The Top 10 Bass Guitars of All Time - Scott’s Bass Lessons (YouTube)

duotone

https://youtu.be/YUo7NbAp58U

Enjoy!

Paul_C

1. P Bass.

anything else is just showing off

equalsql

Thanks for that  

ICBM

I'd have picked the Aria SB or the Ibanez Musician over the Yamaha BB, and I have no idea about the Fodera at all - I've never played one - but otherwise hard to disagree with any of those.

There was never any doubt about No.1.

simonk

P, Jazz, Ray then Ric would be my top 4.

fretmeister

Jazz.

then probably the Stingray.
 

Bridgehouse

ICBM said:

I'd have picked the Aria SB or the Ibanez Musician over the Yamaha BB, and I have no idea about the Fodera at all - I've never played one - but otherwise hard to disagree with any of those.

There was never any doubt about No.1.

Every Yamaha BB I’ve played has been really rather exceptional

ICBM

Bridgehouse said:

Every Yamaha BB I’ve played has been really rather exceptional

Every one I've played has been excellent, but very bland - nowhere near the character of the Aria or Ibanez.

guitarfishbay

The BBs I’ve played have tended to be smoother sounding than a Fender P IIRC. A cool sound but I generally want that slightly more gritty sounding Fender tone.

Leo Fender designed quite a few cool basses... It’s probably arguable he’s had more impact on bass tone than guitar tone since J and P basses cross genres with the same specs that Strats and Teles would be typically modded for. A Jazz with both pickups on can do funk and some pretty huge metal tones just by using a different amp/pedal setup.

Funkfingers

Harmless click bait to increase video channel traffic. Bah, humbug! 

ICBM

guitarfishbay said:

Leo Fender designed quite a few cool basses... It’s probably arguable he’s had more impact on bass tone than guitar tone since J and P basses cross genres with the same specs that Strats and Teles would be typically modded for. A Jazz with both pickups on can do funk and some pretty huge metal tones just by using a different amp/pedal setup.

But so can a Strat. Nile Rodgers and Ritchie Blackmore... although it’s true that Blackmore later used different pickups in his.

But it’s unarguable that Leo produced at least three very different designs in the top 10. I’d put the Mustang Bass as a strong contender for ‘best of the rest’ too, even if it’s not quite in the 10.

guitarfishbay

ICBM said:

guitarfishbay said:

Leo Fender designed quite a few cool basses... It’s probably arguable he’s had more impact on bass tone than guitar tone since J and P basses cross genres with the same specs that Strats and Teles would be typically modded for. A Jazz with both pickups on can do funk and some pretty huge metal tones just by using a different amp/pedal setup.

But so can a Strat. Nile Rodgers and Ritchie Blackmore... although it’s true that Blackmore later used different pickups in his.

But it’s unarguable that Leo produced at least three very different designs in the top 10. I’d put the Mustang Bass as a strong contender for ‘best of the rest’ too, even if it’s not quite in the 10.

Right - but you can use a Jazz bass in a modern metal context, a Strat won’t hang in that scenario with stock pickups.

guitarfishbay

The 70s spaced Jazz seems fairly popular as well as the 60s when it comes to metal, I guess because of the way it scoops with both pickups on. I feel like the 60s spaced is more versatile though.

ICBM

guitarfishbay said:

Right - but you can use a Jazz bass in a modern metal context, a Strat won’t hang in that scenario with stock pickups.

True, I suspect even a massive mid-boost EQ won't quite get you there. Needs humbuckers really...

To be fair, Blackmore thought so in 1974 .

pintspiller

What was controversial was the placing of the Ric.

fretmeister

pintspiller said:

What was controversial was the placing of the Ric.

In that it wasn’t in a skip? 

ICBM

pintspiller said:

What was controversial was the placing of the Ric.

Yes... one too low.











Actually I agree - it probably shouldn't be above the Jazz, no matter that I think it's a more versatile and distinctive sounding bass. But I do honestly think that it should be up there with the Fenders - it's an extremely widely used bass in almost all genres, even if not usually the most common... earlier Prog Rock aside.

EricTheWeary

Funkfingers said:

Harmless click bait to increase video channel traffic. Bah, humbug! 

Scott produces a lot of slightly s**t content, pity really as he actually does some good stuff too. 

Jeremiah

No Steinberger?

pintspiller

EricTheWeary said:

Funkfingers said:

Harmless click bait to increase video channel traffic. Bah, humbug! 

Scott produces a lot of slightly s**t content, pity really as he actually does some good stuff too. 

I unsubscribed to his channel as his shit percentage was too high. When they consistently sent PM via Facebook after I entered a compo, I blocked them.

ICBM

Jeremiah said:

No Steinberger?

Outside the top ten. It’s a groundbreaking design and very important historically, but when did you last see someone (not in an 80s tribute band ) using one?