OliverBlackman
-
Posts
2,302 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Shop
Articles
Everything posted by OliverBlackman
-
Bonus points to whoever can correctly guess what style of Fender bass each one is
-
Bass Comparison.mp3 So I have found myself in a cool position where I have three different basses at three totally different price points, and I thought wouldn't it be fun to get people to try and guess which bass is which. All 3 are Fender style passive basses and the prices are for a new bass of equivalent model today rather than when i bought them. So on the recording are the three examples back to back, the first one being bass A, second bass B and third bass C. So hopefully you can vote for which one you think belongs to which price point. Soundcloud link: Now for the disclaimers: 1) this is just a bit of fun, I've not put too much time into this. 2) The basses have different strings of different ages. Not very scientific but again a bit of fun, 3) Yes there are mistakes in all 3 examples, especially Bass A where the timing in the middle goes somewhere else but again, its just for fun and i'm not that bothered about it. 4) Its been recorded through Garageband with not much interference on the original tone. The settings on the basses are just how I usually like them. I'll leave it up for 48 hours before giving the answers. Obviously a lot of you will be gigging tonight.
-
Is this different enough? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002D00O6
-
There may not be technical issues and it may just be down to what is comfortable. No size fits all. For example I struggle with 35” scale lengths and 19mm string spacing on 5 strings. It’s not down to technique but comfort. That limits the 5 string options for me but I don’t care. janek Gwizdala can play 34” scale lengths fine but prefers a 32 or 33. For me he has incredible technique.
-
I’m not much for the bronco’s, I think the materials they used were a bit cheap and I would say get it properly setup even if new. The mustang would get my vote or if she’s a RHCP fan then the old flea bass would be a good shout. This example is actually quite expensive but I’m sure with some digging you could find a cheaper one. https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Flea-Bass-Guitar/323831152871?ul_ref=https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-53481-19255-0/1?ff3=2&pub=5575376664&toolid=10001&campid=5338268676&customid=EAIaIQobChMIqu6eypSW5QIVDbDtCh096AT4EAQYAyABEgJoufD_BwE&lgeo=1&item=323831152871&srcrot=710-53481-19255-0&rvr_id=2141384762883&rvr_ts=becb323b16d0aa660854b581fffc0127&_mwBanner=1&_rdt=1&ul_noapp=true&pageci=eff41be5-fcdb-40b7-8d59-240a2ec0ddd2
-
What’s wrong with you people! -
The Sire will easily do it. Practice practice practice!
-
You certainly won’t find a better value one. I was hoping to win the lottery and send you a pm by now but sadly for both of us it hasn’t worked out
-
Setup is also key to tone, buzz, clarity ect.
-
Warning long story! So when I was around 17 I had a bass tutor who played a MM SUB (USA one) and I loved the sound! I was really into RHCP at the time. I also tried one in a shop and really wanted one but being 17 didn’t have the money. Around the same time I went to Barcelona with the family and saw a USA stingray in teal and fell in love with the look of it. They wouldn’t let me try the bass being a foreign kid but I had this down in my mind as the holy grail of basses. My other basses at the time was a MIM P and a Warwick rockbass. So I continued to ask for a MM Sub for my birthday but my dad found out they had been discontinued. He must have rung every shop in the country and couldn’t get one. Roll on the next year and as it was my 18th the family secretly pooled together and bought me the USA Stingray in teal (made in 2007). Don’t get me wrong, I loved this bass for ages and would play chili’s songs on it all day and night. However, when I then went to study music at university I found it often lacked versatility. I was also experimenting with other basses at the time and in my second year traded it for a Overwater jazz 5. The Overwater was infinitely better and more versatile but i couldn’t get on with the 35” scale length. Anyway, bringing the story to the point (sorry it’s taken this long) as I got better as a musician and played more of a range of music the MIM P bass I got when I was 16 has become more and more my main bass. It wears flats and sounds good for anything, to adjust the tone I adjust how I play it whether that be finger position, technique or attack used. So to counteract your opinion - yes I think the Stingray is overrated. However the last 30th Anniversary 5 in white with the roasted neck that I tried was astonishing. If I didn’t hanker for a Ken Smith I’d be after one of those.
