The great John Paul Jones played a jazz with flats I guess, on Zeppelin's first albums, my favourites.
Great tips! I've been playing on many basses and brends through the years but Stingray has this "little thing" I 've been looking for all this time. It's all about feel, comfort and finding the right sound at the right moment. You can play pretty much any style with it!
THE best video on basses, their tones and uses, period. 😎 And obviously any jazz needs blocks👍😊
Commenting mostly for the algorithm, good channel. My first bass was Burns Nusonic a long long time ago. Did music school, toured, recorded and taught music but not bass. Now need a bass for home studio, this was really helpful thanks!
Wow, what a gorgeous Ibanez. I love the headstock on it. I currently only own 2 basses, both Fender (Performer Series P & Blacktop P). I'm wanting to try something different :) The more videos I watch the harder it is to decide lol! You're absolute right, probably best to actually get your hands on them and go from there. Thanks for the video!
There really are a bewildering array of incredible basses and you can't (unfortunately) own them all. Find the one that fits you.
Dan very good lesson. Over the long haul I've have pretty much gone with the exact instruments you use P-bass, Jazz, and Stingray 5 string. For the many differences in each they all deliver the goods in the right place.
I have the Harley Benton MM84A it has two pickups and the usual piece of foam fitted under the bridge. Its superb and nothing comes close at the price point. It covers every genre you can think of and records brilliantly.
So easy to listen to. Love the voice and cadence. Thanks for sharing the collection
Over the 30 odd years I have been a bass player one of the most valuable things I learned was how to setup my basses. As long as a bass can be setup correctly it will sound fine.
Another thing that will break most musicians hearts is 95 % of the audience would not know the difference between a 58 Fender P bass and an Encore P bass if you was playing one live.
That roadster made me do a double take. Just a fantastic sound right away. Cool vibe. I want one.
I didn't know about them at all until I randomly played this one. Cool bass.
Where is some of great Yamaha basses!? Very good and popular. BB series are literally reborn again!!
Finally got a bucket list bass a Rickenbacker 4003. Heart says it's all you need. The head says I want an old Ibanez ATK!!
I remember when I first got my stingray after almost 10 years of playing P style basses. Even with old rusty strings, it still sounded more resonant and alive than anything I've ever played. I love how it just has everything, all the bass, all the mids and all the treble and I get to pick and choose what I want to hear. Its the only bass I just sit down and play with no effects
Excellent!
Great as always 👌 👍
I'm suited for almost all musical situations, an old fender precision from early seventies with flats, a new fender originals 70 jazz bass with rounds, a modded old Aria from the eighties, rebuilt fretless and new pickups and electronics with la bella flats and two brilliant acoustic basses, one with flats for an almost upright sound and one with rounds.
@@OnlineBassCourses
Thank you very much, it really is 😁
The sad part is that I don't have that many musical situations right now 😪
Both bands down currently...
I feel for you. I have a similar situation. Hopefully soon you'll play again! 🤞
Enjoyed that Dan. I have a couple Roadster II guitars. Not seen the bass version before. My old favourite bass is my Westone Thunder 1A. Cheap as chips and a good range of tones. I have 6 (not tooo many). A Thunder 1A fretless, an Aria Pro II, a Crafter Acoustic bass, a Hohner headless (sounds great but find it really awkward to hold) and an Ibanes GiO for students to use. Currently rehearsing for the Musical Elf, which is quite bass dependant. First run through on Tuesday and I am nowhere near ready. Oh the joys of sight reading bass clef when you are a guitarist and sounding like you don't know what day it is ;)
🤣 just grit your teeth, go for it and hope for the best!! Nice collection...
Thanks so much for this lesson. I take the Stingray 5 to all sorts of gigs and sessions, and I learned that in series mode, treble almost closed it may be the best 5-string P-Bass with the most attack you can get if you need it. I think in your video you have it in the series mode as well, haven't you?
Cheers, Holger. I've got it with the switch pointing towards the head (whatever setting that is!).
Great vid cheers . I have a Sandberg California TM 4 with j neck p/up and humbucker at the bridge . The humbucker can be split too into single coil mode . In total I can get active tones as a p bass ( kinda) j bass , musicman , and combinations of those . Then I can flick a switch and put it into passive mode . I got it to save money lol but I've since bought a p bass with flats and I fancy a Status S2 bass . Thanks again
Ive liked jazz basses for years ,got some p basses ( and others ) a few years ago , still like the J the best.
