Following on from my studio tour, here's a run-through of my current bass collection.
There are reasons for the excessive number of basses I own: I've been recording remotely for clients around the world for over fifteen years and also run a loops business, so being able to recreate a whole range of different bass tones is crucial for me. That's my excuse anyway, and I'm sticking to it.
You may only need or want one bass (yeah, right!).
I hope this video gives you a few ideas.
My ENTIRE 21 Bass Collection
- 1978 MusicMan StingRay – Famous for its punch and growl, a funk and slap favourite (think Louis Johnson).
- NS 5 string electric upright – Great for upright-style tones in modern jazz and fusion settings. Sounds more like an electric fretless bass than an upright, however.
- 1980s Ibanez Musician – A versatile 80s workhorse, favoured by players like Adam Clayton.
- 1982 Ibanez Roadster with DiMarzio DP126 pickups – Hot-rodded for power, excellent for rock and funk. My main teaching bass, and by far the cheapest instrument I own.
- Warwick Corvette Standard Bubinga 5 string – Known for its growl and tight low B, I absolutely love Warwick basses, but they seem to have fallen out of fashion.
- Early 2000s StingRay 5 – My main gigging bass. Perfect for funk, pop, and rock.
- Zoot Funkmeister 5 – Boutique UK build designed for funk and contemporary bass styles.
- Tobias 6 string – Expansive range, loved by gospel and fusion players for its chordal and soloing power.
- 1973 Gibson EB3 – Classic short-scale growl, think Jack Bruce of Cream.
- 1979 Rickenbacker 4001 – Iconic rock sound, famously used by Geddy Lee and Chris Squire.
- 1978 Fender Precision – The ultimate studio bass, heard on countless hits.
- 1967 Framus hollowbody – Vintage hollow warmth, great for old-school soul and jazz.
- Hofner Club Bass – Beatles-era thump, similar to McCartney’s violin bass.
- 1975 Fender Jazz – Smooth and articulate, perfect for Jaco-style finger funk.
- 1960s Burns Bison – Distinctively British and quirky, great for retro tones.
- Fender JMJ Mustang – Short scale punch, loved for indie, punk, and Motown-inspired tones.
- 1968 Fender Precision – Another classic P, great for vintage rock and soul.
- Fender Jaco Pastorius clone – Fretless growl and mwah, a tribute to Jaco’s legendary tone.
- Pino Palladino Lakland fretless – This bass was owned by Pino Palladino and played and toured in the '80s.
- Breedlove acoustic bass – Acoustic warmth for unplugged sessions and songwriter settings.
- Kala U Bass – Tiny size, huge upright-like thump; great for portability and unique tone.
