Ricky 4000 Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 Is the J bass good for reggae? Well not for me it isn't. Playing with my thumb, around the sweet spot where it's not too deep but not too boney - the backs of my fingers / knuckles keep messing with the volume controls. What are the secret reggae basses that most folks don't know about? These should [probably] be certain models of fairly obscure yet inexpensive basses, with that special 'Kingston Mojo' that "we" done want the old and rich square people finding out about. Because they'll just buy them all up to play covers of UB40 covers [badly] in their beige painted drawing rooms. 😕 Quote
fleabag Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 Four 21" bass cabs, neck pup, tone backed off, no mid and treb on the amp, bass tone up, big fat organic doobie 1 2 Quote
chris_b Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 Aston Barrett was rather good on his Jazz basses and there is a Reggae player on here who plays Alembic basses. There are no secrets just get a good feel and forget the stereotypes. 8 Quote
zranyard Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 I used a jazz for a long time playing reggae, I have a different bass now with different pup configuration but get a similar sound. I've seen people get a good tone on similar gigs using everything, stingrays and Warwick thumbs being the more surprising. Its all about how you play like with any genre of course, for me its that and rolling off a fair bit of high mid. Obviously it can get muddy too depending on the room, and the other instruments your playing with. 4 Quote
TheGreek Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 Sly Dunbar uses a Steinberger as does Earl Faulkner from UB40. Tony Gadd from Aswad uses a Bass Collection Nanyo. Don't think you need to turn the bass full up and everything else down - having the right amount of mids will help loads. 1 Quote
Ricky 4000 Posted March 12, 2019 Author Posted March 12, 2019 1 minute ago, fleabag said: Four 21" bass cabs, neck pup, tone backed off, no mid and treb on the amp, bass tone up, big fat organic doobie Thanks for your rig rundown, Fleabag. 👍 Unfortunately I don't smoke the old 'dub cabbage'. Was thinking more like a cuppa tea and two paracetamol. 🙂 4 Quote
Teebs Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 45 minutes ago, Ricky 4000 said: Is the J bass good for reggae? Well not for me it isn't. Playing with my thumb, around the sweet spot where it's not too deep but not too boney - the backs of my fingers / knuckles keep messing with the volume controls. I'm far from knowledgable about reggae, but I don't know of a problem with the Jazz bass. I've been trying to learn some ska/ reggae stuff of late, & I've been using my Squier Jazz with no problems - as Fleabag says - neck PUP on, bridge PUP half, highs & middle off on amp, bass on full. I anchor thumb on neck PUP & play with fingers without digging in. Sounds okay to me - just need to learn the right notes now! There are people on here who will know about this stuff (like Reggaebass), who will be able to give you the 'low-down' Maybe its not the type of bass - maybe you've just got freakish hands? Did you ever think that might be the issue? 1 1 Quote
fleabag Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 26 minutes ago, Ricky 4000 said: Thanks for your rig rundown, Fleabag. 👍 Unfortunately I don't smoke the old 'dub cabbage'. Was thinking more like a cuppa tea and two paracetamol. 🙂 Now worries R. None of it was serious at all. 1 Quote
Stub Mandrel Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 Funny, discussing my upcoming activities this morning my daughter said why not suggest a reggae song - everyone likes reggae and the basslines should be easy (she said that not me!) It reminded me how many years ago I saw Steel Pulse; all the way through the bass player drove it along with solid, straightforward rhythmic lines. Then a couple of songs from the end he got a solo and went right off the scale. So don't underestimate reggae bass players! 5 Quote
TheGreek Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 (edited) As an afterthought - I had an Ashbory Bass with rubber strings - this produces one of the deepest bass tones of anything I've ever owned. Check YT if you're not familiar with the Ashborys. Edited March 13, 2019 by TheGreek 1 1 Quote
Ricky 4000 Posted March 12, 2019 Author Posted March 12, 2019 1 hour ago, Teebs said: I'm far from knowledgable about reggae, but I don't know of a problem with the Jazz bass. I've been trying to learn some ska/ reggae stuff of late, & I've been using my Squier Jazz with no problems - as Fleabag says - neck PUP on, bridge PUP half, highs & middle off on amp, bass on full. I anchor thumb on neck PUP & play with fingers without digging in. Sounds okay to me - just need to learn the right notes now! There are people on here who will know about this stuff (like Reggaebass), who will be able to give you the 'low-down' Maybe its not the type of bass - maybe you've just got freakish hands? Did you ever think that might be the issue? Maybe... For the 'tragically white' among us (you!), check Devon Bradshaw out here: https://youtu.be/zmyplWLwIKA (and what bass is he playing there?) Also what is Robbie playing here with the neck pickup so far forward? Surely a special 'reggae bass'?? https://youtu.be/lKDlhewmwDg Finally, anybody know who were the rhythm section with General Saint & Clint Eastwood? I love that ^^^ Lyrics still just relevant as they were in 1980! 1 Quote
