What exactly is the difference between a guitar and a bass?

[KeyLime]

This question has been on my mind for sometime, and basically what I'm asking is what is it that makes a guitar a guitar, or a bass a bass. Is it the pickups? Is it the strings? Is it the wood? Enlighten me.

All of the above I'd say and then more. To me, it's frame of mind - it's roles, and then breaking out. The guitar has a part...the bass has one too. Sometimes they cross boundries. Sometimes it's awesome, sometimes it's not. But it's all music...trial and error. If it sounds good....it is good.

 

[darkstorm]

3 basic things. String spaceing, tuning, 6strings and occassionally 7 or 12. Most rhythm guitar players can do basic bass stuff just fine. Most bass players cannot do basic rhythm guitar stuff.

 

[RickeyC]

Bass>Guitar

Enough said...

 

[AndrewHeadley]

this is my friends telecaster bass that he made.

 

[banikek]

Leo Fender is rolling in his grave.

 

[cassanova]

A bass is a guitar, a bass guitar...

That is pretty much my take on it too. Obviously bass guitars and guitars have certain build differences, but that does not change the fact that it's still a guitar. The biggest and most important difference between a bass guitar and guitar IMO, is the role each instrument plays.

 

[5string5fingers]

Two brothers... an octave apart. One muscular and strong who all the women love, the other thin and whimpy that makes screeching noises when ignored.


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sigged

 

[bwoodman]

G&L

 

[Billnc]

The biggest obstacle would be figuring out how to get the deeper pitched bass sounds. One way would be to use electric bass guitar strings, but they are designed to work with a different "scale length".
Or you could just buy one of those Fender P basses that basically have a Tele body shape.

Nah, you mean all the metal players who tune their guitars down an octave might sound better in a three bass band rather than three guitar band?
I still think they would sound better with a bajo sexto tele or Baritone guitar and 5 string bass than what they are doin now.
Oh, had a friend who had an ASAT guitar and I had the bass bodies matched perfectly.

 

[Showdown]

G&L

I never thought of it before, but an ASAT would look awesome with a Tele pickguard. Put a black or tort pickguard on that, shaped like a Tele guitar pickguard, and it would look great.

 

[arsie]

So then if there really isn't a difference, since I really dig the look of the Telecaster guitar, I could take a telecaster body, change some crap around, and wind up with a bass?

You wouldn't happen to work for Gibson's Bass department, would you?

 

[Slax]

This question is sort of like saying "Violin and a Double Bass are the same instrument except ones bigger and played a little different". (Also a piano and a harpsichord are different instruments too...)

That said, we can't forget this:

Fender Bass VI.

Basically what it boils down to (IMO) is, different instruments in the same family of instruments.

 

[BassyBill]

about 8", 200Hz, and 1 soul.

Best answer in thread, by far. Nicely played.

 

[Jools4001]

Basses are made from Basswood

 

[James Judson]

They are exactly the same......................













Only different.

 

[Sleeq]

We like to go deep. That's why we get the chicks

 

[arsie]

You don't play bass with your fingers, you play it with your whole body.

You don't hear bass with your ears, you hear it with your whole body.

That's the difference.

 

[knumbskull]

Best answer in thread, by far. Nicely played.

 

[Stumbo]

Bass are caught in the water or purchased at your local seafood store.
Guitars are caught in a web of self-deceit and personal loathing.

 

[Hobobob]

*Insert existential metaphor here*