"First do no harm" - so stay in tune, know your basic chords and feel. Keep practicing.
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What matters?
- Thread starter Brother V
- Start date
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
- Disclosures
- I suck, but nobody really notices
Pickups and strings are the only things that impact your tone on your bass. Besides you, of course.
Your amp has an eq that let's you remove problem frequencies or add girth. Your speaker cabinet changes everything 100%. But, the world will never hear it. If they do, you're the reason your band doesn't sound great. That's for you and your band on stage or in practice.
If you want what you're describing, get a used player series jazz bass, and throw some good pickups in it. Set for life.
Don’t overthink this.
you’re already on the right track. As a drummer, you already have that bass sound you wanna hear in your head. Find one that feels good to you and play, learn from playing and then figure out what you like and dislike, then maybe ask/try suggestions and go from there.
you’re already on the right track. As a drummer, you already have that bass sound you wanna hear in your head. Find one that feels good to you and play, learn from playing and then figure out what you like and dislike, then maybe ask/try suggestions and go from there.
The answer you don't want to hear, but is especially true to a new bass player, 6 months into your journey, is ......
The woodshed.
I'm not trying to shade you....honest.
But when your first starting out, the commitment to playing, playing, playing, is WAY more important then whatever bass you've got.
At this point, all it has to do is :
Hold tune...Nothing sucks worse than constantly being out of tune.
Not be so uncomfortable as to keep you from being able to play it.
You've got your whole playing life to "upgrade " and find basses that "inspire " you. But nothing will improve your abilities like woodshedding.
Play,play, play.
The woodshed.
I'm not trying to shade you....honest.
But when your first starting out, the commitment to playing, playing, playing, is WAY more important then whatever bass you've got.
At this point, all it has to do is :
Hold tune...Nothing sucks worse than constantly being out of tune.
Not be so uncomfortable as to keep you from being able to play it.
You've got your whole playing life to "upgrade " and find basses that "inspire " you. But nothing will improve your abilities like woodshedding.
Play,play, play.
I played professionally in all types of situations for around thirty years using simple gear - a Fender Precision and Music Man amps. My approach has always been to dial up a useable sound and then get on with playing music. The way you play, that is, where and how you pluck the strings will affect your sound. Strings, pickups and pickup location, amp, speakers and EQ settings will all contribute significantly. There aren't really any short cuts. You have to listen to other players, in live venues when possible and try as many amps and basses as you can to establish your own sound.
But, and it's quite a big but - the holy grail of tone can be a wild goose chase. Every venue you play in will impose its' characteristics on your sound. Room size and construction materials, windows, furnishings, the number of people present and even where you stand will all change what you hear.
But, and it's quite a big but - the holy grail of tone can be a wild goose chase. Every venue you play in will impose its' characteristics on your sound. Room size and construction materials, windows, furnishings, the number of people present and even where you stand will all change what you hear.
What matters is, if you have an opinion about what does or does not affect tone, such as tonewoods / hi mass bridges / pickups etc., and someone states a contrary notion here, be sure to jump down their throat with authority and righteous indignation, regardless of whether you actually know what you're talking about or not.
That's what I've learned observing this forum.
That's what I've learned observing this forum.
What matters?
1) The people in your life matter most; family, if you’ve got them. Love your people, use your tools.
2) As a Musician:
A) Be on time.
B) Support your fellow musicians
C) Know your parts
D) Have a constructive attitude
E) Smile. Have fun
3) As a Bass Player:
A) Fill up the dance floor / Please the Audience
B) Hear the whole mix; play within
C) Know the other parts
D) Have reliable gear, which sounds good
E) Learn to sing, at least backup harmonies, while playing
The OP solicited opinions about 3D, which is pretty far down the list. Though Duke Ellington famously quipped “If it sounds good, it is good,” sounding “good” depends a lot on the gig. There are subtle, though apparent, differences in bass guitars; which we discuss ad nauseum here on TB. There is no perfect bass ever. Get comfortable with that fact.
To the player, everything about the instrument can matter. But, its all good, if 3A is satisfied.
1) The people in your life matter most; family, if you’ve got them. Love your people, use your tools.
2) As a Musician:
A) Be on time.
B) Support your fellow musicians
C) Know your parts
D) Have a constructive attitude
E) Smile. Have fun
3) As a Bass Player:
A) Fill up the dance floor / Please the Audience
B) Hear the whole mix; play within
C) Know the other parts
D) Have reliable gear, which sounds good
E) Learn to sing, at least backup harmonies, while playing
The OP solicited opinions about 3D, which is pretty far down the list. Though Duke Ellington famously quipped “If it sounds good, it is good,” sounding “good” depends a lot on the gig. There are subtle, though apparent, differences in bass guitars; which we discuss ad nauseum here on TB. There is no perfect bass ever. Get comfortable with that fact.
To the player, everything about the instrument can matter. But, its all good, if 3A is satisfied.
Your ears are the most important. You gotta get good sounds out of your bass within the context of the whole band. Gotta listen to everyone playing. Then it’s your hands, your timing, attack and especially decay—note duration is crucial to the pocket. Then it’s instruments, some basses are good some are bad and some are magic. The magic ones inspire you to be original.
My ‘68 Tele is my favorite and also my heaviest, at 12lbs. What’s the physical reason? Who the hell knows, you could drive yourself crazy trying to figure it out!
My ‘68 Tele is my favorite and also my heaviest, at 12lbs. What’s the physical reason? Who the hell knows, you could drive yourself crazy trying to figure it out!
Wherever you were getting the impression that pickups are 100% psychological, I'm sorry I wasn't there to correct that. 
Kidding aside, there is some truth to the notion that it's: "all in the hands".
OTOH bass guitar design construction & setup is an art & craft in its own right. When done right it can minimize the resistance between concept & execution. To say it doesn't matter would be doing all the devoted luthiers & pickup makers out there a disservice.
Kidding aside, there is some truth to the notion that it's: "all in the hands".
OTOH bass guitar design construction & setup is an art & craft in its own right. When done right it can minimize the resistance between concept & execution. To say it doesn't matter would be doing all the devoted luthiers & pickup makers out there a disservice.
What matters?
Playability
Comfort
Feels good and sounds good to you.
Nothing else matters.
Oh, and try to get out of trying to make every bass you own sound like a P Bass. (talkbass conundrum)
Instead, revel and take joy and delight in getting the absolute best sound out of the bass(es) you have and appreciate their differences.
