bassbiscuits

We tend to start off with a couple of slower/mid tempo tunes to test the water, then move up a gear. I'm no fan of quiet/slow songs as a rule - nothing empties the dance floor quicker in my experience. Saying that, a well-chosen slowie can really stand out well in an otherwise high-energy set, and make for quite an engaging, intimate moment and a bit of a breather amid all the noise and sweat. It's just a case of choosing the right song, and choosing the right time to play it.

[quote name='krispn' timestamp='1455591112' post='2980522'] I got a new bass a few months ago and it's still a joy to gig with it - hell its a joy to just sit and play it! More recently got a new rig and tried the preamp at home on the Saturday via my wee headphone mixer then into a tiny practice amp. Sounded good but needed to give it some beans in the practice room - had it at the rehearsal room the next day going into the line in of the Ashdown they have, bypassing the ashdown eq, into a muddy sounding ashdown 2x15 .... Feeling a bit like Goldielocks as this too sounded good but again not quite my rig........then finally later that same night I got to plug into my own cab and power amp at a gig..... The sound was great and I was a a bit giddy to finally gig it with all my proper live gear! The bass was playing real nice and the rig was just full and plump with great punch too. Got it to sit nice and tight with the Kick drum and while I doubt the crowd realised why they were dancing we all knew ......right guys [/quote] Nice! its really satisfying playing a good gig, and knowing you've got great sound too.

Yeah good point - that is a useful video too. I guess I didn't realise how used to the Fender sound I was until I bought a bass that didn't have it, and for me my sound is everything, and my main consideration. The Sandberg was stunning in its set up, build quality and comfort, and the Fender jazz is a bit less refined in that sense, but the overall sound and vibe totally wins me over. The eternal 'horses for courses' I guess!

[quote name='Shambo' timestamp='1455526312' post='2979729'] Don't worry guys, I've had five different basses I can remember since I've been a member of this site, never more than two at one time, and with the occasional wait in between them. This is just one of those waiting times... the chase makes the capture more sweet. Thank you for your generosity of thought, Basschat is a good forum for that. Bass player solidarity makes me return to stalk gear and contribute even if I'm not playing. [/quote] There's a couple of peavey basses in the local Cash generator in Leicester for £70 a piece.

FWIW I just traded in my Sandberg California TT4 for a Fender USA Jazz, and for me personally, the jazz is way more my type of bass. Ok it's a bit heavier, the set up isn't as super fast, nor the neck as slim, but to me it sounds fatter, fuller and more like the solid bass sound in my head. I don't think USA Fenders are a second best to Sandberg at all. I like them both, but they are different. I guess if you want a Fender, you gotta get a Fender.

Gig done. Sounded ace. Took my other bass along as spare but it never left the bag. Result! Oh yes, and isn't it cool when you get a new bass, and you just plug it in and it sounds great, with no faffing about or tweaking of settings or needing a set up etc? Just re-string it, strap it on, rig it up and count me in! Bliss.

I've got three basses at present, tho that has varied in the past to five at most. In terms of real need, I could survive on one no problem, and did for years. I ended up a few years ago with lots of cheaper ones and I realised if I flogged them I could just as easily afford one more good one. I must admit that having some new, interesting good gear does help keep things fresh musically, even if it's just within my own head and my own outlook, rather than something hugely noticeable to my fellow musicians.

Sounds cool - I'll be there but sadly not an expert on anything bass-related, and don't even have an interesting job worth taking about.

Cool. Mine will be with a jazz bass instead of my usual P bass - playing lots at home but not the same as cranking it at a gig. The audience won't notice but I'll be having my own little party in my head on my side of the stage!

Got my first gig coming up the weekend with a new bass. I think that must be just about the most exciting band-related situation ever! Or is it just me, or does everyone look forward to giving their new instrument its first outing? I just hope it sounds/plays/looks good!

Must say this is news to me too - I've owned five Fender basses, three of which i still own, and none have got dead spots. Saying that, I've got a bass Fatfinger clamp lying round at home which i don't use (having sold the bass concerned) if anyone wanted it for the purpose of moving/eradicating their deadspot....

Totally - I've started using my tone control loads for different sounds. Fingerstyle gets a nice variation when you roll the tone down for a smooth old school sound, and I've always rolled a bit of tone off when going at it with a pick to prevent it getting too harsh. That's before you get into playing with fingers near the bridge, over the pickup or at the bottom of the neck for even more variation.

Not bringing my Sandberg TT4 now, having just part-exed it for a Fender Jazz, which I'll bring instead...

Dep if you can get it, but otherwise just do it missing one member. My band has a core line up but all sorts of combinations of deps have played with us, depending on who's available to cover, ranging from a five piece to a trio. As long as you can still make music which the audience will enjoy/expect, no one will care about the exact line up. Go for it!

My jazz - a 2008 USA jobbie, which came secondhand with a set of Aguilar pickups. Sounds ace. Only had it two days but haven't stopped playing it yet, which is always a good sign!

Saw a customer playing a red roadworn jazz at Bass Direct last weekend. It sounded awesome, and we got chatting, and he let me have a quick go. It was stunning, in looks, feel and sound. I've been curious about them for ages but never quite made the move to buy one (partly cos I can't find any locally to try out) but if the one I played was typical of them then they really do seem very good indeed.

Stunning basses. Very nice. Well done!

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1454884330' post='2973957'] Congrats, I`ve just recently got hold of a US 2012 in the same colour combo and agree, love it. Bet those Aggie pickups are good. [/quote] Cheers Lozz - and congrats on your new purchase too! Yep those pickups certainly sounded great at the store thru an amp even with the EQ flat. Plenty of welly and fatness but still a passive pickup tone. I spent a fair bit of time playing the various basses I liked unplugged first anyway, to get a feel for which were loud and most resonant. I had a half hour blast of it when I got home just straight into a Little Mark head and my Schroeder 1210 cab and it sounded really good.

I paid a visit to Bass Direct on the weekend, to trade in my Sandberg TT4 - a stunning bass, amazing to play and so light and comfy, but rather too polite and hi fi for me, and sadly just not the sound i have in my head. I am something of a Fender fanboy I must admit. Came out with this - a 2008 USA jazz, which the previous owner had pimped with a pair of Aguilar hot jazz pickups. It sounds immense. I had a good noodle of a lot of really nice basses while there, but this one came out the best match for my needs - fat and full and loud, but still with the extra tonal range on offer from a jazz over my existing P basses. I love the black/tort/maple combination I've gotta to say! Currently doing the thing of just carting it around the house with me so I can look at it wherever I am sitting. Done a lot of sofa noodling. Likely to get a chance to gig it this weekend, and prepared for my band to go: "What? Another bass?" And me having to say: "Ah yeah but this one is different...." Excuse the upside down pics btw - can't seem to correct them but you get the idea anyway.

Graham bought an acoustic guitar from me. Prompt payment and good communications throughout - happy to deal with him again anytime.

Yeah keep it dude. I had my precision bass all thru university and finished with no cash, maxed out on overdraft and just a couple of bar staff jobs to try to turn things round. But I vowed I wouldn't flog that bass. That was 20 years ago this year and I've still got the bass. I'd have got a few hundred quid for selling it, but that would be gone by now.