Duration 11:54

Why do the session legends all use P basses Here's why.

by Scott's Bass Lessons

1 295 593 watched

0

26.3 K

Published 29 Dec 2018

Ever wondered why so many top session bassists use P basses? Ever wondered why certain producers and engineers almost flat out refuse to track with anything other than a P bass? It's weird, right? Well, in this lesson I've got a very special guest with me... the LA session legend, Sean Hurley. Bassist for the likes of John Mayer, Robin Thicke, Idena Menzell and many, many more. And you're about to hear his story about the P bass. About the time when he turned up to the studio with his active 5 string, cut the track... and then was politely told... "great playing, but errrr... that bass sound... errrr... I'm sure we'll be able to fix it in the mix" Bass. Players. Nightmare. Let's be serious. Any musicians nightmare! Obviously, check out the video... and find out what happened next, and how it was a defining moment in Sean's career. As always, see you in the shed... Scott :) ================================================================== GET MORE BASS TIPS 👇 _________________________________________________________________ 🙌 Be the first to know - SUBSCRIBE now → https://bit.ly/sub-to-sbl-yt 🔓 Unlock your FREE trial to transform your bass playing → http://bit.ly/3fXt4cI ABOUT SCOTT’S BASS LESSONS (SBL) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- As the largest online bass education platform in the world, with an ever-expanding course library and 40,000+ active members, Scott’s Bass Lessons (SBL) has everything you need to master the bass, all in one place. Featuring beginner level bass lessons, engaging courses from expert instructors, step-by-step development curricula, direct feedback on your playing, real-time mentorship from A-list bassists and a thriving and incredibly supportive community, SBL is the perfect platform to uplevel your bass playing, whether you’re a total beginner, or an advanced pro-level bassist. Try SBL Membership today! → http://bit.ly/3fXt4cI RECOMMENDED BASS PLAYLIST ------------------------------------------------------------- Catch up with SBL Content you’ve missed: ➡️ /playlist/PLq5Wss5r1Cvvplt7z7O45JHk2TaJ3NT53 #bassguitarlessons #bassforbeginners #easybasslines LINKS -------------- Tune in to our Weekly Podcast: 🎧 https://sblpodcast.buzzsprout.com/share Explore our FREE courses: 🎸 http://freebasscourses.com Try our FREE GrooveTrainer App: 📱 https://scottsbasslessons.com/groove-trainer-app

