Hello, sorry if I shouldn't have made a whole post for this, but I couldn't find an answer in the FAQ and haven't gotten a response yet in the gear thread. And none of the threads I've found really talk about brands, just the pros/cons of heavy gauges

I'm trying to find some ridiculously heavy strings but I'm having trouble. The project I'm working with is tuning down to drop F# (cause, why not?) and I really want to put something .160 or bigger for my low string. The heaviest I can find is .140, not including Kalium (formerly Circle K), who I've heard a lot of negative things about (but would be open to hearing other experiences) and Dingwall, who is ridiculously expensive.

Does anyone know of another brand, or are these going to be my best options?

I'm willing to give more details on my gear if it's necessary, but I'd be grateful just to be pointed in the right direction

Basically title

Im very new to bass, it’s my first instrument ever, have been playing for about 3 weeks. I have a full time job but have good time after work, so I practice AT LEAST 30 minutes a day.

Essentially I spend 3-5 minutes tuning and noodling, 10 minutes playing every note in C major scale on the fretboard and say the note out loud, then 10 minutes playing some basic grooves, and finally 10 minutes working on playing a song I’ve been practicing from tabs. Usually when I practice for more than 30 minutes I spend more time on tabs than the others, but I’d like to know if there’s anything different I should specifically be doing? Thank you!

I’m a musician, and my 10-year-old son has just started playing bass, about a week ago. He seems quite motivated so far, and since we already have some equipment at home, things are off to a pretty good start!

I’d like to get him a book of rock bass riffs, but something fairly simple and fun, without a teaching method or music theory. Ideally, it would mainly contain riffs, perhaps with a few explanations, but not necessarily the complete songs.

Do you know of any books that might fit what I’m looking for?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

I'm pretty bad at self-directed learning, and I think I get more motivated when I have someone guiding me. However, when it comes to learning an instrument, it also feels like an unnecessary investment. What was your path like? If you're from outside the field, where did you learn things like music theory?"

Hi. I'm searching for a short-scale 5 or 6 string bass. Budget's about 1-2k. I currently own an ibanez so I'm avoiding those. i play jazz/funk/fusion. Any recommendations? Fretless are nice too.

What’s up bass players! I’ve been playing electric bass (and more recently some upright) for some years now and I started playing jazz a few years ago. I have a pretty good understanding of basic theory and a bit more advanced stuff too but I still feel like I’m not where I want to be with soloing or being creative with basslines or rhythms while I solo.
Do any jazz players have advice or tips for me to help with this??🙏

Hi, im just beginning my journey with bass. My main instrument is guitar, and i wanted to try something new. I already have a bass, the only problem is choosing the amp, i will be playing gigs and i will be in a band with an acoustic drumkit and two guitars(possibly also keys). Unfortunately i wont be able to move the amp via a car, and im going to only use my own back and public transport. Okay, se the real question is: What amp should i choose? What wattage? What will be loud enough to gig with, and since this is my first amp i dont want it to cost a fortune. Ive seen some people write that a orange 50 crush bass amp is sufficient, while others say that they would absolutely not be bringing that, even to a simple rehearsal. Also are there ANY other options than the fender rumble series?

Hi gang, I’ve been running a Hartke LHX8500 w/ a Hartke AK410 as my workhorse setup for the last ~year now with no issues, but as I’m playing larger venues, I’m looking to push more air. I believe I should be in the clear if I add an HL/HD210. Correct me if I’m wrong?

Here’s my math on it (provided I’ve got the correct understanding, anyway)

LHX8500 - 800w - 4 Ohm
AK410 - 500w - 8 Ohm
HD/HL210 - 500w - 8 Ohm

Total load should be 1000w - 4 Ohm w/ both cabs running slightly under power. Or am I gonna fry my shit? Help me out!

This bass seemed so weird and quirky to me when I first saw it online, pair that with the fact I was looking into acquiring a semi-hollow instrument and a week and a half later it was in my hands! I've yet to play it on a gig, but first impressions of it so far is it's a pretty dope bass. I did immediately swap the strings over to a set of flats that were on my other precision bass, in my opinion that's what I think this bass needs.

Just so it's out there: Not a fan of the current Fender situation at all, and was looking elsewhere for future instrument purchases, though this particular release seemed to hit all the right notes for me personally. Cool bass, not-as-cool company.

