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So I think my constant playing of surf music and all the ranting and raving
about the Indy show has finally gotten to my wife. I took her to 2 Los
Straits show too, so that really helped. Out of the blue, she has
volunteered to learn how to play the bass!!
So I was just wondering if you bass players (or anyone else) can fill me in
on the options.
What are the main differences between the P-Bass and Jazz Bass?
Danelectro? Mosrite basses (rare and expensive?)
She has some reservations about the scale length, so I was thinking about
getting her a reissue Mustang bass. Any thoughts on short vs long scale
basses? The Mustang reissue or go vintage?
Made in Mexico, Japan, or go for the USA model?
And...is it a good idea to play in a band with your wife? :)
Thanks,
BN
>
> And...is it a good idea to play in a band with your wife? :)
>
>
NO!
Don't do it. You're just asking for trouble....
Phil
---------------------------------------------
Phil Tiki
The Cocktail Preachers
Hi Brian and Wife-of-Brian:
I am a bass player for more than 20 years, so here are my
reccomendations:
1. Fender Mustang or Bronco Bass: short scale, good sound,
may be expen$ive.
2. Danelectro "Horn Bass": light weight, short scale, a new
one goes for about $400 www.danelectro.com sort of
treble-y sounding (think John Entwistle bass solo on The
Who's original 1965 'My Generation')
3. Danelectro "Six String" "DC" and "Hodad" basses: light
weight, good tone (again a bit treble-y), new price under
$500... LONG SCALE LENGTH but NARROW NECK
4. Fender P-Bass: excellent tone for surf, heavy body, LONG
SCALE and WIDE NECK...a good one runs @ $400-$900
5. Fender Jazz Bass: excellent tone for surf, not as heavy
as the P-bass, LONG SCALE but NARROWER NECK...a good one
runs $400-$900
6. Music Man bass: superb tone, LONG SCALE and WIDE NECK
kind of heavy, $500-$1200...Flea plays one a lot.
7. Mosrite: LONG SCALE but NARROW NECK, money money money
$700-$2500
8. G & L Bass: LONG SCALE WIDE NECK...you might find a
deal,$400-$1000...Agent Orange played these in the olden
days
9. Fender Squier stuff: LONG SCALE low $
10 Fernandez Bass: never played one...but Flea likes 'em,
not the most expensive...LONG SCALE but THINNER NECK
If it were me, I'd be looking for a used Fender Jazz Bass
Made in America, or Crafted in Japan on EBay...
or maybe I'd check out what Danelectro has to offer...
good luck!
David P
--- Brian Neal <> wrote:
> So I think my constant playing of surf music and all the
> ranting and raving
> about the Indy show has finally gotten to my wife. I took
> her to 2 Los
> Straits show too, so that really helped. Out of the blue,
> she has
> volunteered to learn how to play the bass!!
>
> So I was just wondering if you bass players (or anyone
> else) can fill me in
> on the options.
>
> What are the main differences between the P-Bass and Jazz
> Bass?
>
> Danelectro? Mosrite basses (rare and expensive?)
>
> She has some reservations about the scale length, so I
> was thinking about
> getting her a reissue Mustang bass. Any thoughts on short
> vs long scale
> basses? The Mustang reissue or go vintage?
>
> Made in Mexico, Japan, or go for the USA model?
>
> And...is it a good idea to play in a band with your wife?
> :)
>
> Thanks,
> BN
>
>
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hey that's not nice...
maybe his wife will kick total ass like Kathy(?) from the
old Cossacks!
Dave P
--- Phil Kucer <> wrote:
> >
> > And...is it a good idea to play in a band with your
> wife? :)
> >
> >
>
>
> NO!
>
> Don't do it. You're just asking for trouble....
>
>
> Phil
>
> ---------------------------------------------
> Phil Tiki
> The Cocktail Preachers
>
>
>
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It has nothing to do with her or how she plays. I'm sure she's a fine
woman. No insult was intended.
Working with a spouse is bad news.
What if the band gets good and starts to go somewhere but it turns out
that she's the weak link that has to go? How do you kick her out
without affecting their relationship outside of the band? What if he's
the boat anchor? If you ask me, it's just ASKING for trouble.
