ezbass

Looking at this now, I realise I’ve made, at least from my perspective, a massive omission - no T’Bird! I’ll revisit it later (fortunately, I saved the file for a change) and replace one of the Mustangs with the T’Bird. Watch this space.

Following on from a different thread where the question was asked as to how a Bongo differs from a Stingray, I went down a pickup position rabbit hole for a number of popular basses. I've very roughly copied internet photos of various basses, some long scale, some short, some in between (Ric 4003) and sized them to be the same (or as close as I could get) between the bridge saddles and 12th fret. There were, for me at least, some surprises ('Ray, Ric, SB700 similarity for instance). I've not added lines as it would be messy, just use your eye, or a ruler for a slightly more exact comparison. This is not meant as a definitive guide as some saddle positions may have been 'wrong' and the cropping may be a tad sketchy, but I think it's there or thereabouts. Anyway, for your delectation...

That extends beyond pick players too, Geddy and Entwistle spring to mind. I started with 2mm picks, using my guitarist brain that thicker picks give a more pleasing tone and I still think that for guitar this applies, at least to my ears. However, since then, I reduced the gauge I used until I was down to .73mm, not least due to Bobby Vega’s use of that gauge and using the rounder corner. Although it does add a sharper attack, it does make the bass punch through, whilst still retaining good low end. This might be desirable if you have a guitarist who insists on a low end heavy tone.* I still mess about with other gauges, but I don’t stray too far above the .73 (never lower), a Dunlop Jazz 3 being about as heavy as I’ll go. I was wondering what Chris Squire used, he being one of the more famous pick users and a Google search revealed a Herco Flex 75, which, despite the name, is apparently around the 1mm mark. *I’d be inclined to put a sticker over his EQ section that says, “You already have a bass player.”

Turning the pick around to use the rounder corners will also soften the attack.

I have to say that I’m really enjoying the single coil setting on my shorty Ray. It’s placement just behind the lower half of a P pickup seems perfect when the more nasal, standard Ray tone isn’t quite full enough. Not much in the way of single coil buzz either.

Both mine were/are fine as was the off the peg Jake I had for a while.

I wanted to minimise the marks on my fretless. I liked them so much, I fitted them on the fretted basses too.

Ian is very much like Scott after way too much coffee and with a trans-Atlantic accent. Killer player too.

Pencil - check Digital rule - check Wire clippers - check Dog paw - er… check Whatever you used, quality result.

Ped nails the very definition of the P bass tone. Having seemingly moved to short scale basses in the last year or so, I can confidently say that my JMJ Mustang (which sounds just like my old ‘63 P) and shorty ‘Ray (the series/single/parallel switch is super useful) cover all the fretted tones I usually need. A short ‘Ray fretless added to the pack would see me complete.

Great playing, great tone. Passive ‘Ray FTW.

This was the tuning method de jour back before electronic tuners became widely available. It was either that or the awfulness that are/were pitchpipes.

Sugar Sugar - The Archies

The only bass I still have reservations about letting go (regret seems too strong a word) is my old ‘Ray5. I bought it 2nd hand and eventually sold it back to the seller when he enquired about it.

Patrice starts to shut up shop, just as Guitar Guitar takes the brand on.

Cold As Ice - Foreigner

Perhaps try wiring the p/up directly to the jack socket. That’ll certainly highlight if the circuit is lacking. Even bypassed you’re still going through some parts of it.

Coo! That’s a great weight for any MM, let alone a fiver.

I Can’t Drive 55 - Sammy Hagar

Just as well as they probably don’t mean anything anyway. Outboard, river Bluetail, tailfly Luther, in time Dood'ndoodit, dah, d't-d't-dah

Bad Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce

Rocco Prestia endorsed a good many products: Fender, ESP, Conklin, SWR, TC Electronics…