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Why do people like complicated basses?

#221
Rockmusician said:
If you watch famous players, the generally keep it simple, P-Basses, Jazz Basses, Telecasters, Stingrays, etc.
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I don't intend any disrespect but all the "famous players" are old guys who basically played the instrument from very early in it's creation when simple stuff was all there was. So they stuck to their guns. On top of that a lot of the big names have some kind of endorsement deal which normally means some kind of kickback for the artist be it gear or discounts. Fender and Musicman are easily two of the best companies to be endorsed by and would tend to have the ability to give their artists a little more sumthin-sumthin than a small luthier.
 
#223
For those that like complex basses, how many different settings or adjustments do you go through on a typical set list?

I mean, do you play:
song 1 with neck only full open
song 2 both pickups highs rolled off the neck
song 3 both pickups out of phase full on


How many changes do you make per set and what are they?
 
#226
drewfunk said:
Its not like i've ever felt the need to switch from humbucker to single coil, its useless to me and the switch is small and fragile. The sidemount jack was broken, and i had a new switchcraft top mount jack sitting around. I prefer top mounting jacks anyways. Whats so pointless?
Click to expand...

Ah, I didn't know the back story. I assumed that it already had a fully functional side-jack.
 
#227
Nev375 said:
For those that like complex basses, how many different settings or adjustments do you go through on a typical set list?

I mean, do you play:
song 1 with neck only full open
song 2 both pickups highs rolled off the neck
song 3 both pickups out of phase full on


How many changes do you make per set and what are they?
Click to expand...

I make pretty frequent changes, and I play a pretty simple bass. In fact, I go from my "soft" setting (neck pickup only, volume turned down to avoid distorting, sort of a pillowy sound) to my "hard" setting (bridge pickup only, wide open, nasty snarling sound, distorts) at least once in most of my band's songs.
 
#228
Nev375 said:
For those that like complex basses, how many different settings or adjustments do you go through on a typical set list?

I mean, do you play:
song 1 with neck only full open
song 2 both pickups highs rolled off the neck
song 3 both pickups out of phase full on


How many changes do you make per set and what are they?
Click to expand...

I tend to get my sound then leave it alone. But sometimes I need to make minor tweaks for the first couple of songs until I'm satisfied. And it is convenient to make those tweaks on the bass.

But I'm not fanatical about it. Most of my basses are active with 3 band EQ, but last night I played a gig with a passive P. I don't see why it has too be an either/or situation, or why everything has to be made into a controversy, or why people feel the need to take sides as if there is only one right way to do things.
 
#230
bassist4dalord said:
+1. If everyone played what YOU (the OP played), there would be no variety.

Variety is the spice of life.

/thread
Click to expand...

Exactly. I look at various types of basses as tools. You need the right tool for the particular job. You wouldn't have a tool box with only Philips head screwdrivers and no slothead, why have a bass toolbox with only active or only passive basses? Why limit yourself?

The point I'm trying to make is to always keep an open mind. Too many people are rigid in their equipment views. That is their right, but they are missing out.
 
#231
Nev375 said:
For those that like complex basses, how many different settings or adjustments do you go through on a typical set list?

I mean, do you play:
song 1 with neck only full open
song 2 both pickups highs rolled off the neck
song 3 both pickups out of phase full on


How many changes do you make per set and what are they?
Click to expand...

I make most of my tone changes with the pickup blend control. For some songs, I may roll in a little extra mid, others, more bottom. I'd say, on average, I make a change every third song, more or less. Songs like "You Oughta Know" and "Mystery Achievement" require an aggressive, mid-rich tone. Clapton songs get more bass, less mids.

While people mostly have no clue what the bass tone is in a particular song, they feel better if the tone is reminiscent of the actual recording without knowing why. It's my responsibilty as a bassist to make the audience more comfortable with the music.
 
#232
mittens89 said:
When I see these custom made basses with a dozen knobs and switches, I just think "that looks like trouble, you knock one and you lose your sound". I know there's got to be some people on here that like all that extra trim and i was curious as to why?
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Its another form of penis envy lol For the most part, we don't have a dominant roll in a band so we need to compensate with a bass with 800 "tone" woods and 50 different pickup selections :D
 
#234
different bass players play different styles. I grew up on Jaco, Stanley, Percy, and Louis so my style is a whole lot of stuff mixed together. so I need basses to have a lot of tone varieties. If you are a bass player that only plays the bass line with one setting thats cool too. If every bass player sounded the same it would be extremely boring
 
#235
Nev375 said:
For those that like complex basses, how many different settings or adjustments do you go through on a typical set list?

I mean, do you play:
song 1 with neck only full open
song 2 both pickups highs rolled off the neck
song 3 both pickups out of phase full on


How many changes do you make per set and what are they?
Click to expand...

None. I prefer to adapt to the situation to find my own sound, which is with punchy, saturated lows, but still lots of 'string' and a small touch of overdrive.
I play passive, neck PU, tone controls full throttle, into the VT Bass (much 'drive', little 'character') and adjust on the amp with its 5-band EQ.

I don't like to adapt to songs or styles. For me, the essence is that it's played by me, in my style, with my sound etc.

Yes, I do get comments like: "I don't say you play that song the wrong way, but it just ain't like the original anymore."
I say :p
 
#236
The thing is, I prefer the simpler setup (like a P-bass) because that's all my situation calls for, I really don't need more than that. If I were in a band that did a number of covers, and I needed a different tone for every song, I would consider a bass with a more complicated control scheme. But as of now I don't have to, so I would rather just deal with a simpler instrument. That also goes for the amp, too, the simpler it is the better I like it.
It's not that one is better overall than the other, it's what type is best for a particular situation. For the foreseeable future though, for me, I don't see me getting much more complicated than a Jazz.
 
#237
Chris K said:
None. I prefer to adapt to the situation to find my own sound, which is with punchy, saturated lows, but still lots of 'string' and a small touch of overdrive.
I play passive, neck PU, tone controls full throttle, into the VT Bass (much 'drive', little 'character') and adjust on the amp with its 5-band EQ.

I don't like to adapt to songs or styles. For me, the essence is that it's played by me, in my style, with my sound etc.

Yes, I do get comments like: "I don't say you play that song the wrong way, but it just ain't like the original anymore."
I say :p
Click to expand...

That's more or less the way I look at it, but I'd be willing to adapt if I found it necessary. I just ain't found it necessary yet. Don't know if I ever will.
 

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