The Most Versatile Bass? You'd Be Surprised

[plangentmusic]

I've been at this for a loooog time and own and have owned many basses. At one time I sought the one bass that would do it all , but of course, no one bass can be ALL basses. I now have "settled" on several, each with their own vibe.

But it got me thinking...

Which bass can actually give the most sounds that are applicable to the most situations.

My answer -- the good old jazz.

Here's why;

Even a bass geared toward having several sounds, like a MusicMan, may have many different tones, but there's still a "sameness" to them. A J however, has 4 distinct, usable tones.

The rear pu, has the classic midrange growl. With a pick, it gives an aggressive bite. The front pu's have a smooth fat tone. With a treble boost, the front gives a great slap sound. And you never have to worry that the sound is too weird or unique. It's as classic as it gets.

Naturally, there are lots of basses that implement the split pu philosophy, I just think it's interesting that with all the advancements, the instrument that is considered so "basic" can actually be the most eclectic. No?

 

[billiam5billion]

Agreed.

 

[Duplo42]

How about Big Al?

 

[Chrisk-K]

There's no such thing as the most versatile bass IMO. One can easily argue that a bass with a PJ or J/MM configuration with a 3 band preamp is more versatile than a traditional J.

Having said that I love my J's. I'm not looking for versatility in basses anymore. I want each of my basses to create one signature tone of its own.

 

[dpbass613]

I agree with you on this, a good J neck pickup can pull off a P bass close enough, add some EQ in the right frequency and you are good to go.

 

[GregC]

There's no such thing as the most versatile bass IMO. One can easily argue that a bass with a PJ or J/MM configuration with a 3 band preamp is more versatile than a traditional J.

Agreed. Or one could argue it's an Alembic with a dozen or more knobs.

Also, the answer provided was not a surprise at all--I hear it all the time. Just another attention-seeking thread title from the OP, IMO.

 

[Spaldo]

Agreed. A good Jazz bass is all you need. Or a P with a J bridge pickup.

Above all, the less knobs and switches you have to contend with, the better off you are. The best tone controls are your hands.

 

[groooooove]

Agreed. A good Jazz bass is all you need. Or a P with a J bridge pickup.

Above all, the less knobs and switches you have to contend with, the better off you are. The best tone controls are your hands.

i disagree. fiddling with too many knobs is a bad thing. having tons of them set the way you like them is fine. my bass has vol/vol/ passive tone, bass/mid/treble, and active/passive switch. i dont want any of that to not be there, cause i know how to set it to get what i want. options arent a bad thing.

 

[sethlow3]

SHHHH! don't spoil the dirty little secret us Jazz owners already know.

Seriously though, the jazz is played by all my fav players and is still found on records old and new. Even in emo and polka. The simple fact it is found in EVERY major genre is quite amazing in and of itself. The range of tones produced with those pups, 2 volume knobs, a tone knob, fingers or pick is sublime.

As much as I would like a P I still would want a couple more jazzes first for playing with flats, diff colors etc...

 

[MikeBass]

I have everyone beat with my PRS 4 equipped with the Roland V-Bass.
I pretty much have ANY bass sound.

 

[plangentmusic]

Agreed. Or one could argue it's an Alembic with a dozen or more knobs.

Also, the answer provided was not a surprise at all--I hear it all the time. Just another attention-seeking thread title from the OP, IMO.

Yeah, because all the interest i get in these conversations makes me rich.

Seriously, do you HAVE to whizz on the thread just because you can't think of anything else to say?

 

[sethlow3]

i disagree. fiddling with too many knobs is a bad thing. having tons of them set the way you like them is fine. my bass has vol/vol/ passive tone, bass/mid/treble, and active/passive switch. i dont want any of that to not be there, cause i know how to set it to get what i want. options arent a bad thing.

Different strokes. I oddly use my fingers 90% of the time on my Modulus 5 string and it has a 3 band EQ because I love to tweak my mids on a 5. Active on 5's for me! I set it and forget it though. Never tweaking except for the occasional blend toward the bridge.

The Jazz I am about 50-50% pick and fingers, and love the simplicity of it. Passive on 4's for me. I do however tweak it a bit more.

Every time a song is called I am thinking "okay pick or fingers?" and then "Full on or bridge soloed?" then I make the adjustments. YMMV...

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I doubt I'll ever own a G&L, but I've certainly played a couple that offered more usable diversity than a Jazz. That's just in the Fender world too.

 

[bassbenj]

Agreed. A good Jazz bass is all you need. Or a P with a J bridge pickup.

Above all, the less knobs and switches you have to contend with, the better off you are. The best tone controls are your hands.

We hear this crap here all the time. It's a mantra you hear over and over until everybody is supposed to believe it. And hey, you forgot the one about if you buy the exact gear that Joe Blow plays, you will automatically play just like JOE!

There are at least TWO things here that none of the dogma repeaters ever bother to notice. One is that there is MUSICAL versatility and then there is SONIC versatility. Total confusion between the two.

A Fender bass is musically versatile because it was first and was and is very popular. I don't care. P or J. Enough master players have used it for enough classic bass lines for enough variety of music that you can get away with the sound in "almost" any genre.

But if you want sonically versatile you'd better start thinking of say a G&L that is covered with switches, knobs and pickups. AND (this is important for all the bass Luddites out there) you need to know what they all do! And if you want to go upward from there you need to actually think of an Alembic with a dozen knobs. (or some monster rack that does the same thing).

