5 bass guitars EVERY bassist needs | EP78 | The SBL Podcast #78

5 bass guitars EVERY bassist needs | EP78 | The SBL Podcast #78
Whether you're in the market for an active 5-string or a custom-built classic, choosing the right bass guitar can be difficult. How do you know what’s the right one for you? In today’s episode, we list what we think
are the 5 best bass guitars you can get your hands on.
In this episode you’re going to learn:
Why every bassist needs a Jazz Bass
When you might need an active 5-string
Why a P Bass might be a better option for studio players
Should Scott buy a Rickenbacker?
And much, much more.
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[@beaurice6092]

Frankie Laine recorded Rawhide. Written by Ned Washington and composed by Dimitri Tiomkin in 1958. Looking forward to the clinic! Jake and Elwood Blues have a great version with Donald “Duck” Dunn on the P bass! The perfect song for BOTH kinds of music…Country AND Western!

[@rchauer]

That was Carol Kaye’s Fender Bass Six which Campbell borrowed for the solo on Wichita Lineman.

[@losely451]

P Bass with flats on a rosewood neck and a P Bass with rounds on a maple fretboard.

[@MainelyW212]

Shhhhh…. Sounds like my Squier 40th Anniversary P-Bass Gold Edition in Pacific Blue and my (incoming) Squier Classic Vibe 70’s P-Bass in ANTIGUA!! Rosewood and Maple, respectively. Already have LaBella GOLD flats on the Gold edition P…

[@sogehtdasnicht]

5 String Preci (with flats), 5 String Stingray, 4 String Jazz, 4 String Fretless and an upright for bowing. A second Preci with rounds is also nice.

[@SquareWaveSymphonies]

I love you guys. You bring so much joy to KZbin and the bass community in general. Thank you.

[@marcusparnell2403]

I could listen to this all day. Top stuff fellas.

[@nzsteve]

Peavey T40... Get a solid workout at the same time 😀

[@idolbass]

Giving a shout-out to the Fender VI which I played on an entire album in 1979. Band, The Reels album by the same name. Very eclectic electronic new wave ska. Have a listen some of its ok. Lots of pumping quavers. Just add my 5. 1. Jazz Bass (rounds) 2. Med scale Jazz (flats) 3. PJ (rounds). 4. Active V. 5. Fretless/upright bass

[@Baelthaazar]

No love for MusicMan Stingray 5's? I think that my MM HH5 may have replaced my Jazz for most gigs that "need" a Jazz sound.

[@jachuonbass]

Right? What’s wrong with the punchy and characteristic sound of MM, is it too specific?

[@latonyahemingway3752]

I agree. The StingRay 5 set the standard for great 5 strings .

[@b1lahb1ah]

​@@jachuonbass not at all - its a staple for me for weddings and functions where im playing funk and disco

[@jachuonbass]

@@b1lahb1ahFor me as well, I do many different kinds of gigs, all genres, blues, reggae, latin, salsa, rumba, pop, rock, folk… my MM covers all of them, with ease

[@rrdream2400]

surprised Stingray not in their top 5. I'd put it in the top 2. A good P-bass and a Stingray5 would be my top 2 for recording and live.

[@CurranKevin]

Love the idea that fretless invites -- no, demands -- dynamic playing. (A sensibility you can then apply to your fretted basses too.)

[@chriscuthbertson]

My list 1 5 string growly active bass (Warwick) 2 P with flats 3 Fretless Jazz 4 Shortscale vintage bass (Hofner or EB0) 5. Electric upright

[@JLong-py6mx]

Always great videos! Lakland 55-02 does have a personality of it’s own though Ian. My number 1 and 2 are my Lakland 55-02 and Stingray Ray35. Number 3….Classic Vibe 70’s P-bass.

[@andrewpinner3181]

Thanks guys - always so good !

[@Iofflight78]

I didn't think I needed anymore and then you introduced me to the Serek Lincoln around the same time I discovered BBNG. Chester Hansen uses a Gibson Grabber. And now I need the Serek Lincoln. And I only have 2 of one type of bass and that is the P bass with rounds and flats. Thank you Derek Forbes on New Gold Dream, that is a P with rounds.

[@chriscuthbertson]

I use the capo effect on the Helix to 'tune' my 5 string down a step to A for the odd song when I need it. Works pretty well.

[@Nugmania1]

Good morning/ evening, depends upon which side of the pond your on. Big Brother here, P bass a must, but I recommend a Vintera p-bass with the weird backwards tuners and AbsgailYbarra pickup, maple fretboard, good for live or studio.

