Top Bass Questions Answered

[Neveragain55]

This will hopefully serve as a catch-all post to answer the most burning questions that come up on such a regular basis that the US census bureau would have a hard time counting them all.

Let’s start with the constant, mind numbing inquires about all things “Fender”

(full disclosure I’ve asked this question myself in the past before I came to certain realizations)

Contrary to popular believe people actually like Fender bass guitars, and what’s more amazing is that they like them for very sound, reasonable reasons.

The reason………………THEY LIKE THEM!!!!!!!

I think it might have something to do with the fact that:

• They grew up with them,
  
  
• They heard them on their favorite songs throughout their life,
  
  
• Their mentors played them,
  
  
• It was their first bass & they just fell in love with them,
  
  
• They feel a sense of brand loyally,
  
  
• And let’s not forget the most compelling reason of all why people like Fender bass guitars………………THEY LIKE THEM.
  

I’m sure there are more but I think/hope you all get the point.

Next up on our hit parade is: “What should my first bass be”????

Try this on for size……. the bass that fits & suits “YOU”

Any musical instrument has to speak and will speak to you when “you” touch it, hold, it, play it. (get your minds out of the gutter)

You couldn’t possibly make a real determination off of somebody else’s experiences, preferences, likes, or dislikes.

We are all as varied as grains of sand of the beach in every way, so how in the world could you make such an important decision based on what a “different” “grain of sand” thinks?

Answer: go out, pick one up, play it…………………end of discussion.

Next up are questions about wood and how it affects “tone”:

Do various woods from all over the world depending on age & density affect the tone of your bass…………yes…………how much…………so little I dare say that none of us could tell without $50.000 dollars’ worth of NASA style high-tech equipment to accurately, precisely, scientifically say.

Enough of a difference to the ears of 20 or 2,000 people in the audience………not in a million years.

Here’s where the “tone” squad will light me up, but before you all start typing please take a second to read what I’m about to write next.

Obsess over you tone for you….by all means, I respect that, and yes – I think you should do that.

But let’s all be clear here, the differences we hear in the studio or during a sound check will never translate to the folks listening unless they are seasoned bassist themselves, and will any of you ever be playing to strictly an audience made up of hundreds of bassist’s, I highly doubt it.

I could answer many more probing questions we all see on here quite often but this post is already long enough, and I have to stop now to go eat my Wheaties to get ready for all the negative slams I’ll get, all the replies telling me how stupid this post is, and all the replies from the folks that feel compelled to do a search of my past threads to point out things I’ve said in the past that now prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that I’m a hypocrite

Have a good night folks, and have at it……..

 

[bassfacer22]

I agree you have to just go try basses to finally find the one for you.. but there are some examples that EVERYBODY just agrees.. like driving a Lamborghini will always be good no matter what..

just like playing/buying a Fedora and or Sadowsky and others will always be good no matter what.. so unless you are getting one of the highest of highs, then you need to always find out yourself about the bass..


People do notice bass tone by the way.. especially when its keyboard bass.. thats why all you hear is "wow listen to that bass" its loud direct and low and phat..

and I think people do notice the sound between woods.. ash and others etc.. thats why you always know marcus miller or Jaco..

 

[ZenG]

You're roady sound-guy will always set you straight on what tone is best.........

And the guitarists in your band will always help you get the correct volume level..

so no problem there.......

 

[JimmyM]

Next up are questions about wood and how it affects “tone”:

Do various woods from all over the world depending on age & density affect the tone of your bass…………yes…………how much…………so little I dare say that none of us could tell without $50.000 dollars’ worth of NASA style high-tech equipment to accurately, precisely, scientifically say.

You obviously never played a basswood P Lyte.

Enough of a difference to the ears of 20 or 2,000 people in the audience………not in a million years.

Here’s where the “tone” squad will light me up, but before you all start typing please take a second to read what I’m about to write next.

Obsess over you tone for you….by all means, I respect that, and yes – I think you should do that.

But let’s all be clear here, the differences we hear in the studio or during a sound check will never translate to the folks listening unless they are seasoned bassist themselves, and will any of you ever be playing to strictly an audience made up of hundreds of bassist’s, I highly doubt it.

