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Reggae bass

Depends on the type of reggae. All kinds of basses used for Reggae, I use my Lecompte with Barts fine for it. I have a friend in jamaica that uses a Jazz, and many other Reggae Bassists use Ps. To tell yu the truth, we don't have that large a selection back home, so any bass is used. Its more technique than bass. A Nice tube head, some speakers and a good vibe.
 
Depends on the type of reggae. All kinds of basses used for Reggae, I use my Lecompte with Barts fine for it. I have a friend in jamaica that uses a Jazz, and many other Reggae Bassists use Ps. To tell yu the truth, we don't have that large a selection back home, so any bass is used. Its more technique than bass. A Nice tube head, some speakers and a good vibe.

got the tube head...i need new speakers...
 
All i know is reggae/ska bass, I my self play a Jazz, but really it doesn't matter. infact, i really want a Warwick.

you could use any bass for reggae or ska, its really about the technique and groove.

a lot of people will say you have to use flatwound strings, but thats false, many many reggae bassists use roundwound strings and ibanez basses(Most common setup i've seen of backing bands for many major artists and all the festivals i've been to), which is far from the typical "p or j with flats" that people around here say.

the main thing is to cut the highs, and turn your tone knob all the way down, and play close to the neck, which will give you a real nice low thumping clear sound.

Less is more in reggae, sit back in the riddim and make it groove baby.
 
plastik-bass[?];4656209 said:
well on that note. what are some techniques i could use & ways to create grooves..i can do alot of simple stuff and love playing around but i would like to learn some more technical stuff

listen to all the reggae riddims you can find, play them and feel them, just understand how it is played. most reggae lines are pretty basic, so the notes you play, you have to play them at the right time and hold them the right length, and its gotta flow.

when i originally started playing bass, it was because my friends always jammed out and we'd all be hanging out and i didn't play anything, and no one played bass so i just told my buddy to let me give it a shot and he showed me a few lines... i was hooked, but it took me a long time to really get that reggae feel you know, its hard to describe, but like for so long i was just playing wayy too fast, you gotta Slow it up, lock in with the rimshot and basskick, and know when to NOT play. thats when the rhythm gets GOOD. !


JAH bless
 
plastik-bass[?];4655262 said:
Hallo everyone I'm a BIG Reggae/Ska fan and I love playing that type of music. Do you think a Jazz would be good for it. If yes please elaborate. If no then tell me what you think would be a good Reggae/Ska bass:) :) :) :) :bassist: :bassist: :bassist: :) :) :bassist: :bassist: :) :bassist:



I use jazz basses.

Right now, I'm using a sadowsky metro... it kicks ass.

My band's CD was recorded with a MIM deluxe fender jazz...

Most bands we play with, the bassist is using a jazz.

Gets plenty deep for the dub parts, and it obviously has that jazz-bass punk tone available. its perfect.
 
also, checkout this website Link Removed

it has listed all the classic and recent riddims. If you don't already know riddims are like the instrumental song, that many many artists version. some riddims have 100+ songs on them. It allows you to hear the riddim and tells you which artists have versioned them so it will open your ears up to some great artists you have never heard of.

oh and, some high grade herb will help your groooving :)