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The Evolution of Bass Guitar Technology and Beyond...
- Thread starter Tmoney865
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- Feb 16, 2008
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- John K Custom Basses
my question is, does the electric bass really have to 'evolve' any further? have the violin, trumpet, saxophone, flute, tympani, cymbal, grand piano, cello, clarinet, etc. evolved any further? personally, i do not believe that the most desirable ones have.
LOL - all the comments from guys about Bergers have pics of themselves playing something else, and NOT the Berger.
Think edge of Horizon and beyond guys. Most of you are stuck here or somewhere in the past.
Kick it in gear. Are you a consumer or a futurist?
Think edge of Horizon and beyond guys. Most of you are stuck here or somewhere in the past.
Kick it in gear. Are you a consumer or a futurist?
- Feb 16, 2008
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- John K Custom Basses
what are you referring to? sorry, i meant 1961. my buddy has a '61 Bass VI (first year) and a '65 Bass V.
that's the problem when you rely on wiki for your info.
JohnK,
Now you are focused on the questions!
For some people enough is too much, and that will be an individual variable. But if we can quantiy the spec attributes of the perfect bass per sustain, attack, etc. what will be the Technology gains that will lead us to that HolyGrail?
Most will be happy with what presently exists, but judging from the GAS epidimic, most people are not happy with what they have, and thus look for More and More.
So the future is what "More" do we want?
Now you are focused on the questions!
For some people enough is too much, and that will be an individual variable. But if we can quantiy the spec attributes of the perfect bass per sustain, attack, etc. what will be the Technology gains that will lead us to that HolyGrail?
Most will be happy with what presently exists, but judging from the GAS epidimic, most people are not happy with what they have, and thus look for More and More.
So the future is what "More" do we want?
Bryan R. Tyler
TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
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- May 3, 2002
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Preferences in tone will vary from person to person, so there is no way to assume one alteration in tone will be "better" than any other. That being said, while Basslab and Lightwave are producing unique ideas, neither is producing tones that are particularly dissimilar to what already exists. You can pretty much already get what hey provide in other basses as far as tone goes. There are also some drawbacks to the Lightwave system. There was a recent thread that mentioned them although I don't recall off the top of my head what they were- some kinds of plucking dynamics don't work with them IIRC.
I doubt either technology will go any further than it already is, mostly because they aren't offering something considered "better" to enough players for their ideas to spread. No idea what's coming next.
If your neck was twisted, an additional truss rod would not have helped. They adjust the backbow of a neck- they don't prevent or adjust a twist in the neck. Multiple truss rods can potentially CAUSE a twist if one is adjusted to alter the bow on one side of a neck while the other isn't adjusted in a proportional manner.
- Feb 16, 2008
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no, i'm not.
i've been playing bass since 1967 and building them since 1973. i've seen alot of trends and so-called 'innovations' come and go. i actually have all the great basses (30+) that i could ever want, so it's not like i'm looking for 'something better'. i just like variety, but nothing that you've mentioned has impressed me.
Fender VI, I believe was neither a long neck and was not tuned like the Present 6 Strings, and did not take.
The one produced in the 70's was really its own thing, as far as I have seen, and it really did make an impact on me, and currnet producers of instruments.
As for the Inventor in the 1930's. His product did not take root incomparison to what Fender did. There is so little information on him I have not then deemed his efforts significant to either currnet production, recording, or what you presently own. Irrelevant.
The one produced in the 70's was really its own thing, as far as I have seen, and it really did make an impact on me, and currnet producers of instruments.
As for the Inventor in the 1930's. His product did not take root incomparison to what Fender did. There is so little information on him I have not then deemed his efforts significant to either currnet production, recording, or what you presently own. Irrelevant.
I have to say that EVERYTHING pales in comparison to what Fender did in the 40's and 50's and EVERYTHING else has just been an attempt to improve on that. 50 years from now when Lightwave and Basslab are just footnotes in history, people will still be recording with their 58 P's and will still be amazed at what perfect instruments he created 100 before. Gimmicks don't last...
- Feb 16, 2008
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an original fender bass VI was normally tuned EADGBE, like a guitar, only an octave lower, but there's no reason that you couldn't have tuned it another way.
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Not me. I love having the opportunity to play through contemporary gear that allows me actually be heard in the mix. I wouldn't go back to the old days for anything.
Truly now is the golden age of bass gear...
MM
Bryan R. Tyler
TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
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Been there many times- just Google searched his site, and there's no mention of using an 18v preamp to drive a power amp. It only mentions that he recommends them for additional headroom, which is the reason pretty much everyone who uses an 18v preamp uses it for. So you can boost your EQ more without distortion.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
Not me. I love having the opportunity to play through contemporary gear that allows me actually be heard in the mix. I wouldn't go back to the old days for anything.
Truly now is the golden age of bass gear...
MM
good for you.
(as if no one can hear, AND FEEL any of my basses in the mix.)
I doubt it.
I think there are some innovations in amps that will change things in the near future, but I'm thinking we'll see wood basses with magnetic pickups dominate the bass world for the foreseeable future.
We're not all playing Lightwave equipped Basslabs instruments either.
If Steinberger made a 5 string version of the L2 with 19mm spacing at the bridge, and a thin neck profile, I would have definitely checked one out when I bought my Nordstrand or my Zon. Just because I don't care for the narrow string spacing or the neck profile doesn't make them any less innovative.
Bryan,
Ok we got something here.
Tone was an example of an idea of a paramenter. Disimilarity is not the key to tapping the present market.
Durability and consistency of the materials is what I am considering in suggesting BassLab's work (i.e. Steinberger and other CF).
If the Lightwave does not properly receive and transmit all plucking dynamics, then the Tech is a failure for the player, but a winner on paper as the idea of removing the magnetic interference with the string reverberation looks good, but loses some other important facets of the present day schools of technique. Thus, Tech Looser.
As for my neck the cut was off the grain pattern. Reading about Ricks and their dual Rod system it was explained that they were to be used to adjust out any twists. I trusted my source on that, perhaps in error.
JohnK,
You did misquote on the ContraBass 6 string, but you are on track and laying out your extensive experience which is quite considerable.
I gave some offerings of somethings I found to be innovative in nature. The whole point was a question.
Your answer might be that even the attributes of what I seek in a Modern Instrument are neither Modern, significant, nor necessary. Nevertheless, they are here in one form or another, and Manufacturers have people wanting them, like they once upon a time bought the first Jazz Basses.
Your experience is sought in the question. Is there a next evolution? or are we tapped out?
Ok we got something here.
Tone was an example of an idea of a paramenter. Disimilarity is not the key to tapping the present market.
Durability and consistency of the materials is what I am considering in suggesting BassLab's work (i.e. Steinberger and other CF).
If the Lightwave does not properly receive and transmit all plucking dynamics, then the Tech is a failure for the player, but a winner on paper as the idea of removing the magnetic interference with the string reverberation looks good, but loses some other important facets of the present day schools of technique. Thus, Tech Looser.
As for my neck the cut was off the grain pattern. Reading about Ricks and their dual Rod system it was explained that they were to be used to adjust out any twists. I trusted my source on that, perhaps in error.
JohnK,
You did misquote on the ContraBass 6 string, but you are on track and laying out your extensive experience which is quite considerable.
I gave some offerings of somethings I found to be innovative in nature. The whole point was a question.
Your answer might be that even the attributes of what I seek in a Modern Instrument are neither Modern, significant, nor necessary. Nevertheless, they are here in one form or another, and Manufacturers have people wanting them, like they once upon a time bought the first Jazz Basses.
Your experience is sought in the question. Is there a next evolution? or are we tapped out?
