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{{Short description|Electric plucked string instrument}}
]
{{for|the magazine|Bass Guitar (magazine){{!}}''Bass Guitar'' (magazine)}}
The electric '''bass guitar''' (also called '''''electric bass''''' or simply '''''bass''''') is an electrically amplified plucked ]. It is similar in appearance to an ] but has a larger body, a longer neck and ] length, and, usually, four strings (but sometimes five or more, compared to six on an electric guitar) tuned an octave lower in ], in the ] range. Electric basses may be ] or ], but fretted basses are far more common in most popular music settings. There are also hollow-bodied ]s.
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox instrument
| name = Bass guitar
| names = Electric bass, bass
| image = 70's Fender Jazz Bass.png
| image_capt = ]
| background = string
| classification = ]
| hornbostel_sachs = 321.322
| hornbostel_sachs_desc = Composite ]
| inventors = ], ]
| developed = 1930s
| range = ]<div class="center">Range of a standard tuned 4-string bass guitar (brackets: 5-string)</div>
| related = * ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}
The '''bass guitar''', '''electric bass''' or simply '''bass''' ({{IPAc-en|b|eɪ|s}}) is the lowest-pitched member of the ] family. It is a ] similar in appearance and construction to an ] or ], but with a longer ] and ]. The bass guitar most commonly has four strings, though five- and six-stringed models are also relatively popular, and bass guitars with even more (or fewer) ] or ] have been built. Since the mid-1950s, the bass guitar has largely come to replace the ] in ] due to its lighter weight, the inclusion of ]s (for easier ]) in most models, and, most importantly, its design for electric amplification. This is also because the double bass is acoustically compromised for its range (like the ]) in that it is scaled down from the optimal size that would be appropriate for those low notes.


The four-string bass guitar is usually tuned the same as the double bass, which corresponds to pitches one ] lower than the four lowest-pitched strings of a guitar (typically ], ], ], and ]). It is played primarily with the fingers or thumb, or with a ].
Since the ]s the electric bass has largely replaced the ] in ] as the instrument that provides the low-pitched ](s) and ]s. The electric bass is used as a soloing instrument in jazz, fusion, Latin, and funk styles, and bass solos are sometimes performed in other genres.


The electric bass guitar is acoustically a relatively quiet instrument, so to be heard at a practical performance volume, it requires ]. It can also be used in conjunction with ]es, audio interfaces, mixing consoles, computers, or bass effects processors that offer headphone jacks. The majority of bass ] systems are electromagnetic in nature.
==History ==


== Terminology ==
=== 1930s: Fretted basses ===
The ''New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' refers to this instrument as an "Electric bass guitar, usually with four heavy strings tuned E<sub>1</sub>'–A<sub>1</sub>'–D<sub>2</sub>–G<sub>2</sub>."{{sfn|Sadie|Tyrrell|2001|p=}} It also defines ''bass'' as "Bass (iv). A contraction of Double bass or Electric bass guitar." ''Mottola's Cyclopedic Dictionary of Lutherie Terms'' begins its definition of the instrument as "A bass guitar that produces sound primarily with the aid of electronic devices."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mottola |first1=RM |title=Mottola's Cyclopedic Dictionary of Lutherie Terms |date=2020 |publisher=LiutaioMottola.com |isbn=978-1-7341256-0-3 |pages=52}}</ref> According to some authors the proper term is "electric bass".{{sfn|Wheeler|1978|pp=101–102}}{{sfn|Evans|Evans|1977|p=342}} Common names for the instrument are "bass guitar", "electric bass guitar", and "electric bass"{{sfn|Bacon|Moorhouse|2016|p=}}{{page needed|date=August 2022}} and some authors claim that they are historically accurate.{{sfn|Roberts|2001|loc=References Appendix}} A bass guitar whose neck lacks ] is termed a ].
] developed a guitar-style electric bass instrument that was fretted and designed to be held and played horizontally. ]'s sales catalogue of 1935-6 listed what is probably the world’s first fretted, solid body electric bass that is designed to be played horizontally - the Model #736 ]. The change to a "guitar" form made the instrument easier to hold and transport; the addition of guitar-style frets enabled bassists to play in tune more easily (which also made the new electric bass easier to learn).


=== Scale ===
=== 1950s and 1960s: The Fender Bass ===
{{Main|Scale length (string instruments)|l1 = Scale}}
]
The scale of a bass is defined as the length of the freely oscillating strings between the nut and the bridge saddles. On a modern 4-string bass guitar, 30" (76 cm) or less is considered short scale, 32" (81 cm) medium scale, 34" (86 cm) standard or long scale and 35" (89 cm) extra-long scale.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Myths and Rumors on Scale Length - Premier Guitar |url=https://www.premierguitar.com/pro-advice/bass-bench/bass-scale-length |access-date=September 17, 2023 |website=www.premierguitar.com |language=en}}</ref>
A self-taught electrical engineer named ] developed the first mass-produced electric bass in the 1950s. His ], introduced in 1951, became a widely-copied industry standard. The Precision Bass (or "P-bass") evolved from a simple, uncontoured 'slab' body design similar to that of a ] with a single piece, four-pole pickup to a contoured body design with beveled edges for comfort and a single "split coil pickup" (staggered humbucker).


=== Pickup ===
In 1960, Fender introduced the ]. The Jazz Bass (often referred to as a "J-bass") featured two single-coil pickups, one close to the bridge and one in the Precision bass' position, each with separate volume and tone controls. The Jazz Bass' neck was narrower at the nut than the Precision bass (1 1/2" vs 1 3/4"). Another aesthetic visual difference that set the Jazz Bass apart from the Precision is its iconic "offset-waist" body. Pickup positions on other manufacturers' basses are often referred to as "P" or "J" position pickups, in reference to Precision and Jazz basses.
{{Main|Pickup (music technology)|l1=Pickup}}
Bass pickups are generally attached to the body of the guitar and located beneath the strings. They are responsible for converting the vibrations of the strings into analogous electrical signals, which are in turn passed as input to an ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Veall |first=Dan |date=December 21, 2020 |title=Bass guitar pickups explained |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/bass-guitar-pickups-explained |access-date=March 1, 2022 |website=]}}</ref>


=== Strings ===
During the 1960s, Fender also produced a six-string bass, ], or Bass VI. Tuned higher than a modern six-string bass, it was more like a baritone ]. Fender also began production the ] a 30" scale length instrument used by bassists such as ] of ].
{{Main|String (music)|l1=Strings}}
Bass guitar strings are composed of a ''core'' and ''winding''. The core is a wire which runs through the center of the string and is generally made of steel, nickel, or an ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koester |first=Thom |date=August 24, 2020 |title=What Are Guitar Strings Made Of? |url=https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/what-are-guitar-strings-made-of/ |access-date=February 17, 2022 |website=]}}</ref> The winding is an additional wire wrapped around the core. Bass guitar strings vary by the material and cross-sectional shape of the winding.


