Choosing Gig Bass

[Bassman1974]

A nice problem to have I guess..

 

We have a 1/2 hour slot tonight at a local charity gig, and I'm really struggling to choose a bass to play. 

 

*I'll be plugging direct into the PA.

*We've keys, drums and the guitarist uses a Strat

*There's a mix of 70's rock and slower stuff

*Choices are: MIA Precision / MIA Jazz / Ric 4003 / Vintage Hofner 500/1. I like them all in equal measure.

 

I do wonder if a Fender might be better as I'll be coming through the PA?

 

Cheers. It's maybe a silly question, but I'd like to get the sound just right.

Edited November 11, 2023 by Bassman1974
The usual grammar errors

[SurroundedByManatees]

I think all would do well. Personally I would take the precision based on sound characteristics.

[nilorius]

I would go for MIA jazz.

[Owen]

What matches your outfit?

[Bassman1974]

16 minutes ago, Owen said:

What matches your outfit?

Probably the FG Ric with this shirt..

[gjones]

If you're going through the PA I'd go for the Jazz. It's more likely to be heard out front, as the other basses you mention can sound a bit muddy without a bit of EQ.

 

Edit: but that Ric does look great!

Edited November 11, 2023 by gjones

[Bleat]

I personally hate the things, but I think a Jazz bass would maybe compliment a strat better. Also will cover varying styles of music and cut through a mix pretty well.  

[pbasspecial]

Take your 2 favourites and then make a final decision after your sound check. The one you don’t play can then be your back up. 

[Bassman1974]

34 minutes ago, nilorius said:

I would go for MIA jazz.

It actually has the purest sound out of them all after fitting Toneriders and 250k pots and oil cap. 

[Owen]

17 minutes ago, Bassman1974 said:

Probably the FG Ric with this shirt..

There it is!

[Rayman]

P bass works for everything. If in doubt, it’s the only choice.

 

 I never really believed that statement, until I saw Brand New Heavies live a few years ago. Andrew Levy was struggling to punch through the mix with various super jazz type basses. He glanced across to his tech mid song and said something. Tech comes out with his MIJ P bass….. BOOM……. there’s the sound. He stuck with it for the rest of the gig, much to the delight of the dancing crowd. Honestly….. a lot of people noticed the difference.

 

The Precision bass really is an amazing instrument.

[Baloney Balderdash]

I'd be inclined to suggest the P Bass.

 

That said out of those options the Hofner, according to my personal preferences at least, would be likely to sound best going straight DI to the PA without any amp or cab emulator/sim. 

 

Edited November 11, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash

[Paul S]

They are all good, just different.  Take the one you fancy playing.  No need to over think it IMO.

[Dad3353]

Take them all, and swap basses at every song change. If possible have a 'tech' bring you the next bass between numbers, so that folk notice that you've swapped basses. Be a rock star. 

Edited November 11, 2023 by Dad3353

[Lozz196]

Precision is probably the easiest to get a workable sound from. 

[EssentialTension]

2 hours ago, Bassman1974 said:

Probably the FG Ric with this shirt..

 

Mmmmmmm ... country ... & ... western ... perfect

 

 

[Bassman1974]

4 minutes ago, EssentialTension said:

 

Mmmmmmm ... country ... & ... western ... perfect

 

 

Oh yeah,

 

Not my kinda music, but it just screams mid 70's American country

[EssexBuccaneer]

51 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

Take them all, and swap basses at every song change. If possible have a 'tech' bring you the next bass between numbers, so that folk notice that you've swapped basses. Be a rock star. 

I’ve got 3 gigging basses for 3 different tunings in our set. 
 

I don’t yet have a tech to bring me the next bass, but maybe one day 😆

[neepheid]

I'm in the "whatever matches your shirt/phase of the moon/whim and fancy" camp.  Take whichever one is saying "pick me" to you the loudest and enjoy!

[Baloney Balderdash]

2 hours ago, Baloney Balderdash said:

I'd be inclined to suggest the P Bass.

 

That said out of those options the Hofner, according to my personal preferences at least, would be likely to sound best going straight DI to the PA without any amp or cab emulator/sim. 

 

This might be obvious, but would be a good idea if you tried going DI at home or your band rehearsal space with all your basses before the gig, so you can decide for yourself which you think sounds best going straight DI.

 

This could be done if you own a set of studio grade headphones, which basically just means FRFR (Full Range Flat Response) headphones (regular "Hi-Fi" headphones will usually have certain frequencies boosted, especially bass, which would not really resemble what you would usually hear from a PA), or a set of studio monitors, which would also resemble the approximate FRFR of a typical PA (or of course if you got a PA system yourself or at the band rehearsal space).

 

Edited November 11, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash

[miles'tone]

I'd take the Hofner because I've never played one 😄

[chris_b]

I'd take the 2 basses I'd want to play (in my case the P and the J) and make the decision after trying both during the sound check.

[bassbiscuits]

P bass. Easiest thing to get to sound good with minimum of fuss and every soundman in the world is familiar with one. 

[Bassman1974]

Thanks all,

 

I ended up going with the Hofner. It just felt right when I tried it out this afternoon.

Edited November 11, 2023 by Bassman1974
Spelling correction

[nilorius]

3 minutes ago, Bassman1974 said:

Thanks all,

 

I ended up going with the Hofner. It just felt right when I tried it out this afternoon.

Let it be !