• From: Nottingham, UK
  • Registered: 2006-08-08
  • Posts: 690

Topic: Report From The Bass Side

I have been to a strange world where strings are thicker and sounds lower, here is what I found;

1) Bass amps are mainly transistor. Bassheads are immune to the siren call of valves and tubes.

2) Onboard electronics are common, basses are either active or passive. Active equates to the kind of EQ unit found in top-end electro-acoustics.

3) Basses are heavy, I mean really heavy. Imagine what crazy sustain you'd get if you used the body of one on a regular electric guitar.

4) Retro is rare. Bassists aren't impressed by original spec reissues. Modern bass pickups have far more oomph than the original Fender ones and few pay a premium for an old-time sound.

5) Wood rules. Bassists love oiled finishes that show plenty of grain. Fancy colours? Whassat?

6) Effects: Count them on the fingers of one hand, bassists are pretty immune to tweaking.

Report Ends

'The sound of the city seems to disappear'
  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Report From The Bass Side

True fact.  I own and operate a Musicman Stingray (a.k.a. THUNDERSTICK!!) and

3) certainly applies.  I have to work out just to be able to carry the thing.  The active pickups in it are freaking booming, though.  I love that.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website

  • From: Nottingham, UK
  • Registered: 2006-08-08
  • Posts: 690

Re: Report From The Bass Side

Much envy Jerome, after I bought my cheapo Ibanez I found alot of reviews comparing it to the MM Stingray. It has a 'tone' control does nothing of the kind, Ibanez refer to it as 'Phat EQ II', I think it should be labelled from 'ordinary bass' to  'more like stingray'. Needless to say it's always up on 10.

'The sound of the city seems to disappear'
  • badeye
  • The Blues Fixer
  • Offline
  • From: Cape Breton Island, Canada
  • Registered: 2006-09-02
  • Posts: 3,381

Re: Report From The Bass Side

You guy's have any experience with acoustic basses??

Thinking of getting one for acoustic kitchen jam's.
Thanks for any reply.

...Badeye.

one caper after another
  • Registered: 2006-08-25
  • Posts: 45

Re: Report From The Bass Side

cytania wrote:

I have been to a strange world where strings are thicker and sounds lower, here is what I found;

1) Bass amps are mainly transistor. Bassheads are immune to the siren call of valves and tubes.

2) Onboard electronics are common, basses are either active or passive. Active equates to the kind of EQ unit found in top-end electro-acoustics.

3) Basses are heavy, I mean really heavy. Imagine what crazy sustain you'd get if you used the body of one on a regular electric guitar.

4) Retro is rare. Bassists aren't impressed by original spec reissues. Modern bass pickups have far more oomph than the original Fender ones and few pay a premium for an old-time sound.

5) Wood rules. Bassists love oiled finishes that show plenty of grain. Fancy colours? Whassat?

6) Effects: Count them on the fingers of one hand, bassists are pretty immune to tweaking.

Report Ends

This is so true!

Why is it that so many guitar players are so caught up in the way guitars are made 50+ years ago and bass players are (for the most part) open to new technology? The Les Paul and the Stratocaster are essentially made the same as they were 50 years ago. Improvements like the floyd rose locking trem, active pickups, neck-thru construction, and the such are available for guitarists, but it is interesting that many people still prefer the old way.

Electric:  Schecter C-1, Hot-rodded strat
Acoustic: Ovation Celebrity Deluxe, Epiphone

Keep on rockin' in the free world!
  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Report From The Bass Side

shredfiend wrote:

Why is it that so many guitar players are so caught up in the way guitars are made 50+ years ago and bass players are (for the most part) open to new technology? The Les Paul and the Stratocaster are essentially made the same as they were 50 years ago. Improvements like the floyd rose locking trem, active pickups, neck-thru construction, and the such are available for guitarists, but it is interesting that many people still prefer the old way.

I don't actually think guitards are out of line in this thinking.  Good guitars, at least hollow bodies, sound better with age as the wood in them cures and matures.  Basses, electric ones, anyway, are more dependent on the electronics in them, so age doesn't have quite the same effect.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website

  • From: Nottingham, UK
  • Registered: 2006-08-08
  • Posts: 690

Re: Report From The Bass Side

"You guy's have any experience with acoustic basses??"

I have a friend with an acoustic bass and have played it a few times. First off the tone is very different, much more mellow and laid back. Second the acoustic output is not great despite the dreadnought-esque body, you can't really match the grunt and thump of a bass amp with wood unless you go up to a full size double bass (which has certain portability/fragility problems). So if your kitchen has a power socket any electric bass and a simple 30wattt bass cube will have you rockin more, but try one in a shop some people fall in love with that acoustic bass tone...

'The sound of the city seems to disappear'
  • badeye
  • The Blues Fixer
  • Offline
  • From: Cape Breton Island, Canada
  • Registered: 2006-09-02
  • Posts: 3,381

Re: Report From The Bass Side

Thanks for the reply Cytania. Gonna hit music store on weekend and try out a couple . See,feel, and hear and then decide.


   Take care..... Badeye.

one caper after another