Common variants include roundwound, flatwound, halfwound (groundwound), coated, tapewound and taperwound (not to be confused with tapewound) strings. Roundwound and flatwound strings feature windings with circular and rounded-square cross-sections, respectively, with halfround (also referred to as halfwound, ground wound, pressure wound) strings being a hybrid between the two. Coated strings have their surface coated with a synthetic layer while tapewound strings feature a metal core with a non-metallic winding.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Owens |first=Jeff |title=Bass Strings 101 |url=https://www.fender.com/articles/tech-talk/bass-strings-101 |access-date=February 17, 2022 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Erskine |first=Damian |date=September 4, 2013 |title=Fretless Bass: A Guide for Choosing the Best Strings |url=https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2013/09/04/fretless-bass-a-guide-for-choosing-the-best-strings/ |access-date=September 17, 2023 |website=No Treble |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Anatomy of a Bass String - Premier Guitar |url=https://www.premierguitar.com/pro-advice/bass-bench/bass-strings |access-date=September 17, 2023 |website=www.premierguitar.com |language=en}}</ref> Taperwound strings have a tapered end where the exposed core sits on the bridge saddle without windings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Colin |date=November 8, 2022 |title=Bass Strings 101: The Ultimate Buyer's Guide |url=https://ehomerecordingstudio.com/best-bass-strings/ |access-date=September 17, 2023 |website=E-Home Recording Studio |language=en-US}}</ref> The choice of winding has considerable impact on the sound of the instrument, with certain winding styles often being preferred for certain musical genres.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brody |first=Mark |date=January 30, 2020 |title=Flatwound vs. Roundwound Bass Strings |url=https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/flatwound-vs-roundwound-bass-strings/ |access-date=March 1, 2022 |website=]}}</ref>
=== 1960's and 1970's: Other prominent manufacturers ===
]
Following Fender's lead, ] released the ] in 1959. As with Fender's designs, Gibson relied heavily upon an existing guitar design for their first bass; the EB-0 was very similar to a ] in appearance. Gibson basses differred from Fender designs in many aspects, most notably in tonality. Whereas Fender basses had pickups mounted in positions in between the base of the neck and the top of the bridge, many of Gibson's early basses featured one humbucking pickup mounted directly against the neck pocket. The ], introduced in 1961, also had a "mini-humbucker" at the bridge position. Gibson basses also tended to be smaller, sleeker instruments; Gibson did not produce a 34" scale bass until 1963 with the release of the ], which was also the first Gibson bass to utilize dual-humbucking pickups in a more traditional position, about halfway between the neck and bridge.


== History ==
With the explosion of the popularity of rock music in the 1960's and seeing the success that Fender and Gibson were having with their products, ], ], ], and many others started to produce their own version of the electric bass. The 1970's also saw the founding of ], owned by Leo Fender. Music Man produced the ], the first widely produced bass with active (powered) electronics. Specific models became identified with particular styles of music, such as the Rickenbacker 4000 series, which became identified with ] bassists.
=== 1930s ===
], inventor of the modern bass guitar, outside his music store in Seattle, Washington]]


In the 1930s, musician and inventor ] of ], Washington, developed the first electric bass guitar in its modern form, a ]ted instrument designed to be played horizontally. The 1935 sales catalog for Tutmarc's company Audiovox featured his "Model 736 Bass Fiddle", a solid-bodied electric bass guitar with four strings, a {{convert|30+1/2|in|mm|0|adj=on|abbr=off}} scale length, and a single ].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.vintageguitar.com/1782/audiovox-736/ |title=Audiovox #736: The World's First Electric Bass Guitar! |last=Blecha |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Blecha|website = ] |access-date=February 17, 2019|date=December 11, 2001 }}</ref> Around 100 were made during this period.{{sfn|Roberts|2001|pp=28–29}}
=== 1970s: Boutique basses ===
Audiovox also sold their "Model 236" bass amplifier.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vintageguitar.com/1869/audiovox-and-serenader-amps/ |title=Audiovox and Serenader Amps – An Interview with Bud Tutmarc |website=] |access-date=February 17, 2019|date=February 19, 2002 }}</ref>
In 1971 ] established the template for what would subsequently be known as "boutique" or "high end" electric basses. These expensive, custom-tailored instruments featured unique designs, premium wood bodies chosen and hand-finished by master craftspeople, onboard electronics for preamplification and equalization, and innovative construction techniques such as multi-laminate ] construction and graphite necks. Alembic and another "boutique" bass manufacturer, , both produced 5-string basses with a low "B" string in the mid-1970s. Ken Smith also developed and marketed the first wide-spacing six-string electric bass.


== Nomenclature == === 1950s ===
]]]
The instrument is called a "bass guitar" '''(bass''' (]: ) rhyming with "face"''')''', "electric bass guitar," "electric bass," or simply "bass."
In the 1950s, ] and ] developed the first mass-produced electric bass guitar.{{sfn|Slog|Coryat|1999|p=154}} The ] began producing the ], or P-Bass, in October 1951. The design featured a simple uncontoured "slab" body design and a ] similar to that of a ]. By 1957 the Precision more closely resembled the ] with the body edges beveled for comfort, and the pickup was changed to a ] design.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Owens |first1=Jeff |title=Legendary Lows: The Precision Bass Story |url=https://www.fender.com/articles/gear/legendary-lows-the-precision-bass-story |website=] |access-date=January 7, 2020 |date=March 13, 2019}}</ref>


]
In the 1950s and 1960s, the term "Fender bass" was widely used to describe the bass guitar, due to ]'s early dominance in the market for mass-produced bass guitars. However, the term "electric bass" began replacing "Fender bass" in the late 1960s, as evidenced by the title of ]'s popular bass instructional book in 1969 (''How To Play The Electric Bass'') and the use of the term "electric bass" by U.S. musicians' unions.
The Fender Bass was a revolutionary instrument for gigging musicians. In comparison with the large, heavy ], which had been the main bass instrument in popular music from the early 20th century to the 1940s, the bass guitar could be easily transported to shows. When amplified, the bass guitar was also less prone than acoustic basses to unwanted ].{{sfn|Roberts|2001|p=}} The addition of ]s enabled bassists to play in tune more easily than on fretless acoustic or ]es, and allowed guitarists to more easily transition to the instrument.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Dave |last2=Braithwaite |first2=Laun |first3=Tim |last3=Mullally |date=May 13, 2013|title=1952 Fender Precision Bass |url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/1952_Fender_Precision_Bass |website=] |access-date=January 7, 2020}}</ref>


