Dom in Dorset Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 We were tidying up recording for my band's demo last night and it occurred to me that I used three basses on four tracks. Fretless (active 5 string), fretted Jazz and the fretted side of my twin neck (it has my preferred slap tone, I only play anything resembling slap on one number) These days I tend to just take the Jazz out to gigs unless we have a good long unhurried set with a good sound man. Is this unusual? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I take one bass in both situations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomE Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Dom in Somerset' timestamp='1326370821' post='1496112'] We were tidying up recording for my band's demo last night and it occurred to me that I used three basses on four tracks. Fretless (active 5 string), fretted Jazz and the fretted side of my twin neck (it has my preferred slap tone, I only play anything resembling slap on one number) These days I tend to just take the Jazz out to gigs unless we have a good long unhurried set with a good sound man. Is this unusual? [/quote] Its not unusual la la la la la la la. Couldn't resist it. I mainly gig one bass at the moment despite having a few to choose from. Really down to being lazy. Edited January 12, 2012 by BottomE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I usually find that one of my basses suits a particular project more than the others (usually JM4 with flats for mellower stuff, Stingray with rounds for rocking out!) so will have a good idea before any session/gig which bass I want with me. Always take a spare just in case, but rarely find myself swapping in the studio, and never live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_S Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 One good 'un and one downtuned cheapo to most gigs (downtuned cheapo doubles as my backup) and two similar good 'uns (one and a backup) to the studio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Dom in Somerset' timestamp='1326370821' post='1496112'] Is this unusual? [/quote] Not really. I guess it depends on what you're doing really but if you're looking for the particular sounds that those basses offer you to suit the recording then anything goes. You might find that the bass you use for gigs also suits the type of sound you would like on your recordings. Conversly, you might prefer to use a cheaper bass live that you can afford to knock about a bit and the bass with your preferred sound is kept at home with the family silver. There are a lot of recordings that use several different bass sounds on one track. One that springs to mind is "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica. I don't know if you've seen the video but they play a plethora of guitars on that recording, each with a sound that suits one particular part of the recording. Edited January 12, 2012 by EdwardHimself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitz666 Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 As we change tuning on about half of our songs and I really cannot get on with a 5 string, I take two basses to gigs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial]Live and studio work have totally different demands. On record I would use as many basses as you need to get the sound you want. Many studio subtleties are lost in a live situation and the “performance” is more important so it’s probably better to use fewer instruments on a gig.[/font][/color][/size][color=#222222][font=Arial][size=1][/size][/font][/color] [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial] [/font][/color][/size][color=#222222][font=Arial][size=1][/size][/font][/color] [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial]When I record I mostly use the Wal because it has the best recorded sound but on a gig, as I don’t often get FOH support, I just play the Lull. It sounds best in a good, bad or noisy mix. [/font][/color][/size][color=#222222][font=Arial][size=1][/size][/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Just the Precision for both mainly. I know it will always work. I've used my Retrovibe Rickenfaker back up on one recorded track as a tester and I use it at smaller gigs where I'm more likely to bash the headstock on someone/something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 In the studio I'll take as many basses as I think I'll need plus a couple more just for luck. I've been known to do different sections of the same song using different basses. Live in an ideal situation with a nice big stage and an efficient road crew I'd do the same. However in the reality of the small pub and club gigs I'm doing at the moment I'll take the one and a backup if there's room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shizznit Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 (edited) I used to take a P-bass and something a bit more boutique so that I had a bit of variety. Since I bought the Lakland 55-02 it does both of those jobs and then some, so I generally only take that with me these days. I typically stick to one tone with one bass for an entire session for consistency and time saving reasons. The studio can be a playground for experimentation and you can explore lots of tones and sounds with as many basses, amps and effects that you want, but time is money and I am a firm believer that it should be used as sensibly and efficiently as possible (especially when you have to pay for the studio time yourself!) **edit** (forgot to respond to the second part of the question!) Live - I normally take two basses. One to use for the gig and one as a back up in case #1 goes pear shaped or goes grossly out of tune by bumping into a band member! It's the condom theory...I would rather have one on me and