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Versatile Basses!
- Thread starter Lukc
- Start date
I'd give the nod to a Lakland. The J/MM combination and LH3 pre is very versatile. You can get the "Leo" sounds as well as some unique ones.
I owned a G&L L2500 for a while as well. Fantastic bass, but I fell on hard times and had to choose which one I was going to sell...my Lakland or my G&L. I was pretty well set on getting rid of the Lakland because I liked the G&L so much, but I played them side by side, recorded them, and played them one after another in a band setting. I was surprised that my preference in every setting was the Lakland. It just sounded great.
I also own a P5 and a Am Dlx Jazz 5. The Jazz 5 is one of the best playing basses I've ever laid hands on. It's pretty versatile as well due to the three band EQ.
Now that I've been playing long enough to realize any bass is only going to sound as good as the guy playing it, I really don't have the desire to try out new basses. I have a P, a J, and my Lakland. I even have a Kala U-Bass for something completely different (and it's just awesome!). In a mix, not a bloomin' soul can tell which bass I'm playing, especially after I tweak it via my Sansamp BDDI.
I owned a G&L L2500 for a while as well. Fantastic bass, but I fell on hard times and had to choose which one I was going to sell...my Lakland or my G&L. I was pretty well set on getting rid of the Lakland because I liked the G&L so much, but I played them side by side, recorded them, and played them one after another in a band setting. I was surprised that my preference in every setting was the Lakland. It just sounded great.
I also own a P5 and a Am Dlx Jazz 5. The Jazz 5 is one of the best playing basses I've ever laid hands on. It's pretty versatile as well due to the three band EQ.
Now that I've been playing long enough to realize any bass is only going to sound as good as the guy playing it, I really don't have the desire to try out new basses. I have a P, a J, and my Lakland. I even have a Kala U-Bass for something completely different (and it's just awesome!). In a mix, not a bloomin' soul can tell which bass I'm playing, especially after I tweak it via my Sansamp BDDI.
I wish I had a $1.00 for every "versatile bass" thread I've read here. 
Seriously - isn't "versatile" in the eye of the beholder? Versatile to me has twin buckers with a 3band active EQ.
Seriously - isn't "versatile" in the eye of the beholder? Versatile to me has twin buckers with a 3band active EQ.
Great suggestions and links so far
Wow,thats cool,never seen or heard of it before,what a great design.
Apart from flexible fingers you need an instrument that can pick up all nuances from them.
For me: LeFay all the way. Since these beasts (one fretted and one fretless) are in da house I can do anything from P to J to Rickenbacker and Musicman and everything else you hear anywhere.
http://www.lefay.de/
And what I heard (but never owned one) is that the right Alembic can also do almost anything.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
My Alembic has 7% of the controls that that beauty, but it is still one of the most versatile basses I have ever played.
Not to derail the thread, but is there such a thing as too versatile? Part of me thinks that a bass that can do "everything" might be more a "jack of all trades but master of none."
I'm sure a versatile bass is great, but would said versatility prevent the bass from having its own unique voice?
I'm sure a versatile bass is great, but would said versatility prevent the bass from having its own unique voice?
Spector. Used them for everything from children's albums, to death metal, to country n r&b. great sounding bass, unique tone, amazing player, lasts forever.
Versatile, as in the instrument, not the hands, correct?
It seems there is a clear distinction between a player who can use any bass and extract different tones, versus a bass which physically has various tonal characteristics due to pickups/preamp/ etc.
So, I'm learning towards the latter, at least I think that's what the OP has in mind when asking the question.
So, in with that in mind I have two suggestions.
1) from what I've read (and I've played it) - the ATK800. Pickup selector, phase/out of phase, preamp - I think it's a versatile bass.
2) Spector Forte - reverse EMG P pickup combined with EMG J pickup, OBP-2 preamp provides tons of sound options. Everything from hard rock to jazz to pop and slap, even reggae.
After the actual physical tonal attributes available on a bass, it is then up to the player to coax even more tones out of it.
It seems there is a clear distinction between a player who can use any bass and extract different tones, versus a bass which physically has various tonal characteristics due to pickups/preamp/ etc.
So, I'm learning towards the latter, at least I think that's what the OP has in mind when asking the question.
So, in with that in mind I have two suggestions.
1) from what I've read (and I've played it) - the ATK800. Pickup selector, phase/out of phase, preamp - I think it's a versatile bass.
2) Spector Forte - reverse EMG P pickup combined with EMG J pickup, OBP-2 preamp provides tons of sound options. Everything from hard rock to jazz to pop and slap, even reggae.
After the actual physical tonal attributes available on a bass, it is then up to the player to coax even more tones out of it.
Most of the vast various 2 humbucker/soapbar basses with 2-3 band active eq onboard. Ibanez, Esp Ltd, Peavey, as just 3 of the brands with very nice versions available new from around $340 on up.
