A good proggy bass guitar!

OK, I've been playing bass since I was about 16...I'm 57, so that's uh, 40 years?

Edited by cstack3 - April 08 2013 at 21:39

Angelo wrote: Rickenbackers sound great, but their awful to play - at least for me. I think Sturoc more or less nailed the issue - get a bass that feels good for you, and add the prog yourself. ...

I guess the OP should know by now, it's been 6 months....

Edited by Angelo - January 20 2013 at 05:30

Angelo wrote: I think you missed the point of this topic.... apart from that, you're right.

You are right. I did. Allow myself to fix this.

If I may elaborate more keenly on how a bass should sound with in a progressive band it should

1) never sound like background filler
2) should be heard!! Most bass is muffled where guitar and drums take over. Bass should be heard loud and clear. The more recent Neo prog albums, IQ's DARK MATTER JOWITT is heard wonderfully and clearly and uses a Rickenbacker nicely on the track HARVEST OF SOULS. It's how bass should be!!

3) Lastly, should be distinguished. Bass should not sound repetitive or prosaic. John Myung of Dream Theater did a wonderful job on the latest DT record, A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS. I could hear him loud and clear and his note composition was sublime. Very well done

ALBERTO RIGONI---THREE WISE MONKEYS

JOEY VERA---CIRCLES

JON JOWITT-- the entire DARK MATTER album from IQ

Angelo wrote: Rickenbackers sound great, but their awful to play - at least for me. I think Sturoc more or less nailed the issue - get a bass that feels good for you, and add the prog yourself. For me, it's prog and blues all the way with either of these four beauties: Godin A4 fretless, Fender Jazz, Ibanez SR3005 Prestige and a Gretsch Broadkaster. I have to admit that I replaced the Godin's piezo with a Hanson Chisonic, and the jazz has Hanson JSonics replacing the Fender pick ups. Sometimes changing a part is sufficient to make an 'ok'  bass into a 'yes!' bass.

At the present moment, I'm playing very often a mexican Fender Jazz Classic 70's. Adding some drive (I use tech 21 VT Bass) , it has the "right growl". It is comfortable and it is also capable of quite "warm" sounds. And doesn't cost too much.

Rickenbackers sound great, but their awful to play - at least for me. I think Sturoc more or less nailed the issue - get a bass that feels good for you, and add the prog yourself.

I had a B-301 with Dimarzio Split-P pickup in it.
Bought it new early 80s immediately did the retrofit.
Great bass a little neck heavy but long scale.
Awesome tone very progressive sound.
They now command a high price though, if you can find one .
I rarely used a pick and either way it sounded very close to a Rick !

Ahhh, the old days..



Edited by sturoc - July 30 2012 at 11:20

Find the bass that :
Is comfortable for your hands even after playing for an hour or so.
Sounds the way you want it to sound -or close to it. Adding f/x and tailoring your tone will be an interesting challenge unless you love it right from the beginning.
Looks are only as important as you make it and unless your playing out should only matter to you.
Keep it affordable for you, unless you absolutely fall in love 100% with it.
 
A reminder that the other half of this choice is also the amp you 'll be using, be aware what may sound great in the store thru a different amp setup may not be what your hearing once you get it home.

There are alot of great people making great basses, some unknown for the most part. Don't be put off by a supposedly unheard of name...remember: see above.



Edited by sturoc - July 11 2012 at 17:53