BASSically annoyed.
- Thread starter eSGEe
- Start date
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Adrian, I flat out love that guy. My first exposure to him was in F Gump and he has been a great dude to me ever since. He is a pretty generous philanthropist too if I am not mistaken.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Geddy Lee and His Lucky Find in Kalamazoo
You never know what fate will do in the city of Kalamazoo. No one knows this better than Prog Rock legend, Geddy Lee of Rush. For Lee, his muse was sitting in a pawn shop in the form of a 1972 Fender Jazz bass. $200 later they're still making beautiful music together.
You never know what fate will do in the city of Kalamazoo. No one knows this better than Prog Rock legend, Geddy Lee of Rush. For Lee, his muse was sitting in a pawn shop in the form of a 1972 Fender Jazz bass. $200 later they're still making beautiful music together.
Played a lot of 'P' and 'J' basses over the years, as it seems like every studio has several of each as a rental. They never grabbed me. They were comfortable to play seated and got the job done, but I can't say that any one of them produced any kind of magical tones...
Back in 1984, Dad decided to buy a bass for the studio. We tried out hundreds of basses, Fender's, Rickenbacker's, Peavey's, Gibson's, you name it, and some of these were relics from the 1960's/1970's and some were brand new circa 1984 and none of them had what I would describe as a really good feel and tone. That's not my opinion alone, but the opinion of Mom's steel guitarist - Rick Davis - a session player and bassist for hire too. Rick had several custom-made basses, and he worked professionally as a bassist full-time, so we valued his opinion.
Rick walked up and handed me this -then new - 1984 Electra Westone MIJ bass and asked me to play it. The guitar was super light - something we were hunting for - and the feel was totally different from all the other basses we had been playing.
The first thing I noticed on this bass was how you could really hit the strings and it didn't rattle. I noticed that immediately. Secondly, you could dial up a very, very deep tone and it never got muddy. We bought that bass and it has worked in Mom's studio and her live shows as recently as 2011.
Many years later, when I found myself needing a bass, I borrowed a very old Fender 'P' bass, said to have been a 'Holy Grail' from Capitol Studio's 'loft' and used on several of Elvis' and Sinatra's recordings. Quite frankly, I was unimpressed to say the least, which is common to my experience with vintage relics - i am not one of those who become enamored by a vintage instrument and blinded to all of it's shortcomings.
So, I played this relic basd for a short time while searching for another bass and I also considered having one custom made. One night, a couple of years ago, I stopped by a club in Olde Towne Temecula to see a musical pal's band playing. They invited me up and the bassist handed me his Ibanez '924' Musician Bass. I remember being instantly impressed with the feel and tone. I even snapped pics of it. Serial number was G8058**. I recall the only thing I did not like was it's weight - it was super heavy - but I liked everything else about it.
So, I kinda started looking at Ibanez basses.
I soon ended up performing set up on a 'SR' Ibanez bass for a local music store and I considered buying it. It had great feel, AND it was also light weight, but it had been sold in advance of the setup. So, I snapped some pics and started poking around to see if I could find another one.
I didn't realize it at the time but I liked a 34" scale length.
I don't get enamored/blinded/awestruck by 1958/1959 Les Pauls (Insert Holy Grail Here) - and I have played plenty of them that colleagues have sacrificed to purchase. I am yet to find an 'old' guitar that doesn't play like an 'old guitar,' so I chose function over hype, name brand, or vintage whatever.
My number one concerns for an instrument are:
1. Quiet Operation For Recording
2. Tuning Stability & Accurate Intonation
3. That It Earns Me Money On A Regular Basis
With these things in mind, I moved forward.
I found an add on Craigslist for some old amps and music equipment. I stopped by the guy's home and he had this red Ibanez bass laying on his workbench, with power tools piled on top of it. I plugged in to his amp and played it a little and again, not just the tone and feel, but the incredible lightness just grabbed me. $60.00 changed hands and it was mine.
I took it home, cleaned it up a little, filled some of the deep chips/chunks with red nail polish and clear and took it to rehearsal. I never even changed the strings on it and the ball ends had turned green. It just had such a great - loud tone - without the strings ever buzzing or flopping, despite having (measurably) lower action than any of the others I evaluated.
I threw a set of Dunlop Straplocks on it and used my homemade (circa 1980) non-adjustable Stratocaster strap.
It kind of reminded me of Burton's Aria Pro II in that it was a super-simple layout and comfortable to play seated, and very, very lightweight.
I also added the 'THANK YOU' message that most of my guitars have displayed since 1982.
So, for about a year, this bass and I worked 5 days/nights a week for a blues troupe, playing venues all over California and even making the pilgrimage to Chicago for a special engagement. I never broke the original strings that came on the guitar, even though I was packing a spare set of Ernie Ball 105's with me at all times. I finally broke down and replaced the strings a couple of weeks ago.
For the year that I played this in the troupe, I was earning $450/week + 15% of the tips, CD sales, etc. Figuring 52 weeks in a calendar year, and just concentrating on my retainer alone, I earned $23,400.00 with this $60.00 Ibanez import.
Had a lot of fun too...
I doubt that I would have earned a single dollar more from a vintage Fender P or Jazz Bass, or had any more fun than I did with this junker.
In the end, forget all about the brand loyalty hype. Play what feels right and sounds best, regardless of who produced it...
Back in 1984, Dad decided to buy a bass for the studio. We tried out hundreds of basses, Fender's, Rickenbacker's, Peavey's, Gibson's, you name it, and some of these were relics from the 1960's/1970's and some were brand new circa 1984 and none of them had what I would describe as a really good feel and tone. That's not my opinion alone, but the opinion of Mom's steel guitarist - Rick Davis - a session player and bassist for hire too. Rick had several custom-made basses, and he worked professionally as a bassist full-time, so we valued his opinion.