[@kaleem_k]

I'm really happy with my Sire U5 short-scale. I use an EHX Pitch Fork when I need an Eb or D, and it fits in an electric guitar gig bag. It meets all the needs of my once-or-twice a month cover band gigs in bars and casinos, and being lighter on my back & shoulder makes a big difference. I would love to get my hands on an MTD Super 5, but it might never leave the house even if I got one.

[@GregSRX7]

I've never heard Scott and Ian talk about Sadowsky bass's. I just picked up a Sadowsky Metro Modern 5 with rounds and it sounds wonderful, and it's light, 7.89 lbs.....Very impressed with it's build quality, and it didn't break the bank! Piano sound, the VTC can capture a good vintage sound.....neck pickup for that 'P' bass sound...... I also have a Lakland 5, a G&L 5, Fender Am Deluxe Precision 5 and a StingRay 5....I prefer the Sadowsky for it's versatility.....and the light weight!!

[@brianwilliams4789]

Always interesting to hear your take on things. I usually go my own route. I prefer less "classic" basses such as Fender(last one i had was in the 70's) in favor of more versatile modern gear. I can get classic tone without the classic bass and so much more.All active, passive sounds anemic by comparison to me. I have an array of different setups all with different pickups/preamps, some I've modded. Fretted and fretless 5 strings, some low-b some high-c, multiple 4 strings, even a fret -wired midibass. Alembic,Carvin,Ibanez, ESP, Schecter,Peavey, Sire,Cort ,not a Fender in sight. However these "specialty" basses are mostly for my own ideas, playing out 85-90% just the regular 4-string. I also have a massive array of effects,but just as comfortable plugging straight in. If I did add a Fender it would probably be an active Jazz ultra, first one to catch my eye in years.

[@briankirby185]

I agree 100% with Ian's #3. I have owned my 1967 Epiphone Rivoli short scale semi-hollow body bass since 1987 and I will never sell it.

[@briankrontz]

I recently received a custom hollow body short scale bass from Public Peace aka Mensinger and it's a work of art. I really don't know why more people aren't talking about them. It took roughly 8 months to get it, but the wait was worth 10 times that. It's just amazing. You know what else would be great... if you guys could do a video on high end short scale options? Most of them seem to be geared towards kids and lackluster. I had a really hard time finding something "professional" and an even harder time finding someone that would do custom jobs for a reasonable fee.

[@amandamarinovich6164]

I've got an Ibanez semi-hollow shorty that is just so much fun to play. I just stuck flats on it and omg im loving the sound! I gotta be careful it doesn’t get to muddy, but tone all the way up it's perfect for mellower sounds like bob marley or etta james type stuff.

[@PushSueAside]

Awesome stuff guys.

[@Oscaraha]

My top five: pbass flats, pj with active option and rounds, stingray 5 with the two humbuckers and rounds, upright bass (!) and a short scale hollowbody.

[@crocholiday]

For studio, my go-to's are P with flats, P with rounds, a Stingray and maybe something for a vintage tone with P being the main workhorse. Like Ian said, a P just sits in a mix best. I actually tried to avoid the P because everyone uses them. Tried to get my beloved Stingray to work but ultimately, the P just cut better so I caved and picked one up. For live, it depends on what the gig is but really, live is more forgiving than recording so I don't think it matters quite as much imo. More often then not, I roll with a 5 string P with flats and a Stingray 5. Lately I've been favoring a passive 5 string P/J with Chromes. Enough growl and brightness for rockin parts but roll off the tone and favor the P pickup for a decent MoTown / Country tone.

[@pumpichank]

Great list! Mine: 1) Short-scale solid body w/flats; 2) P-bass w/flats; 3) J-bass w/rounds; 4) Fretless; 5) Active modern 5 string. I’m putting the short scale first because I picked up a Sandberg Lionel about 6 months ago and it’s become my main gigging bass. I put T-I flats on it. It’s an amazing bass both for live and studio. Give Sandberg more love! I’m actually drooling over the just announced Florence short scale, even though I just bought a used California TM before I heard of them 😂. I agree with the P-bass thing Ian was talking about. If you bring a P with flats and a J with rounds to a studio gig, you’ll have 95% of gigs covered. Most producers I’ve worked with will see you pull the P out of the case and just want you to plug that in. Get a level and go! They know exactly how it will track and how it will sit in the final mixing. No guesswork. A jazz with rounds is a great option for the more aggressive styles of rock or slap. A fretless or a active 5 (I have an MTD which is just a fantastic bass) are more specialty basses I’d say, but when they’re right for the gig, you’re really happy to have one. My dessert island bass is the short scale Sandberg. Feels amazing, sounds incredible in a really wide range of styles, lightweight and easy to maneuver on a small stage. No smacking you band mates in the back of the head! 😂