Hi
Great video Dan
Had a fender jazz
Sold it few years back
Stuck for money
Play H Benton fender jazz copy
Plays great
Play rock and funk
Thank you!
I have a '92 Ibanez Fujijen SR800 PJ, I read Ibanez were selling it as the only bass you ever need and it is better than my meagre skills on the bass. Its active is the only thing but in the mix I don't think it matters too much. Would love to get a Fender Jazz at one point but its taking some time to get to know the Ibanez.
great vid. so tone is PU, fingerboard, strings. (and your own fingers!) and I beleive every instrument have a type of string that makes it sings better with your playing . that's what I like with my ibanez roadstar II RB650 1984 maple neck with flat, so good!
have also a short scale hohner L200, rosewood fingerboard, wich sound great with roundwound.
Love the Jazz & Stingray = (my 2 favorite basses). I thought the Ibanez sounded great & versatile - too. I was Never a Fan of the Precision. Enjoyed your video. oNe LovE from NYC
Thanks, Michael. I was never a fan either until I got one. I've used it on so many recordings that it's now one of my favourites.
The gear vacuum… lol … great advice 🎸
Thanks so much Dan. I think I am one of those who wants to get the right sound to keep the rest of the band happy and probably spend too much time worrying about gear. That's going to change. Thanks for the 20/80 tip.
Thanks for watching, Francois. If you're thinking of the rest of the band, that's great. The 20/80 tip is just my opinion, feel free to ignore or embrace!
Great topic, great presentation of your opinion/s, thanks Dan! Our band plays mostly light jazz music, a little bit of pop, and I only have one bass - a Jazz bass, but not after spending several months researching/deciding whether to get a Precision or a Jazz bass. Now that we don’t have any gigs yet due to the pandemic, and I have more time to listen to your bass tutorials and read more info about those famous artists that you mentioned (like Pino Palladino), and I get drawn to the nagging thought that I should have just bought a Precision bass instead. Thanks to your 20:80 advice and somehow it put me back to the right perspective. Or is it?
Thanks! It's all personal preference and there's no wrong or right really. I think get a P so you have both. Then you can mix and match and select the tone you want for the gig. You can even switch basses during gigs. Bottom line, they're both amazing basses! Doesn't have to be an either/or choice.
Didn’t realize you were a Stingray guy. I figured you were PJ or Jazz. I just got an ‘88 Yamaha BB5000 narrow neck. I can’t believe all the tones it’s capable of compared to the Squier 50’s Classic Vibe I learned on. I’m doing a lot of stingray research since they seem kind of niche. You make them all sound wonderful and appropriately stylish.
Thank you! I’m kind of an everything guy plus all the other great basses I’ve never tried… that Yamaha sounds cool.
Nice blk stinger!!! I love stingrays so much I probably have one to many lol, new sub here!
I need a very clean, bright, sharp Bass sorta a Alembic fret board as unto playing it..
I think fender, musicman and Ibanez is great for funk in my opinion
As someone who's obsessed with tone, I 100% agree with finding someone who's got the tone you like and getting that bass. They all have a different flavor that's not really interchangeable. You are not going to get a Stingray to sound like a P bass or a P bass to sound like a Jazz bass. Believe me, I tried for longer than I care to admit to get my Ray to sound like a P. Ultimately the answer was to just get a P lol. If there was a single bass that got all those classic tones, I'd have two of them lol. There's also passive vs. active tones. An active P/J will have a different flavor than a passive one. Strings are also a big part of tone and not all basses like all strings. I have a P bass that absolutely loves LaBella flats while my P/J does not and prefers TI Jazz flats. Then technique... Really, it's super fascinating how many variables go into good tone.
thanks
Maple necks are brighter mainly when they are glossy on the front. If you would record a bass with a maple glossy neck, remove the gloss finish, try to record again, you'd lose brightness. But oh well, not enough to justify the change! But raw maple necks can be really close to rosewood. Good video !
The difference in brightness between different fingerboard woods is far, far less than you get from a slight tweak of the treble EQ on your amp. It makes no significant difference. You can make a rosewood fingerboard sound brighter than maple by just adding about 5% more treble on the amp.
Fretboard material affects like maybe 1% of your tone, it really doesn’t matter
@@rhyno1351 thanks for the comment. A lot of it is probably perception but, in my experience anyway (for what it's worth!), there's more than a 1% difference.
