vyniljunky Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 [font=georgia, serif][size=4]Hi folks,[/size][/font] [font=georgia, serif][size=4]can someone point me in a good direction for a vintage blues sounding bass in a lefty, had a mex fender jazz (single coil), but it had an annoying hum that disappeared when metalwork touched, I'm only playing for fun and teaching myself from the net, so don't want anything too exotic or pricey (wouldn't do it justice), have looked at Yamaha pj setups amongst others (warwick rb etc) and the sterling mm, but am now in a quandery as to what to go for, loads of CHEAP Rubbish out there in p bass, have a schecter riot which is good for modern sound, can anyone advise me[/size][/font] [font=georgia, serif][size=4]cheers ray[/size][/font] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 (edited) I would say a Westone Thunder 1A. Cheap but certainly not rubbish - you could probably pick up one in vgc for £125-150 and it would be piles better than pretty well anything you'd get for that money. Alternatively a roll of copper shielding tape to get rid of that hum Edited November 26, 2011 by Paul S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 (edited) I'd say it's more likely the earth under the bridge that's not making a good contact rather than a shielding issue, five minute fix leaving you with a perfectly good bass for blues music, do you still have that bass? If so unscrew the bridge and make sure the back of it is clean then pick the earth wire from the groove it's almost certainly sunk into, move it to a fresh spot and refix the bridge. Restring, tune and enjoy. At the same time or before/after unscrew the control plate and make sure the earth wire is secured at that end too Mex Jazz should be just the job IMO Edited November 26, 2011 by stingrayPete1977 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 Fix the Jazz as outlined above or get a Squier Classic Vibe Precision Bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 or pick up an inexpensive, used Yamaha BB414 or similar. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 P-bass and EQ it properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1322392184' post='1450148'] P-bass and EQ it properly. [/quote] With flats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 [size=4]In blues you do your own thing, so you can use any bass, amp, EQ or strings you like. [/size] [size=4]In the US blues players have mostly used what is at hand and cheap, so from the 50's that would mostly have been a Fender. Quite a lot of these players switched to Musicman when they started and recently I've seen guys using Laklands but mostly it's been Fenders. [/size] [size=4]The bottom line with blues is it's about what you play not the gear you use.[/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorick Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Yamaha BB414. With the PJ pickup arrangement, you can't go wrong. Plus, they're are a quality product ata good price. Have I mentioned i've got one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1322392797' post='1450161'] With flats. [/quote] Great point ! Whatever bass you choose, flats will help to give that vintage blues tone. My own choice would be a G&L SB2 Tribute with flats.....beautiful !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1322393185' post='1450171'] [size=4]The bottom line with blues is it's about what you play not the gear you use.[/size] [/quote] I'm sure no one will dispute this, but there is nothing wrong in a person seeking to emulate the vintage tone of a blues bass. It is more fun playing, when you are happy with your tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1322393185' post='1450171'] [size=4]In blues you do your own thing, so you can use any bass, amp, EQ or strings you like. [/size] [size=4]In the US blues players have mostly used what is at hand and cheap, so from the 50's that would mostly have been a Fender. Quite a lot of these players switched to Musicman when they started and recently I've seen guys using Laklands but mostly it's been Fenders. [/size] [size=4]The bottom line with blues is it's about what you play not the gear you use.[/size] [/quote] An acquaintance of mine played bass for some American blues guy on tour a few years ago. The American blues guy was not really happy that the bass was a modern five string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 My thoughts would either be a Precision or Jazz, for that style of music, preferably a Precision, but I am heavily biased towards them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1322396106' post='1450212'] ....An acquaintance of mine played bass for some American blues guy on tour a few years ago. The American blues guy was not really happy that the bass was a modern five string.... [/quote] [size=4]A few years ago a player I knew went along to a Gary Moore audition with his 6 string Thumb and was told that he either played an old Precision or the audition ended right there. [/size] [size=4]But then I saw Albert Collins several times when Johnny B Gaydon was playing a 5 string Vigier and Buddy Guy's bass player uses GK amps. [/size][size=4]Some people have the blinkers on and some don't, but you'll never get hassled playing a Fender in any blues band.