...could play any bass with a bit of practice, but don't have to... so I don't...
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What makes a Bassist Adaptable to different Basses?
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
I can adapt fine, any 4 stringer is no issue. I don't play fivers, but I did once, live, at my wedding lol, and I adapted fine.
I still prefer Precision and Stingray type necks to say, a Jazz neck, but I can play whatever neck thickness/profile or pickup combo without issues.
I think it's mostly our personal preference that ends up "dictating" what we play and wanna play, not as much not being able to adapt.
I still prefer Precision and Stingray type necks to say, a Jazz neck, but I can play whatever neck thickness/profile or pickup combo without issues.
I think it's mostly our personal preference that ends up "dictating" what we play and wanna play, not as much not being able to adapt.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
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As adaptable as I need to be.
...which is not all that demanding, since virtually no one ever asks me to use a fretted bass or a fiver on gigs.
Time, effort, and patience. Mostly in that order. But the most important thing is mindset. Most people can drive a car they're unfamiliar with; bass isn't different.
Adaptable....but not as adaptable as I'd like to be. I play a bass with narrow string spacing and so I can go wider, and I can play basses with larger scale lengths (I don't really care about nut width, neck taper, blah blah, as long as I can reach and fret the strings) but sometimes I have issues with string choice (Black Beauties tend to catch my fingers - they "stick", if that makes sense, and so I mess up plucking a lot), scale length (longer scale lengths - I can play, but my sense of location on the fretboard gets weird - I go to shift position to the twelfth fret and it's so much farther away...) and if someone hands me a fretless, it won't be a good night. I can honestly say that I play differently (not as busy or expressively) when I'm not playing my regular instrument. It'd be nice to fix that.
I'm coming from the point of view of playing friend's basses - from a P with Labella flats to an active Jazz to an HH stingray to a six-string Musicman. I think I'm mostly comfortable with the instruments that I own, although my SR506 is my main bass for the two bands I gig with.
There's always room for improvement. A true master could express himself or herself on any instrument, I believe.
I can play anything I’m handed and get it to work for me. In my case I think it’s because I never put too much emphasis on speed purely for the sake of speed. I can play more than fast enough whenever a song calls for it. But I’m not so hung up on a single technique that only one bass will do in order for me to comfortably get it. I’m not a specialist who requires specific gear to do my thing. I strive to be a versatile all rounder.
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I rotate between my basses so I don't get too comfortable with any one neck profile. Although if I had to pick just one shape/nut width, I think it would be the Performer Jazz. It just feels good.
I have 4 primary basses. Two Ibanez and two Sterling by Music Man basses. All 4 string. All 1.5" nut width. Two have three way active tone, two have two way active tone. I learned to play left handed with the bass strung right handed--in other words, upside down. So my basses have to be very specifically configured. I don't have the pleasure you righty's have to try dozens of basses right off the wall.
I get asked to play a lot of different styles. I'm a solid but not flashy bass player. When I play, I want to feel like I know the bass as well as the short road I take to work four times a day. I don't have to look at my bass while playing as a result. Am I versatile on many basses? No, but my playing is and that's what counts for me. I've worked hard to get four basses absolutely prime configured for me and that's all I need. Sadly the reality for a bass player who doesn't play regular righty basses.
I get asked to play a lot of different styles. I'm a solid but not flashy bass player. When I play, I want to feel like I know the bass as well as the short road I take to work four times a day. I don't have to look at my bass while playing as a result. Am I versatile on many basses? No, but my playing is and that's what counts for me. I've worked hard to get four basses absolutely prime configured for me and that's all I need. Sadly the reality for a bass player who doesn't play regular righty basses.
For me, I chalk it up to a complete lack of sophistication. Imagine handing a bass to an ape. He won't notice the string spacing, scale length, etc. either!
In moments of boredom, I've been known to play bass riffs on my acoustic guitar. The string spacing is only a problem if i'm playing a difficult part. I get used to the tiny scale length very quickly. It's just like playing a bass part way up the neck.
