Vanheusen77

I love this concept!

I like the look of them, but I agree the idea of a passive stingray is a bit wierd. Again, I love the purist conceptual part of it, but in reality the sound you hear on Vulfpeck records sounds like it has a massive low frequency eq boost. Same thing with a passive J on the back pickup only. It’s a sound that’s cool in theory but for most practical purposes it’s just not supportive enough without a lot of processing. But what do I know? Jaco didn’t let any of this stop him!

Haha, the classic fall back plan!

I heard this interview on “Basgasten” with Robin Mullarkey (the guy who plays with Jacob Collier) and he mentioned that he would like to do more sessions but that there were other guys who did most of those Abbey Road type gigs, movie scores etc. Who are these players?

I like the new red BB! My biggest wishes for the future generations: lighter weight (maybe chambered like the new Yamaha guitars) and perhaps even more stripped down versions with only the P pickup.

”Bite” is, like most adjectives in music very subjective. To me, a P bass with round wounds played in anger (preferably with a pick, but finger style works too) is one of the most aggressive bass sounds there is. A Stingray for example have more treble, but less of those scratchy grinding mids. Same with a J bass. A PJ might be an idea but like you said, it’s better to just buy another bass rather than mod your favourite. A lot is eq actually, so a preamp or eq pedal might do wonders. And of course roundwounds is the way to go.

Probably a lot of factors in his downfall. Ironically his sound has been very popular the last 25 years.

As a huge fan of both his sound and playing… If he would have played a Wal with stainless steel string people would have called that a “classic vintage Motown sound”. From all accounts he was not a gear nerd at all. He just got out there and bought whatever bass that was the most functional and established electric bass that he could find. Another counterfactual: If Sir Paul had not on a whim bought that Hofner, no musician today would even have heard of that brand (and I appreciate the Hofner sound).

If you really want the Sherwood green P and can afford it then I say sell the Sandberg and get it! Sandbergs are great but personally I feel they are better off being their own thing rather than trying to mod it into a vintage Fender. Then after a while if you get tired of the Sherwood green P, you can send it to me!

I would try before buy because the sound is very different from more traditional designs If this is your first stingray. I would definitely get the new series of specials because of the light weight.

I own and have played several BBP and Sandberg California TT basses (active and passive). Build quality is about the same - really good! Maybe slight advantage to the Yamahas for the generally super solid feel. The Yamahas are about the same weight as new Fenders, the Sandbergs are slightly below that I would say. The Sandberg TT’s sound a lot like classic jazz basses to me (especially the passive). The Yamaha BB sounds a bit more “unique”. Whether that is a plus or minus is a matter of taste. The necks are both very comfortable. The Yamaha neck is slightly wider, but not like a P bass.

I’ve had a lot of passive BB’s. If you are after a Fender then nothing else will satisfy that itch. Personally, I like the Yamahas as much or more. I sometimes think the BB’s get unfairly criticised for not sounding enough like a jazz or P. They have their own great sound and feel! I never felt I needed the active preamp on my passive BB’s.

Yes, having an engineer that is competent and knows the music really helps in my experience.

Looks like the P is starting to look like a winner in this poll (happens quite often in my experience). If you on top of that factor in the Yamaha BB votes that was for P pickup only, it’s starting to look like a landslide. I might have to do a new “P-off” between a BB and the Fender at some point! Thanks everyone!

I also should have made separate options for Yamaha both pickups, and Yamaha P pickup only….