[@abouc]

1. Jazz bass 2. PJ bass 3. Stingray style bass 4. Active modern bass 5. Something at least 25 years old with real mojo, and a few battle scars

[@LiamHanley-yn6er]

I've only got two basses, Ibanez btb 5 - modern active 5 string with jazz style pickups; Cort semi acoustic- acoustic fretless bass that sounds like a double. Coves so many basses, I just need to get a P bass 😊

[@FenderGearandStuff-hc6vd]

American Precision Bass professional 2 , 40th anniversary Squire black and gold P-bass , Schector Diamond series , Squire modified jazz bass fretless , that's what I own. Only 4 guys

[@henryjirsak6844]

Scott’s Fodera once was owned by my upright and guitar teacher in Germany, he sold it to by a new van🤓 he later found that out after he saw the video that you made about it😅

[@user-mt6jq4zb5l]

I have a JAZZ BASS, a P BASS, and cort a short scale, which is my favorite. I need to buy two more, what fun

[@llarryamrose3980]

Yes, Scott needs a Hofner, and a Rickenbacker. But I think you both need to try an 8 (or maybe even a Hamer 12). The 8 isn't really practical unless you need to fill a *lot* of space, but it's a lot of fun.

[@domagojoinky8262]

5 string jazz bass, 4 string precision, 5 string stingray or modern active bass, shortscale and a fretless

[@mplusm2m]

I am really enjoying your podcasts so keep 'em coming!!! As regards to the topic I think just saying a p-bass is too generic. With all what is on offer I guess you are talking 60s Fenders? I picked up a Nate Mendel after learning it had a slimmer neck than traditional ones and love its versatility. Also love its SD Quarter pounders. Roll back the tone and it gives a solid support, turn it up and it jumps to the foreground. Add mild distortion and its almost ricky-like... but I guess "the p-bass on the list" you guys are thinking of does not include the NM.

[@cre8ors1]

Scott, I'm surprised you didn't mention the Nordstrom Cat bass. Especially after you did the video about it. I'm prejudiced because I own two. It's so unique and has a lot of range for a short scale. I also have a Jazz but I hardly pick it up anymore.

[@admarhermans1]

Scott just needs a Guild Starfire and Höfner Club (modern ones will be ok!). And, when he will use roundwounds on his P’s and not flats, he will be happily back to the P’s live. It suites his music and playing much better, but will provide hime with ‘that tone’ again 😉. Fretless for me: you have to really know your perticular instrument big time. For me: Fenders with EMG’s.

[@danielfmyers]

My latest is a Sadowsky JJ5 active with vtc. Lots of tones options.

[@trevaudio]

Never overlook a Yamaha BB…..and I do love a Spector, purely for the growl and ergonomics

[@48streetrat]

P with flats, love the Philly International sound, late Ronnie Baker unheralded P.I. session bassist.

[@meyersguitars2196]

These are great videos

[@mattrudybass]

Agreed. You can't use an octave pedal, where a 5-string is needed for those tunes in Eb.

[@wren23_bass-synths]

As a fretless player, the only fretted bass I have is a Fender FSR jazz bass. My Pbass is a Tony Franklin fretless. Interesting that neither said anything about a MM or Ricky, more so a MM.

[@grahamrhodes5985]

I can see a collaboration with @andertons coming on here!! All this needs a demo video so that us mere mortals can understand exactly what you're talking about!!! 😁

[@AndyA1234]

I'm 21 minutes in and I have a Jazz, Precision and a 5 string Spector. Uncanny.

[@joe700700]

If only one bass..I'll get the Smith....

[@jerpratt]

I would like you to do this again but you can’t include any fender or fender copy basses

[@Bassplayingypsy]

Jazz bass, precision bass, Sire V3, or V7 5 string. Ibanez 6 string active/passive, and one 5 string fretless. There it is. Covers just about anything studio or gigging. And they aren't outrageous pricing on any of them.

[@flutist4YourOccasion]

Got lucky with 1990 Guild 5 string . It is great feels and complements my 1977 jazz bass ( maple

[@element-dh9dx]

I am interested in this triple thumb pluck technique, the happy slappy plucky pop. It goes best with bath salts ? WHAT. Playing in the dark, on pain killers is perfect.

