spinynorman Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 You really don't want to settle down. I've done that, entirely by accident, and its quite depressing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Go & try a Dingwall. It might tick all your boxes. Have you tried an Ibanez SR? A few weeks round your local bass shoppes sounds like what's needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Form my PoV the problem is SERIAL GAS. What you need to do is be able live with all the basses you are interested in at the same time. That way you'll soon learn which ones are the ones you keep wanting to play. Then you can sell the rest off and be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Just get a f***ing P Bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bassman7755 Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote name='Shockwave' timestamp='1350132849' post='1834942'] The one thing that does not change is my want to cut through the mix like a knife. [/quote] Why would you want this ?, do you think an audience wants to hear a mix where instruments "cut through" or one where everything is nicely blended ?. [quote] What would suggest I do? [/quote] Make a resolution to never spend more that half as much time thinking about / messing with gear than you do actually playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwave Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1350152696' post='1835282'] Why would you want this ?, do you think an audience wants to hear a mix where instruments "cut through" or one where everything is nicely blended ?. [/quote] Because I want to hear myself and I cant rely on guitarists to sort their sound out. Its how I like to play. Geddy Lee's tone cuts through and sounds awesome. [quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1350152696' post='1835282'] Make a resolution to never spend more that half as much time thinking about / messing with gear than you do actually playing. [/quote] No. Because I play bass more then "mess around". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote name='Shockwave' timestamp='1350153009' post='1835288'] Because I want to hear myself and I cant rely on guitarists to sort their sound out. Its how I like to play. Geddy Lee's tone cuts through and sounds awesome. [/quote] You said you didn't like Geddy Lees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johngh Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote name='Shockwave' timestamp='1350142125' post='1835105'] I have had 3 Status Graphite basses. Sounded pretty dead to my ears, action was good but not as good as the Vigier Passion II's [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visog Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 You've been very privileged. Most of the instruments you cite are pro-level basses that would do a player for a lifetime. I'd stick some dots in front of myself and worry about making some music rather than fine tuning the instrument choice to the fine end of a fart. It doesn't matter in the end... hence the term 'instrument'. It's a conduit, not an end in itself... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwave Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote name='gjones' timestamp='1350153319' post='1835291'] You said you didn't like Geddy Lees. [/quote] I don't like the way they play, sounds pretty good though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Just admit to yourself that you're a gear tart and learn to live with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote name='Shockwave' timestamp='1350154697' post='1835312'] I don't like the way they play, sounds pretty good though. [/quote] Necks can take a bit of getting used to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote name='Shockwave' timestamp='1350153009' post='1835288'] Because I want to hear myself and I cant rely on guitarists to sort their sound out. [/quote] Then you are playing with the wrong musicians. Ditch these losers and find some proper guitarists who know how to play in a band context. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwave Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 Look the one thing I said I was definite about is that I like a cutting tone. If you don't agree or like that tone, then that's your problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote name='Shockwave' timestamp='1350134243' post='1834969'] Pretty sure they mostly make only 35" inches. [/quote] They do now. I have a Spector NS5CR which is 34", all maple construction, wider string spacing and a thicker neck than the post 2000 models and I'd be interested in selling it. Shipping would be a killer though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 I'd swap it for your Kramer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urb Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 IME cutting through the mix is a combination of tone woods on the bass, a quality amp and above all for front of house - a decent sound engineer. The first two on that list are in your control and perhaps the only reason to consider going for a custom bass is it's not just about the look of the instrument but what it's made from and what pickups and pre-amp you have onboard. Obviously this topic had been covered ad nauseum on BC but very simply put a classic and guaranteed recipe for a punchy tone is a maple neck, maple fingerboard, ash body - bolt on - with a poky pre installed and a couple of kick ass pups, get those basics right - wrapped up with a neck that plays beautifully and a comfortable body shape and you have a bass that can should be able to do anything. Personally my three custom basses do so much between them that I know I can get pretty much any tone I want, they all sound and play great and look lovely too... but they are just high spec tools to do a job and that's pretty much all I want to do now - make music. There are a few basses I would love to own and maybe I will own them one day - for now I'm not buying - just looking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 The trick to cutting through is turning up just after sound check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote] Things I KNOW I WANT in a bass.[list] [*]Cutting Tone/distinct growl [*]34" scale [*]Slightly oddball, but not too much! [*]Generally like Maple or ebony fingerboards [*]I like predominantly all maple basses [*]Really low EFFORTLESS/Lazy action [/list] [/quote] Shame you don't like Warwicks as I'd have thought a Streamer Stage 1 would tick those boxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwave Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote name='urb' timestamp='1350157913' post='1835363'] IME cutting through the mix is a combination of tone woods on the bass, a quality amp and above all for front of house - a decent sound engineer. The first two on that list are in your control and perhaps the only reason to consider going for a custom bass is it's not just about the look of the instrument but what it's made from and what pickups and pre-amp you have onboard. Obviously this topic had been covered ad nauseum on BC but very simply put a classic and guaranteed recipe for a punchy tone is a maple neck, maple fingerboard, ash body - bolt on - with a poky pre installed and a couple of kick ass pups, get those basics right - wrapped up with a neck that plays beautifully and a comfortable body shape and you have a bass that can should be able to do anything. Personally my three custom basses do so much between them that I know I can get pretty much any tone I want, they all sound and play great and look lovely too... but they are just high spec tools to do a job and that's pretty much all I want to do now - make music. There are a few basses I would love to own and maybe I will own them one day - for now I'm not buying - just looking [/quote] Thats a very informative post thankyou! Why would a mixture of Ash and Maple be brighter/cutting more so then maple/maple? [quote name='Graham' timestamp='1350158315' post='1835368'] Shame you don't like Warwicks as I'd have thought a Streamer Stage 1 would tick those boxes. [/quote] I have tried, I love what other people can do with them, they just don't sound right when I play them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wil Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 MTD? Wal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwave Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1350155862' post='1835329'] I'd swap it for your Kramer [/quote] I am getting quite a few people telling me to try Spector. Though I doubt the Kramer is worth as much as your Speccy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urb Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote name='Shockwave' timestamp='1350159923' post='1835395'] Thats a very informative post thankyou! Why would a mixture of Ash and Maple be brighter/cutting more so then maple/maple [/quote] From thr sound of my own basses the ash gives the tone clarity the maple warmth and punch - but I'm sure maple and maple would do the job as well - best thing to do is consult a luthier about the best way to achieve the sound you want - it really helps if you have a half decent about this before you go down the custom route - otherwise it's not really worth going down M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote name='silddx' timestamp='1350138967' post='1835051'] You can make almost any bass sound like almost any bass anyway, the importance of the inherent tone of a bass is largely complete bollocks. Feel and looks are another matter, and they are very important. [/quote] Couldn't agree with this more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 [quote name='urb' timestamp='1350157913' post='1835363'] but very simply put a classic and guaranteed recipe for a punchy tone is a maple neck, maple fingerboard, ash body - bolt on - with a poky pre installed and a couple of kick ass pups, get those basics right - wrapped up with a neck that plays beautifully and a comfortable body shape and you have a bass that can should be able to do anything. [/quote] hmmmm to the OP .... go find a good two year fixed rate ISA - stick your money in there. Take £300 or so and buy that Peavey T40 in the sale pages. If you find a blade pup one all the better. Play it exclusively for the next two years... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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