Tone, first and foremost. Always searched for the jazz bass tone in my head. Could not find it after 5 Fender Jazzes and a couple of Sadowskys. Played a Lull M4V and that was the tone.
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.
Your bass, your sound... why?
- Thread starter Thomas Kievit
- Start date
Nice P-Bass, Tube Amp, 2x15 cab, overdrive pedal.
This is my desert island setup.
It is my preferred sound.
Sbmm ray 35 for affordability and extra range. Treble up a bit so I can hear the attack. The drummer tries changing it, but every one else likes it. Plus what does he know?
My Brubaker looks great, plays great and sounds great. But really gimmie just about any 5 string jazz and I'm happy. Got a Morfino custom Jazz 5er en route and I'm thinking it'll fit in just fine. Probably gonna grab a Squier VM5 to have a beater that I can take anywhere as well.
Loved pre CBS Fender fretless jazz necks, found one I could afford,(knew the music store owner), put the neck on a JB Player classic jazz body, installed EMG pick-ups, Kahlen bridge, and Shaller keys, had a guy who painted surf boards paint it a bitchen dark blue on the edges to light blue in the middle, and most important is the way it plays, real smooth.
I agree with Johnnynitro - I've been playing 40 years - have owned a whole gamut of basses - ricks, hofners, specters, martin - but i still own the precision bass I bought in 73. in 2010 I bought a MIM Jazz Bass- and I really can't find better sounding/playing basses. as for amps - a 15" JBL has always done it for me - and prob an Ampeg amp -
although right now I'm using a GK - and have no issues with it
although right now I'm using a GK - and have no issues with it
I like ultralowend thunderous sound: that led me to Yamaha Attitude Limited II and Yamaha BB714 Billy Sheehan
I like the alder body and split pickup sound: so they work even better with an high emission humbucker neck pickup
Plus a full step downtuned and an Hipshot bass extender!
More or less (and I've plenty of other quality bass guitars)
that's my kinda sound
Cheers,
Wallace
I like the alder body and split pickup sound: so they work even better with an high emission humbucker neck pickup
Plus a full step downtuned and an Hipshot bass extender!
More or less (and I've plenty of other quality bass guitars)
that's my kinda sound
Cheers,
Wallace
What a nice topic, I'd just like to say 
I personally started off with my dad's old 1980 Peavey T-40 bass. This thing was a beast, and I just don't mean the tone. It weighed 13lbs and was heavy as hell can be, but my god does it sound good! I appreciated the humbucker switch option which lets you switch between the neck/bridge pickups (or both) and allowed for a single coil mode if you adjusted one of the tone knobs.
But alas, it was too heavy for gigging (I even tried once, it was only a one song set but it was still killer on my shoulder/lower back) and I knew I needed another bass if I was going to further pursue my playing, so I saved up and bought a SBMM Ray 34 Honeyburst. Needless to say, this bass coupled with my sansamp is the only bass I'll probably ever need from here on, but knowing me I'm gonna wanna buy more down the road anyway, no such thing as having too much of a good thing afterall
As to why I chose the (essentially) Stingray is simple, it defined my era of music growing up (Tool, Radiohead, RATM, RHCP, Greenday) so hell yeah did I want one! I've seen the versatitlity of this instrument used in so many aspiring and creative ways that I couldn't wait to get my own and start throwing on some distortion/EQ on it from my preamp, and now that I have my own pedalboard with several BOSS brands (5 of 6 of my pedals are BOSS, excluding the preamp) I can't wait to further explore what this bass can do! Sure, there are other basses that I probably would have preferred (I think a Magnum I/II or Wal Mk. II would just about sum it up for me), but realistically I'm a poor college student barely making ends meet each month (but still making it lol), so the notion of me buying any bass over even 1G was too much to bear. After doing some research in looking for a cost efficient professional bass, I discovered the SBMM series, read a handful of reviews on them, even watched a couple online, then ordered one from Bass Northwest (Hi I'm from Seattle) and the rest is history!
I personally started off with my dad's old 1980 Peavey T-40 bass. This thing was a beast, and I just don't mean the tone. It weighed 13lbs and was heavy as hell can be, but my god does it sound good! I appreciated the humbucker switch option which lets you switch between the neck/bridge pickups (or both) and allowed for a single coil mode if you adjusted one of the tone knobs.
