Guitar/bass players - let's see your gear!

[upstatedoc]

I think gene Simmons would play that

[bucketfoot]

Originally Posted by UglyBuzzard

Yep but a bit customized. Got it from a studio 25 years ago or so and word was it was Mike Gordon's. Sounds like an angry piano.

Bought it to play Trick of the Light

I'd assume it's pretty much the same with a bass, but the sustain on the guitars was incredible. The lead guitarist in our old band had one. They definitely do not have the same weight balance as other guitars!

[UglyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by bucketfoot

I'd assume it's pretty much the same with a bass, but the sustain on the guitars was incredible. The lead guitarist in our old band had one. They definitely do not have the same weight balance as other guitars!

Sustain and tone on this one is insane. Not an Alembic but still gets your attention, especially at 11...

[4130]

A few from L-R: Mexican Strat, SG Standard, ESP Carpenter, LTD Carpenter

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by 4130

A few from L-R: Mexican Strat, SG Standard, ESP Carpenter, LTD Carpenter

Some smooth, buttery playing instruments you have there. I've always admired ESP's, but never owned one; same with PRS.

[ppointer]

Originally Posted by Now_Rudi

Nice! Loving the finish on that MM. Always have had a soft spot in my heart for Rickenbacker.

Thank you. I bought that Rick used in 1974 as a 16-year-old. I think it was a year old when I found it.

[4130]

Originally Posted by Now_Rudi

Some smooth, buttery playing instruments you have there. I've always admired ESP's, but never owned one; same with PRS.

ESP makes unbelievably well playing and sounding instruments. I have another LTD not pictured here and it's a great player as well. But the ESP Carpenter is simply perfect.

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by 4130

ESP makes unbelievably well playing and sounding instruments. I have another LTD not pictured here and it's a great player as well. But the ESP Carpenter is simply perfect.

I had the pleasure of playing a Kirk Hammett signature (unsure of the series) on a Marshall stack, with a pedal board (that to this day I'll never understand all the switches that were on it) back years ago. I was in love.......and unfortunately too broke to even fathom dropping the amount of cheese they wanted for that guitar. I wanted one since and just never pulled the trigger. Always thought the skull and cross bone fret inlays were the coolest thing ever. I didn't find it as buttery as something like an SG or a Les Paul, but it was without a doubt a tool of precision.

[RugbyBro]

Reviving this thread! Only time I’ll be found in the off topic is to talk about G.A.S

Current rig below: Suhr Modern + FM3 is what I play 95% of the time these days. In the pic is a Friedman Smallbox (modded by Dave; has JJ tone stack and Sat switch), TS9 mini, and Bogner Harlow - I’ll fire this up if I ever get the itch for a live amp. Not pictured is a PRS CU24 and Gibson CS LP (which honestly I rarely play anymore - I keep it around for sentimental reasons more than anything).

[pennsiveguy]

..

[ntg44]

Originally Posted by pennsiveguy

..

6 string fretless? You win.

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by ntg44

6 string fretless? You win.

It's not a contest.

[pennsiveguy]

..

[ntg44]

Originally Posted by pennsiveguy

It's not a contest.

I just bought my first 5 string a month ago. Lakland 55-02. I love it but it is an entirely different beast from what I'm used to. Playing with a pick isn't very ergonomic for me, so I'm sticking with fingers for now. I wouldn't even know what to do with a 6 string.

[pennsiveguy]

I programmed my Peterson StroboRack display. I know, I know...

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by ntg44

I just bought my first 5 string a month ago. Lakland 55-02. I love it but it is an entirely different beast from what I'm used to. Playing with a pick isn't very ergonomic for me, so I'm sticking with fingers for now. I wouldn't even know what to do with a 6 string.

...

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by ntg44

I just bought my first 5 string a month ago. Lakland 55-02. I love it but it is an entirely different beast from what I'm used to. Playing with a pick isn't very ergonomic for me, so I'm sticking with fingers for now. I wouldn't even know what to do with a 6 string.

