Right bass for the band?

[Bander]

Flatwounds on a short scale should be good tonewise. A mustang can look too retro, unless you go for a Cobain approach or something? Just be cognizant of "packaging" and you can make anything work visually. Well, a pointy guitar in a Kingston Trio tribute band might be pushing it

 

[delta7fred]

Well, it depends on your bandmates I guess.

I'm sure it does and it sounds like your bandmates are an exception to the majority that I have come across in 50 years playing bass.

In the past I have asked "do you prefer this bass line or that"? The only response I ever got was "they both sound good, play which one you want", so I gave up asking long ago. (I do record all rehearsals and play different bass lines then listen to them later and decide which sounds best.)

I do occasionally suggestion to our lead guitarist things like "a bit more/less overdrive/echo/reverb would sound good". He usually agrees but if he doesn't I don't pursue it further. I leave the choice of which of his many guitars he plays to him, he knows them a lot better than I do.

 

[jaymelewis]

I'd give anything a try - but be sure to test it out in other venues besides the practice room. Sometimes something sounds great on the showroom floor, but it doesn't cut it at rehearsal or in the studio or on the gig. Before ruling anything out, I try to use it in a few different scenarios to see whether it is or isn't working for me. Just my thoughts

 

[SteveHeissner]

We all know you don't really need a new bass to play the music you're playing.

You're just trying to justify the GAS in your own mind. Go for it. Try some basses in person if you can and buy what you really want. Everyone on this forum knows it: You can never have too many basses nor too many amps.

Keep on rockin'.

 

[javi_bassist]

Well, it depends on your bandmates I guess. The band I'm in are very open about that, and we often discuss our sound, which in turn is derived from every single player and his or her's tone. I find it really satisfying, since they often hear things that I don't or have new ideas that wouldn't have come to me.

"Could you try the fuzz pedal on that part, I think it would make it stand out a little extra."
"How about doing a steady 4/4 beat on this? It would swing more."
"I think you should play that melody on the mellotron instead of the synth, if fits better with what the rest of us are doing."

I don't see anything wrong with that. In fact, I appreciate it. I don't see anything wrong in saying "Hey guys, I have been thinking about this and that about my tone. What do you guys think?" If they don't offer any input, THEN I would begin to suspect that they don't know anything about bass, or that they care.

I think that way too. However, in most of the bands I've been in, people don't really care about the bass tone. I've been in bands that no one really listened to me. I changed one of lines to "always root notes" to a solo and no one noticed. I've also heard "dude, I like your bass but I can never listen bass lines in any song. The only I care about is voice and guitar"

 

[Duder]

Just wanted to echo the sentiments of using pedals and your EQ. I was using a Mustang with rounds in a pop-alternative band and the drummer hated it (he preferred my Jaguar) until I dialed in the right tone using a SansAmp and modified LMB3. You just have to find the right sound for this band on whatever bass you feel is comfortable.

 

[bucephylus]

I've recently become the bassist of a alt-rock/metal band who have influences in Audioslave and RATM, as well as Pantera. I've been using a Fender Mustang with LaBella flatwounds up until this point. I still feel that flatwounds are the right way to go for me, especially seeing as the band has two guitars. However, am I right in Feeling this flavour of bass with these strings may be better in a more vintage setting? The darker character of the bass and thumpiness of these strings is something I don't feel would fit in the context. I'm possibly looking at a new bass, longer scale and fretless, strung with TI Jazz flats, as I still want to stay in the backdrop, supporting the band and making it sound good, as well have the frequency fit of a fretless. Is this a good move?

I'm going to somewhat dissent with other posts. To me, your answer entirely depends on the parts you need to play. If it is all original material, then by all means blaze your own trail. If you are covering some crazy speed metal math-ish parts, then you may likely need a setup or bass with a bit quicker response. The flats thing has a glorious tone; but it wouldn't be my choice for a lot of up tempo 16th note lines. YMMV

 

[rtslinger]

As long as you are getting the tone you are looking for, that is all you need. Test other basses or strings if that is the direction you feel will help. It is hard to give an opinion on it really, because you have the tone in your head, that you believe is the right fit. follow that to reach your conclusions. My only other suggest would be make sure you are playing along with the band when you search the tone, because what works in your bedroom may not work when the band gets cranking, record the practices to make sure it is what works in the band mix Good luck

 

[superheavyfunk]

The flats thing has a glorious tone; but it wouldn't be my choice for a lot of up tempo 16th note lines.

Uhh... What about all the wild funk players from the late 60s and 70s? They were absolutely hitting 16ths on uptempo tunes using flats and some still are - like the dude in Vulfpeck.

Anything can work in any context. The only limitation is you, based on what youve already decided might or might not work.