But alas, it was too heavy for gigging (I even tried once, it was only a one song set but it was still killer on my shoulder/lower back) and I knew I needed another bass if I was going to further pursue my playing, so I saved up and bought a SBMM Ray 34 Honeyburst. Needless to say, this bass coupled with my sansamp is the only bass I'll probably ever need from here on, but knowing me I'm gonna wanna buy more down the road anyway, no such thing as having too much of a good thing afterall
As to why I chose the (essentially) Stingray is simple, it defined my era of music growing up (Tool, Radiohead, RATM, RHCP, Greenday) so hell yeah did I want one! I've seen the versatitlity of this instrument used in so many aspiring and creative ways that I couldn't wait to get my own and start throwing on some distortion/EQ on it from my preamp, and now that I have my own pedalboard with several BOSS brands (5 of 6 of my pedals are BOSS, excluding the preamp) I can't wait to further explore what this bass can do! Sure, there are other basses that I probably would have preferred (I think a Magnum I/II or Wal Mk. II would just about sum it up for me), but realistically I'm a poor college student barely making ends meet each month (but still making it lol), so the notion of me buying any bass over even 1G was too much to bear. After doing some research in looking for a cost efficient professional bass, I discovered the SBMM series, read a handful of reviews on them, even watched a couple online, then ordered one from Bass Northwest (Hi I'm from Seattle) and the rest is history!
What a nice topic, I'd just like to say
Thanks a billion for you story mate! This is the reason I started this post : I really feel there is a big pride at bass player that bought their gear which give them the soud they want. For me, the story's are more interesting then the gear they have
The fun is in the search 
Limited to the 'current crop':
Dingwall Super J with neck P - I had discovered the Dingwall magic through a five-string Afterburner 1 and wanted to experience Sheldon't take on a four-string classic. It's my hands-down favorite (so far
) of all the basses that have passed through my hands.
Indonesian Tribute JB-2 - was puchased as a vehicle for a pair of Dark Star pickups. The results exceeded all of my expectations. Very special mojo happening with this bass.
Rickenbacker 4003 - It's a Ric! It took many years for me to go ahead and try one and I dig it. I love ALL of the finishes so I had to get a Mapleglo...
INCOMING:
Landing L32P - I want to experience a medium-scale precision as well as the Nordstrand NP-4 pickup.
Atkinson Jay - I haven't had a 'regular' J for a while, and wanted one of optimal weight (8 1/2 pounds).
Five-string Super J with P at neck - I like my four so much, I sold all of my blue basses to fund this one, so I had to order it in transparent blue (Indigoburst). This will be my first Dingwall with ash body and maple neck and will be ready before Christmas!
Dingwall Super J with neck P - I had discovered the Dingwall magic through a five-string Afterburner 1 and wanted to experience Sheldon't take on a four-string classic. It's my hands-down favorite (so far
) of all the basses that have passed through my hands.Indonesian Tribute JB-2 - was puchased as a vehicle for a pair of Dark Star pickups. The results exceeded all of my expectations. Very special mojo happening with this bass.
Rickenbacker 4003 - It's a Ric! It took many years for me to go ahead and try one and I dig it. I love ALL of the finishes so I had to get a Mapleglo...
INCOMING:
Landing L32P - I want to experience a medium-scale precision as well as the Nordstrand NP-4 pickup.
Atkinson Jay - I haven't had a 'regular' J for a while, and wanted one of optimal weight (8 1/2 pounds).
Five-string Super J with P at neck - I like my four so much, I sold all of my blue basses to fund this one, so I had to order it in transparent blue (Indigoburst). This will be my first Dingwall with ash body and maple neck and will be ready before Christmas!
I play mostly my J with flats because I love deep but defined tone. Both PU's enabled, bass 80% boosted, low mids 100% boosted, high mids with just a bit of boost and treble bein kept at 0 and BOOM! There's some tight low end.
