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The BASS TRADEOFFS Thread

#21
- Graphite necks have the great advantages of not needing adjustment and being immune to the effects of weather changes...but they don't have the same character as wood, and you've got to like the relief that's permanently built-in.

- Fret lines on fretless basses can be a great aid in playing in tune for many...but some "musicians" in the crowd think you're "cheating", and if you go into the story about Jaco having fret lines it's a waste of time, coz they have no idea who he was.
 
#22
Well yes, ill try my english is not good at all for technical stuff, A guitar (a bass guitar in this case) must have an specific angle between the body and the neck so when you press the string it drops from alto (dont know if that makes any sense in english) and it doesnt touch the previous fret, because if it touches the previous fret the tension would be higher resulting in a not accurate intonation on the desired spot (sometimes an audible change when playing solo, some others just perceptible when playing with other musicians). I belive that if you already have a dead spot a bad set up can make it more obious.
 
#23
KayCee said:
- Fret lines on fretless basses can be a great aid in playing in tune for many...but some "musicians" in the crowd think you're "cheating", and if you go into the story about Jaco having fret lines it's a waste of time, coz they have no idea who he was.
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Somehow, that's a trade I can live with!
 
#26
KayCee said:
- Fret lines on fretless basses can be a great aid in playing in tune for many...but some "musicians" in the crowd think you're "cheating", and if you go into the story about Jaco having fret lines it's a waste of time, coz they have no idea who he was.
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Eh, visually.. I never notice an unlined fretless by its looks unless i'm a couple feet away from it, and that's only if I'm examining the fretboard.
I always notice by sound if it's fretless, but I'd say that non-serious musicians or non musicians (who are the same people who don't know of Jaco), would rarely if ever recognize the difference between lined fretless and fretted by either sound or appearance.
 
#27
grygrx said:
Go fanned fret! :)
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I've only played a Dingwall once, so I don't speak from much experience, but I *think* some people might say:

- Fanned frets solve the problem of even string response, but...
it feels really strange to play fanned frets, and they're tough to play blindly (as when you're singing), and a "fanned fretless" would be nearly impossible to play in tune.
 
#35
ebe9 said:
The more time I spend on TB the less time I spend playing/practicing
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+1, unfortunately.

If only there was someway that being on TB made one's playing better. We'd all be a Wooten/Pastorius/Manring/(pick your favorite virtuoso).

All these guys probably can't use a computer, and that's why they're so good at playing. I'm sure there's some scientific reason. :D


(I know that Mr. Manring posts on here, I'm just playing around.:smug:)
 
#36
KayCee said:
Hello TB'ers,


1. The lighter that you make a bass, the easier it is to have on your shoulder through a gig...but the lighter you make it, the more low end punch you sacrifice.
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I strongly disagree with this one. The last several years I've had back problems and have purchased a number of lightweight basses. I haven't noticed a lack of low end punch compared to heavier basses. My Lakland Skyline JO4 weighs 8 lbs. and not only sounds like a Jazz should but sounds better than my old 12lb. Fender Jazz. My Fender Zone has plenty of low end punch, as does my Gibson IV, which is a low end monster, and my Carvin B5, and a 7 lb franken P with a G&L MFD pickup I built has low end that kills.
 
#37
KayCee said:
Hello TB'ers,

I've been involved in several threads recently in which the concept of TRADEOFFS has come into play when trying to solve problems with basses, bass tone, and bass technique.

I'm going to list a few examples, totally IMHO. I'd be interested to see if TBer's can add some, or provide opinions on some of these:

1. The lighter that you make a bass, the easier it is to have on your shoulder through a gig...but the lighter you make it, the more low end punch you sacrifice.
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Totally disagree with this. My Sadowsky P/J weighs in around a piddly 8lbs

It has more natural, fat, punchy low end than almost any bass I've ever played.
 
#39
thewanderer24 said:
Totally disagree with this. My Sadowsky P/J weighs in around a piddly 8lbs

It has more natural, fat, punchy low end than almost any bass I've ever played.
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So far, this one seems to be the most controversial.

Are you saying that weight and density makes NO difference, or simply that your instrument, at 8 lbs., has SUFFICIENT weight to have a punchy low end.

It could well be (and I maintain) that there's a certain amount of weight that IS necessary to get the job done. If weight made no difference, why not have a five (or less ) pound bass? It'd sure be easier to hang on your shoulder for those five set gigs.

I maintain that weight and density do matter, but I'm not going to say that 8 lbs. isn't enough. How's that for hedging? :D
 
#40
KayCee said:
I've only played a Dingwall once, so I don't speak from much experience, but I *think* some people might say:

- Fanned frets solve the problem of even string response, but...
it feels really strange to play fanned frets, and they're tough to play blindly (as when you're singing), and a "fanned fretless" would be nearly impossible to play in tune.
Click to expand...

No and no. You can play without looking and they feel very natural.

I don't have a fanned fretless, but I know someone here who does and it doesn't seem to be a problem.
 

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