In 1953, ] became the first bassist to tour with the Fender bass, in ]'s postwar ].{{sfn|George|1998|p=91}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tamarkin |first=Jeff |title=Chops: Take Your Pick |url=https://jazztimes.com/features/columns/chops-take-your-pick/ |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=JazzTimes |date=April 25, 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref> Montgomery was also possibly the first to record with the electric bass, on July 2, 1953, with ].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Bass heroes: styles, stories & secrets of 30 great bass players: from the pages of Guitar player magazine|last=Mulhern|first=Tom|date=1993|publisher=GPI Books|isbn=0-585-34936-3|location=San Francisco|pages=165|oclc=47008985}}</ref> Roy Johnson (with Lionel Hampton), and ] (with ] and His ]), were other early Fender bass pioneers.{{sfn|Slog|Coryat|1999|p=154}} ], who played with ], switched from upright bass to the Fender Precision Bass around 1957.{{sfn|Bacon|2010|p=}} The bass guitar was intended to appeal to guitarists as well as upright bass players, and many early pioneers of the instrument, such as ], ], and ] were originally guitarists.{{sfn|Roberts|2001|p=}}
== Design considerations ==
]


Also in 1953, ] released the first short-scale ]-shaped electric bass, the EB-1, with an extendable end pin so a bassist could play it upright or horizontally. In 1958, Gibson released the maple arched-top ] described in the Gibson catalog as a "hollow-body electric bass that features a Bass/Baritone pushbutton for two different tonal characteristics". In 1959, these were followed by the more conventional-looking ]. The EB-0 was very similar to a ] in appearance (although the earliest examples have a slab-sided body shape closer to that of the double-cutaway ] Special). The Fender and Gibson versions used ] and ] necks.
Musicians have embraced a wide variety of different electric bass designs, which include a huge variety of options for the body, neck, pickups, and other features. Musicians have become open minded towards the new technologies and approaches to musical instrument design that have developed for the electric bass. As well, instruments handmade by highly-skilled masters of the craft of ] (guitar-making) are becoming an increasingly popular choice for professional and highly-skilled amateur bassists. These developments have given the modern bass player a wide range of options when choosing an instrument. Design options include:


Several other companies also began manufacturing bass guitars during the 1950s. ] began production of the K162 in 1952, while ] released the Longhorn in 1956. Also in 1956, at the German trade fair "Musikmesse Frankfurt" the distinctive ] violin-shaped bass first appeared, constructed using violin techniques by Walter ], a second-generation violin luthier.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A Short History of Höfner |website=Höfner |url=https://www.hofner.com/info/about-hofner/hofner-history.html?___store=h00_en&___from_store=h00_de|access-date=January 1, 2021|archive-date=January 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118190729/https://www.hofner.com/info/about-hofner/hofner-history.html?___store=h00_en&___from_store=h00_de|url-status=dead}}</ref> Due to its use by ], it became known as the "Beatle bass".{{sfn|Bacon|Moorhouse|2016|loc=eBook}} In 1957, ] introduced the model 4000, the first bass to feature a ]-body design in which the neck is part of the body wood.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Modern Era of the electric Guitar|url=http://www.rickenbacker.com/history_modern.asp|access-date=January 1, 2021|website=] |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210120025437/http://www.rickenbacker.com/history_modern.asp |archive-date= Jan 20, 2021 }}</ref> The ] Supersound was introduced in 1958.{{sfn|Bacon|2010|p=}}
=== Body ===
Bodies are typically made of wood although other materials such as ] (for example, some of the ] designs) have also been used. A wide variety of woods are suitable - the most common include ], ] and ], and bubinga. The choice of body material and shape can have a significant impact on the ] of the completed instrument as well as on aesthetic considerations. Other design options include:


=== 1960s ===
* A wide range of colored or clear lacquer, wax and oil finishes over a variety of traditional and exotic woods,
]]]
* Flat and carved designs
With the explosion in popularity of ] in the 1960s, many more manufacturers began making electric basses, including ], ] and ]. Introduced in 1960, the ], initially known as the "Deluxe Bass", used a body design known as an offset waist which was first seen on the ] guitar in an effort to improve comfort while playing seated.<ref name="JeffOwens">{{cite web |last1=Owens |first1=Jeff |title=Jaco, Geddy and Flea Can't Be Wrong: The Story of the Jazz Bass |url=https://www.fender.com/articles/gear/jaco-geddy-and-flea-cant-be-wrong-the-story-of-the-jazz-bass |website=]|date=June 12, 2019|quote=Most apparent was a feature borrowed from the Jazzmaster—an offset waist—that conveyed a sleeker and more curvaceous look to the Jazz Bass. In true Fender fashion, however, this was an innovation rooted not in form but in function—the sexier look was a by-product of the more practical consideration that the offset waist made the instrument more comfortable to play when seated |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202083709/https://www.fender.com/articles/gear/jaco-geddy-and-flea-cant-be-wrong-the-story-of-the-jazz-bass |archive-date= Dec 2, 2022 }}</ref> The Jazz bass, or J-Bass, features two single-coil pickups.
*]-produced custom-designed instruments
* Headless basses, which have tuning machines in the bridge of the instrument (e.g.] and ]) designs
* Several artificial materials developed especially for instrument building such as ]
* Unique production techniques for artificial materials, including die-casting for more cost-effective production of complex body shapes


Providing a more "Gibson-scale" instrument, rather than the {{convert|34|in|mm|0|adj=on}} Jazz and Precision, Fender produced the ], a {{convert|30|in|mm|0|adj=on}} scale-length instrument.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mustang Bass|url=https://shop.fender.com/en-US/electric-basses/mustang-bass/?rl=en_US&rl=en_GB|access-date=January 1, 2021|website=s]}}</ref> The ], a 6-string bass, was tuned one octave lower than standard guitar tuning. It was released in 1961, and was briefly favored by ] of ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jack Bruce - Equipment|url=http://www.jackbruce.com/2008/Gear/gear.htm|access-date=January 1, 2021|website=Jackbruce.com}}</ref>
While most basses have solid bodies, they can also include hollow chambers to increase the resonance or reduce the weight of the instrument. Basses are also built with entirely hollow bodies, which changes the tone and resonance of the instrument and allows performers to practice without an amplifier. Since the size of the resonant chamber for acoustic bass guitars is much smaller than the resonant chambers of other acoustic bass instruments such as the double bass or the guitarron, acoustic bass guitars cannot produce much unamplified volume; as such acoustic bass guitars are typically equipped with piezoelectric or magnetic pickups and amplified. Hollow-bodied bass guitars are discussed in more detail in the article on ]s.


