The Last Bass Outpost
Main Forums => The Bass Zone => Topic started by: drbassman on March 19, 2013, 06:54:35 AM
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Well, after putzing around with numerous basses I have finally realized that I have some wonderful instruments and there are a couple standouts among them. I've been looking for that near-perfect combination of tone, output and playability in my basses and here's what I've discovered:
Solid bodies: my 92 T-Bird reverse Special Edition is the best IMHO in a 34" scale. Easy to play and wear and it kicks butt. My bandmates love it, too.
Solid SS: The 72 Triumph takes the prize here. Great tone and a breeze to play. A bit heavy, but that's manageable.
Hollow body: First place is my Hofner Club. Sounds great and is a gem to wear and play. I can even get a nice mid-high range tone out of it to cut through the racket created by my bandmates.
So, these are the basses showing up to practice and gigs these days. I could easily live with the TB and the Club and nothing else!
What's your favorite/s?
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I think you know where I'll be going with this one....
'63 Epiphone Embassy!
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my 2 favorites are my Triumph and my Ric 4003.
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Modified Ric 4003S. Pretty much does it all!
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I think everyone here will know what I have to say. Anyone of my '60s Nonreverse Thunderbirds. At a even tie is my Cataldo NR, with the Thunderbucker Max it really kills. I love my '75 Walnut Fender Precision for a change of bass though I could never use it for more than a few songs. For SS hollow bodies I love my Kliras.
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The basses that have been coming to practice are my Squier Bronco with the Gretsch 2202 pickup, my Squier Mikey Way with the passive humbucker, and my Gretsch 5123 hollowbody (now with rounds re-installed).
So my Casady, my actual '63 P-bass, 70's Univox hollowbody and a few others are mostly on their stands.
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There are only 2 basses left in the house for me, and you all know my long-time love of the Embassy. The other bass is my fanfret Precision, which I use for the drop D at church.
Of the various basses I've had, while I'd love to have them all back (except the Vox Mark IV), I find that I don't miss them. If I could have any of them back, I'd have to go with the Guild M-85 semi-hollow I had. Close runners up would be the Epi EB-1 fretless project I did and the Magnatone Hurricane.
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I don't have a fave.......
Many different basses = many different brushes. I'm no artist but I do enjoy variety. ;)
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I have to concur with TBird58, however there are a few where the cream rises to the top in terms of tone, feel and must keeps for me:
Long Scale: Celinder P Vin, Fender Precision Special (maple jazz neck, p/j pups), Gibson Les Paul Signature, Ampeg AUB Fretless.
SS: Gibson SG (faded mahogany, it surprised the hell out of me how good it sounded and felt), Hofner 1958 reissue Ltd. edition..this sounds like none of the other Hofners), Hofner Club (violin varnish, close spaced pups), Silvertone something or other.
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I know I'm getting rather predictable, but my favorite is (still) the 1969 Gibson Les Paul Bass.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/536773_3460017070880_1464201244_n.jpg)
Runner up is the BaCH Spalted Telecaster Bass. I've been using this one a lot with my other band Definition Of Madmen:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/150475_347024498750095_1435474191_n.jpg)
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Fretted is the PC and fretless is the Jazz... err presently my only operational instruments...?
[:rolleyes:] could do better if he tried harder... [/:rolleyes:]
Rob... gotta say they are both first-class shots... 8)
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For me its my RD Artist, no other bass has the sustain and wild harmonics. You can get any tone you like except a warm mahogany tone.
Thats where my LP Standard comes in. I love its warm biting tone. Plays like buttah.
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I like and play 'em all (they'd be gone if I didn't!), but the two in this pic always get taken out the most:
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/0chromium0/DSCF9030.jpg)
1976 Thunderbird (with parallel wiring), and March '73 Ric. I get (IMO) a very similar sound from both. For being maho, that bird is really clear and bell-like in the mids.
I recently setup the Ric using the neck-stretching jig I had concocted for the 4003s8 repair, and it suddenly went from thuddy/subdued to bright and zingy! Same strings... not exactly sure what happened there, other than a happy accident. I'm certainly liking it! Makes me not miss my old 78 MG, which always seemed more lively.
The '73 Triumph and '79 Mockingbird seem to be the alternates, and every once in a while I'll get on a EB-3 kick...
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my other band Definition Of Madmen:
That is oficially the best band name ever!
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Thanx! :toast: :thumbsup:
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Well, after putzing around with numerous basses I have finally realized that I have some wonderful instruments and there are a couple standouts among them. I've been looking for that near-perfect combination of tone, output and playability in my basses and here's what I've discovered:
Solid bodies: my 92 T-Bird reverse Special Edition is the best IMHO in a 34" scale. Easy to play and wear and both kick butt. My bandmates love it, too.
Solid SS: The 72 Triumph takes the prize here. Great tone and a breeze to play. A bit heavy, but that's manageable.
Hollow body: First place is my Hofner Club. Sounds great and is a gem to wear and play. I can even get a nice mid-high range tone out of it to cut through the racket created by my bandmates.
So, these are the basses showing up to practice and gigs these days. I could easily live with the TB and the Club and nothing else!
What's your favorite/s?
EB1 especially when played through a cranked up Sunn 2000s
How'd the EB3L you were working on turn out? I was thinking about disengaging the tone choke from the circuit in my EB3 and was wondering how the two pickups would blend without it.
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Pinning it down is tough - everything I own has a practical use, believe it or not.
The bass I go to most is my Frankenstein P-Bass copy with the Thunderbird bridge pickup. The Swiss Army Bass - except it's green...
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I have to go with Gary. My 60's Embassies are Great! Though my Ripper, with T-bird pup, is the one my bandmates likes best. Fantastic sound.
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EB1 especially when played through a cranked up Sunn 2000s
How'd the EB3L you were working on turn out? I was thinking about disengaging the tone choke from the circuit in my EB3 and was wondering how the two pickups would blend without it.
I haven't touched the EB-3L since last year. I'm working toward retirement and focusing on the band these days. Once I retire this summer, I'll hit the shop full steam!
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I don't have a fave.......
Many different basses = many different brushes.
Definitely agree. Hard to compare a Vox hollowbody teardrop -- to a 60s TBird -- to a Hamer 8 or 12 string -- to a fretless PBass or upright or an acoustic. They all have their niche that the others cannot fill.
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This question makes my brain hurt. :-\
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Leftybass hit the nail on the head. I am glad no one has started a post where if the house caught on fire which one would you grab!? Remember only one, cause your wife, boyfriend, dog, parrot or family album is in your other hand! Whew
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Great comments guys! ;D I wasn't trying to challenge you to compare. I was asking about your favorites. I still love my NR and 4003, but the 92 TB is just my favorite sounding andplaying. Same with hollowbodies. I really like my Gretsch, but the Hofner Club outshines it IMHO. So, one bass isn't inherently better or comparable to another. What's important is which ones do we love to play!
Take 2 aspirins and call me in the morning! :toast:
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Yes, the term "favorites" can be slippery. What is most comfortable for me to play in practice may not be what I choose for a gig.
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For a favorite bass I'm looking for all these aspects in one bass. Comfortable to play, great sound, reliable, cool ,etc.
That is why my Greco Tbird is not my favorite bass. It has a killer sound. But it is not very comfortable to play. The neck is a little chunky.
Or why my Epi Newport is not my favorite. It is comfortable to play, but the sound just doesn't work very well in the bands that I'm in.
That doesn't mean I hate them. Far from it.
But there can be only one No.1 bass. 8)