What bass next?

roberty · February 2023

@stickyfiddle posh mode! Fair play that's a bit more exciting

stickyfiddle · February 2023

And @Bridgehouse has just sent me a pic of something *very* tempting...

Ossyrocks · February 2023

I'd also say Jazz.

My main squeeze is my P Bass, and I had considered selling my Jazz for a while as I was getting so comfortable on the P. But I did a little experimenting and ended up stringing the Jazz with heavier flats than I would normally use, and it really came alive. It's a Mexican Roadworn Series, and I'm now considering a pickup upgrade as I have grown to like it so much to play, but it still lacks a little something when amplified compared with the P (I know it's supposed to be different, but I'd like a bit more output and weight to the tone).

I've found moving between the Jazz (38mm nut) to my vintage P (41mm nut) quite easy, but it is a bit of a leap up to my AVRI P bass (44mm nut). I'm still on the fence about a 44mm nut.

Rob

UnclePsychosis · February 2023

During lockdown I finally admitted to myself that Precisions were the future so bought one and sold my other (active, more modern) stuff.

Then I missed having two basses, so I bought a J.

Be smart, be like me :-)

If you're worried about switching between the two, you could always put a P neck on a J body. Normally the other way round is more common, but it would be easy to do, especially if you are MJTing.

The other obvious alternative to a J is a Stingray. I've always wanted one, being a fan of Bernard Edwards and Tim C but in person I find I don't really like the tone they make.

As for Ricks, spectacularly marmite. I'd be playing some before buying.

stickyfiddle · February 2023

UnclePsychosis said:

During lockdown I finally admitted to myself that Precisions were the future so bought one and sold my other (active, more modern) stuff.

Then I missed having two basses, so I bought a J.

Be smart, be like me :-)

If you're worried about switching between the two, you could always put a P neck on a J body. Normally the other way round is more common, but it would be easy to do, especially if you are MJTing.

The other obvious alternative to a J is a Stingray. I've always wanted one, being a fan of Bernard Edwards and Tim C but in person I find I don't really like the tone they make.

As for Ricks, spectacularly marmite. I'd be playing some before buying.

That's pretty much my entire thinking summarised neatly. I reckon a Jazz (and particularly the one Bridgehouse is offering!) should theoretically be the perfect partner, and I can always try a diff neck on that if needed. My P has a 43mm neck (this is why I like building stuff!) so not such a stupid adjustment.

I can definitely see myself having 4 or 5 in total eventually, but no hurry

Bridgehouse · February 2023

stickyfiddle said:

UnclePsychosis said:

During lockdown I finally admitted to myself that Precisions were the future so bought one and sold my other (active, more modern) stuff.

Then I missed having two basses, so I bought a J.

Be smart, be like me :-)

If you're worried about switching between the two, you could always put a P neck on a J body. Normally the other way round is more common, but it would be easy to do, especially if you are MJTing.

The other obvious alternative to a J is a Stingray. I've always wanted one, being a fan of Bernard Edwards and Tim C but in person I find I don't really like the tone they make.

As for Ricks, spectacularly marmite. I'd be playing some before buying.

That's pretty much my entire thinking summarised neatly. I reckon a Jazz (and particularly the one Bridgehouse is offering!) should theoretically be the perfect partner, and I can always try a diff neck on that if needed. My P has a 43mm neck (this is why I like building stuff!) so not such a stupid adjustment.

I can definitely see myself having 4 or 5 in total eventually, but no hurry

You could drop a CS Precision neck on to my Jazz and apart from the sticker at the top nobody would know

As I said in the PM though, this is a 38mm Jazz neck but it's a more chunky as it's a bit wider at the 12th than others I've played so less 70's pencil and more early 60's "narrow P"

UnclePsychosis · February 2023

The other thing is that vintage spex jazz necks are not *that* skinny anyway.

My 60s vintera is clearly smaller than my P neck but its still a decent handful.

Funkfingers · February 2023

Early Sixties profile P neck on a J body makes for a good instrument. Replace the middle/neck pickup with a split coils P type and you have the Reggie Hamilton signature model. The US model is well worth hunting for.

wellsyboy · February 2023

ICBM said:

stickyfiddle said:

My band is playing a mix of motown, soul, disco, pop and rock and I have no intention of taking multiple basses to a gig, so it'd be nice to have something that could cover that stuff if I wanted (applying the usual caveats of "you can play anything on anything")

With that list it’s got to be a Jazz, although a Rick would do it quite well too.

