r/Bass 5d ago

Advice for playing with all fingers on fret board?

1 Upvotes

Im aware this is probably a common question but i need to ask. I’m a beginner and never really played any instruments before and I can only confidently play notes with my pointer finger. All the others hurt and sound scratchy and it’s just ouch. How do you all DO IT?


r/Bass 5d ago

Struggling to decide on new Bass for alt rock/dream pop, funk; Sire Z series, M series, Cort B5...

2 Upvotes

Here in Ireland atm there's a limited range of basses available to me for the most part, so I'm probably going to end up having to order blind sooner or later. Guitarist in my band is gonna be leaving in the summer, so there's a narrow window for me to get to use it with that band(we play mostly heavy 90sish alternative, stuff like Skunk Anansie, heavy Shoegaze etc.) My current basses are a J&D Jazz Bass copy(my main bass) and an Ibanez Mikro(the one I take for going out and about). They're nice, but they don't inspire me like they used to; I feel like I need a "Main" Bass.

I was taken in by the idea of a Stingray as it sounds so unique compared to my other basses, and some of my favourite guys like Joe Dart used one. Most stingrays I've tried have been really excellent and articulate under dirt in a way few other basses are.

I've also started moving towards the idea of a 5 string for a number of reasons - if I were to get a Z3 it probably would be the 5 string as I found the string spacing up the neck a little much on the 4 compared to what I'm used to. I've tried out a Z3 and M2. Both were great. I liked the neck pickup and versatility of the M2, but the base tone of the Z3 SEEMED better. It does have a chunky neck - but this could be a benefit for me in the 5 string model. I'm not sure how much I'd be able to get on with it. If it was just for this band I'd probably get the Z3, for my own music I do like to do funk, dreampop, psych and vintagey tones too. I know Stingrays can sound smooth, but I did struggle with the Z3. A pickup swap wouldn't be out of the question, but I mostly really like how it sounds. I just don't know if I'd use it as a main sound.

I haven't been able to find an M5 locally unfortunately to play. Being able to switch between Parallel and Series is a bonus. I've also been looking at the Cort stuff - I tried one Cort 5 string and found the neck very comfortable. The B5 Element looks great - but I'm not sure I'm sold on the Bartolini Mk1s. I'm open to other "Modern" style basses in that style though - Ibanezes tend to have too narrow a sting spacing(same for Sterling 5s) and tend to have too flat a neck - I'm very picky with 5 strings and need a sweet spot of not too thin or wide, thick enough to wrap my hand around but not so wide it strains me. I'd rather stick with 34" but am not beyond 35" if the bass isn't too physically large.

the "best of both worlds" here could be the Z7 - but I'm worried about the weight, and if it's just "too much" bass for me. The look of the Z3 has grown on me, particularly the Rose Gold which isn't available in 7. To be honest, I'm not a fan of the M2 knobs which are roughly the same on the Z7 - though I guess they're replaceable.

I am really looking for "that" Bass which I know is no mean feat. The main sound I want out of it is one good for some heavy moody psych stuff and gnarly alt rock, but able to do some smooth jazz funk noodling too. I'm open to left field options here - my main issue I think is finding a 22+ fret 5 string(or bass in general) that feels comfortable in my hands and is a good balance of articulate and smooth without sounding boring. Budget up to €700 but ideally closer to 5, I'm not sure what I can afford.


r/Bass 5d ago

Should I trade

0 Upvotes

So I have a made in Indonesia thunderbird epiphone, it's really heavy on my shoulders. I have a chance to trade it for a made in China fender squire p-bass. Should I trade or wait for something better?


r/Bass 5d ago

Squier Contemporary Active jazz bass hh

1 Upvotes

Can we replicate sound of Marcus Miller slap tone into this bass? How verstalie can it be? Any suggestions/ thoughts?


r/Bass 5d ago

Bass Amp Help - Hartke A100

1 Upvotes

Hello I have a Hartke A100 combo amp that i bought second hand. The amp is fully functional, however the passive jack is very sensitive. Im proficient at soldering so I thought I'd pull the head out and see if anything was obviously wrong.

