what's your bass keyboard of choice?

[nash]

I've just started to explore this part of bass playing but i'm wondering if there's a go to piece of stand alone gear?

[BassTractor]

Personally, I'm not very fond of hurdy-gurdy keys on my ovangkol fretboard, but I wish you good luck with the endeavour!

Assuming you do not want a rompler with a plethora of sampled presets of every bass guitar on the planet, my immediate thought is to just get a cheap two- or three-octave synth with fat sound.
Fat sound often means two or three oscillators, but some brands like Arturia have built in electronics to create a rougher sound so one isn't in real need of the more expensive stuff.
One can do a lot worse than to get an Arturia MicroBrute.

As your choice would depend a lot on what music styles you're gonna use it for, and your budget, and whether you need full size keys or could muster or appreciate micro keys, mini keys or slim keys, I'll leave it at that for the time being.

[nash]

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1479474667' post='3176814']
Personally, I'm not very fond of hurdy-gurdy keys on my ovangkol fretboard, but I wish you good luck with the endeavour!

Assuming you do not want a rompler with a plethora of sampled presets of every bass guitar on the planet, my immediate thought is to just get a cheap two- or three-octave synth with fat sound.
Fat sound often means two or three oscillators, but some brands like Arturia have built in electronics to create a rougher sound so one isn't in real need of the more expensive stuff.
One can do a lot worse than to get an Arturia MicroBrute.

As your choice would depend a lot on what music styles you're gonna use it for, and your budget, and whether you need full size keys or could muster or appreciate micro keys, mini keys or slim keys, I'll leave it at that for the time being.
[/quote]

Thanks for replying.

Ok so so far I've been looking at the Micro and Mini Brutes but the Bass Station2 is in the lead at the moment because it has savable presets for tones and has tap tempo. But saying this I wish it it was slightly smaller in width so I could implement my idea of having it on a rackmount sliding shelf above my amp in the rack.

[RhysP]

I'm currently using an Arturia Microbrute & I'm pretty happy with it.
If money was no object though I would be using a vintage MiniMoog.

[BassTractor]

[quote name='nash' timestamp='1479476955' post='3176850']
the Bass Station2 is in the lead at the moment
[/quote]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Great thing that you can't go wrong with. Highly regarded.[/font][/color]
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I would've mentioned it, but decided to wait until you had specified your needs more. [/font][/color]


[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1479490931' post='3177000']
If money was no object though I would be using a vintage MiniMoog.
[/quote]

If money was no object though I would be using the new slightly expanded Minimoog model D - - with full warranty and roughly four new decades of slow component decay. A steal at only 3,500 quid.

Edited November 22, 2016 by BassTractor

[Woodinblack]

I wouldn't mine a minitaur just for some low level stuff. Obviously would prefer the sub37

[nick]

I use a Waldorf Pulse 1, it's a rack mount synth module. Has three oscillators, great for approximating a moog-ish bass sound...
However, if you want keys like other suggestions above, the Bass station II is great for the money - can save patches, good midi implementation, plenty of knobs to play with
For more aggressive, brutal sounds, as the name suggests, Arturia Minibrute is fantastic too.

Edited November 20, 2016 by nick

[BassAgent]

I considered a Minibrute and Bass Station 2 when shopping for a bass keyboard, but instead went for:

Haven't had any regrets. As Jeremy Clarkson would say:

What a machiiiiiine!

Edited November 20, 2016 by BassAgent

[chris_b]

But, which one is best if all you want to do is play bass lines and sound very much like a bass guitar?

[BassTractor]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1479682100' post='3178486']
But, which one is best if all you want to do is play bass lines and sound very much like a bass guitar?
[/quote]

[URL=http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/basstractor1/media/synthace%20futureman%20500_zps2nvrvncn.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r525/basstractor1/synthace%20futureman%20500_zps2nvrvncn.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[BassAgent]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1479682100' post='3178486']
But, which one is best if all you want to do is play bass lines and sound very much like a bass guitar?
[/quote]
A bass guitar. No synth will emulate the decay and dynamics of a bass string perfectly.

[chris_b]

That's why I said "best".

There must be one that is better than the others or do they all do this job equally well/badly?

[BigRedX]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1479682100' post='3178486']
But, which one is best if all you want to do is play bass lines and sound very much like a bass guitar?
[/quote]

A bass guitar.

[BigRedX]

[quote name='nash' timestamp='1479465322' post='3176724']
I've just started to explore this part of bass playing but i'm wondering if there's a go to piece of stand alone gear?
[/quote]

TBH any decent synth that you find easy to program will do the job.

[BassTractor]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1479722290' post='3178641']
That's why I said "best".

There must be one that is better than the others or do they all do this job equally well/badly?
[/quote]

Sorry, I took your initial post as a joke or ironic question, the answer to which would be "bass guitar".
Seeing you're serious, I can't really tell which of the mentioned ones is best, as I've spent only little time with each of these, BUT:

I've had great results with a synth as simple as the Korg MS-10, which has only one oscillator. This approach demanded two effect pedals, one of which I think was a chorus. The result was unbelievably close to a real bass guitar of indescript model - though of course not in every respect. I was flabbergasted though, and that was after decades of synth "programming".
The Korg MS-20 Mini, which is still available, would do the same job, and could also do a better job with its two oscillators and other stuff.

Another time I had a great result was with three channels on the Yamaha TX802 synth module, comparable to three layered DX7 synths. The programming took me three working days though.

I'm not saying these solutions can't be discerned from a bass guitar, but I do say you could fool many casual listeners with them, and I also do say that in many circumstances the difference with a real bass guitar is not even important.
Synths are handy when sequencing. Wouldn't use them if I could avoid them though, and I say that as a synth man since the 60s.