You could always justify it by putting rounds on one and flats on the other… I would go with flats on the Jazz if you get one, but flats on the P if you get a Rick.

Agree - instinct says Jazz - everyone should have a P and a J !!!

Sporky · March 2023

wellsyboy said:

everyone should have a P and a J !!!

And a pair of PJs.

fretmeister · March 2023

wellsyboy said:

ICBM said:

stickyfiddle said:

My band is playing a mix of motown, soul, disco, pop and rock and I have no intention of taking multiple basses to a gig, so it'd be nice to have something that could cover that stuff if I wanted (applying the usual caveats of "you can play anything on anything")

With that list it’s got to be a Jazz, although a Rick would do it quite well too.

You could always justify it by putting rounds on one and flats on the other… I would go with flats on the Jazz if you get one, but flats on the P if you get a Rick.

Agree - instinct says Jazz - everyone should have a P and a J !!!

and a Stingray.

Whitecat · March 2023

wellsyboy said:

ICBM said:

stickyfiddle said:

My band is playing a mix of motown, soul, disco, pop and rock and I have no intention of taking multiple basses to a gig, so it'd be nice to have something that could cover that stuff if I wanted (applying the usual caveats of "you can play anything on anything")

With that list it’s got to be a Jazz, although a Rick would do it quite well too.

You could always justify it by putting rounds on one and flats on the other… I would go with flats on the Jazz if you get one, but flats on the P if you get a Rick.

Agree - instinct says Jazz - everyone should have a P and a J !!!

With Duncans?

dazzajl · March 2023

Of course the right answer is a Jazz. The right answer isn’t always the most interesting or fun though. Given the type of music you might be playing, something hollow or short scale to give you that gorgeous warm thud sound might be worth a thought.

stickyfiddle · March 2023

dazzajl said:

Of course the right answer is a Jazz. The right answer isn’t always the most interesting or fun though. Given the type of music you might be playing, something hollow or short scale to give you that gorgeous warm thud sound might be worth a thought.

Yeah, feels like good advice

Long-term I really fancy an EB2 and a Ric as well but I don't feel like either of those are going to tick the box for the pop stuff in the same way

dazzajl · March 2023

stickyfiddle said:

dazzajl said:

Of course the right answer is a Jazz. The right answer isn’t always the most interesting or fun though. Given the type of music you might be playing, something hollow or short scale to give you that gorgeous warm thud sound might be worth a thought.

Yeah, feels like good advice

Long-term I really fancy an EB2 and a Ric as well but I don't feel like either of those are going to tick the box for the pop stuff in the same way

There are lots of great basses that will add to what you have but if you hold out for something as do all and practical as your P bass, you’ll end up with another P bass.

Still by far the best Jack of all trades there is

stickyfiddle · March 2023

dazzajl said:

stickyfiddle said:

dazzajl said:

Of course the right answer is a Jazz. The right answer isn’t always the most interesting or fun though. Given the type of music you might be playing, something hollow or short scale to give you that gorgeous warm thud sound might be worth a thought.

Yeah, feels like good advice

Long-term I really fancy an EB2 and a Ric as well but I don't feel like either of those are going to tick the box for the pop stuff in the same way

There are lots of great basses that will add to what you have but if you hold out for something as do all and practical as your P bass, you’ll end up with another P bass. Still by far the best Jack of all trades there is

I'm very aware that this is a possibility. I bloody love that thing. At least one more with rounds on it will probably happen eventually...

dazzajl · March 2023

A solid F bass with 900 year old flats on is a glorious thing indeed.

stickyfiddle · March 2023

dazzajl said:

A solid F bass with 900 year old flats on is a glorious thing indeed.

Yeah 100%

Though I caught myself in the car earlier listening to Like A Prayer and thinking about trebly sloppy nonsense with vaguely positive emotions. I think I may be becoming... a bass player...

dazzajl · March 2023

stickyfiddle said:

dazzajl said:

A solid F bass with 900 year old flats on is a glorious thing indeed.

