Moving from 5- to 6-string have me some new options (obvs) but it didn't make my playing any better
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How much has a new bass ever helped your playing?
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
In the rare times that I do acquire a new bass, I get some new tonal options that let me sound different. My playing style generally won’t change much and I won’t improve on bass unless I practice.
When I traded for my 2022 Ric 4003, my playing didn’t improve. But I was able to make some new sounds because it has 2 custom Nordstrand pickups. That bass has flats on it, which provides a different tonal palette than my Ric 4003 with rounds, P Bass, and piccolo bass.
There’s lots of talk about fretless bass in this thread. I’ve never owned a fretless, so it’s nice to read on everyone’s experiences before deciding whether to buy one / which one to buy.
When I traded for my 2022 Ric 4003, my playing didn’t improve. But I was able to make some new sounds because it has 2 custom Nordstrand pickups. That bass has flats on it, which provides a different tonal palette than my Ric 4003 with rounds, P Bass, and piccolo bass.
There’s lots of talk about fretless bass in this thread. I’ve never owned a fretless, so it’s nice to read on everyone’s experiences before deciding whether to buy one / which one to buy.
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If you want to become competent on fretless, it does not require a bunch of money. It requires serious investment of your time.
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My first Rickenbacker was a huge upgrade from my Squier Affinity Jazz Bass. But the former wasn’t holding me back. That’s why I still own my Squier and I ended up trading my first Ric. Thankfully, that first Ric eventually became my 2022 Ric 4003, which is amazing!
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When I got my first really good bass in my late teens (a Stingray 5), I feel like I had stepped up a class or two and that I could play better. Every bass after that was just different, not necessarily better.
I've long abandoned the idea that the instrument will make me a better player. I know that the only thing that will make me a better player is me and how much work I put into it.
I've long abandoned the idea that the instrument will make me a better player. I know that the only thing that will make me a better player is me and how much work I put into it.
Getting my first active electronic bass (Schector SLS 4 after a 70s J Bass) certainly made switching sounds with EQ or pup blending smoother in live settings. At the same time it can be cumbersome but also a nice tool to have.
when i bought my p bass it helped in the sense that my old ibanez SR didn't have great frets and the action wasn't great. it was used and wasn't in great condition when i bought it. buying a new bass wasn't magic but it made a difference, plus i enjoy the simplicity of a passive bass with one pickup, a volume and a tone
Amen to that. If I had to pick one just one bass that had made me a better player during the time I owned it, it would be L2.
Very well put. In my case, the conclusion was that *really* mastering the fretless - I was OK but far from where I wanted to be - would eat up way too much of my time back then. I haven't owned a fretless in 30+ years and can't say that I've ever missed it. Different strokes and all that jazz...
Ok, there’s the obvious fretless or 5 string, which you can’t do on a 4 string fretted bass. After that, active or passive will make a difference. Nice to have those active controls at your fingertips to either slightly adjust or completely change your tone on the fly.
After that, I’d had some basses that just inspire me to play them a certain way. Or a flatter radius fretboard that makes doing certain things easier. Or a more comfortable body/balance/weight that makes the bass better for long gigs.
And I’ve bought some basses that did nothing better than any of the basses I already had, and I end up selling them.
After that, I’d had some basses that just inspire me to play them a certain way. Or a flatter radius fretboard that makes doing certain things easier. Or a more comfortable body/balance/weight that makes the bass better for long gigs.
And I’ve bought some basses that did nothing better than any of the basses I already had, and I end up selling them.
Not much for me. Once the groove is established, whatever it is, the bass only gets special notice if is limiting somehow. A pro-level bass is playable, above all else. I try not to overthink it. I couldn’t overmatch a well-made bass, anyway. The newness of it is more of a worry than anything.
The interesting thing is that what works best for us is often outside of what others think is "normal" or "best."After 45 years of four and five string basses, I recently purchased an Ibanez SR206 6 string bass. I have it tuned to EADGBE (as I also play guitar). It's opened up a whole new world of exploration on bass. Single note runs, chordal structure, finger picking, playing style. It's like my world of bass playing has expanded exponentially.
Looking back on my journey, I'm most grateful to have been fortunate enough to have gotten to play and own a lot of different instruments.
i voted "it didn't make much difference," although: every new ax has been exciting, you know, new stuff! 
but once i figured out how to get what i like = they're all about the same....except for different colors, pickup/preamp configurations, P vs. J vs. PJ vs. yada yada....
but once i figured out how to get what i like = they're all about the same....except for different colors, pickup/preamp configurations, P vs. J vs. PJ vs. yada yada....
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Several years ago I owned two Alembic five-strings.
After some life changes, I now own two Squier five-strings.
I sound just like me on either pair, though my mistakes were uber-clean on the Alembics I must admit, and with the Squiers I'm never questioned as I was with the Alembics as ' . . . . so, you DON'T own a Fender?'.
As long as you have a solid, reliable instrument, it's the PLAYER not the BASS. The Industry makes great money conning you into thinking, 'Geez, If I ONLY had the new Custom Shop Player Ultra for 2024, THEN I'd be the Man'. All I can tell you is I owned two Alembic fives, and NOBODY called me when Jimmy Johnson was already booked, and none of my friends in the Alembic community with various Stanley Clarke models barely sound anything like him.
Wise Up. If you can't walk the dog on a Squier or Sire, the only thing you're going to add with a Custom Shop Jazz or a NYC Sadowsky . . . . is debt. Oh yeah, and I forgot 'Pride of Ownership' ! ! !
After some life changes, I now own two Squier five-strings.
I sound just like me on either pair, though my mistakes were uber-clean on the Alembics I must admit, and with the Squiers I'm never questioned as I was with the Alembics as ' . . . . so, you DON'T own a Fender?'.
As long as you have a solid, reliable instrument, it's the PLAYER not the BASS. The Industry makes great money conning you into thinking, 'Geez, If I ONLY had the new Custom Shop Player Ultra for 2024, THEN I'd be the Man'. All I can tell you is I owned two Alembic fives, and NOBODY called me when Jimmy Johnson was already booked, and none of my friends in the Alembic community with various Stanley Clarke models barely sound anything like him.
Wise Up. If you can't walk the dog on a Squier or Sire, the only thing you're going to add with a Custom Shop Jazz or a NYC Sadowsky . . . . is debt. Oh yeah, and I forgot 'Pride of Ownership' ! ! !
I voted 'didn't make much difference'. I suck on whatever bass he he he
I like having different basses for playing comfort. The tonal options are a nice bonus. I’ve really been enjoying my Gibson EB-5 lately, but sometimes I prefer my Jazz and sometimes I prefer my Hofner.
Really REALLY enjoying my new Ibanez fretless with its incredibly skinny and thin neck. Compared to the Fodera it replaced, it’s a night and day difference. Life too short to play uncomfortable basses.
I tolerated my 4003 exclusively for almost 14 years.