It’s been a p bass for a long time, but recently I’ve been getting into short scales. I just got a cheapo Mitchell PJ SS bass and it’s been my favorite lately. Ridiculously comfortable, great neck and punchy tone:
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What is your main bass and why?
- Thread starter DDR
- Start date
BobDeRosa
Commercial User
- May 16, 2012
- 2,444
- 4,402
- Disclosures
- Owner, Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps
The only thing I'm absolutely sure of is that I'm not an absolutist. I have a bunch of number 1s and choose which one best fits the occasion.
My number one is a totally stock 2011 AmStand Jazz Bass. Survived buying and selling 15 other basses that I thought would dethrone it. The tone I dig, but I don't have the greatest ear for tone. What it really is about that bass is that it feels like an extension of me. I got it at a time where I really just spent days and days at a time with it in my lap. Writing a paper for college? Bass in the lap. Watching a documentary? Bass being disassembled, cleaned, re-setup. Lately, I've diversified the stable a bit more and have been playing an absolutely killer Dingwall, but I have such an attachment to my Jazz that after 3-4 months of only playing the Dingwall I feel like I'm cheating on my partner. I'll certainly never sell it. I'd still consider it my "main", but lately I've got a group that all have their own sorta vibe.
The stable as of now in order of choice:
2011 AmStand Fender Jazz (OlyWhite)
Dingwall NG-3 (Ferrari Green)
'74/'75 Gibson Ripper (Natural)
'77 Rickenbacker 4001 (BurgundyGlo)
90's '62 AVRI Fender Jazz (Black)
The stable as of now in order of choice:
2011 AmStand Fender Jazz (OlyWhite)
Dingwall NG-3 (Ferrari Green)
'74/'75 Gibson Ripper (Natural)
'77 Rickenbacker 4001 (BurgundyGlo)
90's '62 AVRI Fender Jazz (Black)
I own 4 basses right now:
1. Sadowsky NYC PJ 5
2. FBass fretless AC6
3. Warwick Corvette STD 5
4. Warmoth custom fretless 6 with barts
I love and I mean LOVE everything about my Fbass; unbelievable tone and playability and it looks freaking awesome (see my avatar), but in terms of main bass...the one that works everywhere...the Sadowsky NYC PJ holds top spot. Versatile, great tone, outstanding playability, PJ tones, and fretted attack. Works live and in studio without any complaints or comments from producer or engineers, quiet electronics...it is an amazing machine.
1. Sadowsky NYC PJ 5
2. FBass fretless AC6
3. Warwick Corvette STD 5
4. Warmoth custom fretless 6 with barts
I love and I mean LOVE everything about my Fbass; unbelievable tone and playability and it looks freaking awesome (see my avatar), but in terms of main bass...the one that works everywhere...the Sadowsky NYC PJ holds top spot. Versatile, great tone, outstanding playability, PJ tones, and fretted attack. Works live and in studio without any complaints or comments from producer or engineers, quiet electronics...it is an amazing machine.
My American Original 60s Precision. Why?
- Aesthetics / Vintage vibes / gorgeous Spitfire guard / dark, oily rosewood
- Under 9 lbs, light
- Sounds perfect anyway you slice it, tone up, tone down, no matter what it OOZES classic P-bass tone
- Incredibly well made
- Extremely comfortable neck
- Incredibly low action with no buzz
- Super easy playing with LaBella LTFs
I can get lost in this bass every single day after a little puff-puff for HOURS and never, ever get sick of it!
- Aesthetics / Vintage vibes / gorgeous Spitfire guard / dark, oily rosewood
- Under 9 lbs, light
- Sounds perfect anyway you slice it, tone up, tone down, no matter what it OOZES classic P-bass tone
- Incredibly well made
- Extremely comfortable neck
- Incredibly low action with no buzz
- Super easy playing with LaBella LTFs
I can get lost in this bass every single day after a little puff-puff for HOURS and never, ever get sick of it!
That 38 year old Sabre is back in my daily. I keep thinking I retire it and play a P but it just fits.
I've seen the light and have become a proponent of becoming intimately familiar with the feel of a single instrument then using electronics to coax 90% of any tones I'd ever need out of it. To that end, my #1 these days is an Xotic XJ-1T. It has amazing playability and versatile preamp (which can get a very good P-bass tone) but most importantly I don't need to recalibrate my 'touch' like I would have to when switching instruments. The only thing it can't realistically do is play like a fretless (but I have a copy on order!)
They’re ALL my main bass. And I somehow have ten basses now. Each one is versatile, stable, in trim, and trustworthy. I would literally take any of them anywhere, with total confidence that it would deliver the goods.
Currently a Spector Euro 4 and Spector Euro 2015 LE.
Why? Because they are awesome. Weight aside, their ergonomics are excellent, they cut through the mix the way I want, the EMG electronics are very reactive to whether I play softer or harder, the preamps are flexible, for me a 35" scale is a requirement on 5 string basses, the slight narrow string spacing is perfect for me, and they look incredible.
They have cured my GAS. The downside is sometimes I miss having GAS, but so far nothing has come remotely close to replacing the Euros.
Why? Because they are awesome. Weight aside, their ergonomics are excellent, they cut through the mix the way I want, the EMG electronics are very reactive to whether I play softer or harder, the preamps are flexible, for me a 35" scale is a requirement on 5 string basses, the slight narrow string spacing is perfect for me, and they look incredible.
They have cured my GAS. The downside is sometimes I miss having GAS, but so far nothing has come remotely close to replacing the Euros.
Nice to see another Spector fan!Since they're the same except their color, I'm allowed to chose two.
Why? Because Spectors rule!
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Great choice! My favorite bass and the only one I will keep is my Fender American Original 60s Jazz Bass, also strung with LaBella LTFs.
1. USA made G&L L2500. It’s comfortable, light, and has an aggressive, gritty sound that works well with the arena rock band I’m playing in, but also fits in right at home with any of my sub gigs so far. It’s also pretty easy to tame/sweeten up when desired.
2. Fender Precision with LaBella Lo-tension flats. Just a very nice sounding and playing p bass. It’s one of those ocean turquoise special models and has very pretty grain on the neck, nice to look at and nice to play. I use it in a band that plays older music and I wanted a more vintage, passive vibe for that gig.
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Nice! I have the American Original 70s Jazz strung with TIs. Also absolutely perfect in every way. (I had the 60s for a while, loved it but was too close sounding to my P. I bet it sounds amazing with LTFs.)
Yep. It's the best P ever made, IMO. All Vintage-esque except for the flat radius. Perfection with LTFs! I can almost lay the strings on the board and it still wont buzz if played softly. It's that straight.
I suppose you might consider me a "Love the one you're with" when it comes to basses. My main squeeze for 40+ years is my 83 Carvin LB50 Koa Stereo Bass. At the time I had a marvelous Precision as well as a good fretless Jazz so I was looking for something unique to call my own. The Carvin fit that bill as well I could be found and was well under the price of many basses I tried and rejected. Placement of the pickups and electronics gave me a wide range of tones and the shape of the neck just fit perfectly in my hands.
I have too many, but my main bass, since about 2012, used at about 90% of the gigs I've played, is a Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass Special. I bought it new when they first came out. I can't put it down, it fits my body, and it sounds fantastic. It never goes out of tune, the action has remained the same all these years, it has been beat up and down the road, never a problem. I don't know why I have all the others. Anyway, that's mine.
I have 3 basses that I play most. Sometimes a song just asks for a certain sound, such as when I play my fretless Jazz.
Most of the time though, I'm playing my G&L L-2000. It's an incredibly versatile bass that fits my hands so it's easy to play. Give it a test drive if you have a chance.
The third one is a G&L JB which I reach for when I want that jazz bass growl.
Most of the time though, I'm playing my G&L L-2000. It's an incredibly versatile bass that fits my hands so it's easy to play. Give it a test drive if you have a chance.
The third one is a G&L JB which I reach for when I want that jazz bass growl.
My main bass is the one closest
To the back door when I leave for the practice/gig
No, seriously , I’ve gotten into Ibanez 6’s because they’re intriguing to me and you can usually pick them up for cheap because some kid had dreams of being the next John Myung,
Then found out he had no business with it them up for sale and ends up at my house
The last one I grabbed was like brand new with a $60.00set of pink strings, case we and all for $125.00
No brainer there….
To the back door when I leave for the practice/gig
No, seriously , I’ve gotten into Ibanez 6’s because they’re intriguing to me and you can usually pick them up for cheap because some kid had dreams of being the next John Myung,
Then found out he had no business with it them up for sale and ends up at my house
The last one I grabbed was like brand new with a $60.00set of pink strings, case we and all for $125.00
No brainer there….
My #1 is the only bass I have with a P pickup amongst a bunch of JBs. Basically cause its perfect enough that nothing else with a P pickup would get played. MIJ Sadowsky. Reasons?
1. PJ tonal variety including passive / active
2. Sadowsky everything (parts, build, feel IMO is perfect)
3. Precision body
4. Jazz neck
5. It's gorgeous
The only negative for me is I wish there were a little better access to the last few frets.
