It depends. I have a P and Ray right now, and I just use whichever strikes my fancy at the moment. The Ray tends to get picked up more for the hard rock gigs, though.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Which bass do you use for what?
- Thread starter Wrilley
- Start date
Right now I'm using a modded Rogue VB100 set up w/flats for early/late period Beatles.
Essentially stock mid-70s 4001 set up w/rounds for mid-period/psychedelic era Beatles.
For non-Beatles gigs, the Rogue gets restrung w/roundwounds, run with fairly heavy compression & that covers pretty much anything else I wanna do without killing my back.
Essentially stock mid-70s 4001 set up w/rounds for mid-period/psychedelic era Beatles.
For non-Beatles gigs, the Rogue gets restrung w/roundwounds, run with fairly heavy compression & that covers pretty much anything else I wanna do without killing my back.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
Upright or fretless Valenti for jazz and bluegrass.
Sadowsky, Lakland 55-01, passive MTD 5, P-bass, or Road Worn Jazz for everything else—depends on if I need a 5, and/or active instrument, or just my mood. Road Worn and Sadowsky get a lot of use lately.
Sadowsky, Lakland 55-01, passive MTD 5, P-bass, or Road Worn Jazz for everything else—depends on if I need a 5, and/or active instrument, or just my mood. Road Worn and Sadowsky get a lot of use lately.
I rarely play a "certain" bass for a particular show, but I DO use my Ric when we do our YES set.....just seems like the right thing to do...
never used to use separate basses, but then i had to get a new neck for my Warwick Streamer II which has turned it into a growling beast. awesome for slap and overdriven punk, but just doesn't work in an old school hard rock band i play with. so i now use my old P-bass specifically for that.
'75 Rickenbacker 4001: Strung with D'Addario nickel rounds, tuned to standard, used as pretty much my main bass. I use it for one of my metal bands, for the folk/rock band I'm in, and for the weird doom/ambient project another bassist and I have going.
70's Ibanez 4001 copy: Strung and tuned same as above, was my main bass for years, now is a backup to the Rickenbacker.
'00 Peavey Milestone IV: My first bass. Strung with D'Addario rounds, tuned BEAD. Heavily modified with badass II bridge and Rickenbacker pickup. I've used this occasionally as a backup, but mostly use it for stoner doom metal type stuff.
70's Ibanez 4001 copy: Strung and tuned same as above, was my main bass for years, now is a backup to the Rickenbacker.
'00 Peavey Milestone IV: My first bass. Strung with D'Addario rounds, tuned BEAD. Heavily modified with badass II bridge and Rickenbacker pickup. I've used this occasionally as a backup, but mostly use it for stoner doom metal type stuff.
My #1 is a late 90s Ibanez SR400 with maple body and strung with Chromes. This has a classic, woody P tone that gives me goosebumps. It's also great for legato lines higher on the neck.
What I end up playing most is my 2004 SR405 with basswood body, rounds, and a Basslines preamp. It has a more modern sound that fits most of our worship music, which often gets transposed down to D. I don't enjoy that last bit on a 4-banger.
What I end up playing most is my 2004 SR405 with basswood body, rounds, and a Basslines preamp. It has a more modern sound that fits most of our worship music, which often gets transposed down to D. I don't enjoy that last bit on a 4-banger.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
Fender Highway one Jazz with Rotos for most things
Fender Deluxe P bass special, also with roto rounds for everything else
Fender Deluxe P bass special, also with roto rounds for everything else
Funny, I was thinking about the same thing but for a different reason. I practice with my 4 string barrington, but I play-out with my 5 string Steinberger. I find it very odd that I can not force myself to pick up the Steinberger to practice, but love it to play out...
I use my Status bass ( a two-J-style-pickup instrument) when I'm playing with a small combo, because it sings and sounds great alongside an acoustic guitar.
I use the P Bass for rock, because that's what I'm used to. (I could use the Status there too, but I like to give the P some exercise).
I use my Aria Sinsonido when I'm sitting at a desk or computer working things out: I also use it for a few songs at gigs sometimes for the surprise value.
I use the P Bass for rock, because that's what I'm used to. (I could use the Status there too, but I like to give the P some exercise).
I use my Aria Sinsonido when I'm sitting at a desk or computer working things out: I also use it for a few songs at gigs sometimes for the surprise value.
