The Bass thread

[squiresuzuki]

What are these models?
1st is a yamaha, no?
2nd is a Wal?
Whats the third?

Personally, I can't stand 5 string basses. Anything more than 4 is unneeded for the bass' true function. Welll until it gets to 15 strings. Then it gets cool again.

[SATCHMO]

Originally Posted by squiresuzuki

What are these models?
1st is a yamaha, no?
2nd is a Wal?
Whats the third?

Yamaha
Warwick
Spector

[Necromancer]

Originally Posted by squiresuzuki

What are these s?
1st is a yamaha, no?
2nd is a Wal?
Whats the third?

Personally, I can't stand 5 string basses. Anything more than 4 is unneeded for the bass' true function. Welll until it gets to 15 strings. Then it gets cool again.

I always keep a 4-string on hand for when needed, but alot of the newer covers (rock, country, etc.) just dont sound right, to me personally, without the lower end (octive) of the 5s. When buying a 5-string, I would suggest the wide guage spacing of the strings, are much better to me, than say...the fender jazz, etc. and the 6-string gives you access to the high end without going so far up & down the fingerboard....(But as it is)...each to his own. For the price, ya cant beat an Ibanez bass. As the old saying goes, Its not the guitar as much as it is... who is behind the guitar. just as there is still room for the stand up bass...there is a place for the 5 & 6s, etc....

[squiresuzuki]

Originally Posted by VocalsBass

I always keep a 4-string on hand for when needed, but alot of the newer covers (rock, country, etc.) just dont sound right, to me personally, without the lower end (octive) of the 5s. When buying a 5-string, I would suggest the wide guage spacing of the strings, are much better to me, than say...the fender jazz, etc. and the 6-string gives you access to the high end without going so far up & down the fingerboard....(But as it is)...each to his own. For the price, ya cant beat an Ibanez bass. As the old saying goes, Its not the guitar as much as it is... who is behind the guitar. just as there is still room for the stand up bass...there is a place for the 5 & 6s, etc....

Yes, the 5 string bases that I have tried had strings that were rather close together, then I had to rest my thumb on the B string which wasn't optimal for my enjoyment.

[mr dave]

i have to say Warwick is one of those companies that really appeals to me but i just can't stand their trademark 'thumb' style for the top horn on most of their bass models. it's just so aesthetically unpleasing to me that i end up passing them by in the store. but i have looked at their electric uprights more than once.

as for the idea of 5 strings being 'unneeded' for the true function of a bass that's about as legitimate of a comment as saying 'real' bass players only use their fingers. just because you can go to low B doesn't mean everything you play has to be in B. the tone provided and the extra range for low end runs makes that extra string worthwhile.

also, why would you rest your thumb on the string instead of the edge of the pickup?

[Necromancer]

I would guess resting your thumb on the B-string is to kill the sustain of the string, at least that is the only reason I would do it, which I have done before when using certain bass effects. The attitude that only good bass players use their fingers instead of a pick arrived from the transition from stand up bass to electric bass, which is an untrue statement, and arrogent in my opinion. Using a pick for me gives me more speed, & I like the crisp dynamics I get better. I will use my fingers if I want a softer tone. Although, there are alot of bass players that are about as fast as one could be on bass that use there fingers only. Whatever works for you!, is what to apply.

[ElephantSack]

Originally Posted by mr dave

i have to say Warwick is one of those companies that really appeals to me but i just can't stand their trademark 'thumb' style for the top horn on most of their bass models. it's just so aesthetically unpleasing to me that i end up passing them by in the store. but i have looked at their electric uprights more than once.

Too phallic? hahaha

VocalsBass I would guess resting your thumb on the B-string is to kill the sustain of the string, at least that is the only reason I would do it, which I have done before when using certain bass effects. The attitude that only good bass players use their fingers instead of a pick arrived from the transition from stand up bass to electric bass, which is an untrue statement, and arrogent in my opinion. Using a pick for me gives me more speed, & I like the crisp dynamics I get better. I will use my fingers if I want a softer tone. Although, there are alot of bass players that are about as fast as one could be on bass that use there fingers only. Whatever works for you!, is what to apply.

Yeah, I never used a pick until we wrote a song that had a really fast, chugging part on the lowest string. I wrote that part with my fingers, but when it came to playing it with the guitar and drums, it just sounded muddy at the higher volume. So, time to adapt. I think the attitude that people have when they say that "only real players" use their fingers or only play four strings or whatever is just a product of jealousy or small sight. When they see somebody totally kicking ass with a 6 string bass and shredding with a pick, they just say, "Oh! Why doesn't he just play guitar?! That's basically all he's doing!" Bullshit. I say any instrument could and should be played in as many styles and methods as possible. No boundaries. Fuck it. If you can do a back flip while tapping an arpeggio and breathing fire, I say fuckin' go for it! In fact, that's my dream.

[mr dave]

Originally Posted by ElephantSack

Too phallic? hahaha

something like that i guess haha. it just seems to come out at a wrong angle or something.

[ElephantSack]

So. I might acquire a 1971 Blue Line Ampeg SVT sometime in the not-to-distant future. For those of you who are not familiar with this piece of equipment, let it be known that it is the holy grail of vintage Ampeg gear. I couldn't even find a picture of one. I feel almost like a mad scientist that is at the threshold of attaining his final component for the fruition of his plan for world domination.

I need to save some money.

[missinglink]

Howdy all

New on the forum ... been playing for many a year yet never paid much attention to the finer details, something that appears to be haunting me in my later years.

Any suggestions on best pick ups for bass ?

I'll tell you why ...

Ive got the following guitars at the mo and have changed both the strings to Flatwound Chromes for a tonal change - helps alot on low end notes.

Ive got the Ibanez SR5006E & the ESP Ltd F-5E.

Ive got this great idea right.

I wanna mod a slightly older 4 string i have lying around. Wanna rip out the electronics and do the following - replace both existing pickups with decent actives - ie the Bartoloni's on the Ibanez SR (Beautiful tone) . Wanna then mod a third pickup into the centre for a clean sound and run it to a seperate volume and output to link directly into my amp while the others are through an effects pedal giving me both clean and effects at the same time or one at a time (John Myung from Dream Theatre has been seen doing this - my favourite bassist)

Now i just dont know what would be best - i like the Bartoloni's but crap theyre expensive - got a quote the other day and nearly fell flat on my back.

The middle ones gotta be best for a clean low end sound but also not restiricting the highs and the other two are not as important.

Also can you but cello parts in individual pieces ?

Wanna cut the body off that old 4 string and mod the bridge to have a arc as a cello to allow for note selection with a bow and pop a cello spike on the bottom and play it with my violin bow - have tried already and sounds amazing through effects and what not ...

Looking forward to your suggestions