Once I got used to the 5-string, I never had any need for a 4-string...although the light weight of the 4 is a nice thing. But none of us are gigging these days, so it doesn't really matter.

[RugbyBro]

pennsiveguy ntg44

Any bass recs for a guy who has been playing the same guitar licks for 17 years? I’m thinking maybe picking up a short scale at some point

[ntg44]

Originally Posted by RugbyBro

pennsiveguy ntg44

Any bass recs for a guy who has been playing the same guitar licks for 17 years? I’m thinking maybe picking up a short scale at some point

What genre of music do you play? Personally, I think a Fender P bass is a safe bet. Punches really hard and it works in pretty much any setting. The jazz basses have much nicer necks but the tone sounds kind of nasally.

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by RugbyBro

pennsiveguy ntg44

Any bass recs for a guy who has been playing the same guitar licks for 17 years? I’m thinking maybe picking up a short scale at some point

Shorter scale basses sometimes sound okay, but there's no escaping the physics of it; the shorter the scale, the less "bass-y" it's going to sound.

Start with the Fender Precision and Jazz Basses. There's a reason they're so ubiquitous. The P-bass is the go-to for Rock 'n Roll, and the Jazz typically has some sounds that work well for blues and jazz. The P-bass has less taper in the neck, which some people prefer and some don't. It really comes down to what feels comfortable in your hands and your ears. Your technique and hand position come into play too, but I'd say (some day when we're able to go to a shop and play stuff) just go try out a bunch of basses. Try to bring along your own "mini-rig," a portable device you can plug any bass into, and your own headphones or earbuds. Otherwise you're plugging into different rigs at every store, which brings into play a whole other big set of variables that will make for "apples vs. oranges vs. bananas" comparisons.

[RugbyBro]

Originally Posted by ntg44

What genre of music do you play? Personally, I think a Fender P bass is a safe bet. Punches really hard and it works in pretty much any setting. The jazz basses have much nicer necks but the tone sounds kind of nasally.

Ill look into p basses - punches hard I think is the key. Not sure how to describe a bass tone but something that punches and has good definition. Please forgive my rudimentary bass knowledge, it’s only recently after all these years am I trying to push my musical boundaries HA!

I play all over the spectrum but in recent years I’ve kind of rediscovered my passion for it thru an artist named Aaron Marshall and his band Intervals - specifically the album “The Way Forward”. It’s an eclectic/progressive mix of rock/metal, jazz, blues, and pop concepts which I think best defines my playing. Also has one of the gnarliest modern bass players I’ve heard.

[RugbyBro]

Originally Posted by pennsiveguy

Shorter scale basses sometimes sound okay, but there's no escaping the physics of it; the shorter the scale, the less "bass-y" it's going to sound.

Start with the Fender Precision and Jazz Basses. There's a reason they're so ubiquitous. The P-bass is the go-to for Rock 'n Roll, and the Jazz typically has some sounds that work well for blues and jazz. The P-bass has less taper in the neck, which some people prefer and some don't. It really comes down to what feels comfortable in your hands and your ears. Your technique and hand position come into play too, but I'd say (some day when we're able to go to a shop and play stuff) just go try out a bunch of basses. Try to bring along your own "mini-rig," a portable device you can plug any bass into, and your own headphones or earbuds. Otherwise you're plugging into different rigs at every store, which brings into play a whole other big set of variables that will make for "apples vs. oranges vs. bananas" comparisons.

Yeah you’re right - the more I think about it, the more I realize the tone I specifically want is almost certainly the result of the longer scale length. I think my hands are just locked in 25.5in so I’ll just have to break out of that which should be a fun challenge! These days I primarily judge guitars by their playability and acoustic qualities these days since once they’re plugged in, pickups can be tailored to the guitar’s resonance and tonal qualities. I assume it is similar with bass? Obviously though I’m not well versed enough with bass to judge them acoustically as my ear hasn’t been trained to it. The next step for me I think will just be getting a consensus good all around bass (P Bass seems like a safe bet) and just playing to develop technique and decide what tonal qualities I like.