Well......Here goes
1. 1974 Jazz Bass. GHS Pressurewounds, .45-.103. Use it in the studio for a variety of styles. Has been retired from the stage for a number of years.
2. 96 P Bass Fretless: SIT Nickel Power Wounds., .45-.100. When I am in a fretless-y mood.
3. Carvin Bolt 5 string: SIT Taperwounds, .45-.130. I use this mainly for the church orchestra on Sunday mornings and also for more modern tones in recording.
4. Carvin Bolt 5 Fretless: GHS Tapewounds. I am planning to use these when playing or recording Southern Gospel or country style music. The jury is still out on this one as they are new and i've used them live only once.
5. Carvin Ac40 Fretless ABG: GHS Precision Flats, .45-.95. I use this currently for the same genres as #4, which will probably replace it with the Bolt 5 fretless. I also use it for those "semi-unplugged" situations where everybody plugs their acoustic intrumentts in anyway.
6. Epi Rumblekat Allan Woody: SIT .45-.95 rounds: For when I need a fretted short scale when my arthritis comes to visit, or just for fun in about any style.
7. SX Short scale Jazz Fretless: GHS Flats, .45-.95: Same reason for #6, just in fretless.
8. KALA U Bass, Acoustic version: I use this for a lot of roots style music, or any thing you would play an upright on. It will probably replace 5, 6, and 7 eventually. If so, it will be time to thin the herd. Stock strings.
1. 1974 Jazz Bass. GHS Pressurewounds, .45-.103. Use it in the studio for a variety of styles. Has been retired from the stage for a number of years.
2. 96 P Bass Fretless: SIT Nickel Power Wounds., .45-.100. When I am in a fretless-y mood.
3. Carvin Bolt 5 string: SIT Taperwounds, .45-.130. I use this mainly for the church orchestra on Sunday mornings and also for more modern tones in recording.
4. Carvin Bolt 5 Fretless: GHS Tapewounds. I am planning to use these when playing or recording Southern Gospel or country style music. The jury is still out on this one as they are new and i've used them live only once.
5. Carvin Ac40 Fretless ABG: GHS Precision Flats, .45-.95. I use this currently for the same genres as #4, which will probably replace it with the Bolt 5 fretless. I also use it for those "semi-unplugged" situations where everybody plugs their acoustic intrumentts in anyway.
6. Epi Rumblekat Allan Woody: SIT .45-.95 rounds: For when I need a fretted short scale when my arthritis comes to visit, or just for fun in about any style.
7. SX Short scale Jazz Fretless: GHS Flats, .45-.95: Same reason for #6, just in fretless.
8. KALA U Bass, Acoustic version: I use this for a lot of roots style music, or any thing you would play an upright on. It will probably replace 5, 6, and 7 eventually. If so, it will be time to thin the herd. Stock strings.
Warwick: Primarily used at home. Used for practice at home and recording situations. Also typically the first bass I'll pick up when I'm writing. Used for about every style I play (hard core punk, not that modern "hardcore", but Eastbay sound, classical, electronic, etc.).
Gibson: Quite often used when filling in as a bass player. Also used if I'm recording underneath a guitar just playing roots to give that area of the recording a typical tone. Also used for bass lines that don't need to come through the mix a whole lot.
Ibanez GSR: Currently used for most things since I just moved. By the Summer the Gibson and Warwick will be moved with me, so those will pick up their former roll.
(Soon to come) Fender Jazz: Going to be used as an all around bass for live situations and recording. With the move I haven't been gigging, but since hopefully I will be again soon this will become my go to bass.
I run a pretty simple set up, round wound standard sized strings, through my SWR amp and practice amps. Compressor pedal in certain recording and live situations. I try to keep things simple really.
Gibson: Quite often used when filling in as a bass player. Also used if I'm recording underneath a guitar just playing roots to give that area of the recording a typical tone. Also used for bass lines that don't need to come through the mix a whole lot.
Ibanez GSR: Currently used for most things since I just moved. By the Summer the Gibson and Warwick will be moved with me, so those will pick up their former roll.
(Soon to come) Fender Jazz: Going to be used as an all around bass for live situations and recording. With the move I haven't been gigging, but since hopefully I will be again soon this will become my go to bass.
I run a pretty simple set up, round wound standard sized strings, through my SWR amp and practice amps. Compressor pedal in certain recording and live situations. I try to keep things simple really.