Reggaebass Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 1 hour ago, Ricky 4000 said: Also what is Robbie playing here with the neck pickup so far forward? Surely a special 'reggae bass'?? It’s a 1986 PRS they have 3 pickups 🙂 1 1 Quote
Reggaebass Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 3 hours ago, fleabag said: big fat organic doobie I don’t drink or smoke, but it can get quite foggy in the studio 😀 3 Quote
Reggaebass Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 There is no secret bass for reggae, I’ve been playing for about 40 years, since I was 15 , and have played mainly p and jazz basses myself, but I’ve seen people playing reggae on pretty much anything , the strings can make a huge difference and flats or tapes are perfect for that nice warm tone . Also active basses needed to be in passive mode or they didn’t sound right to me for some reason, when I thought they would. aston barrett played a jazz and every time I’ve seen Robbie Shakespeare live ( which is a lot) he’s played a jazz 🙂 3 Quote
Teebs Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 Nah - sorry Ricky... 19 minutes ago, Reggaebass said: There is no secret bass for reggae, I’ve been playing for about 40 years, since I was 15 , and have played mainly p and jazz basses myself, but I’ve seen people playing reggae on pretty much anything , the strings can make a huge difference and flats or tapes are perfect for that nice warm tone . Also active basses needed to be in passive mode or they didn’t sound right to me for some reason, when I thought they would. aston barrett played a jazz and every time I’ve seen Robbie Shakespeare live ( which is a lot) he’s played a jazz 🙂 1 hour ago, Reggaebass said: It’s a 1986 PRS they have 3 pickups 🙂 ...freakish hands it is then 2 Quote
Frank Blank Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 (edited) I concur, a Jazz. This reminds me of the great bass tone on early Public Image Ltd recordings, especially Metal Box, Jah Wobble with the Ovation Magnum Bass. Allegedly he played through an Ampeg rig that faced the wall of the studio and had a microphone behind. I wish I knew which basses and rigs were used by Floyd Lawson and Vivian Weathers on Linton Kwesi Johnson’s second and third albums Forces of Victory and Bass Culture, my very favourite bass on any reggae album. I’m putting the Samsara video up (again) but only because I’m not sure what bass he’s playing..? Edited March 12, 2019 by Frank Blank 3 1 Quote
chris_b Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Frank Blank said: . . . . I’m putting the Samsara video up (again) but only because I’m not sure what bass he’s playing..? At 2.33. . . . . looks like a Jazz to me. Some nice simple and direct bass playing here. Edited March 12, 2019 by chris_b 1 Quote
zranyard Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 1 hour ago, Frank Blank said: I concur, a Jazz. This reminds me of the great bass tone on early Public Image Ltd recordings, especially Metal Box, Jay Wobble with the Ovation Magnum Bass. Allegedly he played through an Ampeg rig that faced the wall of the studio and had a microphone behind. I wish I knew which basses and rigs were used by Floyd Lawson and Vivian Weathers on Linton Kwesi Johnson’s second and third albums Forces of Victory and Bass Culture, my very favourite bass on any reggae album. I’m putting the Samsara video up (again) but only because I’m not sure what bass he’s playing..? Good band, the reggae act I've been with for years now has the keys player from Samsara. 2 Quote
Frank Blank Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 33 minutes ago, chris_b said: At 2.33. . . . . looks like a Jazz to me. Some nice simple and direct bass playing here. The very acme of good bass playing for me, simple and song-serving, a far more important skill than virtuosity, for me. 1 Quote
Frank Blank Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 13 minutes ago, zranyard said: Good band, the reggae act I've been with for years now has the keys player from Samsara. Excellent, he’s superb. Quote
Reggaebass Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 2 minutes ago, Frank Blank said: The very acme of good bass playing for me, simple and song-serving, a far more important skill than virtuosity, for me. His timing is bang on 🙂 Quote
Frank Blank Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 12 minutes ago, Reggaebass said: His timing is bang on 🙂 Indeed so, I’m a great admirer of his playing. 1 Quote
Reggaebass Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 5 hours ago, Ricky 4000 said: Devon Bradshaw out here: https://youtu.be/zmyplWLwIKA (and what bass is he playing there?) Pretty sure it’s an Ibanez BTB . 1 Quote
jimbartlett Posted March 12, 2019 Posted March 12, 2019 I bought a Kiogon Serial/Parallel switchblade loom for my J Bass, sounds great! I play 2Tone, Ska and Reggae. 1 Quote
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