dclaassen

To me, the most disappointing thing is that there are some really thoughtful replies that had to take a backseat to the op’s issues. I’d love to revisit this topic. There’s lots of meat left on the bone…

Close to me, but not my groove….

Mods, do we controls against trolling? Asking for a friend…:)

Who developed proper technique? If proper technique is only and exclusively based on physiology, then you also need a floating thumb on your plucking hand...period. Technique based on physiology exists to avoid injury, but it still happens. If you play enough, even with "perfect" technique, you can develop RSD, or even stress fractures. Even with that, I challenge you to come up with a list of universally approved "correct" techniques that are espoused by all teachers and bassists....not going to happen though. Otherwise, I'm thinking you are quite young, like to define your terms ("skinny") to suit your view of the world, and don't yet know what you don't know. If you can manage to open your mind up to alternatives, then maybe you might learn more than you think you know right now. If not, then have fun sitting in a corner being "right".

Yup.....brilliant!

Okay...I'll take a whack at this.... I've been teaching music students for over 40 years. I have both a BFA and my MMued (from University of North Texas). I have taken bass lessons from some pretty good players, and also been playing electric fretted, fretless and DB for a long, long time. Bottom line, there is a "right way" to play any instrument...it's how we teach beginners. But..the "right way" is always up for discussion. How high do you set a flute embouchure? How bad is having a brass player puff their cheeks? (I see you, Dizzy), What's the right way to teach a young guitarist a barre chord? What i would say to this particular discussion, however, is that, once you cross a certain level of experience or technical ability, the "right way" is only defined as the way you get the desired results. You have got to balance your technical and pedagogical knowledge with what you are actually seeing and hearing from the player. I wish I had a nickel for every great player I've seen and/or heard with "bad technique". Every single musician plays in a way that is physically unique to them. If they are well trained, they have enough of the "right stuff" to reach whatever goals they desire. If not, then something (also maybe to include gear) can be nudged toward the direction of the goal. I spent some time playing both my Jazz bass (very thin neck by the nut) and my MPV-5 (wider neck, but pretty thin for a 5er) and my thumb floats and also rotates a bit depending on position on the string or fretboard. My fretting fingers are pretty consistent, however. I'll be I could find a teacher who would tell me my technique is all wrong, but they would also need to convince me of the need to change, as I really enjoy playing in the manner I currently do. Now, about the "marketing gimmick" statement.....would you consider a Jazz Bass to be a marketing gimmick? Are you going to tell Lee Sklar, Duck Dunn, or about a thousand other bassists that they need to practice more a get a fatter neck? Is the first, original P Bass profile the only "correct one"? What are the approved dimensions of a non-gimmicky neck? Profile" How about fretboard material? String height? Where does this end? Your "Facts" are, at the end of the day, informed opinions. You are fundamentally right, and practically wrong. I think that is called Hubris. Just my opinion....

Everyone is different, but I like a Jazz neck. I don’t feel as confident with a p bass neck, and couldn’t get on at all with a G&L L2000 tribute, or a really pretty Yamaha Nathan East 5. I like both my 5’s and neither one has a chunky neck. On the other hand, I also can’t do a Rick neck….horses for courses, I guess.

Conventional wisdom for me is to never make a significant change before a big gig. If it’s not broke… but, bring the new ones along as a plan B.

Nice helpful comments…thanks! My Jazz also has the plug position, but it doesn’t seem to be as much of an issue. The specter is passive, but has a 9v for the piezo system. I’m sure this could drain the battery over time. I just never leave any bass plugged in out of habit…been playing active basses since 1978.

I started out my bass career on P’s and J’s with the jack in the usual place. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve bumped this kind of arrangement into guitar stands, chairs, etc. Maybe a right angle jack would help… thoughts?

I really like the neck as well. Been spending a lot of time with this bass lately, preparing music for a jazz festival. I don’t get tired of playing it.

Good reading. My Spectracore is chambered with a bolt on neck and basswood body. It’s strung with low tension flats. Sustain is not great, but it produces a really nice acoustic bass type sound…very nice for jazz.

Bach cello suites….

Been there, done that

I think it is down to string choice. The B on my Spector with a 35” scale is much floppier than the B on my MPV with a 34” scale.

Mine has Seymore Duncan bass lines…a bit noisy, but the sound is lovely!

Mine is active, so comes really close. The only exception would be where a fretless is preferred.

45-105 Nanowebs

I find it really interesting how we gravitate toward one over another. I have had a chance to try out a number of really nice, top end J basses…most for me were just meh. The right one makes me feel like an extension of my creative will….you just forget it’s there and play music. And I think every one of us would probably choose a different one!

This one…and I once had a 63….

Realistically, how often does a bass totally crap out on a gig? For. Most of us, the issue is more likely having to play a gig with a different bass having your main bass in the shop or stolen. If you really want plug and play, get 2 P basses and go.

I use 3 different basses, each one could serve as a backup, but also work for different types of playing I do. Right now, I am using the fretted 5 for reading charts, the fretless 5 for jazz and older rock/blues, and the fretted 4 for most pub gigs. The MPV 5 needs a couple of neck/headstock cracks sorted before I travel too much with it, but that is my best all-rounder. I would be hard-pressed to find or afford exact backups of any of my basses.

I have not yet been put off by a fingerboard that wasn’t ebony or rosewood. I prefer the ebony feel, but can’t really tell the difference in the others

Got a nice folding bass stand….

Ok….just came into this thread. I float my right thumb most of the time unless it’s muting. My left thumb starts on the back of the neck, but often wanders. For fretless, I try to maintain better lh technique so intonation is better.