why? Fender Bass....
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- Start date
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
WHAT? HATE a Fender Bass?
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Or clubbed with a Telecaster
Col Mustard
Ambassador of Perseverance
I'm a Fender bass guy... I believe the Fender Bass is something that Ol' Leo got right
the first time. I sold my lovely vintage Jazz bass, because I have two others that
do what I need. And I didn't need a valuable old warhorse that might get me targeted
by guitar rustlers.
That old '66 had the best tone and the
most sustain of any instrument I've ever played. Truly a classic, but I actually don't
miss it much... here's why...
My two basses right now are:
a fretless Warmoth J-Bass licensed copy, which gives me a
great snarl and M-wah sound that I can't get with any other instrument:
I built this one out of parts I ordered and screwed together. The walnut P/G and
control cover were hand carved by me. Love this baby... I named her Luretta.
"Oh Luretta she's my bar room girl, wears them sevens on her sleeve.
Dances like a diamond shines, tells me lies I love to believe....
Her age is always thirty two, laughing' eyes of hazel hue.
Spends my money like water falls, loves me like I want her to...." --Townes Van Zandt
My other one is my 1997 ex Squier Precision Bass...
This one I rescued, and rebuilt from a derelict hulk that had moldered away
in a basement for years. I took it to Dave Collins, and he got the neck straight.
Then I gutted it and installed all new good quality parts. I named this one
Raven. She can take her place onstage alongside instruments costing ten times
as much, and not give up a thing. It's no longer a Squier bass, and I sanded off
the decal, and threw away the rusty plate with the serial number.
The Precision bass has been known as a one trick pony, from the days when
a bass was supposed to thump, and that's all. The J-Bass was invented to offer
bassists more tones. But this was long before anyone had any f/x to play
with. Now, with what we have available, the venerable P bass gives up
nothing... its basic good tone can be altered in many ways, or played
straight. It's hard to beat.
The MIC P-Bass is coated in Polyurethane, and is impervious to anything but
hammer blows and bullet hits. The hand built J-Bass is finished in Tung Oil,
and if I scratch it, I can just rub out the scratch, and apply a little more tung oil,
and disappearo. So both are dependable, easy to play, balance perfectly and
give great tone. Maybe they're a little heavier than an Ibanez SR650, but
I'm used to it, and regard the weight as part of the job.
the first time. I sold my lovely vintage Jazz bass, because I have two others that
do what I need. And I didn't need a valuable old warhorse that might get me targeted
by guitar rustlers.
That old '66 had the best tone and the
most sustain of any instrument I've ever played. Truly a classic, but I actually don't
miss it much... here's why...
My two basses right now are:
a fretless Warmoth J-Bass licensed copy, which gives me a
great snarl and M-wah sound that I can't get with any other instrument:
I built this one out of parts I ordered and screwed together. The walnut P/G and
control cover were hand carved by me. Love this baby... I named her Luretta.
"Oh Luretta she's my bar room girl, wears them sevens on her sleeve.
Dances like a diamond shines, tells me lies I love to believe....
Her age is always thirty two, laughing' eyes of hazel hue.
Spends my money like water falls, loves me like I want her to...." --Townes Van Zandt
My other one is my 1997 ex Squier Precision Bass...
This one I rescued, and rebuilt from a derelict hulk that had moldered away
in a basement for years. I took it to Dave Collins, and he got the neck straight.
Then I gutted it and installed all new good quality parts. I named this one
Raven. She can take her place onstage alongside instruments costing ten times
as much, and not give up a thing. It's no longer a Squier bass, and I sanded off
the decal, and threw away the rusty plate with the serial number.
The Precision bass has been known as a one trick pony, from the days when
a bass was supposed to thump, and that's all. The J-Bass was invented to offer
bassists more tones. But this was long before anyone had any f/x to play
with. Now, with what we have available, the venerable P bass gives up
nothing... its basic good tone can be altered in many ways, or played
straight. It's hard to beat.
The MIC P-Bass is coated in Polyurethane, and is impervious to anything but
hammer blows and bullet hits. The hand built J-Bass is finished in Tung Oil,
and if I scratch it, I can just rub out the scratch, and apply a little more tung oil,
and disappearo. So both are dependable, easy to play, balance perfectly and
give great tone. Maybe they're a little heavier than an Ibanez SR650, but
I'm used to it, and regard the weight as part of the job.
