You clearly march to the beat of your own drum... I'd still hope you would play to the beat of your drummer, though!I must be the exception that proves the rule. I played this a few times in a roots rock trio!:
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What makes a bass an eligible workhorse?
- Thread starter Bassaga
- Start date
I'm not picky:
Reliable Solid Neck that stays put
Lightweight (under 9lbs preferably)
Some basic versatility in sound
Not that expensive
Plays well
Ben gigging a Reverend Decision P and it checks the boxes for my current situation.
Reliable Solid Neck that stays put
Lightweight (under 9lbs preferably)
Some basic versatility in sound
Not that expensive
Plays well
Ben gigging a Reverend Decision P and it checks the boxes for my current situation.
I do try to!You clearly march to the beat of your own drum... I'd still hope you would play to the beat of your drummer, though!
BBB
I'm not shy about using the truss rod either, but my Jack takes a quarter turn either direction every two days or so. I'm hoping it settles down over time because I can't really use it for much besides recording. I can tune it for a set runthrough, it'll go sharp and the action will drop a bit a song and a half in, retune, let it sit while I grab coffee or whatever, and it'll be flat and high to start the set. And both of the groups I play in are too rapidfire for tuning between songs
I hope it settles out for you. That's a bummer. It's a great bass when it works!
None of the above.
All you really need is a solid bass that feels and sounds right to you (which isn't necessarily brand/price dependent), but by far the workhorse is the man or woman playing it.
All you really need is a solid bass that feels and sounds right to you (which isn't necessarily brand/price dependent), but by far the workhorse is the man or woman playing it.
It has a long face, it likes carrots, and it can form a deep bond with its human friend.Should be able to pull a double shovel.
By itself!
Hmmm...
Clydesdales - Highly visual, pretty, some flair, majestic. Rarely seen on the farms doing the work. These are your Smiths, Foderas, custom boutiques with gorgeous woods out front and proud. Nice leather straps selected to match the wood.
Percherons - Big, black, muscular, beautiful, sometimes fierce looking. They can move a lot of weight. This is your P bass in whatever flavor you like.
Belgians - Ahh...the true workhorse on the farms. Day in day out moving the rocks, trees, ploughs. Really the only breed I spent extended time with, but I call these the Jazz basses. More versatile than the P basses and based on the 4 Belgians I grew up with, each has its own personality.
From the poll, I chose "The feel, the weight, the playability" and "Right sound - versatility for any need". The one option I would've selected if it was on the list, is "Enjoyability to me". I have two custom basses that are more like Clydesdales. I get no joy from Fender shaped objects even though many do. Enjoyability makes me want to pick it up and play.
Clydesdales - Highly visual, pretty, some flair, majestic. Rarely seen on the farms doing the work. These are your Smiths, Foderas, custom boutiques with gorgeous woods out front and proud. Nice leather straps selected to match the wood.
Percherons - Big, black, muscular, beautiful, sometimes fierce looking. They can move a lot of weight. This is your P bass in whatever flavor you like.
Belgians - Ahh...the true workhorse on the farms. Day in day out moving the rocks, trees, ploughs. Really the only breed I spent extended time with, but I call these the Jazz basses. More versatile than the P basses and based on the 4 Belgians I grew up with, each has its own personality.
From the poll, I chose "The feel, the weight, the playability" and "Right sound - versatility for any need". The one option I would've selected if it was on the list, is "Enjoyability to me". I have two custom basses that are more like Clydesdales. I get no joy from Fender shaped objects even though many do. Enjoyability makes me want to pick it up and play.
D
I would just say "doesn't annoy me in any way".
There can't be anything distracting about the sound, feel, looks, or anything else. If one string is quieter than the rest, notes can't be heard, there's a dead spot, lower frets feel like a stretch, plucking hand is in a weird position, balance is off, it's too heavy, notes can't be sufficiently spread out or focused by plucking position alone, tone is too "unique" and can't be generic when desired, and any other way in which the instrument draws my attention to itself rather than freeing me up to think about the music. All of that will disqualify a bass from workhorse status.
There can't be anything distracting about the sound, feel, looks, or anything else. If one string is quieter than the rest, notes can't be heard, there's a dead spot, lower frets feel like a stretch, plucking hand is in a weird position, balance is off, it's too heavy, notes can't be sufficiently spread out or focused by plucking position alone, tone is too "unique" and can't be generic when desired, and any other way in which the instrument draws my attention to itself rather than freeing me up to think about the music. All of that will disqualify a bass from workhorse status.
All my basses have been workhorses. That's the aim when I buy them.
I try to sound like me. I don't use pedals, so all the tone comes from me and the bass. I buy the best bass I can find and use it until a better one comes along. My turnover is glacial.
Since 1969 my #1 basses have been a Fender Precision, Wal Custom 5 mk3, US Lakland 55-94, Mike Lull PJ5 and Sadowsky RV5.
I try to sound like me. I don't use pedals, so all the tone comes from me and the bass. I buy the best bass I can find and use it until a better one comes along. My turnover is glacial.
Since 1969 my #1 basses have been a Fender Precision, Wal Custom 5 mk3, US Lakland 55-94, Mike Lull PJ5 and Sadowsky RV5.
To me, a workhorse is a Precision Bass with level frets and working electronics and hardware.
That's it!
That's it!
