Bass Guitar

[Spike]

Time for a thread for the greatest instrument in the world. Any more bassists in the house?

Use this thread to share pics of your basses, discuss technicalities, share amp settings, generally anything pertaining to bass.

I'll kick things off - here are my babies:

Thunderbird

Mike Dirnt Precision, obviously

Warwick RockBass Corvette, and my amp

Italia Modulo. Very, very rare in this country now.

Seriously, look at the finish on this thing. It's incredible.

[Bastard of 1969]

Now I realized you're the TomTom guy. My mind is blown now.

[Eva]

Oh man, drum set is the first love of my life but bass guitar is definitely the second. I am in love with bass. I've been playing for three and a half years now and God damn, it's my favorite thing to do, now that I live in an apartment and can't play my drums.

Here's my one and only bass. I got it for 40 bucks at a tiny pawn shop in Oak Ridge. There's more space between the frets and the strings than I would personally like, but I still love it to death, even if it's not the best quality. It's a Crescent. I don't really know anything about the brand, but it gets the job done, y'know? Plus, since it's not a huge name-brand bass, I can put all the stickers I want on it without feeling like I'm fucking up the value of the damn thing.

[Spike]

Oh man, drum set is the first love of my life but bass guitar is definitely the second. I am in love with bass. I've been playing for three and a half years now and God damn, it's my favorite thing to do, now that I live in an apartment and can't play my drums.

Here's my one and only bass. I got it for 40 bucks at a tiny pawn shop in Oak Ridge. There's more space between the frets and the strings than I would personally like, but I still love it to death, even if it's not the best quality. It's a Crescent. I don't really know anything about the brand, but it gets the job done, y'know? Plus, since it's not a huge name-brand bass, I can put all the stickers I want on it without feeling like I'm fucking up the value of the damn thing.

That looks sweet! Have you looked into getting the action lowered? I was playing for a few years before I even knew that could be done and it brought my playing to a whole new level when I got my bass set up properly.

Now I realized you're the TomTom guy. My mind is blown now.

I haven't been tomnomnom since September

[Eva]

That looks sweet! Have you looked into getting the action lowered? I was playing for a few years before I even knew that could be done and it brought my playing to a whole new level when I got my bass set up properly.

Oh, no, what is that and how do you do it, exactly? I'm not very good at like...technical aspects (I don't know if that's what you'd call it), y'know? I mean, I can change the strings and that's about it. I don't know much about amp settings or like, frequency pedals for guitars or anything. I can just play the instrument and that's about it. But yeah, if that would help out somehow I'd really like to know more 'bout it haha.

[Bastard of 1969]

I haven't been tomnomnom since September

I'm completly blown now.

[Spike]

Oh, no, what is that and how do you do it, exactly? I'm not very good at like...technical aspects (I don't know if that's what you'd call it), y'know? I mean, I can change the strings and that's about it. I don't know much about amp settings or like, frequency pedals for guitars or anything. I can just play the instrument and that's about it. But yeah, if that would help out somehow I'd really like to know more 'bout it haha.

Basically, there are a couple of ways you can lower the strings. It takes a bit of practice to get right, and as long as you can take it to a shop to get fixed if you do anything wrong (which isn't very likely) it's definitely worth learning to do. See the bridge saddles? They have holes for an allen key on either side of each string, and if you tighten them it lowers the string, and if you loosen them it heightens it. As this changes the tension you also have to compensate for it by loosening or tightening the screw at the bottom of the bridge, that changes the length of the string to keep the intonation right. As you do it you have to keep checking that the 12th fret of the string is in tune. There are also adjustments you can do to the truss rod, but I really wouldn't recommend it unless you really know what you're doing, it can get risky.

If none of that made any sense I'll find a link for you to read, it's not as complicated as I probably made it sound

I'm completly blown now.