[@parkerellerbeck1674]

I have many basses and love and use all of the them for different purposes, for me one tool can’t get the job done

[@kaleem_k]

Wow 38:40 Ian demonstrates the David Larson 2nd-subharmonic singing technique! Sounds like F#3 and a B1?

[@williamdeming853]

Reverend Brad Houser kingfish. Or the Lakeland one.🎉

[@paulhornbass]

Hey Scott and Ian! When playing fretless, do you go one finger per 'fret', or 1-2-4? Cheers, Paul

[@MrWilson-WithaPbass]

I have 5 , P,J, Thunderbird, Stingray , Modern Active Ibanez . But the difference is (and I've fallin into this I didnt do it intenially) I'll pick one on a whim , "This looks cool" play it for 2 gigs and then get stuck on it and wanna play "it" for everything for 2-3 monthes . Then a thought will pop into my head , " a P will be good for this band , I switch and it repeats ,I wanna play that for everything , and get stuck on it for 3 monthes , and cycle thru all of them throughout the year . Then once in a while someone will ask me what I play and I'll think and say "It depends" , not on the gig but what I'm stuck on at that moment . Weird .

[@aprilkurtz1589]

1)Guild Pilot(passive ) 2)P-Bass 3)Mosrite 4)Fender Jaguar 5)Rickenbacker all fretted, all the time. Self medicating rules! I have chronic pain and I'll be on the stuff for the rest of my life.

[@DoctorIntrepid]

You should share you bass collection Ian!

[@jhc82681]

What is a "modern" active bass? Is that determined by pick up style? Cause it seems to me anything active would be capable of shaping a "modern" sound if that is meant to be the opposite of traditional passive bases.

[@BARTFUNKBASS]

My 5 choices: 60's Jazz, 70's Jazz, P-Bass with rounds, P-Bass with flats and a Music Man StingRay. All other funny looking basses are redundant :P

[@admarhermans1]

I’m with the P-bass for recording, too. I’ll always bring a P, a J and a StingRay or hollowbody shortscale for recordings. The P (one with flats & one with rounds) almost always wins. The J really never does. Second are the StingRays (one with flats & one with rounds). Producers/ engineers say it’s because of the mids the P has. The J’s don’t record well in a band mix: too mid scooped. J’s I like live, because they’re so comfortable to play. Short scale? It’s the Höfner Club, Guild or Fender Mustang. Five string: only the StingRay 5 will be liked by producers. Mostly I use 4-strings with D-tuners. I sold my other active 5-strings, because producers/engineers didn’t like them. They didn’t record well. Ernie Ball got it right!

[@WeaponsRemorse]

fretless P or fretless J? i had a bass6 that i used as a baritone and hot rail pickups lool that think WAS A MONSTER then i sold it i miss it

[@OlavSchneider]

Try out a Strati bass I'd be curious to get your 5 cent on them.

[@gcvrsa]

I'm going to come at this from the perspective of versatility. You should have two, active, 5 or 6 string, long scale basses, one fretted with roundwounds, one fretless with flatwounds, both with piezo bridge and two magnetic pickups of your choice, and otherwise identical. Get a Countryman Type 85 or Radial JDI, a Tech21NYC SansAmp Bass Driver DI v2, a Peterson StroboStomp HD tuner, a Wittner Taktell Piccolo metronome, a tc electronic Ditto+, and a Tascam DR-40X field recorder. Take those things and practice your ass off. With that combination, there's very few jobs that a bassist will be required to perform that cannot be performed with that gear. If you are touring, get spares of each thing. If you have no need for versatility, stop listening to this podcast, by all means get yourself one 4-string Precision or Jazz Bass, and play that only.

[@jeremysharp8165]

April 1….Rawhide tutorial!

[@IanMartinAllison]

😂

[@charlescdt6509]

Would you call a StingRay a p-bass? Keep up the awesome stuff.

[@mipabass]

Interesting…Musicman Stringray not be in the mix😮

[@warwickdennis4114]

P-Bass, J-bass, Warwick 4 and 5 string and then a fret less 4 for special occasions.

[@RobiTheophilus]

They all go boom boom boom. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@curtiswilliams3241]

Could you interview Fred Hammond???

[@madhatter7862]

What about Warwick 5 strings! My 2001 Corvette Proline always had that Piano like tone to me with steel rounds.

[@ricapiccolo]

Did the same sh*t (selling it) to my MM Stearling Ray 34... those guys are hard to find here in Brazil, and when you found i costs A LOT OF MONEY!!! I will regret it forever... :(

[@ThatGuitardedGuy]

You guys really need to get hip on LowEnd Basses

[@dw7704]

Well, I guess I need to go bass shopping 😀😃

[@ike1500]

any love for a lakland 55 02

[@craigsi16]

I love how Ian was like, "So Scott, I know you already have a coke addiction, but have you tried heroine?" 😂

[@garrysimmons111]

I only need/want ONE bass. And no one makes it, although Ibanez comes close. Give me a 5-string PJ with a thin/fast Ibanez-type neck and tight string spacing that weighs 8lb or less. Everything out there is too heavy (old man /adult back) or the neck is too wide/fat/chunky. I'm pretty happy with my Ibanez SR2605, but kinda wish it was a PJ. Zero GAS for basses. I'm even running out of GAS for electric guitars.

[@crocholiday]

I get what you're saying! I do dig the Ibanez necks. I thought I saw what you're looking for recently so I googled... You want a SR755. Another option... There's a soap bar pickup that can be switched between P, reverse P (like spector) and typical soap bar pickup. You can get it with a J pickup that is similar where you can switch between J birdge, J close to 70's location and typical soap bar. I think Nordstand makes them. You could maybe swap the pickups in your 2605 to those.

[@phillawson9930]

I’m still listening but based on the idea of p basses with both flats and rounds, what do you think about a jazz with rounds? I recently acquired a vintage Tokai jazz and it needs some work (for now it just looks nice hanging on the wall) but I’ve debated putting flats on it to counter my Jazz with rounds. Any thoughts on that?

[@IanMartinAllison]

Def try it!

[@leethebassplayer4902]

Gotta have a stingray in there

[@eldorado5319]

I don't own a car, just a bike, so I only bring one bass along and that's my trusty old Jazz with Quarter Pounders and EMG electronics. For recording I prefer to do this in my own studio so I have the full choice.

[@llarryamrose3980]

Put Quarter Pounders in my '76 Jazz a couple of years ago, and they're awesome. The guy that made the custom in my avatar (Tim at Atomic) calls them the most underrated pickup out there.

[@lockharthorsburgh8601]

Rawhide: original, Blue Brothers or Dead Kennedys version? :P In terms of the subject line, I'm at two and counting. The obvious gap is something with a split coil; the less obvious one might be a fretless but my playing would need to improve.

[@h.markhorton8188]

I’ll take “Rawhide” by the Ventures/Bob Bogle on p-Bass ( I think.)

[@gazfunk]

The bass 6 makes everything sound like The Cure. lol

[@rrdream2400]

I would say P-bass #1, Stingray5 #2. Then you got active and passive, 4 and 5, classic and modern and you only used up 2 of your choices.

[@alexanderlyon]

Well, it's really 5 basses +1. It's always *_one_* more than you have. That's what I tell my wife, "This is the last one I need."

[@crocholiday]

Lol. I tell mine "after this, I just need one more!" haha.

[@alexanderlyon]

@@crocholiday You already know it won't be enough! Perfect.

[@markwarner5554]

I pretty rarely reach for my 4 string basses for anything. The 6 string ibanez is always my go-to.

[@eckartmichaelsen4418]

Something WEIRD - like eerie to play? How about 19 frets per octave? That is really something else!

[@elambassist]

But which P gets the flats vs the rounds? The maple board or the rosewood?

[@rrdream2400]

alder/rosewood - flats, ash/maple - rounds

[@teresaravenshaw5477]

So long as Mick Karn gets some love at K.

[@Bertone]

1) p with flats 2) p with rounds 3) jazz 4) rick 5) guild starfire

[@lipptech1]

5 basses so lets make that list : Jazz bass, P-bass, Rickenbacker, Thunderbird bass and a Musicman stingray bass and there are the 5 basses to have as a minimum !!!!! Bingo !!

[@davidwinokur2131]

The Jazz bass sounds great, but the shape and taper of the neck are awful. The Precision bass is only slightly better. I'd sure like to try a Jazz bass with a slightly tapered, flattened D neck. Scott used to, or might still have that one with the birdseye maple fretboard. I always found that appealing.

