What makes a Bassist Adaptable to different Basses?

[Dr. Cheese]

I listen to people talk about not being able to adjust to fives or narrower string spacing. Some really can’t take 35” scale. Some hate short scale basses.

I love fours or fives, I can play sixes, but I feel the C string gets in my way more than I actually use it. 32”,34”,35” scales are fine for me. I like short scales, but I would not want one as a main player. 19mm at the bridge is my favorite spacing, but I can do 17mm spacing if a bass has a pretty fat neck.

My guess is that I am pretty versatile because my chops are quite modest. I remember Stanley Clarke saying how he got lost when he tried to cut loose on a five. I will never have that problem.

How adaptable are you when it comes to different basses?

 

[Gorn]

We live in a world of excess. If all basses were 35 inch scale three strings with 16.5 inch spacing than everyone would deal with it just fine. Bass players love to complain.

 

[Jebberz]

I can play almost anything. I play a regular scale T-Bird, a Short Scale Jaguar, and a Bass IV tunes gretsch baritone (although I tuned it EADGFC, because I'm no real guitar player).

Altough I have some preference. I don't like one of my friend 6 strings because I'm not comfortable with a too flat neck for my tasted. I Prefer a 4 strings over a 5 strings, and a Short Scale over a Long Scale, mostly because I play long gigs (3h) and I have most endurance on something lighter. And I'm not as proficient on my Bass VI than on my 4 strings, because of the narrow spacing, so I tend to choose carefully when I use it.

Generally, when I know a song and know what to play, almost any bass will do. If I have to improvise, I will use my short scale, because it is my oldest one and the familiarity gives me (or does not impedes) my confidence.

 

[ModuMan]

Sometimes it takes me a minute if I'm going from one extreme to another but no, not really a big deal. You adjust just by putting in some time.

 

[bholder]

Practice, like anything else. The more one plays different basses, the more adaptable to different basses one becomes.

Or is this just my rationalization for my hoarding? (I'm good either way, actually.)

 

[Jim Carr]

I listen to people talk about not being able to adjust to fives or narrower string spacing. Some really can’t take 35” scale. Some hate short scale basses.

I love fours or fives, I can play sixes, but I feel the C string gets in my way more than I actually use it. 32”,34”,35” scales are fine for me. I like short scales, but I would not want one as a main player. 19mm at the bridge is my favorite spacing, but I can do 17mm spacing if a bass has a pretty fat neck.

My guess is that I am pretty versatile because my chops are quite modest. I remember Stanley Clarke saying how he got lost when he tried to cut loose on a five. I will never have that problem.

How adaptable are you when it comes to different basses?

Teaching upright to 10 year-olds was eye opening. They do just fine on 37" scale "fretless" fingerboards, while playing arco and reading music the whole time—with a smile.

Technique can open up windows, doors, and even worlds.

 

[mdogs]

I normally think of myself as moving between different necks profiles pretty easily. But, I have been playing my PJ with a 1 5/8 neck in my main project almost exclusively for the last few months. The only other bass I have really been playing is my Stingray. But, for some reason I decided to take my J to rehearsal. I was out of whack for a while and it took a little bit for me to realize what the problem was. So much for moving back and forth easily.

 

[LBS-bass]

I feel like you just have to do some work to get used to something that feels different. I used to be very attached to my narrow Jazz necks, nowadays I could not care less, though I still find them a bit more comfortable for my smaller hands. Five strings, yep, took some getting used to and I'm still not as good on my fivers as my four, but I'll play them if I need to. It just takes some work.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

The more you play, the more you get used to anything I guess. I have preferences, but I can play anything although 6 stringers would be my upper limit regarding the # of strings. Modern C shaped J necks w/ a 9-12" radius board is my favorite on a 4 stringer. All of my basses have 19" sting spacing at the bridge, and 34" scale length.

 

[2112]

People do what they want to do. For the most part, how open-minded someone is will control their adaptability toward different basses.