Many incredible bass players have gone entire careers playing one bass. I don't think local bar band bass boy needs more than that.
Great video! Here’s a question for you - if you could only keep one of your basses, which would it be?
That is a very difficult question! I suppose if I HAD to and I just chose one that would cover most styles (I'm a full time bass player so my bass is my work tool) it would have to be the StingRay 5. Hopefully it'll never come to that...
That p bass sounds glorious! The new p basses don't sound this creamy. Jazz bass and stingrays are perfect for slap.
The nicest bass I ever played was an early 80s Ibanez Blazer, p-style. In terms of sound and playability it blows any Fender I've ever had my hands on out of the water, from vintage instruments through to custom shops. Unbelievable. Dude from Supergrass plays one. That one of yours is my favourite of every bass in the video. Totally agree!
I’ve never heard of those. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for the comment -they seem to have a real following these old Ibanez basses.
EB3!!!
Great tips. Do you have one about your amp and mic set up for this video? It sounds nice.
Thanks! czcams.com/video/70FYURah5nU/video.htmlsi=X-Kdh6hAmFKba_Gv
Flats on a jazz can also sound nice if you don't do a lot of slapping.
you mentioned the cheaper ibanez bass and how you like it still. have you tried an 80s/early 90s charvel (essentially) pbass? it has a thin jazzy neck and a magnificent p-bass tone. such lively and powerful pickup (also, reverse p pickup if that's your thing, i personally prefer it to regular p). i actually have the charvette version which is the budget version but has the same charvel pickup (charvel branded, not emg, and even says charvel on the cover). end of 80s ones were made in japan, early 90s production was moved to korea, i have a korean one. really cheap bass and punches way above its weight. my tech was amazed by the pickup (he has a pickup line he winds himself). i can recommend it really, if somebody wants to get a good deal, it is a real sleeper i believe.
No I haven't tried that but it sounds like something I'd like! Thanks for the tip.
I thought Ibanez Roadstars used Ibanez manufacturered OE pups as standard?
I have a bias towards the Jazz bass based on the look 😂. They are most versatile
This was really helpful 👍🏻! Been looking for information like this! Also subscribed.👍🏻
Edit: As an eighties kid I grew up with the New Romantics, new wave and “poppy” electro songs, so one of my absolute favourite bass players is Kajagoogoo’s Nick Beggs. Any recommendations on how to create that style and sound on a specific bass guitar?
Thanks! He's a great player and played a lot of Chapman Stick in the 80s as well as a StingRay. The StingRay is probably the one. He has an incredible rock tone these days with his Spector basses.
He used WAL before Stingrays and, a WAL was used on Too Shy and first two albums, White Feathers and Islands
Your basses all sound great.I'm embarrassed saying how many I own.Let's just say if I need one for Hungarian Bluegrass I have it, Bolivian Sea Chanteys yup.
@@kevmac1230 Awesome I only have 1 a Dr Tech. Kinda a music man copy. Real loud real heavy. Play through a Behringer 300 watt 15 inch ultrabass amp. And a Behringer 25 watt green Thunderbird practice amp. Whole deal less than $350. I can pawn my Les Paul for more money. When I needed bass didn't have it. Now no use but stores real nice and ready when I need it.
I'm looking at some fender flat rounds for my fender Pbass,what size or gage should I get light,medium or medium high gauge?
That’s a very personal preference and only you can answer that. If you can try some in a shop, do so. If not, medium is probably a good start. Mine on the ‘68 are heavy (I think…).
Thank you for this video Dan! I've been planning to upgrade from my 'beginner' Squier PJ bass. I love Funk, but I was looking at a *Sterling by Music Man -- Ray34HH StingRay Bass.* It looks like the one in your video except the Ray34HH has 2 pickups instead. Unfortunately I cannot try one out yet in person due to C-19 and also they're not in stock at my local store.
Can one still play Funk with that model?
You can play funk on any bass! Some better than others though, of course, and I think that one would be great for funk bass.
@@OnlineBassCourses Great! I was hoping that model would be better than my existing bass, at least. I'm looking forward to trying one out when my store gets any in stock. Thanks Dan!
The one complaint I've read on 2 pickup Musicman basses is it's harder to slap because the neck pickup gets in the way of the pop finger. With one pickup there is lots more room. It seems to bother some players while other players it doesn't get in the way.
tell us more about that Martha gig !!