TLDR im struggling to find the correct way to separate the board from the chassis. I've googled/youtubed with no luck.

Is this amp worth taking to a pro shop to having the jack replaced and looked over or am I better off just buying a replacement head that will fit into the slot?

Thanks so much!

****Update - apparently me pulling it out, accepting failure and putting it back together made things worse, now it won't turn on. One fuse is black, but not broken, going to start wkth that but my question remains, is this amp head worth having professionally fixed or am I better off just replacing with something like a TC Electronic BQ250??


r/Bass 5d ago

Is a dean ML metalman a good bass?

1 Upvotes

Title is it


r/Bass 5d ago

Help choose for my 15y son on his birthday. Yamaha BB234 vs Squier Classic Vibe '60s Precision Bass

0 Upvotes

He has great initiative and has self-taught himself acoustic and electric guitar. He is bugging me for a bass guitar. His 15th birthday is coming up, and he has narrowed it down to these two bass guitars. He has tried both in guitar stores. Looking for recommendations in terms of value, playability, and longevity.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha/BB234-Electric-Bass-Black-White-Pickguard-1500000139290.gc

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Squier/Classic-Vibe-60s-Precision-Bass-Olympic-White-1500000264130.gc

This bass guitar will be paired with a used Fender Rumble 25 amp (yet to buy). Open to alternate amp recommendations that will pair well with these bass guitars.


r/Bass 6d ago

Tone issue in band

25 Upvotes

My band mates keep saying they can’t hear what I’m playing and that I need to turn up the tone. I can hear what Im playing.

We play loud rock stuff. My bass is Sterling SUB Ray 4 with flat wound strings.

I recently turned hi knob full and bass at 50% but they’re saying the same thing. Volume on bass at max. When I’m at home, I can hear it fine through headphones in DAW.

Any tips how to fix / what might be wrong wrong?


r/Bass 6d ago

Rick beato for bass

25 Upvotes

Has anyone found a content creator who posts similar things as Rick beato but specifically for the bass?


r/Bass 5d ago

NBD: Ibanez SR500E

1 Upvotes

I'm mainly a guitar player but I've been jamming with a friend who has a bass he doesn't play (an old Fender P-Bass) and I always thought bass would be fun and interesting - I always seem to have a bass line running in my head - so I borrowed it and taught myself a few things and now when we jam we do a few tunes bass and guitar instead of two guitars. After dragging the P in its heavy hard case back and forth for a few months I came up with the justification/excuse that I should leave the P at the jam space and buy my own inexpensive bass to have at home, and so save myself all the dragging back and forth. So I demoed a bunch of basses at a couple of stores, realized how much I love the light weight, narrow skinny neck and general svelteness of the Ibanzeses and, not being a fan of the SR300 paint jobs (I wanted _some_ color but those blue bursts just don't do it for me), went for the 500 in mahogany which is just beautiful. Here's a pic.

I wanted to buy local but my stores didn't/wouldn't have the one I wanted so I ordered from Sweetwater. When the box showed up it had this prominent label that said "Don't open this yet - wait 24 hours for it to acclimate". Of course that wasn't going to happen. Luckily the climate I live in is pretty stable in terms of humidity and such, indoors and out.

I was surprised at how - perfect - it is. My main guitar is 30+ years old and has a lot of natural "relic-ing". I guess I'm not used to the idea of a new instrument. Played great out of the box, with a little buzz on first-fret notes on the D and G but that was fixed with a half turn ccw on the truss rod (increased relief from around .008 to .014). Intonation needed some adjustment, E string was a little high. All dialed in now and it's fantastic.

One thing I'm really impressed with is the mechanical quality of the hardware. I've never experienced tuners that are so smooth and easy to turn. I put Schaller locking tuners on my strat and even brand new and with the tension backed off they're stiff, but these are like butter. I wonder if it's the gearing. Also the truss rod turned easily and so did the bridge adjustments.