 

[bucephylus]

Uhh... What about all the wild funk players from the late 60s and 70s? They were absolutely hitting 16ths on uptempo tunes using flats and some still are - like the dude in Vulfpeck.

Anything can work in any context. The only limitation is you, based on what youve already decided might or might not work.

No, you missed my point. No doubt you can play the parts with flats. It's not that. Heck, check out Jamerson's lines. The point is how much articulation you can get. My only point was relative to what your goals in covering the parts are.

 

[Medicine Man]

My audience members complain if I play flats. I think they sit great in the mix, others seem to prefer a more forward tone. I eventually found out my band members told me "the flats sound great" cuz they didn't want to be tools.

 

[jshinal]

I played Set it Off, Slither, Take The Power Back and similar heavy-ish tunes with flatwounds on a P-J setup. I think your Mustang would be fine, they're really comfortable players that you can dig into really hard, and to me that's a lot of what makes those styles fun. I was using Rotosound 77 flats and they have a little more twang and sizzle than LaBellas (which I love for older stuff). Try the Roto 77 Monel flats and see if they help.

 

[Grumpynuts]

I've recently become the bassist of a alt-rock/metal band who have influences in Audioslave and RATM, as well as Pantera. I've been using a Fender Mustang with LaBella flatwounds up until this point. I still feel that flatwounds are the right way to go for me, especially seeing as the band has two guitars. However, am I right in Feeling this flavour of bass with these strings may be better in a more vintage setting? The darker character of the bass and thumpiness of these strings is something I don't feel would fit in the context. I'm possibly looking at a new bass, longer scale and fretless, strung with TI Jazz flats, as I still want to stay in the backdrop, supporting the band and making it sound good, as well have the frequency fit of a fretless. Is this a good move?

You are fine, I play with Fender 9120 tape wounds on a T-bird for metal. Before that I played an Ibanez P with Labella Jamersons for the same purpose. I love the hell out of it. While a band may have a "sound," it is ultimately the sum of its members. With that comes skill sets, influences, and gear selection for a variety of reasons.

Granted, if you guys are a cover band that has a specific look, ie hair metal, you would then need to look at bright sparkling flying v's and explorers. But that is the necessity of the job. You guys are sound like you are doing your own thing. So keep doing your own thing and have fun. At the end of the day it doesn't really matter as long as you guys are making good stuff and having fun.

And like it was stated earlier, depending on what you fancy as your style, most folks sound comes from further down the signal chain, ie pedals, amps, and cabs. In my experience people tend to get too focused on the bass and the strings. I prefer to set my bass up the way I want to, and utilize everything down chain as my primary adjustments for sound.

 

[jam.majors]

Dude, play whatever you want. If you want to rock a Hello Kitty bass with half rounds and can pull that off why not? Who cares what kind of bass you're playing, as long as you're happy and like the sound.

I would definitely love to see a metal band rocking a modded Evil HelloKitty bass

 

[Ric5]

Play the bass you like

use the strings you like

 

[MojoPenguin]

I play some RATM as well and would not imagine playing "Bombtrack" with Flats. The Bass though is fine IMHO.

 

[Vinnie Boombatz]

This is true. However......



This is not true. Part of the problem with many (especially local) bands is that they do not realize they are in the ENTERTAINMENT business. Entertainment DOES include some things that just "fit" the act. Dressing like David Bowie and playing Skynard would be ridiculous. It wouldn't fit and it would be nothing shot of awkward for the audience.

You are not just playing for yourself or with yourself. You are playing for OTHERS. Consider what works for THEM when you make music. IF you don't, playing with yourself is about as far as you'll get.

If you don't make an AUDIENCE "happy" or make an AUDIENCE "like the sound", what's the point?

Your view seems one-dimensional and self centered.

I do fill-in gigs all the time. I bring the bass(es), bring the rig and wear the clothes that FIT the band. I don't wear my favorite most comfy shoes and flannel PJ pants, play my absolute favorite bass (unless it fits), or bring the rig I like the sound of the most. I bring the attitude, clothes and the gear that fits the band.....so that the AUDIENCE gets the best experience from my work. They, even more than the other band members, are my primary concern.

You sound like a blast to be in a band with!

 

[Vinnie Boombatz]

I play some RATM as well and would not imagine playing "Bombtrack" with Flats. The Bass though is fine IMHO.

Bass player with Mars Volta uses flats.

 

[mikewalker]

I went to see The Who last time they were in Vancouver, and Pino playing FLATS sounded perfectly fine. If he can can play flats for THAT gig, anybody can play them for anything, IMO ...

 

[Duder]

Bass player with Mars Volta uses flats.

Flea uses flats?