I love playing bass. When I used to be in bands, I was always on drums or guitar, so I think I find bass quite liberating, and love coming up with inventive and melodic basslines.
Up until now, every bass guitar you’ve heard on anything I’ve ever done has been my trusty Epiphone Viola Bass. It’s a beautiful instrument whose thin neck and short contours makes you feel like you’re playing guitar and inspires a more melodic sort of bass playing.
Hence, it’s great for bouncy, melodic McCartneyish basslines, but it’s also surprisingly punky and can hold its own playing rock, acoustic, pop and indie. Bassists that have been in my studio often sneer at my lightweight “Macca” bass – until they play it and then they love its tone and playability.
However, the time has come to get a second bass, for two reasons.
Firstly, the viola bass is in no way funky.
Secondly, a dodgy set-up job has left the E string sounding rather clunky in comparison to the others and I need something a little more consistent.
So, let me introduce my Jazz bass. It’s a Squier, bought second hand, but if I get on with it, I’ll purchase a Fender one.
It’ll take a little getting used to as the neck is much thicker than I’m used to, and the sound is obviously very different; more of an EQ scoop than my reliably middly Epiphone. But it now means I have a larger palette of bass sounds for the low end.
My name is Ben, and I am funky.