I built a bass recently with 9mm spacing at the nut and 16.5mm at the bridge to see what it was like. I'd been playing it for a couple of weeks before I remembered I'd made it so small. Honestly, I didn't notice. What I did notice was the neck profile. It was quite a deep offset V profile. A bit too deep. I've taken a little bit off it and it's great. Much better than the thin necked stuff that some people like. I can still play a thin neck without problem. It just feels a bit odd at first.
I built a bass recently with 9mm spacing at the nut and 16.5mm at the bridge to see what it was like. I'd been playing it for a couple of weeks before I remembered I'd made it so small. Honestly, I didn't notice. What I did notice was the neck profile. It was quite a deep offset V profile. A bit too deep. I've taken a little bit off it and it's great. Much better than the thin necked stuff that some people like. I can still play a thin neck without problem. It just feels a bit odd at first.
I have 4-string Fender 34" P's, J's and a Warmoth built P with an extra chunky neck. I also have 35" fivers. They all have a different feel but when I go from one to the next, it takes me a few minutes and then I settle in. For any of us that have played ice hockey or have ice skated with any kind of regularity before, for me it's kind of like going from ice skates to rollerblades and back. Same fundamental techniques to skate well but you have to make little adjustments that become second nature again after a few minutes.
And I don't want to. I love my Musicmasters, and the Bronco is nearly identical.
For over 50 years I've used basses ranging from a 4/4 upright to an 18" scale Guild Ashbory and everything in between and string spacing ranging from the close Hofner, Vox, and 80s Fender Performer to upright. Luckily I have no problem switching between them and I only play 4 strings because I tried 5s and 6s but never found a reason to keep them. I've kept one 5er in case anyone should ask for it but it's been over 25 years so maybe no one will ever ask.
I can see how physical differences in hand/finger size can effect a players preference.
I consider myself very lucky to have been able to enjoy playing all those instruments. Unfortunately a year and a half ago I suffered a stroke that messed with my right side so I'm now finding myself limited to playing short scale lightweight basses but the beat goes on.
I can see how physical differences in hand/finger size can effect a players preference.
I consider myself very lucky to have been able to enjoy playing all those instruments. Unfortunately a year and a half ago I suffered a stroke that messed with my right side so I'm now finding myself limited to playing short scale lightweight basses but the beat goes on.
These days, I feel pretty comfortable and confident playing any scale length and up to 6 strings. For many years, however, I very much preferred a slimmer neck and no longer than 34" scale. I tried wider necks, like a Precision, but they never felt comfortable. I also played upright, so that never made sense to me that only thinner BG necks felt right to me.
After about 30 years of the above, I bought my first P-bass. Then a 6 sting bass, and later added a 5. All of which felt comfortable to me, even with the wider necks and additional strings. Now, I know that adding the extra strings is a whole different animal, but I have a thought as to what changed for me, allowing me to adapt to wider necks and longer scales... I stopped practicing while sitting and started standing! When standing, my body was able to ergonomically fit what I was playing better and I became more comfortable handling these extended scenarios. I didn't start practicing while standing because of this, but it was the outcome. YMMV.
After about 30 years of the above, I bought my first P-bass. Then a 6 sting bass, and later added a 5. All of which felt comfortable to me, even with the wider necks and additional strings. Now, I know that adding the extra strings is a whole different animal, but I have a thought as to what changed for me, allowing me to adapt to wider necks and longer scales... I stopped practicing while sitting and started standing! When standing, my body was able to ergonomically fit what I was playing better and I became more comfortable handling these extended scenarios. I didn't start practicing while standing because of this, but it was the outcome. YMMV.
Having solid enough technique to be able to accommodate things that you're unfamiliar with. My preference is toward narrower string spacings, but I force myself to play wider spacings, because you never know when you're going to be put on the spot, or what's available.
You are like me because your muscle gets you when you are typing too.
My mistake was trusting the autocorrect too much
After a few decades of experience, I can play any 4 string bass in working condition. I don't care about scale size, string spacing or the distance between strings and scale.
I just play the damn thing.
I just play the damn thing.
I would say that the desire to be adaptable to different basses is what makes one good at it.