I really don't get the people with Knobophobia. Does it take THAT much intelligence to learn what the controls on your instrument do? How can you ever be a master of the instrument if you have no idea what it's doing and how to make it do it? You can't. The player with only a volume knob may THINK he's being cool, but really it's a poster to the whole world that says "I haven't a clue what my instrument does or is capable of!" Sure you may shred like a coleslaw maker, and that in itself is of course impressive. Just like great basslines are impressive. but unless you really understand your instrument it's only half a loaf. You are just one more technical lamer trying to cover their lack of knowledge by repeating "it's all in me fingers" over an over. Just one more kid guitar player who can "play anything" once someone else tunes his guitar for him.

We've established here (and in other bass forums) LONG ago that it is NOT "all in your fingers". It is only SOME in your fingers. And to say it is "all" only makes you look clueless.

If a "good Jazz" is all you need, then why is it probably the LEAST used (next to the 8 string) of all my basses? If "it's all in your fingers" then why aren't all bassists playing First Act basses and all the boutique makers out of business?

[/rant]

 

[spade2you]

This one seems to like covering a wide variety of tones.

 

[5string5fingers]

I think it just depends on the player and your needs. Many people say the J can get close enough to a sound of a P bass,which i find is only a statement I hear from J only players. But those of us who have played Ps most of our bass lives, find that the J may be close enough,but its not it. When we want a P sound we want a P sound,not close enough. I personally find the PJ more versatile. But G&L's rule in versatility.

 

[Roy Vogt]

I think that Bass Player devoted an entire issue to this concept. I own Alembics, Carvins, Conklins, Modulus and a wild menagerie of basses, but a Jazz Bass can get every tone I need for my gigs. If I had to go to a 1 bass solution it would be something from the J-Bass family, so I have to agree with the OP here.

 

[MikeBass]

We hear this crap here all the time. It's a mantra you hear over and over until everybody is supposed to believe it. And hey, you forgot the one about if you buy the exact gear that Joe Blow plays, you will automatically play just like JOE!

There are at least TWO things here that none of the dogma repeaters ever bother to notice. One is that there is MUSICAL versatility and then there is SONIC versatility. Total confusion between the two.

A Fender bass is musically versatile because it was first and was and is very popular. I don't care. P or J. Enough master players have used it for enough classic bass lines for enough variety of music that you can get away with the sound in "almost" any genre.

But if you want sonically versatile you'd better start thinking of say a G&L that is covered with switches, knobs and pickups. AND (this is important for all the bass Luddites out there) you need to know what they all do! And if you want to go upward from there you need to actually think of an Alembic with a dozen knobs. (or some monster rack that does the same thing).

I really don't get the people with Knobophobia. Does it take THAT much intelligence to learn what the controls on your instrument do? How can you ever be a master of the instrument if you have no idea what it's doing and how to make it do it? You can't. The player with only a volume knob may THINK he's being cool, but really it's a poster to the whole world that says "I haven't a clue what my instrument does or is capable of!" Sure you may shred like a coleslaw maker, and that in itself is of course impressive. Just like great basslines are impressive. but unless you really understand your instrument it's only half a loaf. You are just one more technical lamer trying to cover their lack of knowledge by repeating "it's all in me fingers" over an over. Just one more kid guitar player who can "play anything" once someone else tunes his guitar for him.

We've established here (and in other bass forums) LONG ago that it is NOT "all in your fingers". It is only SOME in your fingers. And to say it is "all" only makes you look clueless.

If a "good Jazz" is all you need, then why is it probably the LEAST used (next to the 8 string) of all my basses? If "it's all in your fingers" then why aren't all bassists playing First Act basses and all the boutique makers out of business?

[/rant]

Well, if you do solo instrumental bass work, then a Jazz may sit in your closet for years and not be used.
Who cares.
For the working bassist in a contemporary setting, a "Fender" will work pretty much every time.

But any bass can fit in any situation if you know your gear.

As for your "knobaphobia".....maybe some people just don't like to have a bunch of crap in their signal path.

Why don't you fill out a bit of your profile so we can maybe get an idea of where you are coming from.
First thing I did was take a look at your profile after reading you little rant.

 

[smperry]

Which bass can actually give the most sounds that are applicable to the most situations.

My answer -- the good old jazz.

Here's why;

Even a bass geared toward having several sounds, like a MusicMan, may have many different tones, but there's still a "sameness" to them. A J however, has 4 distinct, usable tones.

The rear pu, has the classic midrange growl. With a pick, it gives an aggressive bite. The front pu's have a smooth fat tone. With a treble boost, the front gives a great slap sound. And you never have to worry that the sound is too weird or unique. It's as classic as it gets.

Naturally, there are lots of basses that implement the split pu philosophy, I just think it's interesting that with all the advancements, the instrument that is considered so "basic" can actually be the most eclectic. No?

Nope. Disagree. I don't think other basses have a "sameness" to their different tones unlike a jazz. And I don't think that the other sounds some other basses make are necessarily weird.

 

[fullrangebass]

I do not agree with the OP. A Jazz bass covers some part of the sonic spectrum, not the whole. And it's versatile enough, not the most versatile though.

It easily covers most working bass player's needs, but definitely not every needed tone.

As for versartile basses, from my herd, I'd vote for my avatar Z1 Dingwall as well as my FRB Z3 Dingwall

By the way, I own 2 very fine examples of Fender Jazz basses (chosen from several many Jazz basses I've tried), yet most of my gigs and recordings in the past 15yrs were not done with my Jazz basses. I do not feel I am missing sth. In fact, if I want to replicate the J tone, my versatile basses can provide that tone, and then some (this is what I call versatile ;-) )