Bass delimma (another one...)

[BloodRose]

As most of you guys that have been around awhile have seen, Im working on the bass alil more over the last few months and Ive been digging my Tbird bass. Ive even put my Traben bass up for sale as I need some $$..

However, Ive sometimes found the Bird alil more challenging to play and I thought maybe it was just the switch from guitar to bass. I did some set up work on the bass and made it alil better.
Well, the other day I got out the Traben and was wiping it down and making sure there were no issues. Naturally, I played it alittle and man, it was alot easier to play and I even have thicker strings on it. Ok, So, I figure Ut oh, its just the guitar kissing up to me cuz it doesnt want me to sell it, so I better proceed with caution and an open mind.. Ive objectively played it a few more times since, and it REALLy is easier and more enjoyable to play. But visually, I LOVE the T bird so much more and Want that to be my bass.

So, Im guessing there is my answer in there, but I have to ask.. I think Ive heard people say that T birds are more challenging to play. Is this true? Is there something about them that makes em more difficult to play? Is there a key or secret to making them work or working with them?
In case it makes a diff, mine is the neck thru..
Thanks

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Bass delimma (another one...)

The Thunderbird hangs a certain way on a strap that you either love or hate. It also has a relatively narrow string spacing. In my opinion, on some variants, the pickups sound less than inspiring. It fits in well with some musical genres better than others.

A Fender-derived design with onboard active EQ is going to offer greater sonic versatility. Something about the feel of the Traben must have grabbed you enough to purchase it in the first instance.

I love Rickenbacker 4000-series bass guitars but not quite enough to pay the price of owning one. Give me a P, a J or a 'Ray and I am immediately "at home". More recently, I have gotten into Warwick instruments.

Wishing that a particular instrument will deliver your ideal fantasy tone is delusional. I have exactly this problem with my 78/79 fretless Fender P. It sounds distinctive but ever so slightly wrong. My Seymourised Yamaha RBX200F poops all over the Fender and runs my fretless Stingray pretty close. The Taiwanese instrument is way less cool but the sound and playing feel are irrefutably right.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Bass delimma (another one...)

Basses are very sensitive to having nuts cut too roughly, which means action is ruined right at the nut. No amount of fiddling with the bridge will fix that.

Obviously you did measure what kind of action you get on open string, 1st fret and 12th fret, did you?

How much neck relief do you have?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Bass delimma (another one...)

T Birds ****ing suck to play, unless you are sitting, and/or have huge monkey arms. They look cool, though.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Bass delimma (another one...)

The Thunderbird hangs a certain way on a strap that you either love or hate. It also has a relatively narrow string spacing. In my opinion, on some variants, the pickups sound less than inspiring. It fits in well with some musical genres better than others.

A Fender-derived design with onboard active EQ is going to offer greater sonic versatility. Something about the feel of the Traben must have grabbed you enough to purchase it in the first instance.

I love Rickenbacker 4000-series bass guitars but not quite enough to pay the price of owning one. Give me a P, a J or a 'Ray and I am immediately "at home". More recently, I have gotten into Warwick instruments.

Wishing that a particular instrument will deliver your ideal fantasy tone is delusional. I have exactly this problem with my 78/79 fretless Fender P. It sounds distinctive but ever so slightly wrong. My Seymourised Yamaha RBX200F poops all over the Fender and runs my fretless Stingray pretty close. The Taiwanese instrument is way less cool but the sound and playing feel are irrefutably right.

I actually didnt purchase the instrument.. But its fully active and plays great ..

Basses are very sensitive to having nuts cut too roughly, which means action is ruined right at the nut. No amount of fiddling with the bridge will fix that.

Obviously you did measure what kind of action you get on open string, 1st fret and 12th fret, did you?

How much neck relief do you have?

No, havent had the time or gumption to do this. I did lower the action a bit and made it play a TON better. And you could be very right on the nut and all. Ill look in to that all alil more once I get some time.. Im sure set up is alot to do with it as lowering the action made alot of diff. And I get alot of farty notes. I KNOW alot of that is me and my weak fingers. But it get better note ring out on the other bass.

T Birds ****ing suck to play, unless you are sitting, and/or have huge monkey arms. They look cool, though.

I dont have huge monkey arms. I like the growl of it, but I really have to work at it..

 

[uOpt]

Re: Bass delimma (another one...)

You really should compare the string position on nut and in the middle of the fretboard when pressing down on 1st and 21st fret with the bass you like better.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Bass delimma (another one...)

You really should compare the string position on nut and in the middle of the fretboard when pressing down on 1st and 21st fret with the bass you like better.

Ill check it out! thanks

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Bass delimma (another one...)

You really should compare the string position on nut and in the middle of the fretboard when pressing down on 1st and 21st fret with the bass you like better.

Quite a bit of difference. The guitar Im playing more has just a hint of light under the strings. The Tbird has a good bit of a gap.. I need to adjust the truss and try to flatten it out some. If im looking at the truss rod (from the head stock end) what way do I turn the truss rod? clock wise or counter? thanks

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Bass delimma (another one...)

Quite a bit of difference. The guitar Im playing more has just a hint of light under the strings. The Tbird has a good bit of a gap.. I need to adjust the truss and try to flatten it out some. If im looking at the truss rod (from the head stock end) what way do I turn the truss rod? clock wise or counter? thanks

Truss rods are always righty-tighty and lefty-loosey. Go one quarter turn to the right and see how much that moves the neck...do this every few hours until it settles where you want it.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Bass delimma (another one...)

Quite a bit of difference. The guitar Im playing more has just a hint of light under the strings. The Tbird has a good bit of a gap.. I need to adjust the truss and try to flatten it out some. If im looking at the truss rod (from the head stock end) what way do I turn the truss rod? clock wise or counter? thanks

You first need to sort out the nut.

If there is way too much gap over the 1st fret when pressing down the 2nd fret no amount of messing with truss rod or bridge will make it good.

I would recommend some tutorials on youtube.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Bass delimma (another one...)

You first need to sort out the nut.

If there is way too much gap over the 1st fret when pressing down the 2nd fret no amount of messing with truss rod or bridge will make it good.

I would recommend some tutorials on youtube.

pls clarify for me what to look for.. I should fret the string on th second fret, right? Then what am I looking for? a large gap over first fret? I do most of my own repairs and stuff, but honestly have not messed with nuts that much unless I can visually see an obvious issue, so I appreciate the info!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Bass delimma (another one...)

Truss rods are always righty-tighty and lefty-loosey. Go one quarter turn to the right and see how much that moves the neck...do this every few hours until it settles where you want it.

thanks

 

[uOpt]

Re: Bass delimma (another one...)

pls clarify for me what to look for.. I should fret the string on th second fret, right? Then what am I looking for? a large gap over first fret? I do most of my own repairs and stuff, but honestly have not messed with nuts that much unless I can visually see an obvious issue, so I appreciate the info!

Using your two basses, one playing well and the other not, compare the distance between 1. fret and string when pressing down the string at the 2. fret.