Gibson introduced its short-scale {{convert|30.5|in|mm|0|adj=on}} ] in 1961, also used by Bruce.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vintageguitar.com/3568/the-gibson-eb-3/ |title=The Gibson EB-3 |last=Moseley |first=Willie G. |website=] |access-date= September 5, 2017|date=March 10, 2010 }}</ref> The EB-3 had a "mini-humbucker" at the bridge position. Gibson basses tended to be instruments with a shorter 30.5" ] than the Precision. Gibson did not produce a {{convert|34|in|mm|0|adj=on}}-scale bass until 1963 with the release of the ].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Mullally|first1=Tim|last2=Braithwaite|first2=Laun|first3=Dave|last3=Rogers|date=March 5, 2017|title=Vintage Vault: 1964 Gibson Thunderbird Bass|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25335-vintage-vault-1964-gibson-thunderbird-bass|access-date=January 1, 2021|website=]}}</ref>
=== Strings and tuning===
The standard design electric bass has four ], tuned E, A, D and G (with the fundamental frequency of the E string set at 41.3 Hz, the same as the lowest string on the double bass). This tuning is the same as the standard tuning on the lower four strings on a 6-string guitar, only an octave lower. The materials used in the strings gives bass players a range of tonal options. String types include all-metal strings (roundwound or flatwound), metal strings with different coverings, such as tapewound and plastic-coatings, and non-metal strings made of nylon.


The first commercial fretless bass guitar was the Ampeg AUB-1, introduced in 1966.{{sfn|Roberts|2001|p=125–126}} In the late 1960s, eight-string basses, with four octave paired ] (similar to a 12 string guitar), were introduced, such as the ] H8.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hagstromguitars.com/basses/retroscape/h8-ii-bass.html |title=Hagstrom H8-II Bass |website=]|access-date=September 29, 2017}}</ref>
]
Early basses used ] strings with a smooth surface. These gave a smooth, damped sound reminiscent of a double-bass. In the 1960s and 1970s ] bass strings similar to guitar strings became increasingly popular. Roundwounds give a brighter ] more similar to that of a guitar or piano, with greater ] than flatwounds. Although roundwounds are now much more common, flatwounds are still used by some bassists who prefer their sound or desire a "classic" tone for some genres.


=== 1970s ===
As ]s sought to expand the range of their instruments, a range of other tuning options and bass types has been used. The most common include:
In 1972, ] established what became known as "boutique" or "high-end" electric bass guitars.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alembic - History, Short Version|url=http://www.alembic.com/family/historys.html|access-date=February 4, 2021|website=]}}</ref> These expensive, custom-tailored instruments, as used by ], ], and ], featured unique designs, premium hand-finished wood bodies, and innovative construction techniques such as multi-laminate ] construction and ] necks. Alembic also pioneered the use of onboard electronics for pre-amplification and equalization.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alembic Activators|url=http://www.alembic.com/prod/pickups.html|access-date=February 4, 2021|website=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Fletcher|first=Tim|date=March 16, 2020|title=The History of Active Electronics|url=https://bassmusicianmagazine.com/2020/03/the-history-of-active-electronics/|access-date=February 4, 2021|website=]}}</ref>


Active electronics increase the output of the instrument, and allow more options for controlling tonal flexibility, giving the player the ability to amplify as well as to attenuate certain frequency ranges while improving the overall frequency response (including more low-register and high-register sounds). 1976 saw the UK company ] begin production of their own range of active basses.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=https://walbasses.co.uk/about-us/|access-date=December 31, 2020|website=]}}</ref> In 1974 ] Instruments, founded by Tom Walker, ] and ], introduced the ], the first widely produced bass with active (powered) electronics built into the instrument.<ref>{{Cite web|title=StingRay|url=https://www.music-man.com/instruments/basses/stingray|access-date=February 4, 2021|website=]}}</ref> Basses with active electronics can include a ] and ] for boosting and cutting the low and high frequencies.
* Four strings with alternate tunings to obtain an extended lower range. Tunings such as "BEAD" (this requires a low "B" string in addition to the other three "standard" strings), "D-A-D-G" (a "standard" set of strings, with only the lowest string detuned), and D-G-C-F or C-G-C-F (a "standard" set of strings, all of which are detuned) give bassists an extended lower range. These options are sometimes used by players who do not like the "feel" of the thicker, heavier 5-string neck, or by bassists who do not have access to a 5-string bass.


In the mid-1970s, five-string basses, with a very low "B" string, were introduced. In 1975, bassist ] commissioned luthier ] to build a six-string bass tuned (low to high) B0, E1, A1, D2, G2, C3, adding a low B string and a high C string.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bassmagazine.com/artists/partners-anthony-jackson-fodera-guitars|title=Partners: Anthony Jackson & Fodera Guitars|last=Roberts|first=Jim|date=July 23, 2019|newspaper=Bass Magazine - the Future of Bass|access-date=January 1, 2022}}</ref>
]
* Five strings (normally B-E-A-D-G but sometimes E-A-D-G-C). The 5-string bass with a low "B" provides added lower range, as compared with the 4-string bass. As well, it gives a player easier access to low notes when playing in the higher positions. The resultant tone of the instrument is usually "thicker," as the fatter strings give fewer harmonics. This is particularly the case for notes on the low "B" string. Five-string basses are common in ] music. Bassists using five-string basses include ], ]'s ]


== See also ==
* Six strings (B-E-A-D-G-C or B-E-A-D-G-B — although E-A-D-G-B-E has also been used). While six-string basses are much less common than 4- or 5-string basses, they are used in Latin, jazz, and several other genres. Bassists using six-string basses include ], ]'s ], ]'s ], ]'s ] and ]'s ].
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]


== References ==
* ]s, one of which is sold under the name ], are mechanical devices operated by the left-hand thumb that allow one or more strings to be detuned to a lower pitch. Hipshots are typically used to drop the "E"-string down to "D" on a four string bass). More rarely, some bassists (e.g., Michael Manring) will add detuners to more than one string, to enable them to detune strings during a performance and have access to a wider range of chime-like harmonics.
{{reflist}}