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Comments - 2694

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@IndigoBass5 years ago They loved my playing but didnt like my sound
same mate, but they didnt like my playing either! 2232
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@veerchasm13 years ago This confirms it: i need to practice less and buy more gear. 587
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@yisuskane2 years ago I love the concept ofbass" one pickup, one tone, one volume. For everything. 171
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@1xayekimlast year My brother is a session guitarist who was in la now in nashville and he explained to me that as a session guitarist he has experienced people simply not . ...Expand 49
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@markvincent5224 years ago Im actually a guitar nerd, but deep down, i love bass the most, and learning stuff like this is rad. 46
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@YYLegend5 years ago I' ve been primarily a guitar player, but over the years i found myself gravitating towards bass more and more. It' s a gift that i found your channel man thank you. 10
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@petercarlson8116 years ago I could actually listen to you guys for hours. This kind of in depth knowledge is hypnotizing to me almost regardless of the subject. 12
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@JM-qz1yk5 years ago Carol kaye set the tone for la studio hits. That' s another factor. Producers want to chase that hallowed and authoritative tone of hers that fit so . ...Expand 67
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@memoulloa10114 years ago Ive always used squire p basses since i cannot afford the real thing. And they dont disappoint at all. New strings and having everything in place makes the magic happen. Great video. Greetings from mexico. 7
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@Metalbass19794 years ago I watched this video a few years back and then bought a p bass. Having many basses in my stable from moderate priced to high end customs, to my amazement, . ...Expand 12
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@jwinva10 months ago I was asked to come back and play bass on our church worship team after being out of it for years. I decided to fit my mexican p-bass with rotosound flats . ...Expand 5
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@trevorgrondin15123 years ago Sean hurley is amazing. Not only is he a talented player, but one of the coolest musicians ive met after a show. I met him in 99 when he was touring w . ...Expand 4
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@spayce86855 years ago My workhorse bass is a p-j bass copy from a cheap diy kit (i mostly use only the p pickup and blend in a bit of the j bridge when i need a bit more treble i bought it intending to use it as a cheapo that i wouldn' t be afraid of modding with all sorts of new gear for a bit of fun, but it works so well with everything i have ever done that i am scared to tinker with it at all. ...Expand 5
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@Doty6String5 years ago P bass is like a tele. It just works for everything. 492
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@midinerd5 years ago Starts at . I hope this era of several-minute intros goes away sooner than later. 952
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@garymcaleer61124 years ago Excellent, scott! Just having bought a glarry fretless p-bass @ $69. Delivered, and hearing sean play those flat wounds, i' m going to order flat wounds . ...Expand
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@duke_of_destruction5 years ago It depends on what type of music you are going to play. I use both passive and active basses. A lot of modern metal and even some older metal use active. . ...Expand 7
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@carlmontney79166 years ago I' ve played passive p' s since 1970. Strung with either labella flats or rotosound rs66' s. Used them for all types of gigs, all types of music. there' s a reason the fender precision has been used in thousands of recordings since it' s inception. It gets the job done period. That thick midrange punch cuts through. Leo created a winner!. ...Expand 37
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@mastod0n13 years ago I' m a j bass player and i love the sounds i can get out of it. When i first bought it i spent months messing around with different tone and pickup . ...Expand 3
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@DavidSmith-ss1cg4 months ago When i was learning, in the early 1970s, i remember reading an interview with ray shulman(of gentle giant) and he said " i have always been able to . ...Expand 2
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@ericmarshall1805 years ago I couldn' t stop laughing! I had almost the same experience when i started doing session work in new york back in the 80' s. I was fresh out of a . ...Expand 19
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@michaelraftice12305 years ago I completely agree. I had always eschewed buying a p-bass because, it seems that everyone plays them. I happened to pick one up when someone stopped by . ...Expand 5
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@boutcha15 years ago As an engineer, i love the p-bass. Imho a 3 piece band sounds great/complete with a great bass player and an original new york spector bass. Awesome lows, . ...Expand 6