[@jonnymurphy666]

totally agree, my uncle has a 69 or 72 fender jazz and the tone is just amazing but the neck is awful. I picked up a marcus miller sire v7 5 string, the tone is very similar but because of the preamp the options are endless. but the neck is just beautiful to play modern d bit faster but not as fast as my yammy or cort. far nocer than the fender

[@davidwinokur2131]

@@jonnymurphy666 I typically play an Ibanez EHB1005-SMS. 5 string, short (30-32") multiscale, passive/active with Aguilar piclups. Very easy to play with good tone. Only wish they were available with attractive hardwood bodies or, at least, tops. The nice looking ones with Nordstrand pickups are all long scale.

[@jonnymurphy666]

@David Winokur ive a yammy rbx775 whichbis my go to or my budget harley benton frerless 5 either. I was actually looking at a different short scale ibanez to get into multi scale. would you recommend?

[@davidwinokur2131]

@@jonnymurphy666 I like my short scale EHB1005-SMS, but that's multiscale. They make the same thing in 30" single scale, too. EHB1000-S or EHB1005-S.

[@element-dh9dx]

Hey instead of a bass 6 what about a baritone guitar ?. You funky bass players can play arpeggios and blues chords on there, it seems like a nice bridge between guitar and bass. Supposed to be great tools for recording studios, they sound like amazing. They use heavy gauge strings, which I think are the way to go from now on, for me anyways. I am liking the pure blues heavy bass strings, the E sounds killer and tighter in the heavier gauge. All the music I like now, is pretty aggressive. Everyone is practically wailing on their instruments, maybe not all the time. Most of them do not even realize it, but if you ask them they are usually like yeah, I play aggressive. Being aggressive softly, is what I am working on now. Being able to smash quietly is key, not just all the time full volume. Playing low volume does suck though and headphones are like, not my favorite way to hear bass. Everyone freaks out if they can hear anything, neighbors these days are spoiled brats.

[@PushSueAside]

Ian, say you have 2 p basses… one rosewood, one maple! Which gets flats? Which gets rounds? Cheers

[@rrdream2400]

some basses just sound better with one or the other but most common is the older 60's style alder body/rosewood board with flats and the 70's ash body/maple board with rounds

[@IanMartinAllison]

Maple rounds / rosewood flats

[@PushSueAside]

@@IanMartinAllison Cheers

[@BARTFUNKBASS]

Scott, you need Otrivin, not another bass 😆

[@BobBlackBass]

Stingray

[@Simon-C]

The weird one: a short scale, headless. It’s great for a small stage. You can face the audience without worrying about hitting the singer on the back of the head.

[@spacewalker72069]

😂

[@Dav0London]

Funny Scott suggesting a J rather than a P????

[@Bassplayingypsy]

Real question should be "do you need a $5000 to $10000 bass? Answer!. No!!!. So get it with as many basses under $500. Preamp, pickup changes and there it is. 10 basses is probably enough. But then if you're a bass guitar geek. Then no end to how many basses to own. These two are hilarious. 😂

[@philjy1683]

A p-bass and an Alembic. Done.

[@philosophicallyspeaking6463]

Why has no one noticed that RICs, despite being both celebrated and descried for being so...vintage, ALSO commit, ironically, and at the 'same' time, the additional sin of managing the trick of sounding also like modern active basses, some 30 years in advent of them; in so much as RICs have 'always' been intended to 'be able to' sound like low pitched electric 'guitars' (if you wanted them to), designed particularly for the bass register, rather than Fender 'basses' (whose euphonic sound attempts to emulate the large resonating wood cabinet of an upright bass, rather than any kind of guitar) designed 'as' guitars! Its time RICs got the respect they deserve as daily drivers, if for no other reason than the variety of sounds they can generate; including both credible and creditable P and J bass analogs, which is a compliment neither of those 2 can proffer in return. RIC was decades ahead of the modern sound, but suffers the vintage label despite aging better than both the P or J basses, whose old school sounds have been abandoned by recent generations of players. It's a shame RIC isn't interested in sponsoring players (because they can't even manage the demand they have) to break through the bigotry and tribalism that directs bass identity politics. Bass players understand that 'something' is special about RICs, if however only 'on some unsolicited and unexplored or unconscious level', otherwise the company would have died years ago for making a bass that 'only' looks cool. That hasn't worked for any other company that has designed a great looking instrument, so it isn't likely to be the case for RIC either. Props to RIC for persevering, and not giving in to the malaise of modernity.

[@trevaudio]

No offence….but there’s a very good reason why Rics aren’t loved !

[@warwickdennis4114]

You guys are laughing but that might just be fun. (Rawhide)

[@element-dh9dx]

What I really want is that Ian short scale, it's just so expensive. I will trade you a kidney for one of those bad boys, screw it.