If anyone ever catches me making a decision about gear based on what I think the audience doesn't hear, please remind me that it's time to retire.

 

[bassbenj]

I agree you have to just go try basses to finally find the one for you.. but there are some examples that EVERYBODY just agrees.. like driving a Lamborghini will always be good no matter what..

just like playing/buying a Fedora and or Sadowsky and others will always be good no matter what.. so unless you are getting one of the highest of highs, then you need to always find out yourself about the bass..


People do notice bass tone by the way.. especially when its keyboard bass.. thats why all you hear is "wow listen to that bass" its loud direct and low and phat..

and I think people do notice the sound between woods.. ash and others etc.. thats why you always know marcus miller or Jaco..

Same old "what bass is "best" nonsense! Well I wanted a new vehicle and it seems EVERYBODY told me that Lamborghini was "best" no matter what! So I went an bought one. Then I went to the builder's supply to get some gravel for my driveway and you know they could only get so little into the passenger seat that I had to make several trips with it!

Just like playing my Alembic which everyone told me was "best", but when I took it to a blues gig (it's a 6 string fretless) everyone jumped all over my case instead of being impressed with me bringing a universally "best" bass!

And the last question is if people do notice tone and say "wow listen to that bass" and do that mostly with keyboard basses, why in the world did I ever give up playing keys? As for "tonewood" everybody here knows "it's all in the fingers". I"m pretty sure I could have made my Alembic sound like a 4 string P-bass, but some people are just determined to listen with their eyes!

 

[thabassmon]

This will hopefully serve as a catch-all post to answer the most burning questions that come up on such a regular basis that the US census bureau would have a hard time counting them all.

Let’s start with the constant, mind numbing inquires about all things “Fender”

(full disclosure I’ve asked this question myself in the past before I came to certain realizations)

Contrary to popular believe people actually like Fender bass guitars, and what’s more amazing is that they like them for very sound, reasonable reasons.

The reason………………THEY LIKE THEM!!!!!!!

I think it might have something to do with the fact that:

• They grew up with them,
  
  
• They heard them on their favorite songs throughout their life,
  
  
• Their mentors played them,
  
  
• It was their first bass & they just fell in love with them,
  
  
• They feel a sense of brand loyally,
  
  
• And let’s not forget the most compelling reason of all why people like Fender bass guitars………………THEY LIKE THEM.
  

I’m sure there are more but I think/hope you all get the point.

Next up on our hit parade is: “What should my first bass be”????

Try this on for size……. the bass that fits & suits “YOU”

Any musical instrument has to speak and will speak to you when “you” touch it, hold, it, play it. (get your minds out of the gutter)

You couldn’t possibly make a real determination off of somebody else’s experiences, preferences, likes, or dislikes.

We are all as varied as grains of sand of the beach in every way, so how in the world could you make such an important decision based on what a “different” “grain of sand” thinks?

Answer: go out, pick one up, play it…………………end of discussion.

Next up are questions about wood and how it affects “tone”:

Do various woods from all over the world depending on age & density affect the tone of your bass…………yes…………how much…………so little I dare say that none of us could tell without $50.000 dollars’ worth of NASA style high-tech equipment to accurately, precisely, scientifically say.

Enough of a difference to the ears of 20 or 2,000 people in the audience………not in a million years.

Here’s where the “tone” squad will light me up, but before you all start typing please take a second to read what I’m about to write next.

Obsess over you tone for you….by all means, I respect that, and yes – I think you should do that.

But let’s all be clear here, the differences we hear in the studio or during a sound check will never translate to the folks listening unless they are seasoned bassist themselves, and will any of you ever be playing to strictly an audience made up of hundreds of bassist’s, I highly doubt it.

I could answer many more probing questions we all see on here quite often but this post is already long enough, and I have to stop now to go eat my Wheaties to get ready for all the negative slams I’ll get, all the replies telling me how stupid this post is, and all the replies from the folks that feel compelled to do a search of my past threads to point out things I’ve said in the past that now prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that I’m a hypocrite

Have a good night folks, and have at it……..

I agree with you man. Answer some more 'too often seen queries'

 

[Ten Four One]

If anyone ever catches me making a decision about gear based on what I think the audience doesn't hear, please remind me that it's time to retire.

