I figured this thread was overdue.
Very simple: Which bass is your favorite for surf music?
—IMO.
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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »
Favorite Surf Bass
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Joined: Oct 05, 2012 Posts: 1725 Austin, Texas 
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Posted on Jan 01 2013 11:29 PM
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle 
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 12:11 AM
Whatever Peter Hook circa 1985-1986 would play on my surf record is whatever my favorite bass would be for surf music. Pretty sure he was on a Fender VI at that time. You have pretty much two basses that are on 99.9% of all surf music. Fender Jazz Bass and Fender Precision Bass. Jazz basses are more mellow/tonally rounded and P-Basses have a little more bunch to them. So it depends on the band style/bassist and where you want the bass to sit in the mix. |
Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25705 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 12:12 AM
The one with 4 strings? But seriously, I am a Fender P-bass fan, but there are lots of options, none wrong just personal preferenc. well unless you bring this to a show.
or this
both belonging to Les Claypool of Primus, Jeff(bigtikidude) |
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Joined: Oct 05, 2012 Posts: 1725 Austin, Texas
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 12:14 AM
Primus... Mmm... Steamy... —IMO. |
Joined: Feb 18, 2010 Posts: 260 Lake Forest, CA 
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 01:01 AM
What is it with bassists and ridiculously fugly custom basses? I'm sorry but I see stuff like Claypool's bass and I am instantly reminded of countless weirdos with bass clef tattoos who live inside their own asses tapping a "soulful" melody that sounds like the Super Mario theme played through a fart machine. Why is it only bassists? Why don't you ever see guitarists playing a fanciful, gnarled root straight out of a Roger Dean wet dream? I see something like this or this and it makes me very sad. And it's ALWAYS a bass. What gives? Anyway the best surf bass is a Steinberger. —Hot Summer Comes Again! Last edited: Jan 02, 2013 02:47:50 |
Joined: Jan 04, 2011 Posts: 1588 Berlin L-Berg 
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 02:02 AM
Are there other electric basses than the Jazz and Precision that can be taken serious? My vote goes for the Jazz Bass, btw. — |
Joined: Jan 25, 2007 Posts: 1569 Brighton UK
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 02:41 AM
JakeDobner wrote:
As far as I'm aware, the six string bass Peter Hook used was a Shergold. It certainly was when I saw New Order in 1982. — |
Joined: Apr 05, 2006 Posts: 1547 Bethlehem, GA
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 08:37 AM
It depends on the sound you are looking for. A P-Bass has a rounder, fuller sound than a Jazz which is slightly less bold but has more definition. It also depends on what the player prefers and/or what the song calls for, especially in a recording environment. After 40 years of playing bass my overall favorite remains the Fender Precision which was the first new bass I bought back in the day. Sometimes "simple is better" and there is a reason a P-Bass has been used on more recordings since its inception in 1951 than any other bass, by a wide margin. I have a Jazz Bass as well but a P-Bass is my "go to". With that said, a LOT depends on the bass amp which IMO plays a larger part in the overall sound than the bass itself. An inexpensive bass played through a 300 watt tube amp will usually sound way better than a $3000 Custom Shop Fender played through a so-so amp. —Jack Booth The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005), 2025 Last edited: Jan 03, 2013 15:24:38 |
Joined: Apr 24, 2011 Posts: 1087 Surf City, NC
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 08:47 AM
Our bass player uses a Fender Jaguar Bass. It seems to produce a nice array of sounds and looks cool. |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 09:15 AM
djangodeadman wrote:
Yes, that is what he used for most of the time. There is a Lake Placid Blue Fender VI photo with him floating around during the mid-80s. Saw it several months ago, trouble finding it again. Never saw a live photo, just in studio photos. |
Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3863 North Atlantic 
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 09:17 AM
My favourite bass for playing surf is a Danelectro Longhorn. I have a Korean made one. It was used on all the Longhorn CD tracks. Rev —Canadian Surf http://www.urbansurfkings.com/ Last edited: Jan 02, 2013 09:19:56 |
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Joined: Jan 25, 2007 Posts: 1569 Brighton UK
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 11:49 AM
JakeDobner wrote:
Interesting; would like to see that. —Last edited: Jan 02, 2013 11:50:02 |
Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4054 Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 12:19 PM
Teisco EP200, NB-4, Decca, Danelectro 3412, P-bass............ http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic |
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Joined: Oct 05, 2012 Posts: 1725 Austin, Texas
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 06:32 PM
So far this is looking really cool, with some mods. For me the neck is the best part, I love maple fretboards, and those new bridges are great. I would chrome it out, with the jag switch and control plates. I love the P/J pup configuration. IMO. |
Joined: Dec 20, 2009 Posts: 611 Jax, FL
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 06:36 PM
I only play bass on the side... but I always have wondered what a hard Ric bass would sound like with surf... extremo cool I bet. like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz8uzuJxufo Bill —Shoot the Pier on Bandcamp My Country EP ... Florida Dirt Fire My French Love Songs ... I really needed a change... |
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Joined: Oct 05, 2012 Posts: 1725 Austin, Texas
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 06:51 PM
After 2 minutes googling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9yTm28KyZc —IMO. |
Joined: Aug 31, 2009 Posts: 352 The Ranch, CO |
Posted on Jan 02 2013 08:29 PM
I want this to match my Strat and Jagmaster but then I would need to get a different pickguard and pickup. http://www.fender.com/products/mikey-way-mustang-bass —"Maybe there aren't any surf bands; there's only surf music?" Tuck |
Joined: Sep 10, 2012 Posts: 14 Nashville, TN
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 10:42 PM
I've used a lot of different instruments, but I keep going back to an Eastwood Sidejack Bass VI! Cool Mosrite look, killer P-90 pups and even a usable trem! When it's not the Eastwood VI, I tend to go for old Teisco's (usually my Decca Tulip bass) or a Yamaha SA-70 Hollowbody. I will occasionally go for the old tried-and-true Fender P, but I try not to! (It's a comfort zone thing, but I like the more esoteric instruments for surf-type stuff..) Eastwood Sidejack BassVI 60's Yamaha SA-70 60's Decca Tulip (very underrated instrument!) |
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Joined: Oct 05, 2012 Posts: 1725 Austin, Texas
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 11:20 PM
That Eastwood... Very tasty! —IMO. |
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Joined: Sep 10, 2012 Posts: 14 Nashville, TN
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Posted on Jan 02 2013 11:45 PM
Altar wrote:
Tastes great - and less filling! (just kidding, old beer commercial) Full review with audio, video and pics here: http://www.justinoscarcary.com/gear-reviews/2012/8/14/-eastwood-sidejack-bassvi.html — |
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