The Top 3 Gear Items Every Bassist Should Have

[La_sagne]

1. bass 2. cable 3. amp ... absolutely essential those 3

[troytroy]

I'm 67 years of age and have been playing bass since I was 14. I've played in numerous bands, weddings, family reunions, bars summer festivals etc. I have never used any pedals. I play an old beat up 4 string bass, bass amp, cords, tuner and my hands. Watchung this video made me feel like I was in a time warp. Everything is so advanced these days. I think I'll just stick to the BASSics lol!!

[darthmeek]

I am a 67 year-old bass player. I have been playing bass guitar since I was 12 years old. I do have one pedal mark base compressor a precision base, jazz base, and I splurged and got myself a Spector in my hands all you really need

[BDO]

I’ve been a session and touring bassist for 45 years, most recently with the Motown group The Miracles. I live in Asia now and am still very busy as a player. I’ve owned 2 types of basses in my life - a Fender P and J. Not a boutique guy. There’s a certain comfort you give to other players and producers when you pull out the Fender basses. Never been a pedal guy and honestly nobody ever asked me to use any pedals on a session or gig. But I have started experimenting a bit and there are a few pedals I find useful. I prefer the Source Audio environment these days as I think they just sound better than the Line 6 but I can see the benefit of having it all in one box. I’m still a nooby when it comes to pedals but I know what sounds good so I rely on my ear when using them and do so very sparingly. I’m not a solo player and never want to not sound like a bass player as I like to work 😂 But the right effect at the right time can have a great impact!

[ArswieWaende]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. Helps me, getting more out of it.

[keithkenyon]

i've been using a foot stool for a few years now and it's been a fantastic piece of gear.

[gitarmats]

Thanks for letting me know about those features in the Helix I already have, but haven't gotten around to trying yet. Might have fun with this later!

[g.s.]

One more usage of a smartphone for me is to record melodies with my voice at the moment that I got them. Then you can go back and try to play them and evolve them. I do it at work, at the toilet, on my bike, even in the street even if I look a little bit crazy mumbling and whistling in my phone, but it looks like you are singing to someone that you call...
Nice video great advice and for the "freeze" pedal there are two more options for sure. The Tc electronic - infinite sample sustainer and the Gamechanger Audio - Plus pedal.

[kane]

A HX stomp is completely worth the money. It has all the pedals I dreamed of having and let’s you experiment with almost every pedal. The possibilities are endless. Another killer video from one of my favorite bass players

[buddylewis]

You sold me on the guitar stool. I didn't even know there was such a thing.

[harpbeat]

an analog recorder is def a cool retro idea to carry around.

[Stoitism]

I'm an amateur bass player at best. I've never played with other musicians (yet) and with little to no theory knowledge (i'm trying to change that with an SBL membership). I have a ditto+ pedal which i got to record bassline ideas. I never thought about using it as a practice tool. Definitely something i''ll be trying going forwards.

[edtaylor]

Hey Janet, Thanks for all these videos! I'm returning to my first love of bass after a 30 year hiatus in advertising. I've gotten picked up by a 70's/80's R&B R&B/Funk band. Would the HX stomp cover the synth sounds I would need? Thx!

[Samasiam]

"Just try one" great advice in many areas. We're overwhelmed with advice, products and behaviors in so many areas of interest. An experience of benefit from reducing all the information and suggestions out there, motivates taking another step and applied more often, is a way to quiet the din and develope the basics. 😏

[eudolah]

Brilliant utterance. Thanks for sharing with us bass players. Very useful and timeless!

[vincentm]

This was great, these are all useful items not just for bass players but for any musicians. These days I look at certain bass podcast and everything is a must have or a secret to playing better or they are trying to get you to upgrade to expensive instruments or they have huge giveaways. Your podcast was level headed without all the superficial crap.

[chrislaarman]

On that dictaphone:

Back in 1990 I was "recording" an ever growing number of my own songs. Inputting the notes in my music software (MIDI only) by mouse, playing the songs back and recording them onto hi-fi VHS tape, then often copying the recordings to compact cassettes for more versatile listening. I would arrange the songs into a playlist of sets.

I observed that I would sometimes like to skip a certain song while listening. "Asking myself why" has proven to be maybe the most valuable lesson from that time. The issue was often related to matters of attack (in MIDI: velocity) and phrasing.

(Note that I'm not a "real" bass player, although Bass would be one of two favorite instruments if I should play in a band once again.)

[stretch]

My word, the way that list expanded, i was expecting a ruthless dedication to the pope! 😅

[stevep]

Great video as always. I bought my ditto x4 because of you

[chris_st]

I use my looper as a recording/playback device, since it's so instantaneous. However, mine *really* hates me -- it keeps showing me the mistakes I didn't hear! :-) Cheers for a great video.