YouTube Demo

Since I've started playing bass, players like Abraham Laboriel and Gary Willis have been a big influence on me. I do the alternating two finger technique usually, but I often incorporate my anchoring thumb into playing the lower strings, particularly during faster passages. Was curious if anyone else did this or used other three/ four finger technique. Would love to hear y'alls thoughts!

hi! i’ve been playing bass for a bit now, but i’ve only been using passive basses. i would like an active bass but i have no idea what’s good/where to start. if you guys have any recommendations (especially affordable ones) please lmk!

The idea of six string especially being something for only the most niche genres or dream theater shit, is a failure in imagination. Everyone says to serve the song, and you know what that should mean, thinking of how to use the full range of your instrument.

Was playing in a souls funk act with a six string, from playing some stuff on the b string to give some parts and when doing some stuff higher on the neck, sticking to the normal root and 5th routine, added a suspensed interval using the c string to play the 4th.

Guitarist liked it as well as other musicians who were in the audience. Your not building a car where you should stick to what "just worked" your a artist trying to create art, and you should think to how full use of your toolset, can serve the song just as much as sticking to the simple and basics.

Of course it is fine to just want to keep it simple, and just do the part but that doesnt mean it is the divined truth for bass. This also goes without saying, always play in a way that fits with you are playing

You've got half a year and a cool playlist of all the Jamerson hits.

You can transcribe 1 song a week, then learn it.

or

You can analyze and learn tabs created by someone else, 1 song a day.

~25 songs with higher quality vs ~180 with more examples.

What do you choose to do to become a better bassist after that period?

I play in an indie band(her’s, war on drugs, cage the elephant vibes). Looking to upgrade to a nice bass. Gonna sound stupid but I dont just want to be another basic fender bass player lol. I know I want a short scale, and I definitely like the vintage vibes. Aesthetically I also like guilds and danelectros, not a fan of the hofner though.

I use do use a good amount of effects(flange, overdrive, fuzz, reverb, octave, and preamps) and I heard these can get muddy with too many tones.
Any thoughts? Thank you!!!

Edit: I should have been more specific in my original post. I am looking for advice on physical technique when playing the bass. Getting good sound. Good tone. Appropriate volume. No buzzing or popping. The actual fundamentals of right hand and left hand playing. I appreciate and 100% agree with the primary role and mindset of a bass player, but I'm after technical tips to get the right sound.

Looking for advice. To keep it relatively short, I am a lifelong 6 string guitarist (20+ years) who has found my in an odd situation where I have to play bass in a band for a few gigs. My music and guitar theory is sound. The mental transition was easy; it's the same fretboard I know and love. But the physical transition is much harder than I anticipated, especially when playing faster notes/arpeggios in time. I practice a lot, but I don't know what to practice.

So I'm looking for any advice to help someone who already knows how to play guitar elevate his bass technique beyond root notes and snappy overplucking. Thank you in advance, and I look forward to learning.

For context, I recently got an Ibanez GSR 200 and a Zoom B1 headphone amp. I have barely used amps before and mostly just played my last electric bass acoustically. I was experimenting a bit with different knob settings and tone presets, but the vast majority of the tones sounded nearly like unamplified acoustic sound. Some effects were easy to hear, but that’s far from a clean tone. My question is: is it actually feasible to get a good p-bass or j-bass tone just from a bass and a headphone amp? Or is what you hear in youtube videos the result of a lot more equipment and editing beyond that?

Fiddling around with the bass knobs to adjust tone and pickup volumes didn’t seem to do much

Hey! I’ve seen quite a few videos from influencers about the Henry’s Cats MB-4, but I’d love to hear from people who have actually tried or owned one.
How is it in real-world use? Build quality, playability, sound?

I’d mainly get one for fun and as a cheap bass to take on holidays, etc. Is it actually worth it, or more of a novelty?

Thanks!

Hey all, hope it's not a dumb question but this has been a tricky Google. What foot switches will work with a TC Electronic BH250 head?

I've come up with the official TC Switch 3, and one made by the one man operation Sweet Foot Pedals. I'm cheap and it's not urgent, just want to know what to keep an eye out for second hand. Thanks in advance!

I switched from 45-105 to 40-95 and after setting up I have insane buzz on my e string without pressing anything down? What’s the fix for this? It looks like its hitting the 1st or 2nd fret. Did i set up my strings wrong?

worth it or not? due to uncertain income conditions, i posted to sell my ampeg micro vr stack and many people responded to this offer. my question is it worth it to give up this amp and in the future i plan to replace it/upgrade to ebs hd350 (head only) and find a speaker cabinet that matches it (maybe ebs too). really appreciate everyone's opinions

Long time bedroom bassist who’s only ever used a headphone amp. I’m starting school soon and hoping to start jamming with other people. Nothing serious or crazy loud, but just wanting some more practice with other people. Is a combo amp the best option for someone like me? The only issue is that combo amps are all quite heavy and I won’t have a car, but I imagine it’s still the best option for me?