not use it rather than not having one and need to use it! Edited January 12, 2012 by shizznit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Studio - I'll take whatever suits the sound required (P-Bass, Jazz, Hofner "Beatle" bass, Stingray fretted or fretless, Rickenbacker, etc). Live - I usually take a couple - one for the main body of the work (usually J-Bass or P-Bass) and the second bass as a backup. I've never had a string break on me during a gig, but you never know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Live, I take 1 fretted (Jazz usually) and 1 Fretless (Jazz) If I break a string I can get by in the whole set on either. Studio, I usually know what I'm going to a session for and take whats required, if I don't own it I'll hire it. For my home studio I have the entire selection below and this is where I do most recording these days. I prefer people to send me stems and I just overdub and send files back, much easier for all concerned ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I used to use my fretless Jazz, but have now gone over to using a fretless Maya Pbass as it just has more oomph. That said, their have been recording with both now for the tracks I've been recording over the past few months. The Maya will also get used for gigs - try as I might, the Jazz just sounds too thin and reedy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 For gigs, I take two - my Fender 77 Precision, and my Squier CV 60s Precision. For the studio - just take the 77. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I take one bass guitar or the double bass to gigs (never needed both so far), recording I use the double bass or a 4-string with rounds or a 4 with flats, but can't see myself needing any more basses than that, it's all the bass guitar sounds I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
risingson Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I always use my Lakland Darryl Jones 4 live, and exclusively on our new second album. But in the past I've owned a P-Bass, a Jazz, and have used a Hofner Violin '67, a Warwick Corvette, amongst a few others for recording with. Once I'm in a better financial situation, I'd like another P-Bass for in the studio. A good P is an indispensable studio instrument to have, it beds a track so incredibly well and sounds just great on most recordings. I'd also like a really decent Jazz 5'er for the studio like a Sadowsky. And finally, if money were no object, I'd buy myself an Ampeg B15 Portaflex! We've got a really good mic cupboard now, and I'd love to hear our Neumann U87 on a B15 with a P-Bass strung with flats. I can dream Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDWagstaff Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Bands 1st recording: 4 Basses: 35" 6 string, 34" 5 jazz copy, 4 string, fretless I only ended up using the 6 string and 4 string 2nd Recording: 1 Bass, 5 string Yamaha + Aguilar Pre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 [quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1326372875' post='1496168'] Its not unusual la la la la la la la. Couldn't resist it. I mainly gig one bass at the moment despite having a few to choose from. Really down to being lazy. [/quote] This, very much so. And as for studios, I also use the one in my garage, where all my instruments live, send me your mp3s and I will overdub and send you back a stem to sync back in yourself. (Although when I do get dragged to a real studio, I take a P-bass, fretted or fretless depending on the job) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 for our last CD I took along: 1981 Precision with EMG pickup & D-tuner 2003 Highway 1 Jazz with J-retro Peavey cheapo 5 string something or other NS-design CR5M upright Ashbory 'rubberjohnnie' bass I used them all except the Peavey as the precison sounded better - I detuned & overdubbed the lower than low E notes that I thought I needed the Peavey for. Live I'd usually just take one along - mostly my mustang. Any songs where I'd normally use a 5-string or D-tuner I just play that note in the higher octave - no one has complained so far. In case of catastrophic bass failure, for further-away gigs I often bring the ashbory and keep it in the car so at least I can fetch it & make some bassy noise if anything happens to my 'proper' bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12stringbassist Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 For gigs usually 3 (either a set of active basses or passive). In the studio it's been 4 basses 12string, Fender P, Ric 4003, Warwick Streamer. Have also used a fretless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted January 12, 2012 Author Share Posted January 12, 2012 I built the twin to get around the problems of switching basses mid gig, about a year later I got the Jazz . I feel guilty if I don't regularly use the Jazz, I'll often play it at a gig , come home then play it unplugged for a while , I'm that smitten. I suspect that my studio set up might slim down over time ,I only used the active 5 fretless because I haven't had it long and wanted to give it an outing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROConnell Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 (edited) Playing live, I take two. In the Recording Studio, I also take 2. I like the different tones from each bass...that and I only have 2 basses! Edited January 12, 2012 by ROConnell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I'm taking two basses to the studio next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Just the two j5's.... they can sound very different or pretty close but I'll favour one over the other down to a nuance or whim on the day... they are my main working basses and that is why I have them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.