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Swiss Army Basses
- Thread starter Rib 13
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Not contradicting, Ive been getting by for many a years with a good old P Bass and actually using the tone knob and preamp knobs on the amp..
Smooth_bass88
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- Oct 31, 2006
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Another vote for Big Al, this fatty is so versatile that I frequently have to force myself to stop twiddling with the controls and just play the friggin' thing.
I'm like that with my LĀKLAND US 494 Deluxe (w/Duncans). So many great, usable, fun tones it's hard to decide on one. Most times I end up running it passive with both pickups wide open.
I play in similar bands as the OP. I sub in 2 of them. The regular bassists in the top band around here play a Lakland MM/J and the other guy plays a 5 string warrior J/MM. I play a Dingwall Combustion, P-Bass, or P/J bass with a drop D-tuner.
The Combustion really nails pretty much everything. The closest P-ish sound needs some on board EQ tweaking. The Combustion covers about 90% of EVERYTHING perfectly, and 100% very well. Also bringing my P-bass puts it up to 98%. The rest is PJ, fretless, etc.
The Combustion really nails pretty much everything. The closest P-ish sound needs some on board EQ tweaking. The Combustion covers about 90% of EVERYTHING perfectly, and 100% very well. Also bringing my P-bass puts it up to 98%. The rest is PJ, fretless, etc.
How about a fender starcaster.
With lighter strings it can zing on the slap, but has great sustain and can get some really huge sounds with the 2 fat humbuckers, sits in the jazz mix and if you palm mute does a reasonable upright bass impression
With lighter strings it can zing on the slap, but has great sustain and can get some really huge sounds with the 2 fat humbuckers, sits in the jazz mix and if you palm mute does a reasonable upright bass impression
I agree with Emanuel. A also have an Adamovic and I can make it sounds like most 'normal' Fender sounds.
I think for 'basic' flexibility an active jazz covers a lot of ground. An active PJ might cover more, but an active jazz is easier to find. And I love me some Bongo
I haven't played a Big Al. A lot of people think they're mighty versatile.
The most versatile bass I've played was a six string, HS Bongo in black. It covers all the range most people will ever need, fits the "look" of nearly every genre (which actually matters in some genres) and with the HS and an 18v preamp it covers a lot of tonal ground. My Bongo 5 is the most versatile basses I own.
The most versatile bass I've played was a six string, HS Bongo in black. It covers all the range most people will ever need, fits the "look" of nearly every genre (which actually matters in some genres) and with the HS and an 18v preamp it covers a lot of tonal ground. My Bongo 5 is the most versatile basses I own.
I've owned both versions of Big Al 5's (SSS & H) and while both were great instruments neither one had the versatility of a Line 6 Variax 700 or 705 IMO. When I need versatility I reach for my Variax.
TD
TD
You already have the answer -- few basses are as versatile as the dual-humbucker G&Ls.
So my advice would be to buy a moderately priced L-2000 and then mod it as follows:
1) replace the volume control with a pickup pan
2) replace the pickup selector switch and global series/parallel switch with individual series/parallel/single coil switches
I did this to an '81 "B00###" L-2000 that had a trashed preamp, and it ended up the most versatile bass I ever owned.
I'm sorry that I ever sold it.
^^^ This
For my money, the J\MM arrangement is the most flexible design. I know Sandberg and Schecter have similar designs, but my hands-on experience is with the Lakland Skyline 44-02 and 55-02. Jazz, p-bass, Music Man, and its own unique tone. Depending on the year you buy, they have a very flexible pre-amp that allows you to select the mid frequencies. My biggest compliant is that the Bart and Lakland pickups are a little polite in the attack. If you like that open pole-piece grind, you may want to look at something else.
My Swiss army bass, is my fender urge... I can nail almost every tone I want... However I do find myself looking for the low b string at times...
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I once had a 2007 Peavey Cirrus USA bass that was very much a Swiss Army knife bass. I often regret selling it.
The T-40's have a well deserved reputation for versatility, but nothing I've heard beats my 1983 G&L L2000, it covers all the standard P and J sounds easily, and does a decent Ric 4001 emulation with new round wounds in treble boost mode. I actually bought it to replace a Ric 4001, a poor decision in retrospect for purely sentimental reasons, but it's a far more versatile bass than anything I've owned before or since. Like the T-40, it's on the heavy side of average, but perfectly balanced, so it's not noticeable. The neck is between a P and J width at the nut , but very thin back to front. People describe the controls as complex, buts it's just three knobs and two switches, took me 5 minutes to get it down. Sounds great passive or active, what more can you ask?
If the guy who says it plays the same bass as you, it's truth. If not, it's a lie.
An active J bass is always a handy tool.
You can also get a mind-numbing number of combinations out of a wal.
G&L2000s are great as the OP said.
I am also quite fond of the Godin Shifter. And similarly the short lived Fender Modern Player Jazz Satin basses. Lots of really useful switchable cool combinations on those basses.
You can also get a mind-numbing number of combinations out of a wal.
G&L2000s are great as the OP said.
I am also quite fond of the Godin Shifter. And similarly the short lived Fender Modern Player Jazz Satin basses. Lots of really useful switchable cool combinations on those basses.
My Swiss army bass would definitely be my Modulus Quantum 4 with John east u-retro deluxe preamp. It has vol/pan stack, treble/bass stack w/bright switch, mid/midrange sweep stack, passive tone knob w/push-pull active/passive switch. It can cop a seriously huge variety of sounds. Pretty mind boggling what it can cover, sonically.
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