/r/Bass
Reddit's Loudest and Most In-Tune Community of Bassists
Electric, acoustic, upright, and otherwise.
Community resources, and extensive FAQ for players new and old.
Other Instruments | Build Something |
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/r/Guitars | /r/Luthier |
/r/doublebass | /r/DIYGear |
/r/BassVI | /r/diypedals |
/r/stick | |
/r/drum | |
/r/tuba | |
/r/Guitar |
Accessories | Learn |
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/r/guitarpedals | /r/musictheory |
/r/pedals | /r/basslessons |
/r/basspedals | /r/bluesbass |
/r/GuitarAmps | /r/basstabs |
/r/rigtours | /r/tabs |
/r/BassStrings | /r/guitarplaying |
Pictures | Deals |
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/r/InstrumentPorn | /r/bassdeals |
/r/offset | /r/Gear4Sale |
/r/jetsonsguitars | |
/r/obscureguitars | |
/r/basspics |
Check the sidebar, the FAQ, and search for your answer before making a post. We have lots of common questions with lots of common answers.
New Bass Day (NBD) and Gear posts go into the weekly threads. Posts made outside of the thread will be removed and asked to be reposted.
Don't use the sub to sell or advertise your gear (with very few exceptions, ask the mods). Use r/Gear4Sale for selling gear. Also, do not post links to giveaways where you personally benefit (getting more entries) by propagating (spamming) a link.
No memes, please.
SFW Only (duh).
Resist the urge to start "gig pic" "bass face" and "family photo" threads.
Requests for tab should be made in /r/basstabs and will be removed from /r/bass
Please tag video or audio of you or your band with [Feedback] in the subject line of the post.
Be nice.
We encourage you to report spam posts or posts that violate the rules, but please send a message to the moderators at the same time.
Similarly, please send any comments or critiques to the moderators.
/r/Bass
A friend wants to sell me that one and I don't know what you think, thank you.
My favorite bass line to play is easily Space Cadet by Kyuss. It sounds good alone and it’s just really fun to play.
Hi there,
I was recently looking into picking up a new bass and I came across the V5 and the V5R, I’m wondering which one would be the better one to get.
All I know is that they have different fretboard materials, different finishes (matte and glossy) on the necks, different pickups but I genuinely don’t know how they are different etc etc.
Another question I have is in regard to the sire Marcus miller V5 and the sire version 2 Marcus Miller V5, what are the differences and why is the first version more expensive?
Could anyone point me in the right direction?
Thanks.
So I’ve been playing bass for about 5 months now but it’s a jaguar jazz and I’m looking bbg for maybe a 5 string but 5 strings are a bit expensive, if anyone knows any good “metal” basses 400 and under that would be very helpful!
Hey, everyone! I love the looks and sounds of Rickenbacker 4001, but I don't really want to spend £2.5k. i’ve heard there were some great copies made and was wondering if there were any recommendations? i have around £900 as a budget, thank you!
Hi - I buy Chinese knockoffs once in awhile, mostly to photograph them (they look pretty great), and then sell them for what I paid (they're not amazing). That said, I have a Jazz bass that seems a little better than normal - action & intonation are good, plays well.
But the sound... not amazing. I've heard it said the hardware is also on the crappy side? So I'm wondering about gambling and putting in some decent pickups/electronics - worth a try? Wasting my money? Thoughts? THANK YOU
The buzzing affects pretty much all strings, the D string being the worst. My action is normal(~2.5 mm) and if I bring it any higher it gets worse. I’ve tried putting stuff behind the nut, adjusting the bridge to sit higher, and nothing seems to get rid of it, although it does help a little. Could the answer be to just lower my action more? Would low action compromise my playing too much?
I'm planning on doing a solo performance of Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer for a school thing coming up, but I can only afford one pedal, and I'm not sure what to get. I know that Tony Levin used an octave and a chorus, but I'm unsure which would get me closer to the sound by itself.
If it helps at all, I've got a dual humbucker sterling stingray 5 (not fretless like Levin's though)
If there's any suggestions of what I can do on my amp to get even closer, then that would be appreciated too. I have an orange crush 50 watt with the blend channel knob.
When is it appropriate/right to play something other than the root in the bass? As in, when the chord is played. Like forming an inversion, I guess. Is there a method/situation it works in or do you just experiment?
