Are my days of using alembic and reggae over?

[jazzyvee]

Last night i went to a gig by my neighbours punk band, it was a re-union gig as they have not gigged together since they were teenagers.
Anyway their bass player used one of these vintage looking Hohner basses with a pick. Sort of a single cut Les Paul style bass, passive with flats. Man did that bass sound good. I helped the band get the sound right FOH at soundcheck and thought that bass would sound great on a reggae gig.
I think it's this one.
I know that Robbie Shakespeare used a Beatle style version but this one sounded the business.

I've no real experience with passive or semi-acoustic basses and whilst my post title is kind of tongue in cheek the tone of this bass was bang on, and it's the first time i've heard a non alembic bass that i "could" consider taking on a gig since i bought my first one in 2002. The reality is that i don't really want to add another bass to my collection so it's highly unlikely to happen. But i found the experience an interesting sonic challenge and not something I expected since most basses i hear on gigs sound fine but I don't recognise any uniqueness in tone. That tone is going to stick in my head. I know many members are not exclusively alembic users and gig or record with other basses as well. So i guess i am starting to hear why.

[jon_jackson]

That's a Hofner 500/2 Club bass. I have one of these and a 500/1 '63 model violin bass. I love my Alembics, but for playing early Beatles songs, a Hofner adds a certain something not found elsewhere.

[g-dude]

I have one of Höfner’s midrange Beatle Basses with the pickups in the “Cavern Club” configuration (neck and middle).

It sounds great and provides some serious thump.

I almost always use a pick with it, but it also begs for some thumb plucking.

[rv_bass]

Tina Weymouth used one of those in the Talking Heads.

[jazzyvee]

I have one of Höfner’s midrange Beatle Basses with the pickups in the “Cavern Club” configuration (neck and middle).

It sounds great and provides some serious thump.

I almost always use a pick with it, but it also begs for some thumb plucking.

That thump is what i noticed on this gig. Maybe it is a lot to do with the pick attack. I have a gig coming up at the end of the month with a reggae band doing classic tracks so a 4 string would be perfect. I have rehearsal with them later today so will grab my P-style Elan 4 with flats and see how that works out. I think I did a reggae rehearsal once with that bass when it had round wound strings and found the meat was dropping off on the D & G strings around the middle of the neck with the filter closed so. Having flats might change the dynamic.

[hammer]

I just love the sound of the right kind of pick on flatwound strings. It sounds great on both my Signature basses and Series I.  I get a stronger attack but dont lose the mellowness. IMHO, a pick used on rounds, especially with Alembic basses, provides too much treble.




 

[g-dude]

I just love the sound of the right kind of pick on flatwound strings. It sounds great on both my Signature basses and Series I.  I get a stronger attack but dont lose the mellowness. IMHO, a pick used on rounds, especially with Alembic basses, provides too much treble.

I tend to favor D'Andrea picks, but I have just discovered they have a bass specific pick under the "Mick's Picks" brand that I really should try out.