You're welcome

[9876gwen]

A thread for one of the greatest instruments in the world finally! heres my baby <3 fender modern player jazz bass

[Eva]

Basically, there are a couple of ways you can lower the strings. It takes a bit of practice to get right, and as long as you can take it to a shop to get fixed if you do anything wrong (which isn't very likely) it's definitely worth learning to do. See the bridge saddles? They have holes for an allen key on either side of each string, and if you tighten them it lowers the string, and if you loosen them it heightens it. As this changes the tension you also have to compensate for it by loosening or tightening the screw at the bottom of the bridge, that changes the length of the string to keep the intonation right. As you do it you have to keep checking that the 12th fret of the string is in tune. There are also adjustments you can do to the truss rod, but I really wouldn't recommend it unless you really know what you're doing, it can get risky.

If none of that made any sense I'll find a link for you to read, it's not as complicated as I probably made it sound

Yeah, it makes sense! A link might be good though, so I can bookmark it for later. I have to borrow an Allen key from one of my friends 'cause I lost mine a long time ago, so I won't be fixing it anytime soon.

[Backyard Skulls]

Aww this makes me miss playing bass

I got one of those starter sets with a squier p bass when I was 14 or 15. I had tried playing the guitar but I found it too confusing, cheesily I think Mike was my inspiration haha.

I remember the first dew days of playing my pinkie was that weak I had to use other fingers to hold it down

I never really played it seriously besides learning a few green day songs, I used it in music as one of my other instruments (other was/is trumpet). I did get to play it at wind band a few times when we played thriller and rock around the clock which was fun but I had to stop because I couldn't read bass clef, only tab I can read bass clef now though lol.

One of my friends has it just now, I gave it to him like 2 years ago, might get it back and start playing again!

[Spike]

Yeah, it makes sense! A link might be good though, so I can bookmark it for later. I have to borrow an Allen key from one of my friends 'cause I lost mine a long time ago, so I won't be fixing it anytime soon.

This four part series is brilliant, but only do the truss rod or nut ones if you feel brave. It's unlikely you'll have to make any adjustments to those anyway, just thought it made sense to link the whole series. Adjusting the bridge and intonation are the most important bits anyway.

[Clean Cut Asshole]

Here's mine, it's a P-bass. It was my sister's (she put the star stickers on it), but she decided she didn't wanna play it anymore so I took it and added the Metallica sticker, the Minor Threat one ect ect. It's a pretty cool bass, I like the sound of it a lot, the sound's got a Krist Novoselic-vibe to it, so it's cool.

[Sleeper Agent.]

My basses feel so generic by comparison (as in customised with stickers and stuff)

Here is my Spector bass I sometimes call Summer's Ghost:

And my ESP bass that I have left unnamed:

I currently have an Orange Crush pix 50 watt amp, I'm looking at getting a cabinet and a head soon, cause obviously need a louder amp.

Now for my pride and joy, my Darkglass preamp pedal, it's so awesome, it's great for distortion or warmth to the bass :3

That's all my bass gear :3

[Eva]

I really need more education about pedals and amps and all, both for bass and guitar. When it comes to the actual instrument, I know my shit somewhat well, but I'm pretty clueless when it comes to gear. I never really got into it, I guess.

[American_edot]

question

my bass' (precision ) E string is not being picked up by the pickups as well as the other strings. does anyone know anything i can do?

thanks

[Spike]

question

my bass' (precision ) E string is not being picked up by the pickups as well as the other strings. does anyone know anything i can do?

thanks

You could try heightening the pickup under the E string. Loosen the pickup screw closest to the E string so the pickup lifts a bit at that side. Alternatively, tighten the other three to make all the other strings quieter to match the E string.

[American_edot]

You could try heightening the pickup under the E string. Loosen the pickup screw closest to the E string so the pickup lifts a bit at that side. Alternatively, tighten the other three to make all the other strings quieter to match the E string.

thanks

[Spike]

My basses feel so generic by comparison (as in customised with stickers and stuff)

Here is my Spector bass I sometimes call Summer's Ghost:

And my ESP bass that I have left unnamed:

I currently have an Orange Crush pix 50 watt amp, I'm looking at getting a cabinet and a head soon, cause obviously need a louder amp.

Now for my pride and joy, my Darkglass preamp pedal, it's so awesome, it's great for distortion or warmth to the bass :3

That's all my bass gear :3

That looks like a mighty pedal. I'd love to use one someday. I'm a sucker for Electo Harmonix Muffs personally, I've got the Double Muff and it sounds great. Hoping to get a Russian Big Muff Pi at some point (can you tell I'm a Muse fan yet?) but they're so hard to get hold of.