If I want undefined low end, there's my Epi EB-0 with flats and for high-mid modern funk (Marcus Miller, Flea for example) I'll just have to put rounds on my J and boost the treble and the high mids a bit. ^^
If I want undefined low end, there's my Epi EB-0 with flats and for high-mid modern funk (Marcus Miller, Flea for example) I'll just have to put rounds on my J and boost the treble and the high mids a bit. ^^
I started out on my Ibby SR605 mainly due to reviews I'd read saying it was good and I thought it looked really nice. I don't have a local Guitar Center and all the music stores around here treat bassists like redheaded stepchildren, so I'm pretty much limited to what I read online or once in a blue moon when I'm in Atlanta and have some spare time I make it to Guitar Center. It's a pretty good bass to learn on since Ibanez does a good job setting up their instruments from the factory and it's just an easily approachable instrument for newbie. Bart MkI's can give you some decent sounds too.
I decided after playing some shows on the road that it'd be a good idea to buy a backup bass. A lot of the people I admire play Stingrays so I dropped some dough on a used Ray34. It sounds good, it looks good, but I don't like the way it plays. I hear so much praise for those instruments that I was surprised at how much it didn't suit me. I reached an epiphany at that moment that you should try out an instrument or at least a similar instrument before buying it, even if it's well reviewed. Seems like common sense, but sometimes you just get it so stuck in your head that you NEED something that common sense goes out the window.
I now play on a Fender Modern Player Jazz. As soon as I picked it up at Guitar Center and started playing some songs on it it just felt right. It just did exactly what I wanted it to as if it was an extra limb. If you're wondering about why I like its tone, I actually use it differently than my other basses. I'm usually a full out bridge pickup guy, but I find myself on the Jazz playing with the body pickup cranked up full and the bridge up to half and tone just ever so slightly off of max. It gives a nice, slightly distorted sound when I turn the tube gain on my Shuttle 9.0 up to 12 o'clock. That being said, the Jazz is just so versatile that I feel I can almost play anything with it. A lot of adjustment can be made with just those three knobs.
I decided after playing some shows on the road that it'd be a good idea to buy a backup bass. A lot of the people I admire play Stingrays so I dropped some dough on a used Ray34. It sounds good, it looks good, but I don't like the way it plays. I hear so much praise for those instruments that I was surprised at how much it didn't suit me. I reached an epiphany at that moment that you should try out an instrument or at least a similar instrument before buying it, even if it's well reviewed. Seems like common sense, but sometimes you just get it so stuck in your head that you NEED something that common sense goes out the window.
I now play on a Fender Modern Player Jazz. As soon as I picked it up at Guitar Center and started playing some songs on it it just felt right. It just did exactly what I wanted it to as if it was an extra limb. If you're wondering about why I like its tone, I actually use it differently than my other basses. I'm usually a full out bridge pickup guy, but I find myself on the Jazz playing with the body pickup cranked up full and the bridge up to half and tone just ever so slightly off of max. It gives a nice, slightly distorted sound when I turn the tube gain on my Shuttle 9.0 up to 12 o'clock. That being said, the Jazz is just so versatile that I feel I can almost play anything with it. A lot of adjustment can be made with just those three knobs.
I bought my Ibanez BTB 1206e because at the time I wanted extended range, a versatile pickup set and preamp, and a boutique look. I wanted something that I could set up to have very nice low (ish by some standards) action, yet remained nice and tight.
The aim of the game for me was versatility though, I wanted to be able to slap a bit if I had to, but I could still get nice and low, with a nice even tensioned B string. But! I thought it would be nice to have added bonus of a high C string so I could get some nice full range chordal sounds. Along with the benefit of being able to play lead lines, and solos that would sit a bit better with the guitars.
I ordered in an Ibanez thinking the bang to buck ratio was right where I wanted it to be. It would be a bass that I could take to any gig and not really worry about it, but it would still have a commanding visual, and sonic presence...
Well that was about 6 years ago, and it has far surpassed my expectations, and it has been my main bass since the first time I opened the case, I have played every style of music under the sun on it... And I still think it looks spectacular!
The aim of the game for me was versatility though, I wanted to be able to slap a bit if I had to, but I could still get nice and low, with a nice even tensioned B string. But! I thought it would be nice to have added bonus of a high C string so I could get some nice full range chordal sounds. Along with the benefit of being able to play lead lines, and solos that would sit a bit better with the guitars.
I ordered in an Ibanez thinking the bang to buck ratio was right where I wanted it to be. It would be a bass that I could take to any gig and not really worry about it, but it would still have a commanding visual, and sonic presence...
