"Shape" bases that don't headbang

[NicoMcJ]

I've played more than a few basses over the years, but I haven't even come close to playing ALL of the basses.

I've always wanted a "shape" bass to help me overcompensate for my distinctly average playing.

The trouble is, all of the shapes I've played seem determined to headbutt the floor and I end up gravitating back to my J-types like the old friends that they are.

The only shape I've ever had that balanced well was my Sandberg Forty-Eight, but that was made of iron and concrete, so it was equally unsuitable for a 3 hour show, jut in a different way.

Does a "shape" bass that balances well and doesn't weigh 6 tonnes even exist?7

Any recommendations?

[NicoMcJ]

And I totally blame my laptop for the "bases" in the post title....

[itu]

Anything Bootsy has played is... different.

Takamine did pointy black and red basses.

Overwater Original is kool.

T-bird is to be considered, reverse or not.

The time of hair, glitter, and heavy produced quite strange instruments, like B. C. Rich.

There has been machine guns, stars, sticks and so on.

http://1musicstudio.blogspot.com/2013/04/guitar-shapes-explained-part-2.html

[adamg67]

What about the "whatever happened to the" Fender Katana bass.

[BigRedX]

26 minutes ago, adamg67 said:

What about the "whatever happened to the" Fender Katana bass.

There never was one. The bass version was Squier only.

[adamg67]

1 hour ago, BigRedX said:

There never was one. The bass version was Squier only.

Same thing

[CPCustomdubwise]

Also incorrect, as there certainly WAS a Fender Katana bass.

[Defo]

Those 80s Aria ZZs were fierce

 

[adamg67]

10 minutes ago, CPCustomdubwise said:

Also incorrect, as there certainly WAS a Fender Katana bass.

Easy basschat way to settle it... pics or it didn't happen

[CPCustomdubwise]

Google.

[adamg67]

1 minute ago, CPCustomdubwise said:

Google.

I did, all Squiers, plus a few pages stating that Fender did the guitar as a Fender and a Squier, but only did the bass as a Squier.

[CPCustomdubwise]

And in the interests of natural justice, I DID google....and Big Red X was right and I was wrong; I can't find any evidence to support what I write and I can find lots to support what he wrote.

I never studied the headstocks of the things closely enough ( inexplicably !)

 

So abject apologies due and delivered !

[CPCustomdubwise]

Snap !

[adamg67]

It's easy to misremember, in my head the Katana didn't look too bad... that was definitely wrong!

[CPCustomdubwise]

I didn't like them then....I have a perverse attraction now ( which doesn't extend to actually wanting to buy one...)

Did they use the headstock on another of thwir angular 80s efforts....?

I think they did; that's my excuse for getting confused and I'm sticking to it !

[CPCustomdubwise]

They DID !

The Performer bass.....

Which, neatly, also fits the remit of this thread.

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 4, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I can confirm what Jus Lukin said.

I have a couple of Epiphone Vintage Pro thunderbirds, one sunburst and one white. I fitted a set of Gotoh GB-640 res-o-lite non-reverse vintage tuners to each and apart from giving improving the look of the bass, they are noticably lighter compared them to the stock tuners. I use Comfort Strapp neoprene straps which are grippy enough to prevent any potential neck dive and the stretchyness makes the basses feel lighter somehow.

[itu]

Check "Takamine bass gothic", and find at least two black instruments of the 80's.

[Grahambythesea]

Washburn Stage

[Lfalex v1.1]

Westone Raider...🤣

[artisan]

My D roc is very light & balances very nicely on the strap,no neck dive at all.