Angel Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 I was just watching a video concert that I am really enjoying these days (Casiopea vs the Square full live), basically two excellent Japanese jazz fusion bands sharing the stage for a concert. I noticed that at one point one of the bassists, during a solo bit, started shaking a whammy bar. To be honest, I thought that they came and went over a very short period (late 80s?) when guitar mags invariable had a pic of Billy Sheehan with one. The concert was some time later 2004 I think. Are they still a thing? Anyone got one or had one? Even though I'm a guitarist who feels a little lost without one, I wouldn't go for one on a bass personally. ... and I think that the concert is excellent if anyone is interested: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pst62 Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 No never! They should be only be on guitars, as should Mr Sheehan and his ilk IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 I used to have a P bitsa I put a Kahler trem on (more correctly - a vibrato unit) - never used to to its full potential, but interesting and used subtly created some "fretlesseque" effects. Even heavier than a Badass 1 though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 Someone on here does, because I played it at a Bassbash. I had rather a lot of fun with the trem 🤭 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 (edited) I've got a VIBRATO on both my Bass VIs - Burns Barracuda and Squier Bass VI. However once the over-lightweight gauge strings have been replaced on these the vibrato barely functions anymore as the string tension is now too high. Edited June 29, 2020 by BigRedX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 Pedants head on. A trem is a volume changer, and vibrato is a pitch changer. Therefore vibratos are the system fitted to basses and guitars. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 It's easier if you just call it a whammy bar 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 I had one fitted to a manson explorer. Never used it. It was already fitted to the bass when I bought it. In hindsight, I should have removed it and sold it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted June 29, 2020 Author Share Posted June 29, 2020 54 minutes ago, fleabag said: Pedants head on. A trem is a volume changer, and vibrato is a pitch changer. Therefore vibratos are the system fitted to basses and guitars. Yeah, but language adapts all the time, and they are often known just as a trem now. It is its own word. I specifically didn't say Tremolo. I'm blocking your pedantry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 (edited) I've got a Fender VI. Good to have the trem, just in case it's in tune and you don't want it to be Edited July 1, 2020 by ahpook 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 (edited) - Edited March 5, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 2 of my basses have a bend-well. Does that count? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 Check out Chicken Fried Snake on the Ron Levys Wild Kingdom CD. Some brilliant whammy-assisted 6 string bass from Jimmie Vaughan. I remember a Peavey demo by Colin Hodgkinson (early 80's I think) and he had a bass (4 string) fitted with one.; Weird in quite an interesting way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 2 hours ago, fleabag said: Pedants head on. A trem is a volume changer, and vibrato is a pitch changer. Therefore vibratos are the system fitted to basses and guitars. I always make a point of calling a vibrato rather than tremolo system on both guitars and basses. It would be great to see someone make an actual tremolo device that looks like a vibrato but acts on the volume control on the instrument giving true tremolo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbasspecial Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 7 hours ago, MacDaddy said: Someone on here does, because I played it at a Bassbash. I had rather a lot of fun with the trem 🤭 That was my black p bass with status neck. Think that was at the bass show 3 years ago (barefaced/cog stand). It has a chrome Kahler. My original blue bass has a gold Kahler on it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nail Soup Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 6 hours ago, MacDaddy said: 2 of my basses have a bend-well. Does that count? I guess a bend well can only increase the pitch while a whammy puts the pitch up and down. Whoops, forgot to put “pedant alert”😄! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 Playing mostly fretless, do I say yes or no?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 (edited) I had a bass with a tremelo system years ago. Although I like using wang bar on a Strat it was nothing like that. When it came to the bass it was odd...clunky and huge with a heavy slackening of the strings that felt unnatural. I wouldnt recommend it. Edited July 1, 2020 by Spoombung Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 I saw it as an option on Warmoth years back... Haven't looked there since the exchange rate got less and less attractive. I remember thinking it would be interesting to be a bit flashy but I just can't think how I would personally use it at all except to muck about while guitarists fart about between songs in rehearsal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbasspecial Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 To be honest, I've never really used them in anger. Occasionally wind the whammy bar on just f**k with guitarists ego at rehearsals. Worth it for that alone 😂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbasspecial Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 (edited) Edited July 1, 2020 by pbasspecial 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMG456 Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 I've also now got two. The Atilla Balogh Odyssey bass I recently acquired has a retro fit Kahler on it but the one I've had for a long time is a Steinberger XL-2TA which was factory ordered with the bass TransTrem. I find them fun with a bit of harmonics and reverb but of course the Steiney has the edge as far as functionality is concerned as you can lock the arm into different tuning positions on the fly so with the bass tuned as standard, I can drop to D, C or B or go up to F# or G. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 I don't even like them on guitars if I'm honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 Stanley clarke has a bigsby on one if his alembics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nail Soup Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 12 hours ago, Bassfinger said: I don't even like them on guitars if I'm honest. I’m inclined to agree with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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