My very small $0.02.
Phil
On Wednesday, July 16, 2003, at 07:10 PM, DP wrote:
> hey that's not nice...
>
> maybe his wife will kick total ass like Kathy(?) from the
> old Cossacks!
>
> Dave P
>
> --- Phil Kucer <> wrote:
>>>
>>> And...is it a good idea to play in a band with your
>> wife? :)
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> NO!
>>
>> Don't do it. You're just asking for trouble....
>>
>>
>> Phil
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------
>> Phil Tiki
>> The Cocktail Preachers
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>>
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>> archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
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>>
>
>
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It all depends if your wife is a Yoko or a Linda. Maybe your will be the next
Carol Kaye. Don't know if Carol played with her hubby but she did play bass
on most of Phil Spector's hits in the 60s, Beach Boys too.
I wish I could get my wife interested in playing bass. It seems like it's
easier to make a bass player than to find one.
When I was a kid I played a Fender Musicmaster Bass. Short scale and not bad
sound wise. I think Fender reissued the Musicmaster a couple years back for
like $200 or $300. You could probably find one cheap on ebay. I think Tina
Weymouth of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club played one. Oh yeah and she's been in
bands with her husband for about 30 years.
I'm just saying that it could cause more problems than it's worth.
Yes, people have made it work and if you can do it, well, that's
awesome.
BTW,
Wasn't Tina in Talking Heads before she was married?
Good luck.
Phil
On Wednesday, July 16, 2003, at 08:08 PM, wrote:
> It all depends if your wife is a Yoko or a Linda. Maybe your will be
> the next
> Carol Kaye. Don't know if Carol played with her hubby but she did play
> bass
> on most of Phil Spector's hits in the 60s, Beach Boys too.
> I wish I could get my wife interested in playing bass. It seems like
> it's
> easier to make a bass player than to find one.
> When I was a kid I played a Fender Musicmaster Bass. Short scale and
> not bad
> sound wise. I think Fender reissued the Musicmaster a couple years
> back for
> like $200 or $300. You could probably find one cheap on ebay. I think
> Tina
> Weymouth of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club played one. Oh yeah and
> she's been in
> bands with her husband for about 30 years.
>
>
--- Brian Neal <> wrote:
> What are the main differences between the P-Bass and
> Jazz Bass?
The Jazz is usually more sharp and trebly than a
P-bass, at least if you use the bridge pickup alot,
and sometimes that's good. With the middle position
pickup on a Jazz you can get some respectable low end,
though not as much as a Precision. I myself am a die
hard Precision man, and I like the big fat neck, but
that's just me. I think it's THE quintessential old
school surf bass tone. However, both are good for
whatever you want 'em to do.
>
> Danelectro? Mosrite basses (rare and expensive?)
The Mosrite reissues are very expensive, and buying
one on the secondary market doesn't ease it as much as
you might think. I've never seen one. The Danelectro
reissues made in Korea are by all accounts very nice
and easily had on eBay for $200 to $300. I personally
think these bass' are super cool and so do a lot of
other people. If you want the scoop on Danos, go talk
to Rudy at the Bass Forum of the FDP. He'll give you
the all.
>
> She has some reservations about the scale length, so
> I was thinking about getting her a reissue Mustang
> bass. Any thoughts on short vs long scale
> basses? The Mustang reissue or go vintage?
I played a vintage Musicmaster once with a $200 price
tag on it. Very excellent sounding and playing. The
vintage Mustangs will run you a bit more, but the
reissues can be had for less than $500 and they're
also very cool, and I'd say good enough quality to be
considered a long term investment for the money.
Scale length is something that can be adjusted to, but
the short scales are just so nice and easy.
>
> Made in Mexico, Japan, or go for the USA model?
Depends on how serious you think she's gonna get. I
know gear snobs on both ends of the spectrum, and you
can make anything work. Some people make Squiers work
in gigging bands, but I'm just of the opinion that for
a little bit more you can have a MIM model that will
hold up much better. For marginally more money you
can get a MIJ, which to me is a pretty big leap over
the MIM's for the marginal difference in price. Some
would say MIJ's are on par with the USA's. I would
say they're close, and probably the best value overall
(the Mustang bass reissues are MIJ btw). The USA
models are, of course, the best, and if you shop
around you can get one for as little as $400 to $500.