I 100% hate people who assume the audience is dumb & doesn't "get" music.

I remember arguing with an old guitar player/songwriter in an earlier incarnation of my band about how his long, wanker-ish intros & utter lack of key changes in songs would bore the audience. I have a recording of him later on saying "You have to imagine the audience just standing there, drooling. (d r o o l ing - silly emoticons) They're not gonna say 'hey, this song has no dynamics' etc."

I was like - you're right, they may not have the words to articulate why they don't like a song such as "dynamics" or "key changes" or "good melody" or "tension & release", but they have legs to walk away, a brain that can choose not to pay attention & a mouth that can start chatting with the girl at the bar.

I want to make a really bland EDM track with that little speech as the centerpiece and then slip it to the DJ next time he plays a gig to play just before he goes on. Let's see what he thinks about how smart the audience is then.

 

[JimmyM]

I 100% hate people who assume the audience is dumb & doesn't "get" music.

I remember arguing with an old guitar player/songwriter in an earlier incarnation of my band about how his long, wanker-ish intros & utter lack of key changes in songs would bore the audience. I have a recording of him later on saying "You have to imagine the audience just standing there, drooling. (d r o o l ing - silly emoticons) They're not gonna say 'hey, this song has no dynamics' etc."

I was like - you're right, they may not have the words to articulate why they don't like a song such as "dynamics" or "key changes" or "good melody" or "tension & release", but they have legs to walk away, a brain that can choose not to pay attention & a mouth that can start chatting with the girl at the bar.

Yep, too many musicians are guilty of exalting themselves and looking down on their audiences. Meanwhile, they certainly seem to get when a band sucks.

 

[thabassmon]

I think people do notice the sound between woods.. ash and others etc.. thats why you always know marcus miller or Jaco..

IMO
I think the difference in how Marcus and Jaco interact (touch and technique) with their instrument has more impact on their tone than the wood ever did.

If Jaco could play on Marcus's Jazz he'd sound like Jaco

If Marcus played on Jaco's Jazz he'd sound like Marcus.

Remember both play(ed) fretted and fretless as well so that isn't a factor either.

 

[Ten Four One]

Yep, too many musicians are guilty of exalting themselves and looking down on their audiences. Meanwhile, they certainly seem to get when a band sucks.

Though I will say this - I am probably the only person in the audience who's disappointed when a Jazz Bass or Music Man shows up at an 'All Motown Review". Oh and when - it looked like Will Lee, please tell me it wasn't Will Lee - did some slapping when Otis Redding was inducted into the Rock & Roll hall of fame. Such a sad day. At times it feels like I'm the only one who cares about these things, because ALL those 60 year old women get up & dance, and I think - am I the only one who knows what this is really supposed to sound like?

 

[JimmyM]

Will plays in the R&RHOF house band with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra, and he does like to slap sometimes.

 

[Neveragain55]

I agree you have to just go try basses to finally find the one for you.. but there are some examples that EVERYBODY just agrees.. like driving a Lamborghini will always be good no matter what. Just like playing/buying a Fedora and or Sadowsky and others will always be good no matter what.. so unless you are getting one of the highest of highs, then you need to always find out yourself about the bass

Agreed, there are a bunch of basses that everybody likes or rather, has a perception that they would like because of their popularity, and that's where the topic gets sticky. Most beginners (and we are talking about beginners) write in to Talkbass asking about a particular brand of bass because of their popularity, which is cool, but these people have "never" played any bass before.

They "think" they want a Fender or an Ibanez or a Gibson, or whatever - because they see all the chatter about these basses and realize there must be something to them, or because of there popularity, or because they've heard them in concerts and think that's the sound I want to emulate. In my opinion that's the wrong basis to buy "those" basses or any bass. I think beginners should literally go to music stores (like we did a thousand years ago) and put these things in there hands and try different basses out to see what's best for them, what speaks to them, and what was meant for them.

Experienced bassists that have been around the block - most definitely they would suit & fit your comment 100%.

