what are some bass guitars with distinct tone?

[EdwardofHuncote]

FWIW, my wife says they ALL sound the same. Except my Alembic Series I. She says that one is different. Shakes the house more noticeably.

Perhaps the volume knob had more bearing than tone influencing her judgement?

(yeah, I know - Filters man... filters!)

 

[TonyP-]

Single Coils in the in Avanti/Modern position

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

There is no way on Earth to make these two sound anything alike...

The Alembic is so adjustable that it's hard to imagine a tone it can't do, except for this Turner "Renaissance"... I've yet to hear anything quite like it.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Another vote for Hofner.

 

[hintz]

This Bruno mars song uses a Roland synth in the studio for bass, that Taylor Swift song uses a Yamaha synth in the studio for bass.
May want to look through non current pop music for examples of actual instruments.

What Bruno Mars song are you talking about?? He has had more than just one bass sound depending on the track, sometimes using an actual electric bass rather than keys....

 

[Jrussblues]

What Bruno Mars song are you talking about?? He has had more than just one bass sound depending on the track, sometimes using an actual electric bass rather than keys....

Yeah, it was more of a statement about pop music in general now. He's one of the few top 40 artists that'll still track real instruments for some of his stuff.

 

[GMC]

Nothing sounds like a Burns Bison bass either.

 

[hintz]

Yeah, it was more of a statement about pop music in general now. He's one of the few top 40 artists that'll still track real instruments for some of his stuff.

I gotcha! In his case it might be a regional thing as to how much radio play he gets (I've been in Hawaii 4 years now), but they play a bunch of different tunes from him *all the time* here and they all feature varying instrumentation. Maybe on the mainland they only play one or 2 tracks regularly? Anyways that's why I asked but I understand better what you meant. And yes, it's a nightmare covering most modern top 40 and trying to approximate a lot of those sounds in a live setting.

 

[Slevage]

Are you talking about that Bruno song "treasure"? Yep that sounds like a p-bass with rounds to me with that smooth low mid thump similar to the Commodores "Brickhouse"(another slapped p bass tune)....
The song "uptown funk" on the other hand sounds like a jazz with an octaver effect(at least for the main riff, maybe not the slap parts...I gotta listen again maybe), also roundwounds though I don't have golden ears or anything! LOL

I don't think the original brick house was slapped, though many a bassists have played it that way.

 

[Zant]

I've tried so many bass guitars and most sound the same if not alike, even the ones that cost $200 in comparison with pricier bass guitars.

I do find the Ashbory bass having a distinct tone. Is it the fretlessness of it or the strings or the pickups that give bass guitars their tone?

My ibanez btb845 has a tone all it's own compared to all my other basses

 

[hintz]

I don't think the original brick house was slapped, though many a bassists have played it that way.

I mispoke, i meant he "popped" that hammer on....well that's how I do it anyways, all fingers except a quick pop to the octave.

 

[KillerEddie]

+1 to all of the above. Others:

Thunderbirds
Mockingbird (my double P kills)

Agreed, as someone who plays Mocks as my main instruments, there's nothing like the sheer ferocity of the things. And if you have a vintage Mock the the Moser circuit it can do so much I can get mine sounding like a Jazz bass on the right settings.

As to the man thread itself I'll add Danelectro Longhorns. I just love that sound and nothing else touches it. I've played some over the years and would love to find one but I know certain years have build quality issues

 

[KillerEddie]

Musicman Bongo is distinct imho

Agreed but I feel the single H versions get the most out of that distinctness . Something about that sweet spot that just sounds soooo good

 

[India_Sierra]

The Kubicki Ex Factor. I've owned two and played so many hi-fi basses. It has a sound all of it's own. Something about how crisp and articulate it is, with a slight natural compression which I believe comes from that super-rigid neck and the circuitry.

 

[Wasnex]

I've got the earlier version without the graphic eq, but yeah, they've got their own sound due to the unusual pickup combo (4 separate coils in the neck pickup, the bridge pickup is an inline two coil hum canceler that captures a great single coil vibe quite different than a J).

A music store I used to frequent in the mid 70s had Magnum models (new) with the regular controls and also the one with the graphic EQ. The one with the regular controls was very versatile, but IMHO the graphic had quite a strong impact on the tone. I have never come across another bass that can produce anything approaching this instruments sound without extensive outboard EQ.

 

[Blissful_Lad]

Chapman Stick Bass

Whamola

 

[gumbynotpokey]

P with flats, nitro finish and tort pickguard. RIGHT?

And of course the unlined fretless version sounds different from the lined fretless version.....unless you have one of the old koa bodies. RIGHT?



Ok, seriously:
J
P
Stingray
Ric

 

[deste]

Since no one has said it yet, p bass with flats.

...and tort.

 

[pudgychef]

Agreed but I feel the single H versions get the most out of that distinctness . Something about that sweet spot that just sounds soooo good

I agree...loving my 4H..it is a unique tone that sings imho...

 

[bearhart74]

fretless sounds diff that fretted.
Rounds sound diff than flats
Short scale sound diff than long scale.
Humbuckers sound different than single coils.
Passive sounds diff than active.
Everything sounds better with tort.
What you do with those differences is all about the player.