The only bass I still own at present is my American
Vintage series precision (these are EXTREMELY nice
bass' that do not fetch nearly as much money used if
you can find one. I saw a bass exactly like mine go
up on eBay for $600 and nobody bid, and they retail
for $1200. I paid about $860 for mine brand new.)
Anyway, hope that was informative.
Richard
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yeah, I know...I guess you have a point there...
but, I guess I am the eternal optomist...
:) thanks for the wisdom,
DP
--- Phil Kucer <> wrote:
> It has nothing to do with her or how she plays. I'm sure
> she's a fine
> woman. No insult was intended.
>
> Working with a spouse is bad news.
>
> What if the band gets good and starts to go somewhere but
> it turns out
> that she's the weak link that has to go? How do you kick
> her out
> without affecting their relationship outside of the band?
> What if he's
> the boat anchor? If you ask me, it's just ASKING for
> trouble.
>
> My very small $0.02.
>
>
> Phil
>
>
>
> On Wednesday, July 16, 2003, at 07:10 PM, DP wrote:
>
> > hey that's not nice...
> >
> > maybe his wife will kick total ass like Kathy(?) from
> the
> > old Cossacks!
> >
> > Dave P
> >
> > --- Phil Kucer <> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> And...is it a good idea to play in a band with your
> >> wife? :)
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >> NO!
> >>
> >> Don't do it. You're just asking for trouble....
> >>
> >>
> >> Phil
> >>
> >> ---------------------------------------------
> >> Phil Tiki
> >> The Cocktail Preachers
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
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> >>
> >>
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> What are the main differences between the P-Bass and Jazz Bass?
The P fits cases and stands better. :/
--
Malcolm <<--- owns a J bass
My tour diary:
Jo in the Sin-Tones plays a Dano longhorn.
--
Malcolm
My tour diary:
Hi Malcom:
The Precision: wider neck, heavier body, heavier neck,
theolder ones were single pickup. P-bass has nice balance,
full tone, superb "solid" neck feel, wonderful full-bodied
tone. Great for pick, slap & pop,finger style attack. All
others are compared in tone to the standard p-bass: great
low end, superb mids, nice tight trebles.
The Jazz: not so wide neck (especially at nut/1st
position),
lighter body and neck, slightly "thinner" or "nasal" tone,
dual pick-ups...a real nice bass, fretless option (!), not
as "solid" or "hefty" as the P-bass. A fine bass,
nonetheless. Great for pick, fingerstyle attack...not bad
on slap & pop style...a little thin on the bass end, a
little bit too much treble on the treble side...excellent
mids.
Pick the P-bass...unless you want fretless, or you are
playing a "softer" style...
(although I have heard some rocking J-bass surf players:ie
the Space Cossacks)
good luck,
Dave P
--- MalcolmO <> wrote:
> > What are the main differences between the P-Bass and
> Jazz Bass?
>
> The P fits cases and stands better. :/
> --
> Malcolm <<--- owns a J bass
> My tour diary:
>
>
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Wow!
Those Sin-tones have a swell sound!
And that longhorn Danelectro is simply oozing tone-age!
DP
--- MalcolmO <> wrote:
> Jo in the Sin-Tones plays a Dano longhorn.
>
>
> --
> Malcolm
> My tour diary:
>
>
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Thanks to everyone who replied on the bass info! That helps a lot.
So...next question: use a pick or fingers? I haven't really noticed who uses
what.
Is it "more trad" to use a pick? Or does it really matter?
From my memory:
Pick:
Sam Bolle (w/Dick Dale anyway)
Jim from the Troubadours
Fingers:
Pete Curry with Los Straits
Mary from SCOTS
What does Eric use with the Nebulas?
What did Catherine from the Space Cossacks use?
Thanks!
BN
Dude:
from time immemorial, the defining question for bass
players has been "pick or pluck"...here's my $0.02.
1. do what feels natural. some people pick and some pluck
the first few times they pick up a bass. go with natural
instinct at first.