Well that was about 6 years ago, and it has far surpassed my expectations, and it has been my main bass since the first time I opened the case, I have played every style of music under the sun on it... And I still think it looks spectacular!
I've built a few from Warmoth and a 6 string with a custom body and neck. The
tone was close but the feel of the instruments were not there. I seems I was always
fighting it. When I got my MM Sterling HS, finally a bass with great sound and comfort
to boot. My Ken Smith 6 is both sound and feel, a unique sound and no fatigue.
tone was close but the feel of the instruments were not there. I seems I was always
fighting it. When I got my MM Sterling HS, finally a bass with great sound and comfort
to boot. My Ken Smith 6 is both sound and feel, a unique sound and no fatigue.
Rob Martinez looks like the only one who's admitted he followed Sir Paul to the Rickenbacker. Well, I confess I followed him to the Hofner. I bought the Indonesian copy, the Ignition, but only after finding multiple testimonials on the Web that it is a fine instrument, and hearing people sound great on it in YouTube videos.
Why? I wanted the simple, musical versatility I know from the Beatles' first five albums, wherein he becomes increasingly polyphonic and chromatic. It's less a deep bottom rider than the low note in the measure at any one time.
For Paul's later Rick stuff, my old Ovation stands in, due to its sustain and ability to fill the depths of the room. Love the Hofner, though, and I expect it will become my everyday bass.
Why? I wanted the simple, musical versatility I know from the Beatles' first five albums, wherein he becomes increasingly polyphonic and chromatic. It's less a deep bottom rider than the low note in the measure at any one time.
For Paul's later Rick stuff, my old Ovation stands in, due to its sustain and ability to fill the depths of the room. Love the Hofner, though, and I expect it will become my everyday bass.
I bought a Jag. I wanted a Fender and couldn't afford an MIA Jazz, which was my ideal bass at that point. But I wanted something a little above an MIM and had an extra couple hundy to spend.... I had experience with MIJs and thought they were good value for money.
I'd considered Hwy 1s but was scared away by the nitro finishes. I thought the Jags looked cool, kind of like a 70s Jazz or Geddy with the block fret inlays and the old style headstock JAGUAR BASS text. It came down to the Jag and a Geddy. I ended up finding a Jag with a drop tuner and an upgraded bridge for a good price and made the plunge.
I'd considered Hwy 1s but was scared away by the nitro finishes. I thought the Jags looked cool, kind of like a 70s Jazz or Geddy with the block fret inlays and the old style headstock JAGUAR BASS text. It came down to the Jag and a Geddy. I ended up finding a Jag with a drop tuner and an upgraded bridge for a good price and made the plunge.
Back in the mid-late 90's, when the internet was still new and not-so-full of information, I was researching the tones of Tool and RHCP for my next bass. Everything I found was live pics of Flea and Paul playing a StingRay, so that was what I bought. A few years down the road I learn that the majority of the studio tone I was after was coming from a Wal on both accounts, or a P/J Spector with Flea, or a Ric with Paul... I still love my StingRay though, as it actually nails the sound I had in my head anyway. I've always considered it a happy accident.
Last year, I bought a new 2011 AmStd Precision to cover the more traditional tonal ground the Ray couldn't in the studio. I was definitely no stranger to Fender, I just felt like I had moved past that sound as a player ages ago. But, even though it was a move made partially out of necessity, I had been missing that classic Fender look and feel for quite a while. Ya, the sound is pretty good too. ;-)
Last year, I bought a new 2011 AmStd Precision to cover the more traditional tonal ground the Ray couldn't in the studio. I was definitely no stranger to Fender, I just felt like I had moved past that sound as a player ages ago. But, even though it was a move made partially out of necessity, I had been missing that classic Fender look and feel for quite a while. Ya, the sound is pretty good too. ;-)
I used to buy anything that looked and sounded cool and I still own several basses made elsewhere, but I've been on a "Made in USA" kick lately. If not USA, from a country that is not known for unfair treatment of their labor force.
It's an internal struggle, because I can't bring myself to part with my SVT and other basses, one made in China, that I absolutely love. I feel like a hypocrite. A very loud hypocrite.
It's an internal struggle, because I can't bring myself to part with my SVT and other basses, one made in China, that I absolutely love. I feel like a hypocrite. A very loud hypocrite.