-
What a badass bass! How does it balance on a strap?
-
I didn’t find any of the components hampered the playability or tone in anyway. The original point I was making though, is that a beginner doesn’t know what their preference should be and I think unfortunately were in a state of play where music shops aren’t as available as they once were and a lot of purchases are made online. I’ve had some experience teaching young kids bass (6-10) and they used Sqiuer Bronco basses because that’s what the school provided. Terrible little things but the kids didn’t know any better.
- 163 replies
-
- 1
-
-
- greg hagger
- gregsbassshed
- (and 16 more)
-
I preferred it yes
-
Irrelevant to the topic but... For around £1k new i’ve owned a Musicman Stingray and an American deluxe V jazz bass. basses I’ve played in that ballpark that I can remember: Rickenbacker, Spector Euro, Warwick corvettes, Warwick Thumb, American standard fenders, 1970’s American vintage jazz bass reissue, Fender Marcus Miller jazz bass, Lakland skyline 55-02, Lakland Skyline Jo Osborne, Musicman Sterling, Musicman Bongo. Then I’ve been lucky to own and play basses both cheaper and more expensive. I think that’s a fair amount to compare to just in one price bracket.
- 163 replies
-
- 2
-
-
- greg hagger
- gregsbassshed
- (and 16 more)
-
What pickups does Mark use?
-
Trouble is as a beginner you don’t really know what to look for. My second bass was an Epiphone Thunderbird bought purely because of looks. Once I played more basses and became more informed I ditched it and couldn’t believe what a bad decision I had made. Maybe instead (or as well as) of listing manufacturers and models (which as pointed out can vary plenty due to setups or just poor quality control) point out what attributes makes a good first bass.
- 163 replies
-
- 1
-
-
- greg hagger
- gregsbassshed
- (and 16 more)
-
Honestly I’ve played more than I can remember.
-
But how would a beginner know that a Sire would be better than a Squier Affinity? All they can go on is price so if it is recommended in the same way, surely they would choose the Squier because it is cheaper. I feel like a video review for all your recommendations would be a good start, explaining the pros and cons of each one.
-
£100 difference from a Squier Affinity. Wouldn't say that is loads. Maruszczyk also known to be great value for money. Compared with a Lakland or Fender standard series the Sire for me wins hands down.
-
I don't know why you would put the other basses in the same discussion as a Sire. The V7 I had was better than most new £1000 basses. A squire Affinity series definitely is nowhere near it as a comparison of playability, sound, or quality.
- 163 replies
-
- 1
-
-
- greg hagger
- gregsbassshed
- (and 16 more)
-
If it sounded good I would take that. You’re not going to get any closer to a 70’s Fender Jazz for under £1k
-
Lindy fralin
-
I have a mex P bass that was ok but I then put some new pickups in it and it gave it the old school sound with a lot more bottom end. Also has a crunchier top end when the tone is full wack.
-
I had Sadowsky GAS 😳 (formerly “I’ve got...”)
OliverBlackman replied to bassfan's topic in Bass Guitars
Like I said though, amazing in a band situation. When I was playing regularly I had terrible GAS for one but now my situation has changed and I look for other things in a bass (Ken Smith 👀). Also on the plus for Sadowsky the playability has been amazing on all the ones I’ve tried. It must be really easy to setup and I think attention to detail of fretwork probably helps. Again something that we’re all very grateful for when playing 2 hours + a gig but not necessarily essential when noodling. -
I had Sadowsky GAS 😳 (formerly “I’ve got...”)
OliverBlackman replied to bassfan's topic in Bass Guitars
Wow, that got out of hand! It’s something I’ve experienced when playing other people’s Sadowsky’s both in a band, and not in a band context and at various levels. I also love hearing other people playing Sadowsky’s in a band. But when it’s just me playing one I don’t hear any character. Yes the pre gives you lots of options but they have never delivered a sense of occasion. I had a Sire for a couple of years and that had tonnes of character. When I’m playing at home, whether through headphones or an amp I really want to be inspired by the sound of the bass and for me Sadowsky’s don’t do that.