==Bibliography==
Less commonly, bassists use other types of basses or tuning methods to obtain an extended range. Instrument types or tunings used for this purpose include:
* {{cite book |last=Bacon |first=Tony |title=60 Years of Fender: Six Decades of the Greatest Electric Guitars |year=2010 |publisher=] |isbn=978-0879309664 }}
* Eight-, 10-, and 12-string basses with double or triple courses of strings, as compared with their 4-, 5-, and 6-string counterparts. An 8-string bass would be strung Ee, Aa, Dd, Gg, while a 12-string bass might be tuned Eee Aaa Ddd Ggg, with standard pitch strings augmented by two strings an octave higher. Following new trends, 10-string basses with octave strings added to the low-B (tuned Bb) of a 5-string bass have also been marketed.
* {{cite book |last1=Bacon |first1=Tony |last2=Moorhouse |first2=Barry |year=2016 |title=The Bass Book: A Complete Illustrated History of Bass Guitars |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-4950-0150-5 }}
* Guitar-tuned bass (4-string): the D-G-B-E tuning has the same note names as the first (e.g., from highest to lowest) four strings of a guitar, although they are pitched two octaves lower.
* {{cite book |last=Black |first=J. W. |year=2001 |title=The Fender Bass: An Illustrated History |publisher=] |isbn = 0-634-02640-2 }}
* Tenor bass: A-D-G-C
* {{cite book |last=Boyer |first=Paul |year=2013 |title=The Rickenbacker Electric Bass: 50 Years As Rock's Bottom |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-4768-8680-0 }}
* Piccolo bass: e-a-d-g (an octave higher than standard bass tuning—-the same as the bottom four strings of a guitar)
* {{cite book |last1=Evans |first1=Tom |last2=Evans |first2=Mary Ann |title=Guitars: From the Renaissance to Rock |year=1977 |publisher=] |isbn=0-87196-636-0 }}
* Sub-contra bass: C#-F#-B-E ("C#" being at 18 Hz and the "E"- string being the same as the "E"-string found on standard basses). To amplify the low pitches of this instrument, a subwoofer capable of extended low-range reproduction is needed.
* {{cite book| last=George |first=Nelson |author-link=Nelson George |year=1998 |title=Hip Hop America | url=https://archive.org/details/hiphopamerica00georg | url-access=registration |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-670-87153-7 }}
* Extended-range 11-string basses which go from a low "C#" up to a high Eb (one ] below a ]'s high E). Eleven-string basses are uncommon and are typically ]. Al Caldwell, Jean Baudin (of the band Nuclear Rabbit), and Garry Goodman (from The Neilson-Goodman Project) play 11-string basses.
* {{cite book |last=Roberts |first=Jim |title=How The Fender Bass Changed the World |year=2001 |publisher=] |location=San Francisco, California |isbn=0-87930-630-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/howfenderbasscha0000robe }}
* Extended-range 12-string and 14-string basses. ], a French luthier, has built a 12-string bass for ], and ] is working on a 14-string sub-bass project.
* {{cite book |last1=Sadie |first1=Stanley |last2=Tyrrell |first2=John |title=The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians |edition=Second |year=2001 |location=London }}
* {{cite book |last1=Slog |first1=John J. |last2=Coryat |first2=Karl |year=1999 |title=The Bass Player Book: Equipment, Technique, Styles and Artists |publisher=] |isbn=0-87930-573-8 }}
* {{cite book |last=Trynka |first=Paul |title=Rock Hardware |year=1996 |publisher=] |isbn=0-87930-428-6 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/rockhardware40ye00tryn }}
* {{cite book |last=Wheeler |first=Tom |year=1978 |title=The Guitar Book: A Handbook for Electric and Acoustic Guitarists |publisher=] |isbn=0-06-014579-X }}


{{Commons category|Bass guitars}}
=== Pickups ===
{{Wikibooks|Guitar|Bass Guitar}}
:''For more information on pickups, see ].''
The vibrations of the instrument's metal strings within the magnetic field of the permanent magnets in the ]s, produce small variations in the magnetic flux threading the coils of the pickups. This in turn produces small electrical voltages in the coils. These low-level signals are then amplified and played through a speaker. Less commonly, non-magnetic pickups are used, such as ] pickups which sense the mechanical vibrations of the strings. Since the 1990s, basses are often available with battery-powered "active" electronics that boost the signal and/or provide equalization controls to boost or cut bass and treble frequencies.


{{Bass (sound)}}
]
{{Guitars|Strings}}
==== Bass pickup types ====
* "P-" pickups (the "P" refers to the original Fender Precision Bass) are actually two distinct ] halves, wired in opposite direction to reduce hum, each offset a small amount along the length of the body so that each half is underneath two strings.
* "J-" pickups (referring to the original Fender Jazz Bass) are wider eight-pole pickups which lie underneath all four strings. J pickups are typically ] designs, but some modern variants have hum-canceling features.
* Soapbar pickups, found in MusicMan basses (yet another Leo Fender brand) and many other brands, are the same length as a J pickup, but about twice as wide. They typically follow a dual-coil ] configuration. The name comes from the rectangular shape resembling a bar of soap.


{{Authority control}}
==== Pickup configuration ====
]
* Many basses have just one pickup, typically a "P" or soapbar pickup. Multiple pickups are also quite common, two of the most common configurations being a "P" near the neck and a "J" near the bridge (e.g. Fender Precision Deluxe), or two "J" pickups (e.g. Fender Jazz). Some basses use more unusual pickup configurations, such as a soapbar and a "P" pickup (found on some Fenders), ]'s "Urge" basses which have a "P" pickup sandwiched between two "J" pickups, and some of ]' custom basses, which had as many as 5 J pickups.


]
* The placement of the pickup greatly affects the sound, with a pickup near the neck joint thought to sound "fatter" or "warmer" while a pickup near the bridge is thought to sound "tighter" or "sharper." Most basses with multiple pickups allow blending of the output from the pickups, providing for a range of timbres.
]

==== Non-magnetic pickups ====
* ] pickups are non-magnetic pickups that produce a different tone and allow bassists to use non-metallic strings such as nylon strings. Piezoelectric pickups sense the vibrations of the string, as transmitted to the pickup through the basses' wooden body. Since piezoelectric pickups are based on the vibration of the strings and body, they can be prone to feedback "howls" when used with an amplifier, especially when higher levels of amplification are used.
* Optical pickups such as Lightwave Systems pickups are another type of non-magnetic pickup. Optical pickups are expensive and rarely used, apart from a small number of professional bass players who require the advantages offered by optical pickups: no noise (e.g., hum) or feedback problems, even at high levels of amplification.

=== Frets ===
The ]s divide the fingerboard into ] divisions, although fretless basses are also widely available. The original Fender basses had 20 frets.

== Fretless basses ==
] have a distinct sound: the absence of frets means that the string must be pressed down directly onto the wood of the fingerboard and can buzz against it as with the ], sometimes described as a "muah" sound by bassists. The fretless bass allows players to use the expressive devices of ], ] and microtonal intonations such as ]s and ]. Some bassists use both fretted and fretless basses in performances, according to the type of material they are performing.