2. do both! picks are great! plucking is great! slap and
pop is great! just remember, a pick is just one more piece
of gear that you can lose or leave at home the night of the
big gig. it's harder to forget your fingers.
Players and their choices:
Ron Eglit(Dick Dale): pick and pluck
Catherine from Cossacks: seemed like mostly pick
John Entwistle: pick and pluck and "hammer/typewriter"
style
Flea: pick, pluck, and slap and pop
Gerald Sanders (Tornadoes): pluck
Mosrite Ron (Lively One's): pluck
So there you go,
good luck,
David P
--- Brian Neal <> wrote:
> Thanks to everyone who replied on the bass info! That
> helps a lot.
>
> So...next question: use a pick or fingers? I haven't
> really noticed who uses
> what.
> Is it "more trad" to use a pick? Or does it really
> matter?
>
> From my memory:
>
> Pick:
> Sam Bolle (w/Dick Dale anyway)
> Jim from the Troubadours
>
> Fingers:
> Pete Curry with Los Straits
> Mary from SCOTS
>
> What does Eric use with the Nebulas?
> What did Catherine from the Space Cossacks use?
>
> Thanks!
> BN
>
>
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My heart lies with pick on this issue, but at certain
points I catch myself putting my pick in my mouth and
playing fingerstyle. I'd learn to do both, I'm
proficient enough to do almost everything I can do
with a pick with my fingers, speed being the only real
limitation there (though people that are good enough
are faster with their fingers than anyone with a pick
can be.)
Richard
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> Those Sin-tones have a swell sound!
Yeah! I found them today in my travels and noted that they're in my town, so
I'll hear to watch for their gigs. Found another Toronto band today but I've
forgotten the name already. DOH! I'll backtrack and find them again. And
yesterday found the Blue Demons, also in town.
--
Malcolm
My tour diary:
--- In , "Brian Neal" <bneal@i...> wrote:
> Thanks to everyone who replied on the bass info! That helps a lot.
>
> So...next question: use a pick or fingers? I haven't really noticed
> who uses what.
> Is it "more trad" to use a pick?
Yes.
> Or does it really matter?
Somewhat. I think the Lively Ones' bass player used fingers, even
back then. He's the only one I can think of, though. More surf
bassists today use fingers, but the pick gives you the aggressive
attack necessary for a lot of surf. But it varies. Slacktone's
original bass player used fingers exclusively, I think, for example.
> From my memory:
>
> Pick:
> Sam Bolle (w/Dick Dale anyway)
> Jim from the Troubadours
Jim also uses fingers only when playing in his soul band - he can do
both.
>
> Fingers:
> Pete Curry with Los Straits
> Mary from SCOTS
>
> What does Eric use with the Nebulas?
I seem to remember the pick...
> What did Catherine from the Space Cossacks use?
Pick almost exclusively.
Ivan
Thanks Ivan. I take it that The Shadows cast of bass players used
picks also?
BN
--- In , "Brian Neal" <bneal@i...> wrote:
> Thanks Ivan. I take it that The Shadows cast of bass players used
> picks also?
Yes, at least through the mid- or late-seventies. Their sixties bass
players were big believers in the pick: Jet Harris, Licorice Locking,
and John Rostill (who was extremely good, very innovative and
melodic, as well as in total control of music theory). The guy they
had on bass for their last few years ('86-'90), Mark Griffiths,
represents everything I hate about modern bass playing: five-string
bass, a sound with no mids but a lot of bass AND treble, total
absence of attack as played by fingers, occasional slapping and
other 'fart-like'-noises (have their place in some styles, but NOT in
the Shadows!). Hank Marvin has used him for all his solo work since
1990, which really sucks. There wasn't much good that Hank has done
since the early '80s, anyway - the bass player is only a part of the
problem.
Anyway, about a week ago there was some news on the Shadows front:
apparently they're reuniting for a one-off tour of the UK in May and
June of 2004, billed as their final time together. That came
completely out of the left field. We'll see how it goes, but I'm not
very optimistic. Still, I may make a trip to England to catch a
show, we'll see... Having seen Hank solo in 2000, I was less than
impressed - actually, 'bored and underwhelmed' would describe it
well. Bruce Welch put on a great show with his version of the
Shadows, though....