Hi,
I'm filling auditions on Saturday and Sunday for a school; One of the tunes I have to play is Four by Miles Davis - I've looked over the lead sheet for the last couple days, and I'm still at a complete loss for how to approach walking over it. It seems very tough to keep going after the first chord or 2, and I'm not sure how I should play along any further and keep an understanding of whats happening. If anyone has advice or analysis for how to approach this tune, I'd greatly appreciate it so I can understand it far better.
Thank you!
Spoke with Nik at the NAMM show where he debuted the Michael League signature Bass. Nik discusses origins of the bass with Nate Mendel and Pat Smear and ultimately with Michael. A Hollow body single bass with a Curtis Novak Foil pickup. Very cool instrument. CHECK IT OUT HERE!
Hi! I have a fender Mustang Bass (vintera)
I Posted recently about a part that I was missing. Found out that it is a "worm screw" and "nylon worm washer" for a hipshot tuner that I need. I don't want to buy a whole new tuning head, any idea where I can find a screw and washer alone? Diagram available here: https://hipshotproducts.com/products/hb10-bass-tuning-machine?variant=43376337480
Hi everyone, I've come across an Ibanez SRX530 for sale near me at a reasonable price. I've arranged to meet the owner tomorrow to see and try it out, but to be honest, I don’t know much about this model. I really like the look of it, but I have no idea how it sounds.
The only videos I’ve found feature people slapping, and I’m not much of a ""slapper"" myself, so I can’t really tell whether it’s a good or bad instrument for my style.
Has anyone had experience with this bass or the SRX series?
The Bass I bought was a budget purchase. The pickups are not the greatest. However I decided that I like the Bass and decided to EVH the situation and start modifying it more to my liking. So my question is should I buy brand-new Humbuckers or should I look for reclaimed pickups off an older Bass. Also brand suggestions would be great.
I have heard both good and bad things about ukebasses but they almost always mention that they need an amp to make any sound. Is this true?
I would like an instrument that is fairly easy to travel with and makes somewhere around acoustic guitar level amount of sound. Is this too much to ask because physics?
Just for clarification it doesnt need to be a string instrument. I guess a good travel amp and an ukebass would be ideal do those even exist? Again for physics reasons.
tl:dr small bass instruments
Hello, I'm an actor who plays the bass to a relatively intermediate level (grade 5 ish). I've got an audition tomorrow for a show and they've asked me to bring in my bass to play it.
This is the first time I've played in an audition - my last musician audition was in like 2018 and that was very basic acoustic guitar. I'm SO nervous, I've practised the song hundreds of times and while I know I can nail it in my kitchen, I know that the nerves will completely overwhelm me in the room/I'll panic.
Any advice for this? Any advice for dealing with nerves/taking the best steps to avoid them? Should I be candid and let them know that I'm nervous? Should I record a tape of myself playing and send it afterwards if I mess up?
Proud to be holding down the bottom end on this one. Have a listen!
Like many of you, I love playing funky music and getting folks on their feet and dancing.
That said, do any of you get requests to play funky versions of iconic songs like Come Together, American Girl, or Hotel California?
I’d love to meet those request but not quite sure how. Many of these songs have pretty iconic basslines that actually get folks moving their feet already. Do we rearrange the song and add those funky parts in a solo, add it right into the song’s bass-line, or look for a spot in the song to jam out and develop into a funky groove there? Do you add some slap to overtly meet their request???
Might just be a “me” problem but hoping y’all might have some thoughts and advice. Thanks!
I’m getting a 5 string and I’m considering a used 2021 Lakland DJ5 for $850 (natural finish with black pickguard) or a 1995 Warwick Corvette FNA Jazzman (honey violin finish) for $1000.
The Lakland is a passive JJ and near mint condition. Just over 9lbs. Pics: https://ibb.co/album/SNVmsH
The Warwick is an active J MM, just over 9lbs, and has some dings on the front and a lot of wear to the finish on the back of the upper horn. The wenge neck is in good shape. Pics: https://ibb.co/album/0DD9YZ
Which bass would you get?
I play a variety of styles: rock, funk, pop, reggae, blues. I’m thinking the DJ5 is more versatile but I love the feel of old Warwicks.
Some Warwicks, Lakeland 55-02, Sire Z7
What are some other options with this pickup configuration?
