LukeFRC Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 I recently made a setup change on one of my basses that breathed new life into it. It's great, I knew it was a great instrument but it just seems to reward playing it- I've had it and played it for a year and I've still got more to learn about how it reacts, how it sounds in certain positions and right hand attack styles. It made me think. My main bass I had for about 3 years, stuck it up for sale on here a few times too, before I fell in love with it. I wonder for a lot of us if we don't spend enough time with new gear before deciding to move it on? (amps are a whole another thing, with even more knobs!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 I agree with you on this - once I'd learned how to set up a bass properly I loved how my old Westone Spectrum LX sounded and it developed an even better tone after I put some La Bella 'Slappers' on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 Most basses are fine or one wouldn't have bought them in the first place. Give them a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 That`s a very good point there. We seem to be eternally searching for tone nirvana, whereas maybe we should concentrate on the playing and the actual setup of the instrument to get the sounds we want. Raising/lowering the height of pickups can have a real effect on the sound of the bass. Raising the height of the action, even just a half turn can really seem to breathe life into the sound. The opposite also can be true, for my band I need fret-clank on hard hit notes so too high on the action and the bass doesn`t work for me. It`s easy to lust after a new bass/amp/cab but in reality most of these will do what we need. I do a lot of gigs supporting named bands, and at many venues the rigs are provided, and not always super-duper Ampeg stacks I should add. I`m yet to see any of the bassists get the hump about the gear provided, they just get their sound and play. I think we obsess a little too much - not a criticism though, it`s darn good fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 Absolutely agree, but where's the fun in being sensible? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 I pretty much know what to expect and so I've made a good decision over time. I've never bought anything and sold it on in weeks because it didn't work. There tend to be tone bias in things like Maple and RW but anything you buy is on its own merits. I never think all bass models will sound a certain way until I play them. There are so many variations in the same model which is why I tend to groan when people ask which is the best bass... no one knows until you play them in context. I'm a great believer in construction making more of a difference ..or as much as the woods... and the better construction and materials the better. So altho I'm considering another bass, I'll buy it when I find it and if I think I can develop it to be a working bass...Of course, I'll set it up and that is an ongoing thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted November 8, 2015 Author Share Posted November 8, 2015 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1447006449' post='2904105'] I pretty much know what to expect and so I've made a good decision over time. I've never bought anything and sold it on in weeks because it didn't work. There tend to be tone bias in things like Maple and RW but anything you buy is on its own merits. I never think all bass models will sound a certain way until I play them. There are so many variations in the same model which is why I tend to groan when people ask which is the best bass... no one knows until you play them in context. I'm a great believer in construction making more of a difference ..or as much as the woods... and the better construction and materials the better. So altho I'm considering another bass, I'll buy it when I find it and if I think I can develop it to be a working bass...Of course, I'll set it up and that is an ongoing thing. [/quote] I think that's what I'm thinking... you go into a shop and try 20-30 basses or whatever ... and you find one that sings to you and you get that "something" that tells you it's a good instrument.... I think it's then once you have the thing it will take you a while to get to learn it and how it reacts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 I'm not looking for tone nirvana, I just like trying different things. If it wasn't for space and money considerations, I'd keep 'em all I only truly missed one bass I sold, so I bought it back again and this time it's going nowhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lo-E Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1446903772' post='2903369']I wonder for a lot of us if we don't spend enough time with new gear before deciding to move it on? [/quote]I have exactly the opposite problem: I've been playing long enough to have a very good idea of which basses will be great after a good setup, so I buy them and then I NEVER want to let them go! Space is becoming an issue. I'm very lucky to have a forgiving and understanding wife (and an ever-growing stable of great basses). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 (edited) I haven't learnt anything... I still want every nice bass I see regardless of whether it would be of any use to me Edited November 10, 2015 by CamdenRob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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