Previous AMAs

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 ?

I’m a beginner and could use some advice, searched online but didn’t find anything specific

I have an Ibanez SRH500F fretless bass, and I've been trying to adjust the truss + action height to make the mwah sound better, but I'm coming to realize that something ain't right, perhaps. I can actually feel the fret lines slightly, and I believe they're the reason the mwah is sounding like unpleasant fret buzz instead of a proper mwah. The neck is straight, and there's no action height at which the mwah sounds good instead of like fret buzz.

Is this normal, and I just have the bass set up improperly?

Do I need to take it to a luthier?

Here are two videos. The bass isn't plugged in in the demonstration, so it sounds a bit worse than it would through an amp:

Showing the fretboard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me-X0d3PgLo

Playing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aINbhhIMYQ

Thanks for any advice anyone can offer

I want to write sheet music and I'm using a lot of high notes on the G string that will be above the music staff. Can someone please help create/locate the tabs for the notes?

I’ve got a 5-string B.C. Rich Warlock that uses 2 sets of P-bass pickups (ouch on the wallet). Based on actual stock availability to have it shipped to Australia, I’ve narrowed my options down to the Nordstrand Power Blade and Bartolini Classic 58CBP. They both end up costing just about the same by the time shipping is accounted for. Interested in some opinions. I’m looking for versatility for anything from metal to jazz vibes.

Tabs make me uncomfortable because it doesn't show rythm but will have two lines inbetween notes (0--1) instead of the normal (1-0) I assume its a rest? But how long?

So, my favorite pedal, the original Alpha Omega, broke and i've decided to use this as an opportunity to upgrade. I'm debating getting either the photon pedal, or switching to the Alpha Omega Head. I play in a metal band, and have been using an ampeg v4b, which i love, but has not been quite as loud as I hoped. My guitarist plays through a orange rockverb 100 so I have to crank the head pretty high to be heard. That's why i'm partially considering switching to the Darkglass head, for more power. I wanted to get yalls opinions on whether it was worth paying the extra and getting the head, or if I should just get the pedal and keep using the ampeg v4b?

I'm currently doing an assignment on different basses for different styles. The basses im doing are 4 string, 5 string, 6 string, acoustic, fretless,

What are 3 really good basses from each type, and different qualities for different types and makes? And what r some good sources to research this??

Also what r the benefits of different pickups? Like a j bass has different layout on the pickups than a p bass

As I continue to dive down the rabbit hole that is bass guitar, I have found myself increasingly interested in gaining a better understanding of the variety of electronic pickups that are out there, and the nuances that go with. As long as I have been playing, it has been primarily on one bass with Bartolinis.

I feel like I read about Humbucker, single/split coil, P/PJ/J configurations, active vs passive, etc. I also read and see videos where people are all like "Yeah, this bass is awesome and I made it more awesome by ripping out its guts and soldering in some new shit!"

I'm curious to hear any references that you guys might have to help bring me up to speed. TIA!

Hi!, im a bass player, its not my main job, A music school take me for teach bass, they pay me 9€/h, i want teach music and theory best i can, but i overthinking too much, i search song i trascribe all riff 100% Original, but the second teacher teach only root note, but i dont want teach only root note when they play a song What can i do for stop thinking what teach? 😅

Thoughts on this amp? Got it as a package deal with a bass and I’ve found it to be a very good practice amp producing a great tone at lower volumes. Also from the research I’ve done it seems to we a 80w. If anyone could confirm that would be great, thanks.

I play bass guitar in a college jazz combo. They want me to come prepared with a piece for the group to play. I don’t have any ideas on what to bring them, what do you all think I should present them, that would also be good for a bass solo?

I was just watching the Fire Aid concert and noticed his bass is a Fender with a single humbucker pickup and three knobs. That’s basically the Stingray configuration. Which then got me wondering why, if that is what he’s playing, doesn’t Fender sell that configuration? The closest they have now is the Meteora line (two humbuckers).

I'm a newbie aiming to play Amon Amarth on bass. Should i buy an active bass or a passive bass to play those kinds of metal?

Any recommendations for affordable pickups for an upright?

Fender Mustang Bass (vintera)

Noticed buzzing when tuning E string, localized to headstock. Proceeded changing strings and upon unwinding the A string notice it's very light to unwind, feels like no tension... I check and the corkscrew isn't being held in place like the other pegs... Now, this string was always kinda like this I think (have had it a few months) check in the bag and find this washer thing... Fits the slot, but no screw in bottom of bag with it. What part of the bass is this missing piece? It's the screw visible from the underside of a fender bass tuner... am I correct in thinking this is a "bushing?"

Also, is it safe to still put the string on? I realize that it holds the tension by not letting the tuning head unwind so I guess not? Thank you all!

edit: photos: https://imgur.com/a/8t2Cd7T

relatedly, do you think that leaving the A string off for a few days will cause any damage to the neck from tension release? I don't see myself being able to source this part for at least a week. any help finding the part id or a link to it would be appreciated!

Do you guys actually memorize songs note for note exactly as it’s played or just memorize the base of the song and kinda play according to how it should sound? there’s only one song I can play completely without tabs. I’ve seen a few songs that I could definitely learn cause it’s the same few riffs just repeated everywhere but how do you go about memorizing a song where there’s slight iterations in the grove every few bars. I need to start being able to memorize the songs so I can jam properly with others. I know I can just like practice practice practice but is there some better method to it? Do I just learn the chord progression, learn the important recognizable bass parts only? Please help 🙏