Edited November 21, 2016 by BassTractor

[BigRedX]

Getting a realistic bass guitar part out of another instrument is not just about duplicating the sound but you also need to duplicate the playing style. A keyboard is simply not the same as a bass guitar, the whole approach to what you play on each instrument will be different. Of course you could send loads of time programming up the sounds and then practicing so you approach the keyboard playing style in the same way as you would a bass guitar.

But really? Why bother?

Maybe it's because I can play both to an adequate standard, I pick one or the other depending on the both the sound and feel I require for the part.

[chris_b]

Why bother?

Just doing my homework and evaluating an area of the bass world that I know nothing about .

If I try and forget my back episodes, I also have arthritis developing in my shoulder and left thumb. These may or may not beat public disinterest in ending my career as a bass player.

Just trying to be prepared.

[BigRedX]

OK. That makes sense. My "why bother" comment was based on all things being equal, in which case there is a definite difference between playing bass lines on a bass guitar and playing them on a keyboard.

So... if you are thinking about making the switch remember it is a whole different game. Things that are trivial to play on the bass guitar might not be on the keyboard and vice-versa. And all those little nuances that you take for granted on the bass guitar and probably do without even thinking about them, for instance ghost notes, pops and slap (in the middle of a standard bass line) are either near impossible or are going to take a lot of programming skill and then a lot of playing practice to master.

However there are plenty of styles of music that make a point of using keyboard bass rather than the bass guitar, so If you are going to be forced to look at playing the bass part from a keyboard, it might also be wise to start getting into some of those...

[hairychris]

[quote name='BassAgent' timestamp='1479677414' post='3178418']
I considered a Minibrute and Bass Station 2 when shopping for a bass keyboard, but instead went for:

Haven't had any regrets. As Jeremy Clarkson would say:

What a machiiiiiine!
[/quote]

I have it's big brother (Sub 37) and it's something else. Very easy to program but not cheap, especially now the GBP crash. Moog have that multi-oscillator with smooth filter thing down. I'd like to try the Minitaur but I don't think that I need it.

I also run an Arturia Microbrute but, tbh, I don't use it for bass stuff as the Moog is far thicker, if you want that. The Arturia synths have a [b]very[/b] angry filter when cranked which is certainly a lot of fun. Not tried the Novation Bass Station 2, but heard good things. Waldorf Pulse also has a good rep for fatness, I briefly owned the Pulse 2 and while it sounded fantastic the user interface was horrible.

Can't really help with FM-type synths.

Anyway, you'll never quite get a match. Different things completely, but then again I have never tried to replace bass guitar with bass synth. However, being in the process of recording an album with my band we're looking at doing subtle bass reinforcement with synths just to add frequencies that we can't get with a regular bass. So working "with bass guitar" not "instead of bass guitar". Tough to do live, though!

[BassAgent]

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1479734054' post='3178800']
Sorry, I took your initial post as a joke or ironic question, the answer to which would be "bass guitar".
Seeing you're serious, I can't really tell which of the mentioned ones is best, as I've spent only little time with each of these, BUT:

I've had great results with a synth as simple as the Korg MS-10, which has only one oscillator. This approach demanded two effect pedals, one of which I think was a chorus. The result was unbelievably close to a real bass guitar of indescript model - though of course not in every respect. I was flabbergasted though, and that was after decades of synth "programming".
The Korg MS-20 Mini, which is still available, would do the same job, and could also do a better job with its two oscillators and other stuff.
[/quote]
Agreed to that, the Korg MS series is great (although I still like the Moog filter sound better, and you can always switch off the second oscillator in a Sub Phatty)! The MS-20 mini is pretty cool but I háte those tiny keys. You could get an MS-20 kit and build one with proper keys.

[casapete]

I broke my shoulder / arm a few years ago, and playing bass guitar was not an option for a few months.
I bought a Roland D5 synth off here, and my band very graciously allowed me to play my parts on this.
Sounds were not 100% convincing bass guitar, but played through my bass rig and then into the PA it was fine. I didn't
have anyone come up on gigs and ask why there were now 2 keyboard players in the line up, or comment on the bass sounds.

A hideously low-fi solution I know, but needs must etc ,and as a pro musician it saw me through until I was well enough to
return to bass guitar. I actually quite enjoyed the change to be honest, and found it liberating not having to wear a bass on
long gigs. Was great to get back to my Stingray though.....

[Wilco]

This is my set up as per my signature

There are various bass patches pre programmed or in the free downloadable sound packs, all of which you can tweak to your hearts content. The advantage of the Ultranova to me is that can do much more than just bass sounds ie strings & pads, which I can trigger by foot with the 12 Step. Used ones go for a very reasonable price too!

[Sibob]

Just going to leave this here (headphones needed)

[url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BK3k8wPhbiY/?taken-by=darrell_freeman&hl=en"]https://www.instagra...l_freeman&hl=en[/url]

Pure love!
Si

[DangerDan]

Another microbrute user here. Love the thing, but if you are looking for live use it's not preset capable, so that could be an issue. Also, its monophonic, no chords. Makes great subs or stabs though.

The waldorf is another great shout, but you would need a laptop and a midi keyboard to go with it

[nash]

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1479827543' post='3179598']
Just going to leave this here (headphones needed)

[url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BK3k8wPhbiY/?taken-by=darrell_freeman&hl=en"]https://www.instagra...l_freeman&hl=en[/url]

Pure love!
Si
[/quote]

I just started following him the other day. I'm sold on getting a BS2. Just need the funds. Probably after Xmas now.