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@soundmanks5 years ago This points out something most musicians just cant get. The most important job of an engineer is to create pockets of space for each instrument, in t id="hidden18"he mix. Active basses sound really amazing, but that high end sparkle totally interferes with guitar, snare, and some vocals. As nice as that sound might be to the player, if it cant be dropped into the pocket between kick and snare, it will never sound like it really belongs there, and other instruments may suffer terribly. The difference between session players and everyone else is the willingness to do what is best for the project, and leave your personal feelings and preferences at the curb, outside. In fact, why not also be considerate of your bands sound engineer, and allow him the same opportunity? What if it really does make for a better sound for the whole band?. ...Expand 565
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@zechariahfrink37075 years ago It' s all about finding the right tone for the song/genre. I definitely believe that having a completely open mind about what the personnel hiring you . ...Expand 3
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@GooseDave5 years ago I sometimes get fed up with scott popping up everywhere on my yt, but got to hand it to him, on a regular basis he pulls it out of the hat. What an interesting video. Good stuff! 1
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@jaco76754 years ago Short answer: p basses provide a wide background fill sound, taking up a lot of space, yet not intruding and becoming overly prominent in the mix. Theyre t there. Just saved you 11 minutes. ...Expand 569
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@michaelquillen26795 years ago Once i went to my ibanez musician in 1984, the neck of the ' 72 p bass felt like a 2x4 in my hand. Became a better bassist overnight. Been with the ibanez and its passive pickups ever since. 5
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@johnglynhughes42392 months ago It took me over 40+yrs to finally get it: simplicity is the ultimate.
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@isaiasrivera93026 years ago I just love the sound of the bass guitar ( any of them ) i play yamaha 5 strings and 4 strings too. Also ibanez 5 strings and i just love them all god bless you all, keep going scott great vids! 3
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@gordontubbs5 years ago (1) it stays in tune, and (2) it has atone that old school engineers were more than happy to work with using console eq and tube compressors. 6
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@shoegazeforever88105 years ago Just bought my first bass. I chose a jazz bass because of its flexibility. I have it set for warm low end but like the fact that i have more punchiness . ...Expand 7
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@louierubio4 years ago Would be cool to see a vid that compares how the p bass compares to other basses in the same mix. Thanks for the vid. 2
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@Nixlplix2 years ago 35 years playing guitar, only recently started playing bass more. I bought a gretsch jetbass and immediately put flats on it and love the sound. I have soundgear ibanez with rounds for everything else.
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@lincolncalvin58765 years ago Good information to know. I started on a p-bass. But things shifted and active bass became the thing. I find myself foing back to that passiveinformation.
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@mr.wunderful43616 years ago Love these little snippets. Thank you. And then, there are us stingray proponents. Never have had an issue with it anywhere. Then again, if the producer . ...Expand 10
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@alantus149 months ago My first master recording session was in los angeles, for motown records, in the late 70s. I ordered a precision bass from sir. They asked: " what . ...Expand 2
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@bassimprovjams37725 years ago I watched this about 5 months ago. And i' ve dealt with this also having a custom bass, and this just makes so. Much sense, i love fender now. And will be buying a mustang bass very soon!
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@bb11111163 years ago Interesting conversation that i can relate to. Im an amateur musician & have played bass on my own recordings & for friends.
i had one r but ive never owned one. I prefer a short scale & a sound which can stand out more if i want. ...Expand 1
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@POWERLEADX5 years ago Thanks for the video scott. Sean is wonderful.
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@GiacomodellaSvezia5 years ago I love mine. I can play things on it that i can' t on other basses. Despite its single split coil, it' s amazingly versatile. 1
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@ptose6 years ago I love the moment at the third minute with two great bassists agreeing about how incredible was pino palladino on voodoo. 6
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@jamestom25104 years ago Fantastic, how crazy is that. In my early playing years i had 3 ibanez musician bases, now an active yamaha 5 string, and yet its that p bass or pj setup that somehow is just there and feels like butter.
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@michaelstephens20405 years ago I love fender p & j basses but several years ago i moved to g&l jb2 and l20 and the engineers i have worked with have loved the tone of these great basses.
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@DavidGriffis3 years ago Great guys. I loved the humor.
brought a smile to my face. I think i' m going p-bass now.
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@davidwales96575 years ago I have a 1990 j bass plus, it can be active or passive with the kubicki preamp. Best of both worlds: 2
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@stevekirby73334 years ago Many years ago i asked myron dove about active pickups to fix up a squire bass i had (i' m a guitar player) and he just gave me that look of his and . ...Expand