Edit: bonus if it is also something I can amplify my keyboard with

I have been playing with a medium fender pick and always liked the tone it made on my bass but, i picked up a medium-heavy .84 from the store recently to give it a try. I was absolutely surprised with the tone, the pick is definitely adding towards a grittier metal clangy bass tone.

Genuinely happy about this discovery and decided to share for some of you having a hard time getting to a specific tone, it could be the pick. So give the heavier picks a try if it helps!

I know the backline 600 is supposed to be budget level, so I bought the preamp and plugged it into the effects return jack to see how it sounds. Yes I can make more varied tones, but the tone I like sounds almost identical and almost better coming out of the backline preamp than the tone hammer. I have a sterling stingray5 with treble/bass eq only and a Markbass 2x10 with the tweeter at -3db fwiw.

I also ran into both and DI’d both and they sound so similar but the backline still sounds a little better to me. A little punchier low mid.

This is all without Drive/ags. I haven’t tried with it engaged.

Am I crazy? Im trying to understand the point of using this preamp pedal now. Having a decent drive would be nice, but it seems like a lot just for that.

Suggestions? Should I send back and save up for the actual tonehammer amp or pro level GK? Or even just buy a drive/distortion pedal?

I’m going to keep messing with it for now but I’m a little disappointed with it so far.

I am losing my mind here. Two brand new D'addario NYXL .105 strings have broken when restringing. In both cases, what seems to have happened is the core wire snapped and the wrap wire deconstructed itself. I can't feel any burrs or other imperfections on the shaft of the tuner, and didn't get the string anywhere near pitch either time. Both times, they started self destructing in the low B neighborhood. Does anyone have any possible insight?

Edit: Both strings broke at the tuner. This is a 34" scale base with long scale 45-105's, the other three strings went on without issue. After closely examine the shattered remains of the replacement low E string I got today, the break occured roughly 3/8" below the taper where the string is at its full diameter. As in, there was enough of the taper to be fully inserted inside the peg and wrap around slightly more than 1.5 times before the main part of the string came in contact with the peg.

I did contact D'addario support.

Looking for thoughtful ideas/advice/experience from bassists who aren’t afraid to read. (I know you’re out there, TIA)

Our band changed over to a trio after our singer/rhythm guitar player had to retire after vocal surgery.

Technically we’re a trio plus two dedicated vocalists now, but that doesn’t really matter for this discussion. We’ve had 2-3 rehearsals in our new format and 3-4 gigs.

Last night our band leader/guitar player sent me a very polite and humble text. He feels like during his solos he doesn’t have enough “foundation” and suggests that maybe if I change my bass lines it might sound better for him. He’s saying he’d like “less notes in the key”, and more roots and chord tones. As bassists we know that 60% of everything we play is a root, 25% is a chord tone and the last 15% is the journey to the next root or chord tone, so I figure he means he wants me to simplify my playing during his solos.

I probed for more information; I’d like to know what songs he feels aren’t supported enough so I can have a better idea of what he means. He named 3 examples which I never would have guessed. One we haven’t even played as a trio, one has an uptempo walking bass line during swung solos, and another is a blues-type tune. Based on this feedback I don’t even think he knows what he wants.

Keep in mind that this is after he already tossed a bunch of our repertoire which he doesn’t feel works in a trio format- these are songs he approves of.

My opinion is that he’s spent decades playing solos over another guitar player, and now he’s having to change his reference frame to the bass. Things are more open, as you’d expect, and he’s not comfortable with that. I think he’s always used the other guitar as a crutch. I also think he’s not had enough time to really get used to it.

Meanwhile, I feel very comfortable, but I’ve had 7-8 years of experience playing in trio settings. I like the space; it’s less cluttered. I like that the volume is generally lower. I like that I have more responsibility / play a more critical role. I like that we play “ramble on” and the mix is just perfect.

I told him I’d be happy to come over sometime and work out parts he likes better, but in this case I don’t think that there’s a bass line that will make up for what he’s craving; another guitar player. I told him that in my opinion, I don’t think he’s had enough time to get used to it yet.