[fromdecimateddreams]

Oh my god I lovelovelove the bass. I've only been playing since last summer, but I was able to pick it up really easily for some reason and it's one of my favourite instruments now. I love anything that plays in a lower register.

Mine isn't anything fancy, it's just an old Ibanez that my uncle bought off some dude in high school and let me borrow. It sounds pretty decent, though.

I pretty much like to play anything on it, but I've gotten into quite a bit of jazz with it lately since it seems to be the easiest instrument for me to improv on.

[Eva]

Oh my god I lovelovelove the bass. I've only been playing since last summer, but I was able to pick it up really easily for some reason and it's one of my favourite instruments now. I love anything that plays in a lower register.

Mine isn't anything fancy, it's just an old Ibanez that my uncle bought off some dude in high school and let me borrow. It sounds pretty decent, though.

I pretty much like to play anything on it, but I've gotten into quite a bit of jazz with it lately since it seems to be the easiest instrument for me to improv on.

Your bass is still better than mine. I've never tried playing jazz on bass, actually. I play jazz on drum set quite a bit, but I've never ventured in to the bass world...Maybe because with bass you actually need to know notes and stuff, and the only thing I can really do on bass is play tabs and learn basic punk songs by ear.

[fromdecimateddreams]

Your bass is still better than mine. I've never tried playing jazz on bass, actually. I play jazz on drum set quite a bit, but I've never ventured in to the bass world...Maybe because with bass you actually need to know notes and stuff, and the only thing I can really do on bass is play tabs and learn basic punk songs by ear.

You can learn jazz from tabs too, actually. I did. The only thing I really know note-wise on the bass as far as jazz goes is the root notes of blues scales, just so I know what key I'm in. And then once you learn where the other notes are in the scale, it comes pretty easy.

[Eva]

You can learn jazz from tabs too, actually. I did. The only thing I really know note-wise on the bass as far as jazz goes is the root notes of blues scales, just so I know what key I'm in. And then once you learn where the other notes are in the scale, it comes pretty easy.

Yeah, see, I don't know any scales on bass or guitar. I know all my 12 major scales because I'm in the school band and we have to know them, so I can play them on piano and marimba and other keyboard instruments. But nope, I have no idea what the scales are on bass or guitar.

[fromdecimateddreams]

Yeah, see, I don't know any scales on bass or guitar. I know all my 12 major scales because I'm in the school band and we have to know them, so I can play them on piano and marimba and other keyboard instruments. But nope, I have no idea what the scales are on bass or guitar.

Well, the blues scales are different than major scales, but they're pretty simple since it's the same form for every key. Like the B flat major blues scale is this:

G | -----------------------------------------------------------------------

D | -------------------------------6--------8------------------------------

A | -----------------6---7---8---------------------------------------------

E | ---6-------9-----------------------------------------------------------

So you can just take that and do a bunch of fun stuff with the notes in it. And for a different major key, you just take the same form and move it elsewhere. At least that's the basics of it that I know.

[Spike]

Yeah, see, I don't know any scales on bass or guitar. I know all my 12 major scales because I'm in the school band and we have to know them, so I can play them on piano and marimba and other keyboard instruments. But nope, I have no idea what the scales are on bass or guitar.

If you want to learn major scales on bass just play Warning (which is in A) and move that pattern around the fretboard

[Mary Daze]

Sooooo on Wednesday I got my very first bass. I've been playing guitar for two and a half years now and ever since I started that I also wanted to play the bass sometime. Now I've finally decided to order one and I am SO in love.

also

It was anything else than expensive. I ordered the "Toby Bass Performance Pack" so it's basically by Epiphone, the amp as well. For its low price the bass is quiet good, especially its sound (as far as I can judge that). Being used to a loud, great quality guitar amp I'm not too impressed by the bass-amp in the set, but it's definitely okay for the beginning.

Also: is it normal that after only three days I am already so much more in love with playing the bass than playing the guitar (which I've done for over two years now)?