Which bass is best for...

[andydye]

...here we go again?

So my band are considering adding some sheehan related tunes to our repertoire and I'm thinking that I 'obviously' need to go bass shopping...the whole style is a sonic departure for me but am looking forward to the challenge...

No way can I afford a sheehan sig but I'm looking for somethingg that will allow a similarly low action for the insane tapping and will also have a similarly aggressive sound, passive too I'm hoping...ideas? Pickup combinations?

I'll be having a pedal board shuffle too to accomodate a different drive pedal, considering a sheehan ebs but happy to hear other options for this too...wet/dry mix essential, good tone shaping options etc...

Am not going to sound 'exactly' like him but a close enough approximation for the average punter will do me fine

Not really sure of budget yet so options will help to give me something to aim at

[fretmeister]

A P bass with a chunky pickup.

Loads of compression.

I got very close to his tone using a Marshall Jackhammer and a Boss LS2 to blend clean in. I liked it more than the ebs pedal.

[fretmeister]

Forgot, run the compressor first to really batter the drive pedal.

And use stainless steel strings to get the chimy top end.

[JapanAxe]

Not sure of your budget but Sandbergs seem to come out of the factory with a very low action (and 40-100 gauge strings). Various pickup combinations but unfortunately none with a pickup right by the neck.

For a complete curveball, how about the Variax? You could model a honking great humbucker in the correct position.

[andydye]

Thanks for that matey, spot on! Just need a p bass I can get mega low action with now...

Am looking at a bright onion blend/looper, maybe a tubescreamer and probably an mxr compressor then...

I watched a really helpful vid of billy talking about his new pedal and talking through how it came about and what other stuff he has in the two loops on it

[andydye]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amiCJ57Odik

Edited March 24, 2014 by icastle
Link fixed.

[White Cloud]

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1375609495' post='2163309']
...here we go again?

So my band are considering adding some sheehan related tunes to our repertoire and I'm thinking that I 'obviously' need to go bass shopping...the whole style is a sonic departure for me but am looking forward to the challenge...

No way can I afford a sheehan sig but I'm looking for somethingg that will allow a similarly low action for the insane tapping and will also have a similarly aggressive sound, passive too I'm hoping...ideas? Pickup combinations?

I'll be having a pedal board shuffle too to accomodate a different drive pedal, considering a sheehan ebs but happy to hear other options for this too...wet/dry mix essential, good tone shaping options etc...

Am not going to sound 'exactly' like him but a close enough approximation for the average punter will do me fine

Not really sure of budget yet so options will help to give me something to aim at
[/quote]
The Yamaha BS714 will exactly what you need. It ticks every single box. I acquired one a couple of months ago and I absolutely love it.....the neck pup is insanely hot, deep and dirty.

I used to use an upgraded Tokai hardpuncher with a Kent Armstron pup added at the neck...it was decent but the BS 714 is better!

[dudewheresmybass]

Thanks for posting the vid. Very interesting.
Also it looks like a guitar gym bucket in the neck of that bass. Any ideas as to the specifics?

Edited August 4, 2013 by dudewheresmybass

[andydye]

[quote name='dudewheresmybass' timestamp='1375621606' post='2163510']
Thanks for posting the vid. Very interesting.
Also it looks like a guitar gym bucket in the neck of that bass. Any ideas as to the specifics?
[/quote]

http://m.uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical-instruments/guitars-basses/el-basses/signature_models/attitude_limited_3/

Yamaha Custom Woofer Pickup (Front),
DiMarzio WillPower (middle)

[andydye]

...apparently...

[fretmeister]

I've got a Will Power p pickup and it is great!

[andydye]

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1375622721' post='2163526']
I've got a Will Power p pickup and it is great!
[/quote]

If I managed to get hold of a bb424 would a willpower fit in it without modifying the body?

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

Telebass ( 70s Humbucker style, with extra pickup ?

Edited August 4, 2013 by RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE

[White Cloud]

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1375624143' post='2163546']
If I managed to get hold of a bb424 would a willpower fit in it without modifying the body?
[/quote]
Dude...you can pick up used BS714's for £300. No routing, no further pup purchasing etc etc.

Brilliant, aggressive P bass.

[discreet]

Did a couple of Mr Big numbers when I was in a covers band and my P Bass coped with it perfectly well.
Maybe I'm just a skinflint but I wouldn't buy a new bass in an attempt to sound like another bass player.
In any case Billy's sound is mostly to do with Billy, not his choice of bass. IMHO, of course.

[andydye]

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1375631044' post='2163646']

Dude...you can pick up used BS714's for £300. No routing, no further pup purchasing etc etc.

Brilliant, aggressive P bass.
[/quote]

Wowsa! Will keep my eyes open for one of those then!!

[andydye]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1375631352' post='2163652']
Did a couple of Mr Big numbers when I was in a covers band and my P Bass coped with it perfectly well.
Maybe I'm just a skinflint but I wouldn't buy a new bass in an attempt to sound like another bass player.
In any case Billy's sound is mostly to do with Billy, not his choice of bass. IMHO, of course.
[/quote]

Totally get your point matey and it's more a practical thing I guess...my go to bass has a medium low actiin as I like to dig in but it doesn't suit tapping n wotnot so rather than redo the action in between songs I wondered if there was a reasonably cheap bass I could snag that would do a decent job of the playability and sound summat like

[fretmeister]

I use my modded Status Energy for tapping. Very very low action (I installed a p pickup in between the 2 jazz pickups )

[andydye]

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1375642228' post='2163833']
I use my modded Status Energy for tapping. Very very low action (I installed a p pickup in between the 2 jazz pickups )
[/quote]

status do tend to permit super low action don't they! I'll keep my mind and my eyes open for a grindy low action bass!

[andydye]

So, I have a bright-onion looper/blender and a keeley modded ts-9 on their way at the moment which will give me a sonic start, just looking for a suitably low actioned and grindy-fat sounding 4 string bass to set up accordingly now...

I have a beautiful mim 50's p-bass; fretless ibanez blazer; maxon analog delay and/or a couple of sennheiser drum mics to trade for a suitable bass...?

Edited August 7, 2013 by andydye

[andydye]

I now have a rather shocking pink Dean Custom Zone bass with a willpower middle pickup in it and it sounds pretty darn close to the right clean tone! Just need to tweak the setup and I'm just about there I think, all for a very small amount of wonga

[dudewheresmybass]

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1375621987' post='2163518']


http://m.uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical-instruments/guitars-basses/el-basses/signature_models/attitude_limited_3/

Yamaha Custom Woofer Pickup (Front),
DiMarzio WillPower (middle)
[/quote]

Cheers andy

[andydye]

[quote name='dudewheresmybass' timestamp='1378391154' post='2199578']
Cheers andy
[/quote]