What makes a Bassist Adaptable to different Basses?

[CallMeAl]

I am singularly unadaptable when it comes to basses. All my basses are exactly the same ... only different (read: Fender or FrankenFender Ps or Js ... mostly Ps). I have thousands of gigs under my belt playing Fender basses, am accustomed to how they feel and their sound works well for the roots music I typically play. I often play with players who are WAY better than I am and feel that I have to bring my A+++ game (which is about a C game) in order to keep up so I always go with what I know is going to be the most comfortable for me when grabbing a bass for a gig. As an example, a coupla Summers ago, I went back to LaCrosse, Wisconsin to visit with my old bandmates from a busy touring Country Rock band I played with for 5 1/2 years back in the late 70's/early 80's. The drummer I played with (and my best friend in the band) is a very accomplished player who has played on a coupla Warner/Reprise records and earned a Grammy award. Anyway, while I was out there visiting, he had a big outdoor gig/party at the legendary Trempealeau Hotel with members of multiple bands he plays with that he wanted me to sit in for a few songs at. One of the guitar players on the gig was Dave Rogers who owns Dave's Guitars in LaCrosse, Madison and Milwaukee and he (EXTREMELY GRACIOUSLY) let me pick out any bass from his incredible personal collection to play at the gig. He had a super cool and rare as hen's teeth early sixties single pickup Gibson Thunderbird II bass that I could've chosen. Just like this one ...



I had never seen a Thunderbird II bass in the flesh, much less played one. However, I had to go with his infinitely more familiar to me all original candy apple red '63 Fender P-Bass so as not to embarrass myself in front of my old bandmates. Maybe next time I go out there I'll grow a pair and try playing that badass Thunderbird II.

I woulda picked the P bass too

 

[micguy]

This is further compounded by the fact that bass guitar is one of the least ergonomic instruments there is.

I find it to be more ergonomic than the other stringed instruments I’ve played. Maybe because I’m tall and have huge hands - a bass (as long as it doesn’t neck dive and isn’t too heavy) just seems to fit me. A guitar or anything shorter - it’s just too cramped for me.

 

[MynameisMe]

I need basses to be exactly like each other in every way to the smallest detail.

At my bands studio I keep one of my Yamaha RBXJM2s and at home for practice I keep another one.

I do this so when I learn something at home I can go to rehearsal and there is no adjustments at all. I have enough to work on with all the Dream Theater etc I don’t need to consider anything else but nailing the song.

My basses have the same strings, batteries, straps, fretfx, cases and are setup at the same time by the same luthier.

I can’t switch to anything with a different spacing, 4 or 5 strings, different scales - anything. If I have to think about I’ve already screwed up.

im astounded at people who can move between basses with no issues - I can’t imagine it. Not me.

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No offense but Why have two exactly the same? Redundancy?
Sounds a little boring.

 

[thabassmon]

I leant on a 21 fret 4 with 20mm spacing, got a 24 fret 4 with 19mm spacing, then a 24 fret 5 with 16.5mm spacing, pulled the frets out of the first four, then got my hands on a 3/4 size double, then used a full size double bass, then an acoustic 4 string bass and finally a 24 fret 6 with 16.5mm spacing.
Also have played many 4, 5 and 6 strings all with varying spacing including many Warwicks, Fenders, Ibanezs, and more. Short, medium, long, extra long, bass VI, fan fret.

I can pretty much get around on all of them, the thing I think that trips people up is themselves, if you think something is hard then you convince yourself that it is.

My preference is six strings currently is 34inch scale, tuned from E1-F3, 24 fret, 16.5mm spacing, balanced low tension strings either TI flats or D'addario Nickel rounds plus a Kalium or D'addario plain (0.021 or 0.020 plain respectively for the high F3) with a medium high action.

But if my preferred configuration isn't available and I have to play something else I will be fine no matter how many strings, scale or spacing. Can still play bass lines, chords (on electric) and solo on any of them.

All I really want from an instrument is noise free, buzz free and range. Not interested at all in having instruments that are used by "so and so" simply because I am not them

I think for me starting on a bass that was cheaply made and a bit crap made me learn how to get it to sound good, you learn to adapt.

 

[zontar]

How adaptable are you when it comes to different basses?

Usually very.
Not sure why, but scale size, neck size etc is something that just happens.
Although I do certainly have my preferences.