In ''How The Fender Bass Changed The World'', Jim Roberts states that ] made the first known fretless bass guitar by in 1961 by converting an inexpensive Japanese fretted bass. This fretless bass can be heard on ] songs such as "Paint it Black". The first production fretless bass was the Ampeg AUB-1 introduced in 1966. Fender introduced a fretless version of the Precision Bass in 1970. Fusion-jazz virtuoso ] created his own fretless bass by pulling the frets out of a sunburst Fender Jazz Bass and coating the fretboard with epoxy.

Some fretless basses have 'fret lines' inlaid in the fingerboard as a guide, while others only use guide marks on the side of the neck. Strings wound with tape are sometimes used with the fretless bass so that the metal string windings will not wear down the ]. Some fretless basses, such as those made by Pedulla, have fingerboards which are coated with epoxy to increase the durability of the fingerboard, enhance ] and give a brighter tone.

Fretless basses are widely used in jazz and ] music. Nonetheless, many bassists from other genres use fretless basses, such as thrash metal/death metal bassist ].

== Amplification and effects ==

<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] -->

Electric bassists use either a 'combo' amplifier, so-named because it combines an amplifier and a speaker in a single cabinet, or an amplifier and a separate speaker cabinet (or cabinets). Some bassists plug directly into a ] for recording or large-scale PA amplification. For further information see :
*]

Various electronic components such as ] and ] processors, and the configuration of the ] and ], can be used to alter the basic sound of the instrument. In the 1990s and early 2000s, signal processors such as ]s, ] devices, and ]s or s became increasingly popular additions to many ] players' gear, because these processors give players additional tonal options.
For further information see:
*]

== Playing techniques ==
=== Sitting or standing ===
Most bass players stand while playing, although sitting is also accepted, particularly in large ensemble settings (e.g., jazz big band) or acoustic genres such as folk music. It is a matter of the player's preference as to which position gives the greatest ease of playing, and what a bandleader expects. When sitting, the instrument can be balanced on the right thigh, or like classical guitar players, the left. Balancing the bass on the left thigh positions it in such a way that it mimics the standing position, allowing for less difference between the standing and sitting positions.

=== Plectra vs. fingers or thumb ===
The electric bass, in contrast to the upright bass (or double bass), is played in a similar position to the guitar, held horizontally across the body. Notes are usually produced by plucking with the fingers or with a ], which is a type of ].

This choice often depends on a bassist's ]&mdash; very few ] bassists use plectrums, while they are widely found in ] and metal styles. Using a pick typically gives the bass a brighter, punchier sound, while playing with fingers makes the sound softer and round. Some bassists use their fingernails flamenco-style to provide some compromise between playing fingerstyle and using a pick.

Bassists trying to emulate the sound of a double bass will often pluck the strings with their thumb, and use their fingers to anchor their hand and partially mute the strings. This ] creates a short, "thumpy" tone.

], one of the most influential bassists during the ] era, was well-known for his work in many popular ] songs. Jamerson played the bass with only his index finger (which gained him the nickname "The Hook") but created intricate bass lines that have proven challenging even for modern bassists using the more common two-fingered (typically index and middle) technique.

==== Downward stroke ====
This is a technique that consists in hitting the strings with continuous downward strokes with a plectrum at a very fast pace. This provides the continuous and repetitive sound of finger picking but with a punchy sound. This technique was used by ] of the early ] band ].

=== Right hand support and position ===
Variations in style also occur in where a bassist rests his right-hand thumb (or left thumb in the case of left-handed players). A player may rest his thumb on the top edge of one of the pickups. One may also rest his thumb on the side of the fretboard, which is especially common among bassists who have an upright bass influence. Also, bassists may simply anchor their thumbs on the lowest string (and move it off to play on the low string). This technique is known as the "floating thumb", and was previously popular mainly with bassists who played 5 or more string basses, but is now common for all bassists. Early Fender models also came with a "thumbrest" attached to the pickguard, below the strings. Contrary to its name, this was not used to rest the thumb, but to rest the fingers while using the thumb to pluck the strings. The thumbrest was moved above the strings in 70's models, and eliminated entirely in the 80's.

=== Striking or plucking position ===
Bassists also have different preferences as to where on the string they pluck the notes. While the influential bassist ] and many with him preferred to pluck them very close to the bridge for a bright and "punchy" sound, many prefer the sound they get by plucking closer to the neck, mostly near the neck pickup. ], among others, plucks the strings over the higher frets. Plucking near the neck gives a darker sound with a stronger ].

=== "Slap and pop," tapping, and related techniques ===
The ] method, in which notes and percussive sounds are created by slapping the string with the thumb and releasing strings with a snap, was pioneered by ] of ] in the 1960s and early 1970s. ] and ] further developed Graham's technique. Slap bass remains a mainstay of funk and is also played by many bassists in other genres, such as rock bassists ] and ], and jazz-fusion bassist ]. Wooten developed the "double thumb," in which the string is slapped twice, on the upstroke and a downstroke (for more information, see ]). Examples of the slap and pop technique can be seen at

In the two-handed ] style, both hands play notes by rapidly pressing and holding the string to the fret, which makes it possible to play ], and utilize ] and arpeggios. Players noted for this technique include ], ], ], ], and ]. For more information on two-handed tapping technique, see the articles on ] and ], many-stringed instruments that are designed to be played using two-handed tapping.

], the bassist for ] and ], pioneered the use of wooden dowel "]" affixed with ] to the tips of the index and middle fingers and used to strike the strings of the bass.

==== 'Piano hammer' style ====
The "piano hammer-style" is a high-speed technique used of striking the bass string with the index or middle finger. In this technique, the hand is whipped towards the bass string then retracted quickly by pivoting of the wrist. The index finger snaps down and taps the string like a piano hammer. The result is a dark tone which can be contrasted by "back-pedaling" the string with the tip of the finger in an upward pluck to give a sharper tone. Usually two fingers are required with this technique.

== Musical role ==
The electric bass is the standard bass instrument in many ]s, including modern ], post-1970s-style ], many variants of ], metal, punk, reggae, ], and ]. Even though the double bass is still the standard bass instrument in orchestral settings, some late-20th-century composers have used the electric bass in an orchestral setting. Modern bass playing draws on guitar and double bass for inspiration as well as an increasing ] of its own.

The bass may have differing roles within different types of music and the bassist may prefer different degrees of prominence in the music. Early uses of the electric bass saw bassists doubling the double bass part or replacing the upright bass entirely with their new, more portable and easily amplified instrument. By the end of the 1960s, the electric bass had replaced the upright bass in most forms of popular music (although country music and jazz were an exception to this trend).