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@pappyodanial5 years ago Thicke was like, i need this to sound more like that marvin gaye song, here use this p bass. 440
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@FenderBassMan5 years ago I' ve had a very similar experience. I play in a five-piece group, most often using my fender usa j-bass. Deciding to purchase a used fender mij ' 85-87 . ...Expand 5
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@richardbaraniuk95573 years ago Hey scott! That was a great interview!
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@jhardycarroll5 years ago Great conversation. I dig what he says about pino.
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@raynic11734 years ago Wow, that last session bit with the p bass is fantastic!
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@robbiesampson53995 years ago Had the same experience just a few months ago with my 79 usa custom p bass. The studio engineer was like ahh the precision. That' s the bass sound i want!
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@MichaelDGorman5 years ago In these days of independent musicians, and the ability to forge our own path, building your own sound is essential. 24
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@michaelwilson23405 years ago John deacon did use a stingray on occasion, but he was a precision bass guy. And i love deacon! His playing was fantastic and the p-bass just looked right on him live. 1
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@paulevans43344 years ago Nice to see you got the outside studio sorted.
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@JRP3music5 years ago I have a 5 string precision bass. It is a modified squire with passive emg pickups. Love that bass, use it for my demos. Still mine is different than a . ...Expand
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@gordonrussell765 years ago Great video, the drummer looking like tyres from spaced was an added bonus:
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@rodneymcintosh14846 years ago Just do what chuck rainey did during the recording steely dan' s, aja. Play with your back turned to the booth and they won' t know what bass you' re playing! 91
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@OscarRichardson5 years ago So good to see some of drh' s band-style songs getting a workout. I love that song. If you did hold my fire i' d probably buy the course.
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@RadicalChod5 years ago Many years ago, my best friend at school (still my best friend) starting learning bass and, because he was a huge iron maiden fan at the time, got a squire about two years later he sold it to purchase a 6-string yamaha active bass, and it was the saddest i have ever been over a friend selling a piece of gear. He still uses the yamaha (he now also has a fretless version of the same bass as his main) but god i miss that p-bass.
about fifteen years later a friend wanted to do a metal band and because we lived together and i thought it might be fun, i offered to get a bass and play for him. I was dead set on a p-bass but he insisted that it would need an active five-string, so i ended up relenting and getting that. Predictably, nothing ever came of the project, and now every time i record demos of my own i have to use that stupid five-string, wishing it was a p-bass. Sometimes it literally makes me want to stop recording.
there is, however, a happy ending in that i' m a talentless hack who shouldn' t be making music anyway. ...Expand 17
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@juanmlov5 years ago Pleased to see drh at the end of the video! Love his music. Great voice.
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@RSTI1915 years ago My top ten list of bass guitars
fender precision
fender jazz
then everything else. 34
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@kevinlynch22486 years ago I agree with all of whats said here except one thing you said scott - just because a p bass (or any bass for that matter) costs $400. 00, doesnt mean it for instance, i have an old fender jazz bass that was about $400. 00 when i bought it used and i would put it up against any bass out there. It sounds that good. Also, geddy lee bought his first fender jazz bass for $200. 00. That very bass (not modded in any way) is played on moving pictures on the track tom sawyer. Im sure youve heard of that song. The cost or price of the bass does not determine whether said bass will be great or not. The person playing the bass does. ...Expand 189
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@pastafari2875 years ago Just found your channel. Cool! What i take to sessions is my musicman stingray 5 custom shop, pre-cbs precision and warwick jd thumb. Also a gig bag with . ...Expand
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@raymyhill22773 years ago Bill wyman in the 60s with his framus bass was magic. Especially the tone he got on the long version of " out of time " it was and is magic.
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@MikeNorth01015 years ago Thanks for this scott. From a bass nerd! 1
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@toneyisaiah4085 years ago The letter p stands for
precision bass by fender. 67
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@blakewhittington43366 years ago I' ve always preferred fender basses
with ampeg amps
just such a nice warm tone and you can get pretty dirty too if you want to
who makes the b15? 16
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@thomaswalz35155 years ago In my soul, i am a bass player. But invested way too much time being a guitar player. But yeah, i own a p-bass, and when i play it, it' s always id="hidden45" the right sound. And imo, a 5 string is too low. 4 is it. It' s about the groove, the music comes first. Our egos last. ...Expand 29
