Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Bass setup revelation


Blademan_98
 Share

Recommended Posts

I finished work early today and with a bit of time on my hands, decided to setup my Hohner Headless I got from Silddx last weekend.
Nige likes a really low action and it was a bit too low for me.

After a few tweeks on the truss rod and height adjusters etc I got it to how I like it :)
I played through the first set, jamming to the tunes via practice amp / mp3 setup.

Hmm really nice! Action great, lightweight so no back problems, slim neck and superb output from the pickups.

I then picked up my fretless and ran through a couple of the tracks.
Again, really nice! Not quite as light so I sat down to play. Pickups are not as powerful but maybe a little clearer?

Lastly, I picked up my gigging Jazz.
Sat Down Playability = 100%
Pickups = loud and clear!
Weighs a ton :(
Stand Up Playability = 20% before back pain hits.

I will be using the Hohner for gigging as it seems to be the only bass I own that I can stand and play for hours without pain killers!

What makes your decisions on gigging a particular bass?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tone, then playability then how replaceable it is. Fortunately, I have no back problems and so weight is not an issue.

For Motown its my old P with flats, for gospel its the Jazz Deluxe with rounds to give the funky slap option, for the rock band I used to be in it was a Stingray. This one is irreplaceable (ie I can't afford to buy another one) and so while it would be perfect for the gospel, that's too busy to risk it so often.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Blademan_98' timestamp='1328549380' post='1528916']
What makes your decisions on gigging a particular bass?
[/quote]

Circumstances!

The closest bass I have to your Hohner is my Status Streamline. Lovely as it is, I prefer the tone of my Wal (in a pub-rock band) and of my Precision (in a Soul band), so I play the Streamline at pubs where space is ridiculously tight, and at gigs where a bit of bling goes down well (it has LEDs).

Tone? Gave up on that a long time ago ... what I hear isn't what the audience hears, and they're not listening anyway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I prefer to gig with whichever bass looks like it suits the music. I used a blood red Washburn in a death metal band, my vintage white Jazz in a motown covers group and my blazer for everything else pretty much! I use the EQ on the amp and/or the bass and adjust my playing technique to get the sound right. All of basses have been comfortable to use, so that's never been a factor in deciding which bass to use more!

Luckily, Im at an age where I dont really need to worry about weight yet so I can take whatever I feel like safe in the knowledge that I can play with it standing for 3-4 hours.

Truckstop

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The current band seems to play for hours at a time, so moderate to light weight and a decent setup are key requirements.

Used a bass with active circuitry for a few years and while it sounded clear, passive pickups seem to fit the bill better as most of the numbers we play are at least a few decades old

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All depends on the scenario.

Most gigs i grab whatever is closest to the door at the time of departure. And yes, i have taken an empty hard case to a gig before :unsure:
Recording i choose whatever is needed for the project after careful consultation with the person paying the studio fees. Obviously its the Hamer ;)

All my basses are giggable and have an action and sound that i am comfy with - some weigh slightly more than others but we only do 45 minute slots so thats not a problem.

I know what the person meant about the audience not listening. I think they meant that the tone of the bass is not foremost in most punters minds so probably isn't as big a deal as we might think.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Annoyingly I've only got one bass now (two including my upright, but it doesn't get gigged regularly). About a year back I'd take my Fender Jazz with rounds out and my Fender P with flats and then swap after my first set. Now all I've got is my Lakland Darryl Jones 4. I want a new P and a decent Sadowsky 5 string.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My 10lb `77 Fender Precision does me, whether it`s for 3hr rehearsals, or 2hr gigs. Strangley enough, since getting this one, which is much heavier than any others I`ve had, my back is less of a problem, as due to the weight of the `77, I raised the strap a bit - not too much mind, I`m in a punk band - but enough to make it much more comfortable on my back, and this has also made it easier to play.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds like you have a similar problem to me Blademan - bad back blues!
In fact I was about to buy that boat paddle from Nigel when you snatched it from under me :lol:

My favourite bass is an old 'cusomised' Fender Jazz with great tone and playability, but it weighs 10.5 lbs and it's ugly as sin.
I also have a Squier VM fretless that is lovely to play, but hard work at a gig.
Then there's the Ashbory, which I gigged for a year, but I always come back to the old Jazz because it feels and sounds so right despite the weight.

I'm still looking for the perfect light weight alternative and I've tried a few from Sinsinidos to Streamlines via Hofners and Yamahas - none have the tone of my old Fender.

I haven't tried a boat paddle yet though, so please give me first refusal if you decide to re-sell yours.

Steve.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='velvetkevorkian' timestamp='1328554960' post='1529046']
It's all about the playability for me, and considering how many strings I need (I haven't gigged my 4 string since getting my 5+ strings). Tone? I'll sound like whatever the sound guy feels like, but as long as I can play it well I'll sound like me.
[/quote]Tone is 90% technique. Good on ya! In the words of carl thompson "the only thing a heavy piece of wood is gonna give you is a double hernia."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1328557286' post='1529111']

I haven't tried a boat paddle yet though, so please give me first refusal if you decide to re-sell yours.

Steve.
[/quote]

I certainly will :) no problem. It's first rehearsal with the band is on Wednesday.
It's first outing at a gig will be in March.
So either I will be contacting you then or posting a 'what a great gig' in this forum!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I certainly will [/font][/color] :)[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] no problem. It's first rehearsal with the band is on Wednesday.[/font][/color]
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]It's first outing at a gig will be in March.[/font][/color]
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]So either I will be contacting you then or posting a 'what a great gig' in this forum![/font][/color][/quote]

Thanks, I'll be interested in how you get on with it.

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1328557755' post='1529122']
Tone is 90% technique. Good on ya! In the words of carl thompson "the only thing a heavy piece of wood is gonna give you is a double hernia."
[/quote]

How I wish this was true, but it isn't for me.
I only use one tone and it's a deep smooth sound that I can't get from any other bass except my old heavy beast - and I've tried more than a few.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...