It was an honour to play for her. I did loads of gigs with her years ago when she came to the UK. She had loads of amazing stories and so do I (some I can tell, some I can't!).
I want to know about my PJ Greco the bridge pickup knob was when in bottom the only top portion is working when in top the bottom portion one is working and I cant turn it off fully why is that?
I would be curious to hear what James Jamerson would have done with a Jazz bass and Jaco with a Precision...
My theory is they would both still have sounded like themselves. I’d love to have heard that too.
@@OnlineBassCourses what Aston Barrett did with a Jazz bass, and Chris Wood with his battered Precision bass are both awesome approaches - totally different from Jaco or Marcus, and from James Jamerson
HI Dan, Gd morn. Good video. What about your acoustic bass ? Do u also use fan fret bass, Dingwall? They have a dealer here in Singapore.
Morning, Adrian. I tend not to use the acoustic bass much although I love it. I've actually never played a fan fretted instrument but do love the look of the Dingwalls. Especially the D-Roc!
@@OnlineBassCourses Dingwall Bass rocks man! Someday I will get one. I bought a Cort HH4 recently from Swee Lee after watching a few good review videos. Really value for money bass. Got the blood red colour. Love it.
Sit well in the mix
Thanks for the overview Dan! What would you recommend for reggae-dub? Pbass or Jbass?
I'm not too familiar with the style but I think Robbie Shakespeare played a Jazz (as well as a few other basses) as did other reggae bass players. Big speakers on an amp, bass tone up and you're good.
@@OnlineBassCourses Shakespeare also played a Hofner back in the day with PeterTosh. As did Flabba Holt, who also played a Steinberger. The Steinberger is for me the least expected bass for reggae; I always though it would have a harsh and trebly tone. But it sounds fat and heavy in the hands of Flabba, at least in the mix.
When you're gigging down at the local watering hole, nobody 9:50 really gives a damn about the bass you are using. They just want to hear their favorite tune.
What do you think of the humbucker pickups that were common on Ibanez and Peavey basses in the 80s and 90s?
I'm not too familiar with those basses, Jason. I don't think I've ever played one but I'd happily give it a go - I do like humbucker pickups.
@@OnlineBassCourses I don't know what's available in your area but if there's a music store near you with an Ibanez Roadstar with humbuckers, try it out. Great rock bass sound.
Hi Dan, may I know the model of Dimarzio pickups you're using on the Ibanez bass guitar? Thank you.
@@OnlineBassCoursesthanks! Am considering these pickups as an upgrade for my Yamaha RBX170 stock pickups.
Ok I've been curious. What's the little plastic pieces on the bottom of the vintage P bass' pick guard? Looks like a thumb rest but kind of a weird place for a rest isn't it?
Players used to pluck with their thumb so it was a place to hold onto with the fingers whilst plucking with the thumb.
Hi Dan. Thats stingray you were playing … is that a 38mm neck on it?
I’m afraid I don’t know. It’s a 1978 pre Ernie Ball though if you want to Google it. Someone will know!
P bass good or ideal for jazz music ????? Which one ideal for jazz style????
Play funk sleep repeat.. THIS Whole world is running bcz of funk if u dont like funk guys u r not human funk my lyf
What bass can you recommend me, i play metal and rock
I'd say get inspiration by looking at what your favourite bassists are playing. Lots of metal players are playing Dingwalls (+ Darkglass!) these days. Ibanez and Schecter do lots of rock bass models. There's a huge choice! Narrow it down to the bass players whose tone you like. Then go from there. Budget comes in too of course but there's no shortage of good cheap basses around.
I like my Rickenbacker (expensive tho) for rock and metal where I won't require a 5 string, sounds great downtuned but if I want to go lower than C into a B then I'd rather use a 5 string like the ones mentioned above.
Tbh it depends on what you play. If you like dessert/stoner rock/doom (black Sabbath influenced stuff) then a passive bass like a fender Pbass, Jbass, rickenbacker4003 is a great choice.
If you like stuff like rage against the machine/guns and roses or any hard rock then any of those are a good choice and a MM stingray sounds good for that sorta sound too.
for thrash I like my Rickenbacker but most basses work well for thrash.
For nu-metal/death/metalcore and more low tuned and modern genres then an active bass like an Ibanez(very versatile but flat sounding), Warwick(I like the sound of these), dingwall(I'm not a fan but many swear by this brand).