People do notice bass tone by the way.. especially when its keyboard bass.. thats why all you hear is "wow listen to that bass" its loud direct and low and phat

I never said "people" don't notice bass tone, I said "people in the audience" at shows would never notice the difference in tone between the various woods that make up basses. Professional bassists with years of experience......maybe, but even they would be hard pressed to hear the "finite" subtleties in sounds due to the fact that there are many other factors that go into the overall sound that any bass makes.

There are dozens of factors that go into the overall sound that any bass makes, so much so I couldn't list them all here. Suffice it to say wood (although important) isn't the end-all, be-all defining factor, and I just think that a lot of people put way too much emphasis on this one factor.

and I think people do notice the sound between woods.. ash and others etc.. thats why you always know marcus miller or Jaco..

Respectfully, yes, you would, and maybe a handful of other people that have spent enough time with these various instruments on an intimate "players level"..............a fan 50 feet away with 3 beers in him...............not so much.

 

[Neveragain55]

You obviously never played a basswood P Lyte..

Honestly Jimmy your right, I never have, and I'm sure you can hear the subtle differences between a P Lyte and a non-P Lyte. But to be fair to me......that wasn't my point and I already conceded the point that professional musicians (such as yourself) would in-fact pick up on these things.

My larger point was that: we all play music to please the audience, and I know your good Jimmy, but 98% of the people listening to you wouldn't be able to hear the difference between the maple or rosewood or whatever neck of your bass if there lives depended on it.

If anyone ever catches me making a decision about gear based on what I think the audience doesn't hear, please remind me that it's time to retire.

Once again, being fair to me... I conceded that all bass players fascinated or obsessed or concerned about their tone should definitely work on it to please themselves, and to make sure that it's what you want - yes, absolutely. Just know that all of that work (although satisfying to you) won't translate into people in the audience picking up on it unless they were very astute musically or were professional musicians themselves.

Every time I bring this topic up, people think I want them to not worry or be concerned with their tone, and nothing could be further from the truth. By all means perfect your tone Jimmy, but don't tell me that "Joe Bag-O-Donuts" in the 3rd row cares, knows, could tell, or is the slightest bit concerned over it........

 

[mikeyjm2]

And let’s not forget the most compelling reason of all why people like Fender bass guitars………………THEY LIKE THEM.

Now how are you gonna start an interwebz argument with a premise like that?

 

[travhop42]

Thank you for the enlightenment. Your post does address most questions and doubts. I no longer need Talkbass. Good night and good luck.

 

[Neveragain55]

I 100% hate people who assume the audience is dumb & doesn't "get" music.

I remember arguing with an old guitar player/songwriter in an earlier incarnation of my band about how his long, wanker-ish intros & utter lack of key changes in songs would bore the audience. I have a recording of him later on saying "You have to imagine the audience just standing there, drooling. (d r o o l ing - silly emoticons) They're not gonna say 'hey, this song has no dynamics' etc."

I was like - you're right, they may not have the words to articulate why they don't like a song such as "dynamics" or "key changes" or "good melody" or "tension & release", but they have legs to walk away, a brain that can choose not to pay attention & a mouth that can start chatting with the girl at the bar.

I want to make a really bland EDM track with that little speech as the centerpiece and then slip it to the DJ next time he plays a gig to play just before he goes on. Let's see what he thinks about how smart the audience is then.

You make some good points, so lets address them.....

Most of what your talking about I would agree with but my point was about the audience not being able to solely pick out your tone, that you worked hard to perfect........I'm sorry........will not.......ever........be heard, picked up on, or appreciated by average folks just showing up to enjoy listening to you guys play.

That's not an insult or negative towards you, it's just a fact. This isn't about musicians feeling exalted over the audience, or trying to figure out what's best for the audience. I've been around musicians, music, bands, instruments, and all of this stuff my whole life, and I can verifiably tell you that most people (non-musicians) don't know our world. And none of them could hear the difference that your basswood makes from mine if there lives depended on it.

Believe that, don't believe that..........whichever you decide is cool with me, but no person in this universe will ever be able to convince me other wise because I've seen & heard too much to know otherwise.

Lee Sklar once had an interview where he spoke about a "producers switch" on his bass, and when he was asked what that meant - he explained that sometimes during studio sessions, producers would come in and ask him to change his tone to better suit the song. The "switch" was nothing more than a toggle switch mounted to his bass with wires that ran to nothing.