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@bassplayerbell5 years ago David ryan harris is a fantastic musician! Seen him play around atlanta since the 90`s follow for now.
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@rogeliooviedo59855 years ago Pure wise. Thanks to the all father leo fender for his creation, thanks for thinking in the musicians and engineers needs. 1
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@lawrencehodge70855 years ago It is an odd phenomenon how crucial a bass tone can be to have it sit. I have a 1981 " f" fretless 5 string withemg j pick ups (that still sound kinda passive) from the same year and i use it everywhere. Because it basically sounds close to a fender! Would love to have an old p or j!. ...Expand
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@jackbassII6 years ago A lot of it comes down to taste. Sometimes, i just don' t like the sound of a p-bass, to my ears they can sound dull and thuddy, and get lost in the . ...Expand 5
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@stickman335 years ago Not just p-bass; i go to a lot of jam sessions and guitar players seem to overwhelmingly prefer fenders to all other guitars. When i' ve discussed this, . ...Expand 2
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@Cheguebuddha5 years ago Im a guitar player building my home studio and in need of a bass for recording demos. After seeing this i decided to buy a shorty p-bass which should arrive this monday: d cheers!
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@alexandredidierjean84133 years ago Very good points made. I ve finally, after 10 years of practicing on a ibanez sr with flat wound, got sick of borrowing my mate s p bass for recording . ...Expand
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@mitchelevans99145 years ago Many years ago, my girl friend switched from guitar to bass. We found a used p bass for a song. It was ' 84, and she got it for $150(even in the ' 80' s, . ...Expand 1
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@jeffkahl5 years ago A contemporary of mine says " if it' s not a precision i' ve made my decision" 9
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@staggerproof55895 years ago Great vid. James jamerson knew this. I always hear, the p bass " cuts through the mix" maybe, but that' s because, as said here, it sits in . ...Expand
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@tinnitusthenight55454 years ago Great video, for the tldr: mid range harmonics and common experience.
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@charlottebyrd62734 years ago I started out at age 14 on an arctic white fender standard p bass. I ended up selling it. Fast forward 25 years and several basses later and i just bought a passive fender standard p bass in arctic white. It just works.
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@MBJazzful5 years ago Didn' t know what i had! 1st amp - 1958 ( b15and 1 x 18" badged kelly - didn' t fit the clean bit on the grill cloth) 150 - andy' s guitar shop, denmark st, london. Only when i went to sell (money for food! That i found out that it was a b15(i couldn' t see the join) vintage and rare said you only really see them in studios. It was my gigging amp) showed me a lovely example. Andy' s gave me 50 for it back!. ...Expand
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@busterrabbit5 years ago Nathan east, probably the most recorded bassist ever, plays a yamaha, and unlike many other players who seem to endorse most brands in turn, i' ve not seen playing anything other than a yamaha. 9
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@LJPV7776 years ago Every bass configuration has a sound of it' s own and can suit a mix well, but i can' t think of a situation where a p-bass wouldn' t fit the bill perfectly. 8
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@Ystadcop5 years ago Really interesting. I' ve been meaning to learn the bass for nearly 60 years.
another house with woodpeckers.
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@Azajndo5 years ago My story: im now 34, started playing bass at 16. Since the start i had several instruments (music mans, warwicks, spectors) but i was never able to s id="hidden57"ettle down with the sound. 3 weeks ago i purchased a japan fgn p bass, and i feel im finally arrived. ...Expand 4
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@krookiemonster26734 years ago Hey there! I have a question about home recording. I only have one bass (warwick rockbass fortress 5) and its active. I have a hard time recording direct . ...Expand
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@paddydaddyo6 years ago That track at the end of the video is just deelish. I actually have two p-basses, boththat i built from parts: a 1st with tape wounds, and a 2nd gen contour body with la bella flats. Gives me all the precision goodness i' ll ever need! I do have a roscoe lg-3005 for anything else though. ...Expand 18
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@ThatBaritoneGuitarGuy5 years ago My bass has jazz humbuckers, which is exactly what it sounds like, a musicman-sized humbucker made of two jazz pickups. Before that, my primary was a musicman as for the way an instrument sounds, most of that can be fixed by adjusting the eq on your amplifier, and by knowing how much or how little to increase your tone knob. ...Expand 1
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@mikejackson35644 years ago My youngest son started playing bass. So i guess i' ll become a bass nerd. Thanks for the info!
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@rbilleaud5 years ago Sort of like the strat, you can use it for anything. As musicians, we can tell the difference, of course, between a les paul and a strat, and we think . ...Expand 1