Rick walked up and handed me this -then new - 1984 Electra Westone MIJ bass and asked me to play it. The guitar was super light - something we were hunting for - and the feel was totally different from all the other basses we had been playing.
The first thing I noticed on this bass was how you could really hit the strings and it didn't rattle. I noticed that immediately. Secondly, you could dial up a very, very deep tone and it never got muddy. We bought that bass and it has worked in Mom's studio and her live shows as recently as 2011.
Many years later, when I found myself needing a bass, I borrowed a very old Fender 'P' bass, said to have been a 'Holy Grail' from Capitol Studio's 'loft' and used on several of Elvis' and Sinatra's recordings. Quite frankly, I was unimpressed to say the least, which is common to my experience with vintage relics - i am not one of those who become enamored by a vintage instrument and blinded to all of it's shortcomings.
So, I played this relic basd for a short time while searching for another bass and I also considered having one custom made. One night, a couple of years ago, I stopped by a club in Olde Towne Temecula to see a musical pal's band playing. They invited me up and the bassist handed me his Ibanez '924' Musician Bass. I remember being instantly impressed with the feel and tone. I even snapped pics of it. Serial number was G8058**. I recall the only thing I did not like was it's weight - it was super heavy - but I liked everything else about it.
So, I kinda started looking at Ibanez basses.
I soon ended up performing set up on a 'SR' Ibanez bass for a local music store and I considered buying it. It had great feel, AND it was also light weight, but it had been sold in advance of the setup. So, I snapped some pics and started poking around to see if I could find another one.
I didn't realize it at the time but I liked a 34" scale length.
I don't get enamored/blinded/awestruck by 1958/1959 Les Pauls (Insert Holy Grail Here) - and I have played plenty of them that colleagues have sacrificed to purchase. I am yet to find an 'old' guitar that doesn't play like an 'old guitar,' so I chose function over hype, name brand, or vintage whatever.
My number one concerns for an instrument are:
1. Quiet Operation For Recording
2. Tuning Stability & Accurate Intonation
3. That It Earns Me Money On A Regular Basis
With these things in mind, I moved forward.
I found an add on Craigslist for some old amps and music equipment. I stopped by the guy's home and he had this red Ibanez bass laying on his workbench, with power tools piled on top of it. I plugged in to his amp and played it a little and again, not just the tone and feel, but the incredible lightness just grabbed me. $60.00 changed hands and it was mine.
I took it home, cleaned it up a little, filled some of the deep chips/chunks with red nail polish and clear and took it to rehearsal. I never even changed the strings on it and the ball ends had turned green. It just had such a great - loud tone - without the strings ever buzzing or flopping, despite having (measurably) lower action than any of the others I evaluated.
I threw a set of Dunlop Straplocks on it and used my homemade (circa 1980) non-adjustable Stratocaster strap.
It kind of reminded me of Burton's Aria Pro II in that it was a super-simple layout and comfortable to play seated, and very, very lightweight.
I also added the 'THANK YOU' message that most of my guitars have displayed since 1982.
So, for about a year, this bass and I worked 5 days/nights a week for a blues troupe, playing venues all over California and even making the pilgrimage to Chicago for a special engagement. I never broke the original strings that came on the guitar, even though I was packing a spare set of Ernie Ball 105's with me at all times. I finally broke down and replaced the strings a couple of weeks ago.
For the year that I played this in the troupe, I was earning $450/week + 15% of the tips, CD sales, etc. Figuring 52 weeks in a calendar year, and just concentrating on my retainer alone, I earned $23,400.00 with this $60.00 Ibanez import.
Had a lot of fun too...
I doubt that I would have earned a single dollar more from a vintage Fender P or Jazz Bass, or had any more fun than I did with this junker.
In the end, forget all about the brand loyalty hype. Play what feels right and sounds best, regardless of who produced it...
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Not all are great - like everything else - some are very lacking in tone and feel. It really is a case-by-case basis evaluation, IMHO anyways.
I would wager that your Peavey basses are far better built than the average fender 'P' or 'J' Basses out there. Once some guys get bitten by the brand loyalty bug, they can't be swayed, even when a better product crosses their path.
Good that you keep your eyes - and ears - open...
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Robert, I almost bought one of these
but in black I think it was. I had a choice of 2 models ( 4 or 5 string) or the first Fender I got which I later sold to buy my Squier P.
but in black I think it was. I had a choice of 2 models ( 4 or 5 string) or the first Fender I got which I later sold to buy my Squier P.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Not on your life.............. TOOO damn cold. PLUS down from where my other home is in SUNNY, WARM DAYTONA beach, Our STATE is known for a few GOOD bands as well. Tom Petty and if I am not mistaken, Lynryd Skynyrd
Robert, I almost bought one of these
but in black I think it was. I had a choice of 2 models ( 4 or 5 string) or the first Fender I got which I later sold to buy my Squier P.
It's a decent bass. very light, less than 5-1/2 pounds.
OP
eSGEe
Ferengi Ambassador of Trade
I should have specified the mixer or sound man or studio owner has those there because its s safe "go to" for them when some guy with a peavey t 40 walks in and obliterates their mixNot all are great - like everything else - some are very lacking in tone and feel. It really is a case-by-case basis evaluation, IMHO anyways.
I would wager that your Peavey basses are far better built than the average fender 'P' or 'J' Basses out there. Once some guys get bitten by the brand loyalty bug, they can't be swayed, even when a better product crosses their path.
Good that you keep your eyes - and ears - open...
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
I saw Aldo open for Blue Oyster Cult back in the early 80's
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Check out this guys chops, adjustments and TONE. I know, I know, Robert. The Fenders are nothing "special"
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chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels