Beginner Bass Guitar Guide for the Female Bassist

Read article here.

Fender Road Worn 60's Jazz Bass

Ok, so I've been playing my new Fender jazz for over a month now and I have to say that I'm in love. After having the neck and action seriously adjusted at Corner Music in Nashville, and after putting flatwounds on it, I was ready to rock. As much as I love my Ibanez SDGR, I honestly have to say that I haven't picked it up once since I got the new bass back.

This bass is so smooth and distinctive. I honestly don't think that Fender makes a better bass. The American Standards can't even compare to this baby, in my opinion.

Check this video out to get a proper idea of how this bass sounds.

Online bass courses that won't empty your wallet

The International Institute of Bassists offers various online courses on bass technique and theory. Each course is 12 weeks long, and only costs $24.95. I've taken the Jazz lines for Bass course, and believe me, you learn a lot. The materials for the course can be printed out and downloaded. They include printed material and mp3's. It's definitely worth the small amount that you pay for these courses. And while I'd love to take Berkley's online bass certificate program, $3000 per course is pretty steep for a mother of two like me.

Institute of International Bassists

Fender Road Worn 60's Jazz Bass

I just got this bass in yesterday, but due to the ridiculously high action, I'm having to take it to Nashville to get it set up before I can give a serious review. However, just plugging it into my Genz Benz 6.0, it sounds incredible. The pickups are full and have the nice vintage quality that I was looking for. More to come!

Fender Road Worn 60s Jazz Bass Specifications

• Body: Alder
• Finish: Lacquer
• Neck: Maple, C Shape, (Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish)
• Fingerboard: Rosewood, 7.25 inch (184 mm) Radius
• Frets: 20, Vintage
• Scale Length: 34 inch (864 mm)
• Nut Width: 1.50 inch (38mm)
• Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
• Tuning Keys: Vintage Style Reverse Tuning Machines
• Bridge: American Vintage Jazz Bass
• Pickguard: 4 Ply Brown Shell
• Pickups:
• Rhythm: Standard Vintage Alnico Magnet Jazz Bass Single Coil Pickup
• Lead: Standard Vintage Alnico Magnet Jazz Bass Single Coil Pickup
• Controls: Volume 1 (Neck Pickup), Volume 2 (Bridge Pickup), Tone
• Strings:
• Fender Super Bass 7250ML (Medium Light)
• Nickel Plated Steel
• Gauges: .045,.065,.080,.100
• Unique Features:
• Distressed body, neck, and hardware creating an aged and worn appearance
• True Vintage Styling
• Synthetic Bone Nut
• Case: Deluxe Gig Bag

James Jamerson: Motown's Bassman

James Jamerson (January 29, 1936 – August 2, 1983)  was the Babe Ruth of Bassists. He took bass playing to a whole new level, and was one of the first bassists to play electric bass in its infancy. Famous for his one finger plucking style he dubbed 'the hook,' Jamerson will continue to be an inspiration to bassists everywhere.

Read more about the bassist of Motown's 'Funk Brothers.'

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Bass Player

 

DR Neon Bass Strings

Nickel Plated Bass Strings wound on Round Cores



NEON™ is the second in DR's SuperStrings™ series. Super bright in day light, and with stage lighting. DR's NEON™ strings are so bright in appearance "they look like they are on fire." DR's NEON™ strings shine brightly under stage lights, and are 100% black light active so they glow strongly under UV lighting. And DR's NEON™ sound as good as they look. As Joey Clemment from Salena Gomez said, "Yeah they look great, but they sound incredible!"



NEON™ is the first coated string to make NO apologies. While NEON™ lasts as long as a coated string should (three to four times as long as uncoated strings) they sound as good, or better than uncoated strings... no excuses.

Description taken from drstrings.com.

My Take on the Ibanez SDGR SR300 Fretless Bass

Here is the AMS description of the Ibanez SDGR SR300 Fretless Bass:


"Fast and versatile, the SR300 fretless bass guitar lays down grooves in every style imaginable. Featuring a 3 band style sweeper EQ with a lightweight balanced comfortable contoured body, you have pro features at an entry level price. The extended range travel on the narrow neck is as physically comfortable as it is musically exhilarating. Plus the EXF pickups have equal spacing between pickup to string for balanced output levels. To control your tone, you have a volume and balance knob, style sweeper finger step knob and a treble and bass boost/cut knob."




Here is what I think about it after playing it for 4 months:
Ok, so this bass is fretless, so it shouldn't sound like it's fretting out in the higher registers.  Yet, amazingly, it does.  I couldn't get the action as low as I like because of this issue.  It made it very uncomfortable to play.  


What I loved about this bass was the fact that it didn't weigh a ton like my mahogany bodied SR500.  It had active pickups, which was another plus, but didn't quite put out the rich tone that the SR500 does.  So, basically, I could have awesome sound quality, or a lighter bass.  I choose better sound quality.  


The biggest issue I had with this bass was this: it only sounded fretless when I played in the higher registers, which was a problem because of the action set-up.  The lower I set the action, the worse the sound quality.


Ok, so I know what you're thinking.  "What did you expect out of a $300 bass?" But honestly, I did expect more.  It's an Ibanez, and with Ibanez, you usually get good quality even if you don't pay out the rear for it.


So, that being said, I sold the fretless, and I seriously hope that Ibanez does a little better with their lower line fretless basses in the future.




Ibanez SR300 Fretless Specifications:

• Neck: 5 piece Maple/Rosewood neck
• Neck Type: SR4
• Body: Agathis body
• Frets: Fretless
• Fingerboard: Ebonol
• Inlay: Pearl Dot
• Bridge: B100 bridge
• Neck Pickup: EXF-4-F
• Bridge Pickup: EXF-4-R
• EQ: Style Sweeper
• Hardware Color: Cosmic Black
• Case: Optional