[/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1322402672' post='1450353'] [size=4]A few years ago a player I knew went along to a Gary Moore audition with his 6 string Thumb and was told that he either played an old Precision or the audition ended right there. [/size] [size=4]But then I saw Albert Collins several times when Johnny B Gaydon was playing a 5 string Vigier and Buddy Guy's bass player uses GK amps. [/size][size=4]Some people have the blinkers on and some don't, but you'll never get hassled playing a Fender in any blues band.[/size] [/quote] I saw John Mayall a couple of years ago and the bassist had a six string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 [quote name='vyniljunky' timestamp='1322333506' post='1449608'] [font=georgia, serif][size=4]what to go for [/size][/font] [/quote] Squier Precision or Jazz would do. Plenty of them coming through the Basses For Sale section here. The CV's have a particularly good rep, they're cheap and you can upgrade them with different pickups at later stage if you want to refine your sound in a particular direction. But there should be no compulsion to use a Fender type. I've seen plenty of pro bluesers using other mfrs. The only thing that [i]might[/i] raise an eyebrow would be a pointy metal machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 [quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1322410486' post='1450497'] The only thing that [i]might[/i] raise an eyebrow would be a pointy metal machine. [/quote] Tell Dusty Hill that.......... (pics) Having used most of what's out there, for me the ultimate blues machine is a Gibson EB-2D. But being as that counts as pricey / exotic, how about an Epi Jack Cassady or Rumblekat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 [quote name='Shaggy' timestamp='1322412718' post='1450528'] Tell Dusty Hill that.......... [/quote] The difference is that Mr Hill has Papal dispensation to tote 'exotic' instruments. Rather than Explorers (perf. acceptable, IMO) I was thinking more of this sort of thing: [size=2]BC Rich Draco. Not pointy at all.[/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apa Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 (edited) [quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1322415989' post='1450592'] The difference is that Mr Hill has Papal dispensation to tote 'exotic' instruments. Rather than Explorers (perf. acceptable, IMO) I was thinking more of this sort of thing: [size=2]BC Rich Draco. Not pointy at all.[/size] [/quote] JUGHH, JUGHH...... JUGHHJUGHHJUGHHJUGHH Oh my women gone done me wrong............ JUGHH, JUGHH...... JUGHHJUGHHJUGHHJUGHH etal.............. A Edited November 27, 2011 by apa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojobass Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 well ive been playing blues for years now and i use a warwick fortress, and also a couple of status's all equipped with flats and they do the job nicely!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilLordJuju Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 +1 on the flatwound strings - you don't need any extraneous clanking making it sound all 1980s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 Shuker and Musicman sounding pretty good to me. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61WoDKEIFLY[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVQ8uhAW0Kc[/media] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1322445238' post='1450983'] Shuker and Musicman sounding pretty good to me. [/quote] Indeed both bassists sound great in those clips, but they dont have that vintage tone that the OP is asking for advice on achieving. These would be my idea of a vintage bass tone. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tyg5SJDpiQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tyg5SJDpiQ[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U27fNDFfGPQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U27fNDFfGPQ[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconic Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 [quote name='yorick' timestamp='1322393573' post='1450174'] Yamaha BB414. With the PJ pickup arrangement, you can't go wrong. Plus, they're are a quality product ata good price. Have I mentioned i've got one? [/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 [quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1322415989' post='1450592'] The difference is that Mr Hill has Papal dispensation to tote 'exotic' instruments. Rather than Explorers (perf. acceptable, IMO) I was thinking more of this sort of thing: [size=2]BC Rich Draco. Not pointy at all.[/size] [/quote] That is AWESOME!!! I don't even know why, I think it's the kid in me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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