Top Bass Questions Answered

[JimmyM]

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..

Jaco and Larry at one time played nearly identical basses and amps. Both used Jazz basses with Acoustic 360-301 amps. As Reggie Hamilton said, "It ain't the shoes."

 

[wisconsindead]

Theres merit to both statements that its the player and its the bass. I will sound different playing a fender jazz with round wounds through an SVT compared to playing my guild flatwound eden rig. You really can't argue that and the same goes for any bass player. But at the same time, I will sound like me, I will have my style and won't sound like Marcus Miller or Geddy Lee on either rig. If I do everything I can to sound (gear, technique) like Player X, I can get a lot closer to that sound than if I just use technique, and vice versa. I've felt this is obvious. Neither side is completely right. Both have obvious impacts.

 

[Neveragain55]

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..

As usual Jimmy I fully respect what your saying and I believe everything your telling me 100%, the problem is.....I've had just the opposite experiences.

Example: showing up to watch a buddy play one night, and watch him swap out his Yamaha BB 300 with it's (Alder Body & Maple neck) for another buddy's Ibanez Roadstar with it's (Basswood body & Rosewood neck).... without one person commenting on an alleged difference in sound, without me hearing any discernible difference, without any of the other band members making negative or positive remarks other than........"good job kid"

If I dialed up the other 5000 super similar examples like that one I'd be here all day, but something tells me you get the point. So why don't we just agree to disagree and call a truce on that one?

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.

Again, I'm not advocating for anybody to not care or not work on or not achieve a tone that suits them, nor am I saying that perfecting a sound of your own is a waist of time. If this thread or any of my previous posts on this topic suggests so, I apologize.

I, just like you (I'm sure) practice relentlessly, and I do my best to make sure that every part of my set up, technique, sound, and intonation is dead on before I play a song.

All I'm saying (for the last time here Jimmy) is that unfortunately a lot of that work (not all of it) is lost on "most" (not all) of the people watching & listening to you. Is it lost on everybody - absolutely not, should it make you not want to do your best - absolutely not.

It's just the reality I've come to after many years of being around this stuff...........

 

[phillybass101]

I remember one time after a Gig an absolute Cutie Pie of a woman told me that before hearing me she never ever paid attention to the bassist in a band. Of course I said thanks but in my heart it was really bitter sweet. Even today some people look at us Bassists as the red haired step child of the band (family). Except in Musician Circles no one really cares what gear we have and play on.

 

[JimmyM]

Again, most people won't comment. That doesn't mean they can't tell. I will never get why bass players are so eager to sell what they do so short.

 

[Neveragain55]

I remember one time after a Gig an absolute Cutie Pie of a woman told me that before hearing me she never ever paid attention to the bassist in a band. Of course I said thanks but in my heart it was really bitter sweet. Even today some people look at us Bassists as the red haired step child of the band (family). Except in Musician Circles no one really cares what gear we have and play on.

They don't care, couldn't tell you why we're such an integral part of the band, couldn't tell you the history or evolution of the instrument, has no idea that their dancing to us & the drummer, and no..........absolutely could not hear the differences from your set up to mine unless they were radically different.

That's enough negatives to turn any smile up-side down.

But here's the sunshine..........we're the coolest people walking on the planet.

 

[Neveragain55]

Again, most people won't comment. That doesn't mean they can't tell. I will never get why bass players are so eager to sell what they do so short.

I'd love to take a poll one night..............as a matter of fact I think I am, I'm going to video tape it, and send it just to you Jimmy.......

Ok, I'm taking my toys out of the sandbox and I'm going home now, you have a blessed day Jimmy.....

 

[HolmeBass]

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?

It's supposed to sound like music, which I am guessing it did, since they all started dancing. And, well, Will Lee knows what he's doing, let's face it. He kills it in the pocket every time he touches a bass.

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.

(...)

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.

I think your basic point is solid- people are not going to be able to articulate what they like or don't like about your playing, which is an amalgamation of tone, touch, timing, and musical sense. But I disagree that working on your tone "won't translate into people in the audience picking up on it" because your playing is a complex mixture of all the things you work on and play, so whether they can articulate what they like about your playing or not - even if it's the tone - it still is what they're digging on.

Our playing is the result of a gestalt of all the work we put in and all the things we've played, listened to, copied, hated on, etc., and you cannot discredit any part of that whole. All of it together determines how you sound, and people in the audience are definitely going to make some kind of a decision about how you sound, even if on a subliminal level. Many will be able and willing to articulate an opinion on your playing: "I like the bass player!" or, unfortunately, "Ugh, I hate this bass player! Let's go."