Hmmmmm....a bass is a bass to me, as long as it has good tone. I don't get hung up on brand names and all that jazz....
When I was playing contract bass in a 5 night a week ($450.00/week + 15%) blues band, I played a cheap ($60.00 Used) super-lightweight (only 5.0 lbs) Ibanez import for the entire year that I worked for them. That may well be only average exposure to playing bass for many of you, but it is - at the very least - a qualifying experience for the purposes of commenting herein.
I have used that bass on nearly all of my recordings, and on many of the recordings I have done for others. I always had favorable comments on my live and studio tone (never use effects of any kind) and many purists scoffed at the cheap import. But, there really is no magic. Any guitar or bass that handles well and sounds good on a recording would suit my work just fine, regardless of the name on the headstock.
In fact, I have played several Fender 'P' and Jazz Basses recently - including revered artifacts from the 1970's - that didn't measure up to this 'junk' Ibanez in terms of feel and tone, although they were heavier and cost a lot more.
Bass to me is a kind of necessary evil...
When I was playing contract bass in a 5 night a week ($450.00/week + 15%) blues band, I played a cheap ($60.00 Used) super-lightweight (only 5.0 lbs) Ibanez import for the entire year that I worked for them. That may well be only average exposure to playing bass for many of you, but it is - at the very least - a qualifying experience for the purposes of commenting herein.
I have used that bass on nearly all of my recordings, and on many of the recordings I have done for others. I always had favorable comments on my live and studio tone (never use effects of any kind) and many purists scoffed at the cheap import. But, there really is no magic. Any guitar or bass that handles well and sounds good on a recording would suit my work just fine, regardless of the name on the headstock.
In fact, I have played several Fender 'P' and Jazz Basses recently - including revered artifacts from the 1970's - that didn't measure up to this 'junk' Ibanez in terms of feel and tone, although they were heavier and cost a lot more.
Bass to me is a kind of necessary evil...
Six String
Well-Known Member
I have a 68 Jazz bass I got in a trade for cash (3 or $400) I had in a bus a band I was in and we split up. I knew the guy who was settling didn't have that much in it, but took it anyway. (Better then nothing) so I played this thing and found it to be a real Monster! I couldn't tell you why, but knew it had soul and heart.
Well, I've had it for many years now and wanted a good friend to try it. He is a very good player and I respect him and he certainly knows more about the bass then I do. When he played it he noticed there were a few things which weren't original on it but I knew that. He asked if he could take it and replace the screws with ones (original) he thought he had. I had not problem with it.
Well he looked it over and changed some parts (small) and strings (needed) and in looking it over found that the neck has been replace and is a 77 neck on a 68 - 69 body. The neck has some minor fret wear which is to be expected. He still told me that it is still a Monster...
He has had it for a little while and what I thought was going to happen... happened. He fell in love with it! He said he still can't really tell what makes the pups as hot as they are, but they are prolly the hottest pups he's played on a Jazz. He has made a very reasonable offer on her and he is one of only 3 people I would consider selling it to. We have not finalized the deal because I always have trouble parting with my loves. But on the other hand, I don't play much bass anymore so I would rather see her get out again.
I'll let you know how it turns out...........
Well, I've had it for many years now and wanted a good friend to try it. He is a very good player and I respect him and he certainly knows more about the bass then I do. When he played it he noticed there were a few things which weren't original on it but I knew that. He asked if he could take it and replace the screws with ones (original) he thought he had. I had not problem with it.
Well he looked it over and changed some parts (small) and strings (needed) and in looking it over found that the neck has been replace and is a 77 neck on a 68 - 69 body. The neck has some minor fret wear which is to be expected. He still told me that it is still a Monster...
He has had it for a little while and what I thought was going to happen... happened. He fell in love with it! He said he still can't really tell what makes the pups as hot as they are, but they are prolly the hottest pups he's played on a Jazz. He has made a very reasonable offer on her and he is one of only 3 people I would consider selling it to. We have not finalized the deal because I always have trouble parting with my loves. But on the other hand, I don't play much bass anymore so I would rather see her get out again.
I'll let you know how it turns out...........
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Here are 2 reasons for Fender bass. One is like one I own, the white other one, this guy had a luthier make for him.
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chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Great lesson too LOL I am a bass junky.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Listen to Pete WAY rock his Fender bass.