The switch to electric bass moved bassists more into the foreground of a band, in several senses:
* From an aural perspective, electric bass tone can often "cut through" a live mix better. As well, electric basses can be amplified to very high levels without the problem of feedback "howls" that can plague upright bass players trying to amplify their instruments.
* The smaller size of the electric bass allows rapid, complex lines to be played more easily, enabling some electric bassists to develop a more soloistic role for the bass.
* From a visual point of view, the switch to the electric bass allowed bassists much more freedom of movement on stage. The double bass sits on an endpin, and stands vertically, and players typically play in a single location for the duration of a song. However, the electric bass is smaller, and is held up with a strap, which allows the electric bassist to move about on the stage while playing, and get closer to other musicians or the audience.

==See also==
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]

== References ==
"How The Fender Bass Changed the World" by Jim Roberts
== External links ==
{{Wikibookspar|Guitar|Bass Guitar}}
* - Bass resource website.
* - Learn how to tune your bass guitar, chords, scales, techniques and even how to write your own basslines with this free online video series.
* - features bass news, a bass tab search, and other resources for bassists.
* - extensive resources for bass players, including huge community forums, gear reviews, and more.
* - UK-based bass forum
* - An online bass community featuring interactive lessons.
* The official web site of the Internet's premiere mailing list for bassists.
* Directory of web sites for Bass Players.
* Session bass players website - find a freelance, "dep" (deputy or stand-in) or session bassist.
* - has free lessons on standard and exotic bass scales.
* - www.FretlessBass.com.
* {{fr}}
* - Bass forum
*
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Latest revision as of 04:51, 27 December 2024

Electric plucked string instrument For the magazine, see Bass Guitar (magazine).

Bass guitar
Fender Jazz Bass
String instrument
Other namesElectric bass, bass
Classification String instrument
Hornbostel–Sachs classification321.322
(Composite chordophone)
Inventor(s)Paul Tutmarc, Leo Fender
Developed1930s
Playing range
Range of a standard tuned 4-string bass guitar (brackets: 5-string)
Related instruments

The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (/beɪs/) is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and scale length. The bass guitar most commonly has four strings, though five- and six-stringed models are also relatively popular, and bass guitars with even more (or fewer) strings or courses have been built. Since the mid-1950s, the bass guitar has largely come to replace the double bass in popular music due to its lighter weight, the inclusion of frets (for easier intonation) in most models, and, most importantly, its design for electric amplification. This is also because the double bass is acoustically compromised for its range (like the viola) in that it is scaled down from the optimal size that would be appropriate for those low notes.

The four-string bass guitar is usually tuned the same as the double bass, which corresponds to pitches one octave lower than the four lowest-pitched strings of a guitar (typically E, A, D, and G). It is played primarily with the fingers or thumb, or with a pick.

The electric bass guitar is acoustically a relatively quiet instrument, so to be heard at a practical performance volume, it requires external amplification. It can also be used in conjunction with direct input boxes, audio interfaces, mixing consoles, computers, or bass effects processors that offer headphone jacks. The majority of bass pickup systems are electromagnetic in nature.

Terminology

The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians refers to this instrument as an "Electric bass guitar, usually with four heavy strings tuned E1'–A1'–D2–G2." It also defines bass as "Bass (iv). A contraction of Double bass or Electric bass guitar." Mottola's Cyclopedic Dictionary of Lutherie Terms begins its definition of the instrument as "A bass guitar that produces sound primarily with the aid of electronic devices." According to some authors the proper term is "electric bass". Common names for the instrument are "bass guitar", "electric bass guitar", and "electric bass" and some authors claim that they are historically accurate. A bass guitar whose neck lacks frets is termed a fretless bass.

Scale

Main article: Scale

The scale of a bass is defined as the length of the freely oscillating strings between the nut and the bridge saddles. On a modern 4-string bass guitar, 30" (76 cm) or less is considered short scale, 32" (81 cm) medium scale, 34" (86 cm) standard or long scale and 35" (89 cm) extra-long scale.

Pickup

Main article: Pickup

Bass pickups are generally attached to the body of the guitar and located beneath the strings. They are responsible for converting the vibrations of the strings into analogous electrical signals, which are in turn passed as input to an instrument amplifier.

Strings

Main article: Strings

Bass guitar strings are composed of a core and winding. The core is a wire which runs through the center of the string and is generally made of steel, nickel, or an alloy. The winding is an additional wire wrapped around the core. Bass guitar strings vary by the material and cross-sectional shape of the winding.

Common variants include roundwound, flatwound, halfwound (groundwound), coated, tapewound and taperwound (not to be confused with tapewound) strings. Roundwound and flatwound strings feature windings with circular and rounded-square cross-sections, respectively, with halfround (also referred to as halfwound, ground wound, pressure wound) strings being a hybrid between the two. Coated strings have their surface coated with a synthetic layer while tapewound strings feature a metal core with a non-metallic winding. Taperwound strings have a tapered end where the exposed core sits on the bridge saddle without windings. The choice of winding has considerable impact on the sound of the instrument, with certain winding styles often being preferred for certain musical genres.

History

1930s

Paul Tutmarc, inventor of the modern bass guitar, outside his music store in Seattle, Washington

In the 1930s, musician and inventor Paul Tutmarc of Seattle, Washington, developed the first electric bass guitar in its modern form, a fretted instrument designed to be played horizontally. The 1935 sales catalog for Tutmarc's company Audiovox featured his "Model 736 Bass Fiddle", a solid-bodied electric bass guitar with four strings, a 30+1⁄2-inch (775-millimetre) scale length, and a single pickup. Around 100 were made during this period. Audiovox also sold their "Model 236" bass amplifier.

1950s

An early Fender Precision Bass

In the 1950s, Leo Fender and George Fullerton developed the first mass-produced electric bass guitar. The Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company began producing the Precision Bass, or P-Bass, in October 1951. The design featured a simple uncontoured "slab" body design and a single coil pickup similar to that of a Telecaster. By 1957 the Precision more closely resembled the Fender Stratocaster with the body edges beveled for comfort, and the pickup was changed to a split coil design.

Design patent issued to Leo Fender for the second-generation Precision Bass

The Fender Bass was a revolutionary instrument for gigging musicians. In comparison with the large, heavy upright bass, which had been the main bass instrument in popular music from the early 20th century to the 1940s, the bass guitar could be easily transported to shows. When amplified, the bass guitar was also less prone than acoustic basses to unwanted audio feedback. The addition of frets enabled bassists to play in tune more easily than on fretless acoustic or electric upright basses, and allowed guitarists to more easily transition to the instrument.

In 1953, Monk Montgomery became the first bassist to tour with the Fender bass, in Lionel Hampton's postwar big band. Montgomery was also possibly the first to record with the electric bass, on July 2, 1953, with the Art Farmer Septet. Roy Johnson (with Lionel Hampton), and Shifty Henry (with Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five), were other early Fender bass pioneers. Bill Black, who played with Elvis Presley, switched from upright bass to the Fender Precision Bass around 1957. The bass guitar was intended to appeal to guitarists as well as upright bass players, and many early pioneers of the instrument, such as Carol Kaye, Joe Osborn, and Paul McCartney were originally guitarists.

