Some questions for the bassists from a bass neophyte

V8

Heya,

Soooo, got a gig coming up and asked which instrument I'd like to play I answered..."bass!" I have played bass a bit, but I've always treated it like a 4-string guitar - thus I know little about the subtleties of bass playing (& particularly bass rigs) or perhaps better put..."I don't know what I don't know"

ATM I've got a 80's Hohner Jack bass (4 string headless w/EMG's active humbuckers) and a crybaby bass wah (tone sucker of note) and that's it.

Feelwise, the hohner is good, though I've a thing for slimmer, easy playing necks. I had a Ibanez Soundgear Gio and that was super easy playing. I've recently tried a fender P bass (not my thing) and a fender Jazz bass (more like it) - I'm thinking a Ibanez again (Soundgear SR300/500, maybe even a old Ergodyne 700/900?).

Tonewise I'd like a versatile setup that can fit in a 60's cover band (CCR, Beatles, Blues) yet can occasionally scratch my itch with a SWR (slap happy) "hifi" sound. What bits should I be looking for? I'm guessing a Compressor that can blend a dry/wet signal, a smallish amp I can fit in my little car to DI to the PA and ???

Technically, I've spent some time playing finger style, though I'm still more comfy with a pick. I do get a far warmer/full tone playing solely with the thumb and because I've some some flamenco style nails on the picking hand, I've kinda developed a cross between picado and more traditional bass finger style which sounds a little warmer than a pick but still retains a chunk of the attack/bite I associate with a pick.

Feel free to let me know what I should be thinking about - technique, gear, approach, practice regime - whatever.

Thanks!

Chocklit_Thunda

I started bass a few years ago... First things first, Scott's Bass Lessons! (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWTj3vCqkQIsrTGSm4kM34g)
This guy has taken me from crappy warbly uneven tone to slapping, plucking and running bass lines.

First thing for me would be to practice would be finger technique. Alternating between index and middle like a walking motion while doing pentatonics and scales works well.

As for the bass itself, I'd try something with 2 pickups (preferably different ones for versatility)
My GB35-A uses a jazz pickup and a Musicman Humbucker, has an active high and low boost concentric pot and a blend pot for the pickups. lets you take the sound anywhere you want with just a few minor adjustments

V8

Chocklit_Thunda wrote: I started bass a few years ago... First things first, Scott's Bass Lessons! (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWTj3vCqkQIsrTGSm4kM34g)
This guy has taken me from crappy warbly uneven tone to slapping, plucking and running bass lines.

Ahh, thanks for that - a bit of reminder, I'd seen him before but forgot about him - I recall seeing the glove and having a chuckle. Watched the rig overview, he makes tones like I wanna hear - tried out a few in guitar rig, hmmm lotsa synth-y goodness. :?

Chocklit_Thunda wrote: First thing for me would be to practice would be finger technique. Alternating between index and middle like a walking motion while doing pentatonics and scales works well.

I trimmed off my index & middle fingernails yesterday (sniff-sniff) and I'm getting closer to what I was hoping for. Been working on a two finger tech for a while now - getting better, slowly but surely. Still a while away from what I can get going with a pick though.

Chocklit_Thunda wrote: As for the bass itself, I'd try something with 2 pickups (preferably different ones for versatility)
My GB35-A uses a jazz pickup and a Musicman Humbucker, has an active high and low boost concentric pot and a blend pot for the pickups. lets you take the sound anywhere you want with just a few minor adjustments

My hohner isn't bad at all - I just find the neck a tad chunky. What I do like is the dead quiet (if bland) pups & the active/passive switch - if the 9V is flat you can still use the bass - similar to yours (I guessed it was a Cort =).