 

[Standalone]

I’m an ear and feel player more than a muscle memory and practice player. I think that gives an advantage to me in switching instruments. But those with the woodshed hours probably still sound better.

 

[And I]

I can adapt to different basses. But--especially with string spacing--I feel like I'm not at the top of my game unless I'm in my happy place. Probably wouldn't be an issue if I made a permanent switch.

 

[PrinceByTor]

I can play most any bass once I figure out its tuning. I have 3 basses that I play one standard tuning, one tuned two steps down (fretless), and a 6-string tuned BEADGB. Unless it's a crappy instrument with a warped neck and such I can play it without any problems.
*edit* Bottom line is I think more adaptability comes from knowing and mastering the instrument as a concept.

 

[dkelley]

"What makes a Bassist Adaptable to different Basses?"

Desperation

 

[ole Jason]

Teaching upright to 10 year-olds was eye opening. They do just fine on 37" scale "fretless" fingerboards, while playing arco and reading music the whole time—with a smile.

Technique can open up windows, doors, and even worlds.

Yep. I always get a chuckle out of people looking for short scale basses because they think they can't play a 34" scale. Short scales are great but that's not the reason to play one IMO.

 

[mdlewis]

Scale and string spacing don't seem to make much of a difference to me - I'm equally mediocre no matter what I'm playing. But really poor ergonomics can be deadly - a bass that I can't get to hang right, setup really poorly, or one that I need to twist into position is gonna impact my playing. Also very different tone stacks, or odd strings can take some getting used to but can generally be dealt with enough time to play with them.

 

[ElMon]

I listen to people talk about not being able to adjust to fives or narrower string spacing. Some really can’t take 35” scale. Some hate short scale basses.

I love fours or fives, I can play sixes, but I feel the C string gets in my way more than I actually use it. 32”,34”,35” scales are fine for me. I like short scales, but I would not want one as a main player. 19mm at the bridge is my favorite spacing, but I can do 17mm spacing if a bass has a pretty fat neck.

My guess is that I am pretty versatile because my chops are quite modest. I remember Stanley Clarke saying how he got lost when he tried to cut loose on a five. I will never have that problem.

How adaptable are you when it comes to different basses?

I actually really like (in the practice room):

• 17.5MM basses (Stingray's in particular)
• 35" basses (grand-piano b string and I can dig in a bit more)
• 6-string basses
• Wearing my bass up on my chest so I can really rip it up.

Only problem is I get on a stage, and the following happens, in order:

• Left hand gets confused, can't articulate like I want
• Left wrist hurts from that extra stretch/few degrees of rotational difference
• Crap, I gotta mute all of those strings
• Oh no, no both wrists hurt.

So ... looks like I'm stuck with 20-22 fret, J and P inspired 5's with 19mm spacing, worn low. Poor me.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I actually really like (in the practice room):

• 17.5MM basses (Stingray's in particular)
• 35" basses (grand-piano b string and I can dig in a bit more)
• 6-string basses
• Wearing my bass up on my chest so I can really rip it up.

Only problem is I get on a stage, and the following happens, in order:

• Left hand gets confused, can't articulate like I want
• Left wrist hurts from that extra stretch/few degrees of rotational difference
• Crap, I gotta mute all of those strings
• Oh no, no both wrists hurt.

So ... looks like I'm stuck with 20-22 fret, J and P inspired 5's with 19mm spacing, worn low. Poor me.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Teaching upright to 10 year-olds was eye opening. They do just fine on 37" scale "fretless" fingerboards, while playing arco and reading music the whole time—with a smile.

Technique can open up windows, doors, and even worlds.

Now that is a healthy dose of perspective!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Yep. I always get a chuckle out of people looking for short scale basses because they think they can't play a 34" scale. Short scales are great but that's not the reason to play one IMO.

I can’t knock people being comfortable.