Finally for prog, the Rickenbacker 4003 or 4001 is used extensively in prog rock(rush, deep purple, yes) but for prog metal(tool, dream theatre) there is a wide range of basses used but they tend to use basses with a nice bright attack while still keeping a solid low end such a Rickenbacker, Jbass, Stingray, Warwick, Wal.
Bit of a falicy this
With different strings on different basses and different techniques pick or fingers or slap
Any bass can cover any style
Which is what you say in your pre wrap up
Depends on the music style your playing
As you PROVE with that 5 stringer ray !!!
It’s all about
Playing well
Timing
Pocket
Doing your job as a bassist
Either , pocket Rythym or flat out solo stuff
Well said
it is true but the video is still relevant. especially for people that are just getting into bass. gives you a bit of background, helps you pick a bass that can easily do the style that you wish to play, etc.
Problem is when your band covers all those styles an you need to take 3 basses just to rehearsals
Slow down a little to where I can try to keep up on the lessons 😌
There's a slow down feature on CZcams plus a rewind button. I suggest using those. 🙏
What you need is a 4 string pj a 5 string jh a sterling stingray a fretless bass of choice and a rickenbacker you will never get.
I've got a 4 string PJ, two real StingRays, Pino's old fretless and a vintage Rickenbacker. Great basses 👍
Stopping the faffing about, just get a Jazz bass, does everything. 😉😎
.....honestly no one in the audience will notice the bass player or the 'tone' unless we go up in flames.👌
No Hofner?
I have a Club - very cool bass. It’s a little specialist I thought for this video…
@@DoctorIntrepidyou’re welcome. And you’re right to ask the question! My Hofner will be making an appearance fairly soon.
People don't realize how close the old style 2 band Stingrays are to P basses.
Good wake up not to gear head too much. Playing is the key… sometimes cheaper gear (for example squiers) are worry free way to hobby playing. No stress of minor scars or tears and value doesnt drop much…. Beat the hell out from the bass you have now… 😎
At least I can justify my poor playing with cheaper bass 😂
Do you like sunburst? 🤣
Not really actually! They happened to be the colour of the basses on offer at the time.
I get so tired of hearing that old saw that a Precision Bass "just sits so well in the mix", as if all mixes, all genres are the same, and no other basses "sit well in the mix". Every brand and model of bass with every type of string has been used successfully over the years for every genre of music. There are very few generalities to bass gear, and ultimately whether or not your bass is going to "sit well in the mix" has more to do with your technique as a player than anything else.
As another old saw has it, "tone is in the fingers", and that really is true. Your fingers are the primary determinant of how you sound. What I call the "standard technique" that is taught to most bass players and most often demonstrated in CZcams videos-playing lightly with just the tips of the fingers, perpendicular to the strings, with the plucking hand playing close to the bridge-is a recipe for weak tone, in my opinion. You'll never see an upright player playing with that kind of technique. If you want dynamic, robust tone, you need to get some meat on those strings, and dig in.
Thanks, Gemma. I agree with some things you say here and not others but that’s cool! We’re all entitled to different opinions. So many great bass players use a P and so many producers love them that there has to be something in the fact that they sound great and fit well for a lot of styles.
Of course, you’re right, lots of other basses do a great job too. Tone is indeed in the fingers (but also the gear!). Thanks again for the comment. 🙏👍
I can’t help myself but the Musicman Stingray doesn’t look like a stingray he looks like a toilet seat!
How dare you say that I don't need a bunch of basses or that "vintage" isn't important? What if my wife sees this? She'll never let me over spend on another bass! Think before you do stuff like that 😉
Oh man, look at all that gear ...I think I want to be your boyfriend and I'm not even gay yet
@@OnlineBassCourses hahahaha 😆 can you tell us about that Fender bass head? Is there a video where you demo it?
@@wuwliwonka I bought it on a whim from eBay one night after hearing a similar one at a gig. I love it! I will demo it one day...
@@wuwliwonka it's a 1977 all tube Bassman, the silver face version. 2x15 cabinet.
Stainless steel is not magnetic...so no sound! I tried it out....know your physics...
Sorry, no idea what you're referring to - I don't memorise everything I say in videos.
You should just change the tittle to a complete fender bass tone rundown! If anyone is looking for a complete rundown find another video because this is just an advert for Fender!
I'm in a funk band and use a Squire P-bass with light gauge round wounds. That cheap plank just sounds amazing. It's just as much amp/cab type, EQ settings and your fingers, that make the sound.