Favorite Basses?

A quick question or 2 to my fellow low-enders out there. What is your favorite bass to use for recording? Also, do you ever feel pressure to use a particular kind? (A vivid memory I have from the 80s was a staff engineer at Reflections raving about a fellow session bassist's new Steinberger-so I bought one!).

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Permalink Reply by Kirk Thompson Producer/engineer on August 17, 2009 at 10:08pm

Don that would get you some work if you around my studio. I like a musician that is eager to please the client. I don't know if I've ever seen that many basses in one session.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Forrest on August 19, 2009 at 1:50pm

Kirk, if you hire Either Don or me, you will see THAT many basses at the session. (shameless marketing ploy ;) Doesn't matter what "style" you tell me you want, I'm bringing that and plenty more. Took my upright along to a session that was wanting me to play electric on Christmas music. Ended up using the upright on two tunes and then overdub arco parts, just because I had the bass with me. Seen it too many times. Be prepared for ANYTHING and always give them what they want. If you're really on your toes you just might help the producer discover his new idea for how you can play that bass part that he hadn't even thought of before. Your value has just moved up a notch.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Sain on December 18, 2009 at 1:09pm

I like the one with the most grease

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Permalink Reply by Brook Sutton on December 20, 2009 at 3:50pm

Gotta be a P....or a MM

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Permalink Reply by Adam Gardner on April 26, 2010 at 10:23am

I use an '02 Lakland Bob Glaub model with heavy gauge flats for the most part. It's got a killer P-bass growl and sits in the mix just right. I also have a '79 MM Stingray with medium rounds that I love as well. And an early 70's Ampeg B15N . . .

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Permalink Reply by vail johnson on June 3, 2010 at 9:12am

1962 Precision. Just plug and play!!

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Permalink Reply by Michael R Cheney on June 5, 2010 at 11:41am

Currently, my favorite bass is the Fender PBass/JBass hybrid ( Deluxe Active PBass) . The sweepable mid on this makes it sound like a piano. It sounds as rich as any boutique bass in the quiver. Add the fact that it has a slim Jazz neck ... it's really really nice for the money. I put a new pick guard on it from www.greasygroove.com as the gold stock pick guard is a tad lame and it looks as sweet as it sounds!

Am asked from time to time to use a fretless on sessions and oddly enough the cheaper the instrument the better the result. My current fretless is a Yamaha I've had tricked out a bit.

My Modulus Quantum 5 was the studio instrument of choice for years ... but the Fender has replaced it.

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Permalink Reply by Shane Vahle on June 6, 2010 at 11:37pm

MusicMan StingRay or Jack Cassady Epiphone. The Epi, with all it's big, round tubbiness is great for is great for Country, Americana. Never had a complaint while using the StingRay. One of the bass tracking 5-strings I've used was a G&L - L5500.

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Permalink Reply by Roy Vogt on June 7, 2010 at 11:22am

I have recently added a Carvin Sekou Bunch SB-5000 to the bag o' basses. Ash body, single coil Alnico V pickups in a J configuration, 35" scale, maple neck and birdseye maple board. It can go active/passive. I bring it with my Modulus 6 fretted but somehow never get to the Modulus....
"The Winnah and new Champeen!"

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Permalink Reply by Lee Francis on June 9, 2010 at 2:19am

I generally go to my 59 p reissue with flats, or my Warwick SS2 5 string. Also have two Alleva-Coppolo 5's (one p, and one 70's J) on the way that sound killer, and can't wait to track with those... Usually play through a demeter pre, and ADL-1000 with nos tubes. Just a good fat sound.