The work you put into your tone, and the decisions you make about it, the bass and amp you choose and how you set them, all definitely influence this outcome.

 

[Ric5]

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……..

All of the cheap copies and Squiers get entry level customers into the market and that builds brand loyality

 

[JimmyM]

I think your basic point is solid- people are not going to be able to articulate what they like or don't like about your playing, which is an amalgamation of tone, touch, timing, and musical sense. But I disagree that working on your tone "won't translate into people in the audience picking up on it" because your playing is a complex mixture of all the things you work on and play, so whether they can articulate what they like about your playing or not - even if it's the tone - it still is what they're digging on.

Our playing is the result of a gestalt of all the work we put in and all the things we've played, listened to, copied, hated on, etc., and you cannot discredit any part of that whole. All of it together determines how you sound, and people in the audience are definitely going to make some kind of a decision about how you sound, even if on a subliminal level. Many will be able and willing to articulate an opinion on your playing: "I like the bass player!" or, unfortunately, "Ugh, I hate this bass player! Let's go."

The work you put into your tone, and the decisions you make about it, the bass and amp you choose and how you set them, all definitely influence this outcome.

Yep, Holme...that's it in a nutshell. And not only that, it's not about impressing the least knowledgeable people in the audience anyway. It's about impressing your bandmates and any musicians who might be in the audience who might have a gig for you in the future. And of course it's about impressing yourself.

 

[GreyBeard]

Again, most people won't comment. That doesn't mean they can't tell. I will never get why bass players are so eager to sell what they do so short.

It kinda of depends on why they play bass. I never wanted to play any other instrument. When I was 16 I got a guitar for Xmas. I learned a few chords but I always ended up playing the bass part on the bottom 4 strings. My first electric was a bass and I've only bought one 6 string and I never play it. A lot of people end up on bass but they really want to be playing something else like lead or drums. I think they are the ones who sell what they do so short.

 

[JimmyM]

It kinda of depends on why they play bass. I never wanted to play any other instrument. When I was 16 I got a guitar for Xmas. I learned a few chords but I always ended up playing the bass part on the bottom 4 strings. My first electric was a bass and I've only bought one 6 string and I never play it. A lot of people end up on bass but they really want to be playing something else like lead or drums. I think they are the ones who sell what they do so short.

I think that's a very astute observation.

 

[ggvicviper]

...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.

That brings up another good point - we all don't share the same ears, so what some might be finicky about, others may not mind or even like. Out of curiosity Jimmy, what would you describe as a bad sound for bass?

 

[JimmyM]

That brings up another good point - we all don't share the same ears, so what some might be finicky about, others may not mind or even like. Out of curiosity Jimmy, what would you describe as a bad sound for bass?

That all depends on context, but one thing the bass tone has to have for me to like it is balls. No balls, no bass. What that actually means, though, depends solely on context, though I'll admit not caring too much for light and plinky sounds.

 

[ggvicviper]

That all depends on context, but one thing the bass tone has to have for me to like it is balls. No balls, no bass. What that actually means, though, depends solely on context, though I'll admit not caring too much for light and plinky sounds.

I've heard you play live, and I know you know good tone.

I think you and the OP both have good points. Not everyone is going to care (or notice much) about bass tone, but don't think that your work goes unnoticed by everyone because even when they don't HEAR it, they hear it - and many do HEAR it.

 

[JimmyM]

Well thank you very much

 

[zontar]

We all have to play what we play based on budget, personal preference, size of our bodies/hands/arms and size of the bass, opportunity, etc.

We have to make up our own minds--if you like it and it suits what you do, it is the right bass, as long as you can afford it.

 

[bassfacer22]

That all depends on context, but one thing the bass tone has to have for me to like it is balls. No balls, no bass. What that actually means, though, depends solely on context, though I'll admit not caring too much for light and plinky sounds.

yeah no balls.. like this guy Michael Manring
haha..

(sorry i had too..)

 

[JimmyM]

I'll listen to Michael play any time, but yeah, that's a sound you likely won't hear me copping

 

[phillybass101]

Hmmm I'd like to say that it's not so much selling yourself short as the truth. We all care and we all pay attention because we're all Bass Players. I know I can play to a certain extent and have been called a Local Legend by an International Legend from my Hometown. The truth of the matter is we still get slighted as just the bass player. This happened at a private pool party last year. Young cat looked at me and said out loud to someone else he's just the Bass Player. To myself it was like damn, there are still folks out here like that. I wonder where it comes from? I say it's been taught to them and wonder who taught that to them and who is still teaching this to people