Hi,
After some artrosis they took out my CMC I bone. They put something in place but its kind of fragile. They advice against using plectrum. Now im a very novice guitar student and my real love is the bass guitar. I was thinking: is playing a bass with just fingers and thumb possible instead of plectrum? Im right handed and (artrosis) its my right hand. Would it be easier to just change to a right handed bass guitar and use left hand for strumming? Thanks in advance on all comments.
Of course, within the amp's watts/ohms specifications. Context: my Roland Cube 80W speaker has been dead for years, currently gathering dust in my garage. Now that I play bass, I need an amp (I actually play with a DI and headphones). So I had the idea (brilliant, yes, no, you'll tell me): why not change this speaker and put one in for the bass? It's a lot cheaper than buying a new amp, and then I'd finally do something with my dusty old combo. Thoughts and advice guys? Thanks a lot
Looking for some recommendations on studio monitors for practicing at home. I leave my main rig at the practice space so I'm not lugging a cab around. I have an Acoustic brand Preamp pedal that sounds good, but my current monitors just aren't handling it well enough to even hit half volume. I already have nice headphones, but I prefer to plug into something that's not headphones.
Currently using a set of Mackie CR3s.
Budget is $300-$600 for a set.
Got a new bass, pedal, amp, etc. you want to brag about (or ask questions about)? Post it here!
hi! i want to learn more about making up basslines and playing along chord progressions. i'm self thaugt, just finished the 'hal leonard bass method' books, so i have some basics in my belt. in the end the book briefly touches on playing off chord symbols, and how to use approach notes. does anyone have book recommendations to learn more about this stuff?
for context, i can read notation, but i'm not super interested in getting perfect at sight reading or playing complicated stuff off a sheet. i'm more interested in understanding chord progressions and acquiring some tools to created bass lines along them. musically i'm leaning more towards mellow jazz/blues/soul
On amazon i found 'The Ultimate Bass Chords & Arpeggios Book' by Karl Golden, but i'm thankful for more suggestions or experiences.
Did anybody see her plucking the big Gibson bass? She was nailing E7 and G7 chords- she might be even better at bass than guitar. I was impressed.
Sorry couldn't find a link
Hi! I found this sub yesterday as I was looking through old posts for recommendations on audio interfaces. I was considering one because my goals were (1) stream it to my computer / Twitch for silent playing while (2) being able to have desktop audio to my headphones and (3) to have direct monitoring with volume control and no latency.
The problem: I already have a USB mic (Blue Yeti) and I'm not looking to upgrade it any time soon due to financial reasons. I found out that if I got an audio interface, I'd have to upgrade my mic accordingly, and that's more than I wanted to spend. (I understand there are ways to aggregate audio to circumvent this, but it's a little too deep in the weeds for me, and I don't think it's worth the risk trying to mess with that). Also, I haven't played consistently in like a decade, and I just wanted a way to dip my toes back into bass while sharing the experience with my community.
What I had on hand: my Fender Squier Jaguar bass, my Ampere BA-108 amp, the 1/4" TS male-to-male cable for connecting my bass to the amp, a 3.5mm to 1/4" TRS audio adapter (for headphones out on the amp), and a 3.5mm TRS male-to-male cable / aux cord.
The fix: I realized that if I connected my amp's headphones out to my computer's line in, I could get the bass input to my computer. I then had to enable "listen to this device" on the line in to hear it on my headphones. It was staticky, but it was there. I remedied this by disabling the windows listening function, and using OBS as a monitor instead. This meant I could add filters/EQ too. First, I set the line in as a source in OBS. Then I did -10 gain on the source to remove the static, and an EQ on the source (boosting bass and mid) to bring back the volume. I then set the source to "monitor and output", then I deselected all track outputs on the Bass source. This meant it went straight to my desktop audio - no dupe playback from the line in source, no static, and no latency for direct monitoring. What I heard is what chat heard. I tweaked the amp/bass volume until it could be heard on stream. Felt slightly loud on my end just to make it audible on chat's end, but I made it work.
I hope this helps! Seems like a decent budget solution if getting an audio interface isn't in the cards. Granted, the audio interface would definitely be higher quality (for both the bass and the mic) but hey it's still workable on a budget!
Edit: correcting 1/4 TRS to 1/4 TS since that's what it actually is and I never noticed, lol
Guys, i’m looking for the Crybaby Geezer Butler Signature Wah, where I can find the pedals?
Hi, Do you loose them or detune them before ?