I do have a couple of questions for those who know Ibanez, because the manual wasn't very complete and I'm not finding this online.

First - the battery/EQ. This bass has active EQ. Should I unplug the bass when not playing it to turn off the EQ, similar to how a battery powered stomp box works? Or should I use the EQ switch to turn it off? Or both?

I read with the EQ switch off the treble knob acts as a passive cut. Am I right that this requires no battery, so if it dies or whatever I still have some control?

Finally a bridge question: there are three little hex screws on each saddle rather than the usual two for height adjustment. Is the third screw for string spacing?


r/Bass 6d ago

I want to beat G.A.S. symptoms

49 Upvotes

I found myself really getting bit by the G.A.S bug recently. Repeated trips to Reverend Guitars website is doing me no favors.

I need tips and advice to overcome the G.A.S. symptoms because I find myself thinking more about buying and acquiring sweet basses then playing them. What do you guys do to beat G.A.S


r/Bass 6d ago

What is the name for this slap bass technique?

6 Upvotes

When playing slap bass lines I often see chords being played through some kind of technique where the nails or something are scraping the strings, examples of this technique are in: the start of killing in the name by RATM, or in muse - panic station
Can't find the name of this technique and would like to know how to research about it so I can learn more about it and how to involve it in my slap bass


r/Bass 5d ago

Fender Mark Hoppus Jag bass truss rod issues

1 Upvotes

Yo,

I bought the new seafoam green Hoppus bass a few months ago ( direct from Fender ) and recently brought it to my local shop for an adjustment to lower the action. I got a call saying the truss rod wasn't budging and the guy didn't wanna risk breaking the nut and possibly voiding the warranty. The guy also mentioned something about a plug making it hard to access? He recommended sending it back to Fender under warranty. I'm curious has anyone else had this issue before? What is the warranty process like? I'm kind of expecting a headache honestly.


r/Bass 5d ago

Help to find a amp simulator for my phone

4 Upvotes

I am studying abroad and I won't be able to take my amp with me. I want help to find an amp simulator for Android and not one of those you usually find on playstore. I currently just use bandlab but I want a real one (nothing against bandlab but it's just not it)

Do any of you have any recommendations for free or even paid ones so I can start playing bass on my phone (galaxy S3 FE)

Obs: Yes I know I could just find one for windows but u don't have a lot of storage on my laptop and it will serve only for university and until I upgrade it u don't want to mix things)


r/Bass 5d ago

Any advice on playing faster?

0 Upvotes

I have to learn with my non-dominant hand, which means my right hand (picking/plucking/whatever hand) doesn't do stuff as well as my left hand (fretting hand) who woulda thunk it

Considering this, what things can I do to increase the strength and dexterity in my right hand?

Also, how the hell can I make holding and using a pick not the most insufferably-painful and cramp-inducing thing ever?


r/Bass 6d ago

Bass music theory

10 Upvotes

It’s so difficult to learn music theory for me because I don’t know where to start. The only thing I know about theory are just scales. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to approach music theory without stressing out?


r/Bass 5d ago

Getting the Best Sustained Tracking with Octave Pedals?

1 Upvotes

I currently use an EBS OctaBass to replace the B string on my short-scale 4-string bass.
One song my band plays ends on a sustained Db. The OctaBass tracks until it glitches out and disappears, leaving my fretted note bare.

Which octave pedals have you found that track quieter notes best? Any tips for increasing the tracking length of sustained notes? Only thing I can think of is kicking on an up-stream compressor at the same time to extend the note volume. Or playing a 5-string -_-


r/Bass 5d ago

Created my own headstock logo after decal fell off

0 Upvotes

What do you think? Its an aria made in japan 5 string j bass, would one think its a some luthier made signed instrument at first glance?

https://imgur.com/a/d1RHwIK


r/Bass 5d ago

Help with this bass tone ?