Yeah 100%

Though I caught myself in the car earlier listening to Like A Prayer and thinking about trebly sloppy nonsense with vaguely positive emotions. I think I may be becoming... a bass player...

Just to help matters, Like A Prayer was played on a P apparently;)

UnclePsychosis · March 2023

I am intrigued as to why @icbm would put flats on the jazz and rounds on a P, and not the other way round though.

stickyfiddle · March 2023

dazzajl said:

stickyfiddle said:

dazzajl said:

A solid F bass with 900 year old flats on is a glorious thing indeed.

Yeah 100%

Though I caught myself in the car earlier listening to Like A Prayer and thinking about trebly sloppy nonsense with vaguely positive emotions. I think I may be becoming... a bass player...

Just to help matters, Like A Prayer was played on a P apparently;)

It was Guy Pratt on a Spector (PJ pickups, active, I think?) with an octave pedal. And that’s about the most bright/poppy thing I can imagine wanting to do. I can’t stand the Jaco/Marcus Miller etc stuff

ICBM · March 2023

UnclePsychosis said:

I am intrigued as to why @icbm would put flats on the jazz and rounds on a P, and not the other way round though.

Rounds on the P for maximum aggression, flats on the J for maximum smooth. The other way round won’t be such a contrast.

stickyfiddle · March 2023

ICBM said:

UnclePsychosis said:

I am intrigued as to why @icbm would put flats on the jazz and rounds on a P, and not the other way round though.

Rounds on the P for maximum aggression, flats on the J for maximum smooth. The other way round won’t be such a contrast.

Thing is that would require taking the flats off the P, which isn't likely. So I'll need another P, clearly

dazzajl · March 2023

stickyfiddle said:

dazzajl said:

stickyfiddle said:

dazzajl said:

A solid F bass with 900 year old flats on is a glorious thing indeed.

Yeah 100%

Though I caught myself in the car earlier listening to Like A Prayer and thinking about trebly sloppy nonsense with vaguely positive emotions. I think I may be becoming... a bass player...

Just to help matters, Like A Prayer was played on a P apparently;)

It was Guy Pratt on a Spector (PJ pickups, active, I think?) with an octave pedal. And that’s about the most bright/poppy thing I can imagine wanting to do. I can’t stand the Jaco/Marcus Miller etc stuff

That sounds researched so I’ll go with that. My girls mum is friends with guy and was on the phone when you posted about LAP, so I asked and she said ‘some kind of P bass’. Lazy journalism on my part.

Jaco was the greatest by the way

Sporky · March 2023

Perilously close to four pages and no purchase...

Bridgehouse · March 2023

Sporky said:

Perilously close to four pages and no purchase...

Oh he’s working on that - as am I….

stickyfiddle · March 2023

dazzajl said:

stickyfiddle said:

dazzajl said:

stickyfiddle said:

dazzajl said:

A solid F bass with 900 year old flats on is a glorious thing indeed.

Yeah 100%

Though I caught myself in the car earlier listening to Like A Prayer and thinking about trebly sloppy nonsense with vaguely positive emotions. I think I may be becoming... a bass player...

Just to help matters, Like A Prayer was played on a P apparently;)

It was Guy Pratt on a Spector (PJ pickups, active, I think?) with an octave pedal. And that’s about the most bright/poppy thing I can imagine wanting to do. I can’t stand the Jaco/Marcus Miller etc stuff

That sounds researched so I’ll go with that. My girls mum is friends with guy and was on the phone when you posted about LAP, so I asked and she said ‘some kind of P bass’. Lazy journalism on my part.

Jaco was the greatest by the way

Only cos I've been watching his vids on YouTube recently.

stickyfiddle · March 2023

Sporky said:

Perilously close to four pages and no purchase...

As if I need further encouragement

It's hard to GAS quickly when all the good shops are 2000+ miles away!

Sporky · March 2023

Stingray, obvs.

Or a Thunderbird bass, on looks alone.

dazzajl · March 2023

stickyfiddle said:
Only cos I've been watching his vids on YouTube recently.

You know, I’ve seen that one *face palm*

Loved the lockdown licks stuff. Like a four stringed Ronnie Corbett

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