He would flip the switch in front of the producers, change the position of his hand, and they would go back to the sound room, listen to him play and be happy............in their delightful delusion that something actually changed.

Sorry, you'll never convince me......

 

[Neveragain55]

Though I will say this - I am probably the only person in the audience who's disappointed when a Jazz Bass or Music Man shows up at an 'All Motown Review". Oh and when - it looked like Will Lee, please tell me it wasn't Will Lee - did some slapping when Otis Redding was inducted into the Rock & Roll hall of fame. Such a sad day. At times it feels like I'm the only one who cares about these things, because ALL those 60 year old women get up & dance, and I think - am I the only one who knows what this is really supposed to sound like?

You just proved my point with this line: "At times it feels like I'm the only one who cares about these things, because ALL those 60 year old women get up & dance, and I think - am I the only one who knows what this is really supposed to sound like?

You know why they're all getting up and dancing, because all they hear is "music" - none of them will ever "hear" what you or I, and most of the other people here in Talkbass would hear.

 

[bassfacer22]

IMO
I think the difference in how Marcus and Jaco interact (touch and technique) with their instrument has more impact on their tone than the wood ever did.

If Jaco could play on Marcus's Jazz he'd sound like Jaco

If Marcus played on Jaco's Jazz he'd sound like Marcus.

Remember both play(ed) fretted and fretless as well so that isn't a factor either.

HA.. yah you go ahead and put Marcus Miller on a Jaco bass and see if he gets that clear poppy tap slap tone on Jaco's bass.. are you out of your mind? its not the fingers people.. it's strings and bass and pickups are a huge deal.. whether you think so or not.. the issue is that you need a major difference to really hear it.. like a $800 bass is going to have much cheaper electronics,strings,everything than a $3800 bass... which will have expensive sensitive pickups and strings that matter etc...

so your telling me if Marcus could have this sound out of Jaco's old Fender bass aye??

you really think Marcus Miller could get his Normal Clear tone with poppy tap and slap high sounding highs out of jacos bass tone? really?

 

[bassfacer22]

Im sure Jaco if he played Larry Graham's bass here

I'm sure Jaco would sound like Jaco still right?? Ha "its all in the fingers" Yes only in the sense of notes.. but not tone.. Wood does matter and pickups matter and strings

Jaco would have to really work to change those crisp highs and scooped sound out of these basses..

 

[JimmyM]

Honestly Jimmy your right, I never have, and I'm sure you can hear the subtle differences between a P Lyte and a non-P Lyte. But to be fair to me......that wasn't my point and I already conceded the point that professional musicians (such as yourself) would in-fact pick up on these things.

My larger point was that: we all play music to please the audience, and I know your good Jimmy, but 98% of the people listening to you wouldn't be able to hear the difference between the maple or rosewood or whatever neck of your bass if there lives depended on it.

I sure had a lot of people come up to me and ask what's wrong with the bass sound the night I first tried to play my stock P Lyte. Ended up having to put different pickups on it to be able to use it. I've had others tell me that they could hear differences with other basses I've used. Granted, not every single person did, but enough did to where I don't buy into that "audience can't tell" stuff even a little. At the very least, they can certainly tell when it sounds bad.

Once again, being fair to me... I conceded that all bass players fascinated or obsessed or concerned about their tone should definitely work on it to please themselves, and to make sure that it's what you want - yes, absolutely. Just know that all of that work (although satisfying to you) won't translate into people in the audience picking up on it unless they were very astute musically or were professional musicians themselves.

Every time I bring this topic up, people think I want them to not worry or be concerned with their tone, and nothing could be further from the truth. By all means perfect your tone Jimmy, but don't tell me that "Joe Bag-O-Donuts" in the 3rd row cares, knows, could tell, or is the slightest bit concerned over it........

Wow, aim high, huh? Why even show up if that's how you feel? I don't aim my performances to this alleged Joe Bag-O-Donuts ever. Doesn't mean you have to spend a lot of money on gear, and I've certainly played some cheap darn gear at times, but it's well chosen, and the rare times it didn't work, such as the first time with the P Lyte, people have commented. And don't assume that just because they don't comment, they don't know. I don't go around telling people in bands that their sound is bad, but I darn sure notice.