The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Other Bass Brands => Topic started by: 4stringer77 on July 12, 2018, 06:57:48 AM

Title: Name that bass
Post by: 4stringer77 on July 12, 2018, 06:57:48 AM

What do we have here backing up the man in black?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbq-5wsuyq4

Title: Re: Name that bass
Post by: Alanko on July 12, 2018, 06:59:57 AM

Micro Frets Signature bass.

(https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--WVC1j6Ez--/a_exif,c_limit,e_unsharp_mask:80,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_south,h_620,q_90,w_620/v1509644634/elkrpsgnnaxkgqkkocs3.jpg)

Title: Re: Name that bass
Post by: 4stringer77 on July 12, 2018, 07:01:29 AM

Neat, thanks.

Title: Re: Name that bass
Post by: Alanko on July 12, 2018, 07:34:13 AM

The guitarist standing to the left of the bassist is using the guitar version. Micro Frets must have had a tie-in, or something.

A different Micro Frets bass is seen in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHavTe9lzt8

Title: Re: Name that bass
Post by: 4stringer77 on July 12, 2018, 09:36:47 AM

Man country music just ain't the same. Anybody here own an old micro frets? Are they nice instruments?

Title: Re: Name that bass
Post by: Pilgrim on July 12, 2018, 11:00:01 AM

I played two country gigs last week, and all my bass lines were very similar to the one in "Old Time Religion." It's getting to feel rather familiar.

Title: Re: Name that bass
Post by: 4stringer77 on July 12, 2018, 12:58:45 PM

Must have been a fun gig Pilgrim. Were you playing tunes from contemporary country artists too? I just know when I turn on a typical modern country FM radio station, I don't get the same vibe as I do from Conway Twitty or Johnny Cash.

Title: Re: Name that bass
Post by: Pilgrim on July 12, 2018, 01:34:37 PM

Quote from: 4stringer77 on July 12, 2018, 12:58:45 PM

Must have been a fun gig Pilgrim. Were you playing tunes from contemporary country artists too? I just know when I turn on a typical modern country FM radio station, I don't get the same vibe as I do from Conway Twitty or Johnny Cash.

Lots of George Strait, Merle Haggard, some Brooks & Dunn (I like Neon Moon a lot...), Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, Eagles, Jimmy Buffett, a little Joe Diffie (Devil Danced in Empty Pockets), Alan Jackson, Chris Ledoux, Toby Keith. 

And for a change of pace, "Choo Choo Cha'Boogie" "Route 66" and "Steel Guitar Rag."  So lots of classic stuff, but some newer stuff too.

Title: Re: Name that bass
Post by: Dave W on July 12, 2018, 04:49:37 PM

I had never heard of Micro Frets until Michael Wright wrote a history of the brand in Vintage Guitar mag back in the mid 90s. In the next ten years, I saw three Micro Frets basses in stores, two here and one in San Antonio. None of them had any appreciable low end. Was it the pickups or the weird bridge and nut setup? No idea. Whatever the reason, the tone was disappointing.

Title: Re: Name that bass
Post by: Alanko on July 13, 2018, 05:14:31 AM

That is a shame, I guess. The technological developments in their design are quite something, but maybe they skimped on the tonal aspects a bit? Bolt-on instruments with thin bodies and single coil pickups either right at the bridge or right at the neck. This isn't the best recipe for a solid bass tone, even if it sorta worked for Vox and co in the early-md '60s.

Title: Re: Name that bass
Post by: gearHed289 on July 13, 2018, 08:59:36 AM

Mike Rutherford used some Micro Frets stuff with Genesis in the mid 70s, including this weird double neck with 6 string bass and guitar.

(https://images.talkbass.com/attachments/3503774665_9331a3b4e8_z-jpg.2584734/)