Why do the session legends all use P basses? (SBL Video Discussion)

[CajunBassPlayer]

I play bass and really have no reference to all the great bass players. We play covers and I try to come close to the bassist in each song. We play a lot of old stuff and Donald Duck Dunn is the guy I try to follow.. He sounded awesome on a lot of records... I play a P Bass thru a Bill Fitzmaurice Jack 112 cab with a Tech 21 interface thru a Crown power amp. It is a clean sound that lets my bass do the talking. The guys in the band like my playing and the drummer and I have a good groove... BTW: the drummer likes that I am on his beat.. It's all good.

 

[phillipkregg]

I love these threads. Everybody gets upset when they get reminded that the mainstream recording industry loves a P bass.

I think he also said to opt for the simplest version of your bass line. Bet that isn’t a popular idea here either.

One of the biggest lessons I've ever learned was when I stepped into a recording studio for the first time - about 20 years ago - and I started laying down my cool slap bass riff on an original tune.

I always though it sounded good when we played it live, but listening back to the recording it was obviously NOT good.

The engineer and the other band members were all listening at the same time I was and everybody knew it wasn't working, but they weren't saying anything because they were trying to be nice. I immediately said, "guys I'm sorry, my bass line just isn't working." They all smiled and looked relieved that nobody had to tell me and I figured it out for myself

Turns out, I worked up another line - without slapping - and eliminated about 75% of the notes and it worked perfectly.

Sometimes stuff that works live just doesn't work at all in the studio - and sometimes you just "think" that it's working live, but it's not working there either.

 

[hennessybass]

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should do it

A great thing to remember - and not just for music.

 

[Manuel Bass]

One of the biggest lessons I've ever learned was when I stepped into a recording studio for the first time - about 20 years ago - and I started laying down my cool slap bass riff on an original tune.

I always though it sounded good when we played it live, but listening back to the recording it was obviously NOT good.

The engineer and the other band members were all listening at the same time I was and everybody knew it wasn't working, but they weren't saying anything because they were trying to be nice. I immediately said, "guys I'm sorry, my bass line just isn't working." They all smiled and looked relieved that nobody had to tell me and I figured it out for myself

Turns out, I worked up another line - without slapping - and eliminated about 75% of the notes and it worked perfectly.

Sometimes stuff that works live just doesn't work at all in the studio - and sometimes you just "think" that it's working live, but it's not working there either.

Yes those things happens often ,recording sessions are great to become aware about our playing and improving the accuracy and the muting strings techniques it’s hard to hear you playing poopie

 

[Volker Kirstein]

Geddy Lee started out with the P-Bass on the entire first LP....
(although "Before and After" sure sounds like a Ric)
...

1974, with a P (Rutsey on drums)


1974, with a Ric (Peart on drums)



Which to me kinda indicates he switched from P to Ric as soon as he could afford one?

Side note: that 1974 Don Kirshner's Rock Concert (on TV) was the first time I saw Rush.

 

[4001]

Which to me kinda indicates he switched from P to Ric as soon as he could afford one?

Side note: that 1974 Don Kirshner's Rock Concert (on TV) was the first time I saw Rush.

I think he got his first 4001 with their first cash advance when they got signed to Mercury...

 

[wvbass]

One of the biggest lessons I've ever learned was when I stepped into a recording studio for the first time - about 20 years ago - and I started laying down my cool slap bass riff on an original tune.

I always though it sounded good when we played it live, but listening back to the recording it was obviously NOT good.

The engineer and the other band members were all listening at the same time I was and everybody knew it wasn't working, but they weren't saying anything because they were trying to be nice. I immediately said, "guys I'm sorry, my bass line just isn't working." They all smiled and looked relieved that nobody had to tell me and I figured it out for myself

Turns out, I worked up another line - without slapping - and eliminated about 75% of the notes and it worked perfectly.

Sometimes stuff that works live just doesn't work at all in the studio - and sometimes you just "think" that it's working live, but it's not working there either.

100%

I was just in the studio two nights ago. Even with a simple line, sometimes the name of the game is to keep subtracting notes until you get it right.

 

[P_Robyn]

1974, with a P (Rutsey on drums)


1974, with a Ric (Peart on drums)



Which to me kinda indicates he switched from P to Ric as soon as he could afford one?

Side note: that 1974 Don Kirshner's Rock Concert (on TV) was the first time I saw Rush.

When we say 'session legends' we are talking about what people are playing in recording studios during recording sessions. That may or may not have much relation to what those same or other people are using in rock concerts or other live public performances.