ezbass

Business in the front and a big old Rush party in the back: Geddy's mullet...

I had a 5502 Skyline. I went out fiver shopping and tried many at The Gallery in my price range, the Lakland was the only one that ticked all the boxes (just needed a truss rod tweak from their workshop to make it the winner by far). However, in the band situation live, whilst being totally acceptable and fitting in well, failed to excite. In retrospect, perhaps I should've swapped out the pickups for some Nordys, or something to make it tickle me in all the right places and put that big grin on my face that I need for a keeper. If I were looking fives again, I'd rather like to get a 5501 in cream and swap out the pickups for some Big Singles/Splits. I'm sure my bandmates were shaking their heads when my 5502 went the way of so many other basses (but I don't regret it), but at least I still have the memories in photographic form...

Instrument? Doesn’t matter, but wider string spacing helps to start. Strings? Doesn’t matter, although some prefer a lighter gauge with a low action. I’d go with a clean tone, certainly to start with. Happy, smiley, mid-scoop EQ, to start with. Comp helps, if you have it, but not super important at the start, fast attack, and release to taste. I feel it comes from the wrist, but your forearm can’t help but follow and keep the thumb loose (keep it all loose in fact). The rest is all what you fancy/feel comfy. For me, again, FOR ME, I like to slap against the last couple of frets and pop with my index. The action feels like it’s straight down, 90° to the neck, but given I use a rotation of my wrist/forearm, it’s probably more down & across the string towards the floor. In terms of up and down (double thumbing), I’d stick to down strokes to start with, as double is probably more an advanced technique, but try it if you want, it may feel easy and natural, especially if you’ve used a pick and use alternate up and down picking. As with any new technique, start slow and easy, maybe just thumb with no pop for a while. This is all what I would do, again, WHAT I WOULD DO, there are no hard and fast rules as this is still, in the grand scheme of things, a relatively new technique and there is certainly no right or wrong way to do it. However, watch out for bruising on the side of your thumb (just look at how much tape Mark King puts on his thumb).

Walk Away Reneé - The Left Banke

The only bass that I’ve moved that I wish I hadn’t was an old ‘Ray5. At the time I felt I needed a 5 and listened to some all day, multi band festival on the TV and every time I noticed the bass tone being just right, it was someone using a ‘Ray5, especially Paul Turner with Annie Lennox (hardly scientific, but as good a test as any at the time). The reason I moved it on was one of those, ‘ooh, I’m only going to 4 stringers now’ periods . Predictably, I went back to fivers and, when trying out numerous fivers at The Gallery, the one that shone out above all the the others sonically that they had in my price range, was a used Sterling 5; a single/MM config and it had ‘that sound’. The problem was this wayward G string scenario (it was one of the newer compensated nuts) that I’d never experienced on my old ‘Ray. Obviously, Big Poppa will deny that this is an issue, even though it plainly is. Walked away with a Lakland Skyline 5502, which was eventually moved on as it was a bit ‘beige’ sounding live, got the job done, looked nice, but didn’t excite (should’ve changed the p/ups maybe). As @ped said, keep the Suhr get a ‘Ray5 to go with it, maybe have the nut looked at if the G string is an issue.

You Never Can Tell (C’est La Vie) - Emmylou Harris/ Chuck Berry

Hump De Bump - RHCP

Days - Kirsty McColl

Crazy on You - Heart

Crazy Train - Ozzy (I’m clearly on a public transport vibe today).

Waitin' For The Bus - ZZ Top

They went all arco on its äss.

Very much this. Get that pick out and dig in until your heart’s content.

Minute by Minute - The Doobie Bros

Echo Beach - Martha and the bread products

And hurrah for that! For without it we would have but one band, one fine artist, etc. Also, BC threads would be very short.

Don't Take Me Alive - Steely Dan

One of the best solos ever. References the lyric melody, builds nicely and actually goes somewhere, not just a pentatonic widdlefest.

New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) - Simple Minds

Fool’s Gold - Stone Roses

Todd Rungren's lead tone on Bat Out Of Hell is guilty of this and makes my toes curl.

She's Got The Jack - AC/DC

There is always the Danelectro DC '59 (or Longhorn if you're feeling that way inclined). Might have to upgrade a couple of bits, but they are light. I own 2 Maruszczyk Elwood Ls that I had custom built in 33" scale, both weigh about 3.25 kgs. Their sister brand, Mesinger, also have a few models in 30" scale. https://www.public-peace.de/shop

Working In A Coal Mine - Lee Dorsey