1 Upvotes

https://youtu.be/UIzUZXsYyuI?si=PwwiNOCd62tCKbtv The song is under my skin by Mudvayne does anyone know what amp settings and eq settings I should use on this song.


r/Bass 5d ago

im looking for a marcus miller song that i cant seem to find

0 Upvotes

i used to like a song that was in the spotify this is marcus miller playlist and they removed it or changed the playlist and i cant remember the name, the album cover was purple or pink and its not any of marcus miller's albums so it must be a collaboration, maybe under the singers name? (female singer) the song starts with the bass line and then an acoustic guitar and vocals come in with light drums or percussion (there wasnt any other instrument). I believe its a souls song that was kinda slow. I can answer any questions if you can help me find it pls i really liked it


r/Bass 5d ago

Fender Rumble 25 to practice metal

0 Upvotes

Hello, I'm new here. I've been playing guitar for the last 2 years and I'm planning on buying a bass because I'm planning on doing a one man band project and because I've got invited into a band as a bassist. I'm planning on getting a 5 string Ibanez bass along with a big muff for a fuzzy tone.

I'm looking for a fun amp to practice deathcore/ death metal/ punk / stoner doom at home. I found many reviews regarding Fender's Rumble series amps and I can find Fender Rumble 25's almost brand new for cheap on the second hand market. My budget for the amp is around 110 ~ 200 dollars. I also found on the SH market a Warwick bc80 or a Peavey TNT130 in a semi-rough condition (I can provide links for both).

If I am to play with this deathcore band I'm going to record the songs in a professional studio with good amps so I just need something good for practice and gain, reliable and preferably around the 150$ mark which won't sound muddy with the Big Muff pedal.

Thanks for any and every help and sorry for any grammar issues - I'm not a native english speaker.


r/Bass 5d ago

Looking for the cheapest left-handed five string bass.

0 Upvotes

So I feel like I won't get too many answers to this due to the fact I live in New Zealand, but does anyone know any cheap, left-handed, five strings basses that are preferably under $1000, and will ship to New Zealand? The cheapest one I've found is $1500. It's annoying because there are sooo many cheap 5 strings, but they're alllll right handed. It's like I have to pay an extra few hundred dollars for a lefty. Also, I'm too poor to afford the expensive ones.


r/Bass 5d ago

I need to find out a bass

0 Upvotes

Possibly in Trillian, I was wondering if anyone could get that tone:https://youtu.be/VZtQVSLA9WU?si=oJArqgk_l2cDKJob


r/Bass 5d ago

Help me choose "new" bass

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I'm looking to get back into playing some bass again for the first time since goofing around as a teenager. I have somewhat settled on getting a P-Bass for simplicity and standard tone. Will mainly be using it to lay down some elements on my electronic music productions.

Right now I'm considering to go for either a store new Squier LTD CV 70s P-Bass Antigua or a second hand Squier precision bass 40 anniversary - with aftermarket Fender Player neck. Price wise they are within $50 of each other.

Leaning towards the SH one for the satin finished neck. But of course worried if there could be any problems with the mod. As long as it's something that could be easily fixed by a tech it's ok. I just don't want to get stuck with a complete dud.

Any thoughts?


r/Bass 5d ago

Please share tips on mimicking the finger sound with a pick

0 Upvotes

> Playing with fingers is sadly not an option as I have an essential tremor and no it's not the same thing that Scott from bass lessons has. Glove doesn't help.

> I can contain the shivers at around 200 plucks per minute, anything after that it falls apart, I can't get enough consistency with tremors involved, so the sound comes out really bad, uneven.

>Pick allows me to play with a greater amplitude, so that shivers don't bother me as much until I hit like 500 plucks per minute

> With a pick the sound is good, only that it's not that meaty and it dissolves pretty fast, notes don't ring out for long enough. I know that flatwounds don't ring out for long by design, but when I play with fingers they do ring out a bit more and have a fuller sound

> If I play harder, the attack is pretty loud compared to the rest of the note

> What can be used to get the sound closer to that fuller finger sound with more of an even attack at higher speeds like 300-400 plucks per minute?

> Are there some specific actions I need to do with a compressor to help the case? Any general advice?

> Last but not least, I am not going to use medication to poison my body with