What you describe as traditional jazz is very likely Bebop, which evolved when Black jazz musicians were fed up with watered-down mainstream jazz appropriations that became dumbed-down big band arrangements popular in the 40s.
Essentially, Bebop was a radical jazz movement similar to Picasso’s Cubism, when he created a new style in reaction to the traditional art of his day, and even his own work previous to that time.
Bebop was intended for appreciation by other jazz players who could dig how the players were playing with an advanced order of music theory and harmony in new and inventive ways.
There is precise methodology to what seems like madness, but it’s not for everyone, and that was the intent.
Man, so do I. I’ve been fortunate enough to see Dizzy Gilliespie in concert. He was an old guy, but he could blow his signature upright-bell horn. Miles, Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Ray Brown and so many more greats that I wish I’d been able to see. But their music lives on.
I just want to reiterate what has been said here regarding the 5 string. As a relative beginner myself, I made the mistake of getting a 5 a few years ago and it’s all I’ve had to do Beginner To Badass on. While I’m nearing the end of the course, I can tell you that the 5th string hasn’t done me any favors. At best, I mostly just rest my thumb on it when playing, and at worst, it rings out when I don’t want it to and confuses me when I’m looking at tab for a 4 string.
That said, it’s definitely doable if you really want one, but I kind of have regrets myself.
Hello @iDuncan , Yes, it’s the Vox one for Bass.
I’m trying to reduce the number of cables as much as I can and the set-up is quite good for this
Ipad → Airpods
Bass → Vox Amplug → Bose
Bose over airpods.
So I’m not tied to any cables when playing and the sound is OK for training purpose.
My previous was with the amp but it was
Ipad / PC → Amp (Aux)
Bass → Amp (Main)
Amp → Headphones
But my audio cables were 1 / 1.5 m long so too short to make it convenient (I could have bought longer ones but still would be tied to the amp)
I’m quite happy with my set-up (not with my playing but this is called learning ;-). )
Picking up the bass again during lockdown, I started with cheap squiers and Mims I have a few
Nice ones my CFO said instead of cheap ones why don’t you get one nice one. Well that was the green light I needed. I gas at the same rate but they were much nicer ones, lol.
Good question. In general, a nice instrument would have more hands on it. Luthier(s) spent hours not minutes on each part of the instrument. My custom bass had over 200 hours of hands touching it. Although , the video suggested that it was all CNC.
Companies like Fender/ Squier the CNC machines are so good there’s almost very little to do to pass it on to the next department for assembly. Expensive basses gets extra treatment to make it “feel” better.
Sounds is cheap a $200 squier sounds 90% as good as the $2000 Fender Ultra or ModShop, but the last 10% is the feel, and that’s Fender. The company that makes Lego like components for the instrument. The instruments are more or less assembled and not craft. Going up a notch to MusicMan the difference is quite stunning. Everything feels more refine.
Another good example is Warwick. Their $1000 imports RockBass is super awesome and sounds great, but their $3000 German built is even better
and feel even better the. If you get the $10,000 Masterbuilt it’s mind blowing first touch of the tuning peg I did a double take. The Wenge tuner feels unbelievable and it looks stunning.
If you just want to do recordings and want a great sounding bass my (what I paid for) $149 Squier contemporary is very hard to beat in the studio, or a few of my squier mods for that matter. But if you want to treat yourself and splurge then the premium is better. You can get from point A to point B in about the same time with a 245 but would feel better in a S90.
Here are a few example of what I mentioned
My custom bass, much cheaper than you think
MusicMan Sabre bass one is original reissued another is a genuine neck but with Sterling HH body. Except for the neck they are about 10x difference in price.
You have a good eye for things.
At first I thought it was an illusion due to the inlays compared to the dots.
Then when I zoomed in on the photo, I saw that the Squier has a Jazz Bass neck and the Fender has a Precision neck.
Well I like Jazz pickup config and love Precision sting spacing so I swap it with my American Pro precision, but that Ultra now has a Status Graphite neck on it. It’s deliciously fun to play fast and stiff. It’s unfortunate that the own fell ill and no longer producing the neck.
The shape of the neck is different as well as the neck heel contour the ultra has the 5 bolt neck plate that carved for better reach at the dusty end.
