniques were described, even during the "tug bar" era. There's an even earlier document (April 1952) pictured on page 6 of The Fender Bass Book that says "Playing is done in 'finger style', similar to a classical guitar"
I keep my 1972 Precision Bass set up pretty much how it would have come from the factory, with flatwound strings and a foam mute pasted to the underside of the bridge cover. It's just a sound that I really like. I call it the "original Fender bass sound" which I think is what the OP is aiming for as well.
View attachment 5359367
- Steve
Well, that's the end of this one.
*goes back to GAS-feeding threads*
After reading this, I've decided I don't want to die on a hill. A hill is likely windswept and barren, devoid of much diversity of life.
Boring and stark. Truly a depressing scenario.
I really think a valley is a much more inviting location. A valley, perhaps with a light-footed stream winding its way hither and yon, and an array of wildflowers, tucked inside the protective embrace that the is naturally provided. More likely to see a deer, or a rabbit, perhaps a pair, sampling the lush vegetation that abounds. The wind sighs here, it does not howl as it does on the hill.
Far more appealing overall.
The reality is that I'll probably die when I don't look left before stepping off a curb and get smucked by a tourist driving a Chevy Suburban
Boring and stark. Truly a depressing scenario.
I really think a valley is a much more inviting location. A valley, perhaps with a light-footed stream winding its way hither and yon, and an array of wildflowers, tucked inside the protective embrace that the is naturally provided. More likely to see a deer, or a rabbit, perhaps a pair, sampling the lush vegetation that abounds. The wind sighs here, it does not howl as it does on the hill.
Far more appealing overall.
The reality is that I'll probably die when I don't look left before stepping off a curb and get smucked by a tourist driving a Chevy Suburban
Based on your location...yeah, pretty much.
I'll probably be similar, except here it's either soccer mom in a Suburban, or a lifted brodozer/coal roller with a big CUSTOM OFFSETS sticker covering the rear window.
Wait, is Wisconsin a tourist destination? I mean I've had fun there and I'm not knocking it at all but I'm having trouble seeing it overrun by tourists.
I guess it always comes back to RTFM.
Certainly if there were a Pastor or Cardinal of bass, after consulting the holy scrolls seeking The Truth of whether or not it is sinful to pervert the pure signal between a 7ender Bass Guitar and a 7ender Bass Guitar Amplifier with companders, phasers and choruses, reverbs and pitchshifters, fuzz and etc. …
THUS IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN!
IF THINE SONG OR ROOM CALLS FOR PROCESSING AND/OR FX, GIVETH THINE AMPLIFIER’S INPUT OR LOOP THE CALLED FOR PROCESSING AND/OR FX!
Certainly if there were a Pastor or Cardinal of bass, after consulting the holy scrolls seeking The Truth of whether or not it is sinful to pervert the pure signal between a 7ender Bass Guitar and a 7ender Bass Guitar Amplifier with companders, phasers and choruses, reverbs and pitchshifters, fuzz and etc. …
THUS IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN!
IF THINE SONG OR ROOM CALLS FOR PROCESSING AND/OR FX, GIVETH THINE AMPLIFIER’S INPUT OR LOOP THE CALLED FOR PROCESSING AND/OR FX!
Odds are extremely high that the Suburban will have a Salt Life sticker on it. The lift bro truck is another possibility - but I flat out refuse to be ended by one of those.... guys......
I live in the middle of the highest concentration of freshwater lakes in the world. Abundant state and natural forests, cute little knick knack shop filled towns, the whole 9 yards. Lots of tourists. Lots of people with 1 million dollar 'cottages'.
I find passive basses generally benefit from being plugged directly into the preamp of your head, with FXs used later in the chain via the effects loop. Pushing the gain up can give a better tone, and improves the response of FXs. Better sig/noise ratio too.
It's not so important with active basses, with their stronger output and onboard EQ.
It's not so important with active basses, with their stronger output and onboard EQ.
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