Also in 1953, Gibson released the first short-scale violin-shaped electric bass, the EB-1, with an extendable end pin so a bassist could play it upright or horizontally. In 1958, Gibson released the maple arched-top EB-2 described in the Gibson catalog as a "hollow-body electric bass that features a Bass/Baritone pushbutton for two different tonal characteristics". In 1959, these were followed by the more conventional-looking EB-0 Bass. The EB-0 was very similar to a Gibson SG in appearance (although the earliest examples have a slab-sided body shape closer to that of the double-cutaway Les Paul Special). The Fender and Gibson versions used bolt-on and set necks.

Several other companies also began manufacturing bass guitars during the 1950s. Kay Musical Instrument Company began production of the K162 in 1952, while Danelectro released the Longhorn in 1956. Also in 1956, at the German trade fair "Musikmesse Frankfurt" the distinctive Höfner 500/1 violin-shaped bass first appeared, constructed using violin techniques by Walter Höfner, a second-generation violin luthier. Due to its use by Paul McCartney, it became known as the "Beatle bass". In 1957, Rickenbacker introduced the model 4000, the first bass to feature a neck-through-body design in which the neck is part of the body wood. The Burns London Supersound was introduced in 1958.

1960s

Gibson EB-3

With the explosion in popularity of rock music in the 1960s, many more manufacturers began making electric basses, including Yamaha, Teisco and Guyatone. Introduced in 1960, the Fender Jazz Bass, initially known as the "Deluxe Bass", used a body design known as an offset waist which was first seen on the Jazzmaster guitar in an effort to improve comfort while playing seated. The Jazz bass, or J-Bass, features two single-coil pickups.

Providing a more "Gibson-scale" instrument, rather than the 34-inch (864 mm) Jazz and Precision, Fender produced the Mustang Bass, a 30-inch (762 mm) scale-length instrument. The Fender VI, a 6-string bass, was tuned one octave lower than standard guitar tuning. It was released in 1961, and was briefly favored by Jack Bruce of Cream.

Gibson introduced its short-scale 30.5-inch (775 mm) EB-3 in 1961, also used by Bruce. The EB-3 had a "mini-humbucker" at the bridge position. Gibson basses tended to be instruments with a shorter 30.5" scale length than the Precision. Gibson did not produce a 34-inch (864 mm)-scale bass until 1963 with the release of the Thunderbird.

The first commercial fretless bass guitar was the Ampeg AUB-1, introduced in 1966. In the late 1960s, eight-string basses, with four octave paired courses (similar to a 12 string guitar), were introduced, such as the Hagström H8.

1970s

In 1972, Alembic established what became known as "boutique" or "high-end" electric bass guitars. These expensive, custom-tailored instruments, as used by Phil Lesh, Jack Casady, and Stanley Clarke, featured unique designs, premium hand-finished wood bodies, and innovative construction techniques such as multi-laminate neck-through-body construction and graphite necks. Alembic also pioneered the use of onboard electronics for pre-amplification and equalization.

Active electronics increase the output of the instrument, and allow more options for controlling tonal flexibility, giving the player the ability to amplify as well as to attenuate certain frequency ranges while improving the overall frequency response (including more low-register and high-register sounds). 1976 saw the UK company Wal begin production of their own range of active basses. In 1974 Music Man Instruments, founded by Tom Walker, Forrest White and Leo Fender, introduced the StingRay, the first widely produced bass with active (powered) electronics built into the instrument. Basses with active electronics can include a preamplifier and knobs for boosting and cutting the low and high frequencies.

In the mid-1970s, five-string basses, with a very low "B" string, were introduced. In 1975, bassist Anthony Jackson commissioned luthier Carl Thompson to build a six-string bass tuned (low to high) B0, E1, A1, D2, G2, C3, adding a low B string and a high C string.

See also

References

  1. Sadie & Tyrrell 2001.
  2. Mottola, RM (2020). Mottola's Cyclopedic Dictionary of Lutherie Terms. LiutaioMottola.com. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-7341256-0-3.
  3. Wheeler 1978, pp. 101–102.
  4. Evans & Evans 1977, p. 342.
  5. Bacon & Moorhouse 2016.
  6. Roberts 2001, References Appendix.
  7. "Myths and Rumors on Scale Length - Premier Guitar". www.premierguitar.com. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  8. Veall, Dan (December 21, 2020). "Bass guitar pickups explained". Bass Player. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  9. Koester, Thom (August 24, 2020). "What Are Guitar Strings Made Of?". Sweetwater Sound. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  10. Owens, Jeff. "Bass Strings 101". Fender. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  11. Erskine, Damian (September 4, 2013). "Fretless Bass: A Guide for Choosing the Best Strings". No Treble. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  12. "The Anatomy of a Bass String - Premier Guitar". www.premierguitar.com. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  13. Colin (November 8, 2022). "Bass Strings 101: The Ultimate Buyer's Guide". E-Home Recording Studio. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  14. Brody, Mark (January 30, 2020). "Flatwound vs. Roundwound Bass Strings". Sweetwater Sound. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  15. Blecha, Peter (December 11, 2001). "Audiovox #736: The World's First Electric Bass Guitar!". Vintage Guitar. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  16. Roberts 2001, pp. 28–29.
  17. "Audiovox and Serenader Amps – An Interview with Bud Tutmarc". Vintage Guitar. February 19, 2002. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  18. ^ Slog & Coryat 1999, p. 154.
  19. Owens, Jeff (March 13, 2019). "Legendary Lows: The Precision Bass Story". Fender. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  20. ^ Roberts 2001.
  21. Rogers, Dave; Braithwaite, Laun; Mullally, Tim (May 13, 2013). "1952 Fender Precision Bass". Premier Guitar. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  22. George 1998, p. 91.
  23. Tamarkin, Jeff (April 25, 2019). "Chops: Take Your Pick". JazzTimes. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  24. Mulhern, Tom (1993). Bass heroes: styles, stories & secrets of 30 great bass players: from the pages of Guitar player magazine. San Francisco: GPI Books. p. 165. ISBN 0-585-34936-3. OCLC 47008985.
  25. ^ Bacon 2010.
  26. "A Short History of Höfner". Höfner. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  27. Bacon & Moorhouse 2016, eBook.
  28. "The Modern Era of the electric Guitar". Rickenbacker. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  29. Owens, Jeff (June 12, 2019). "Jaco, Geddy and Flea Can't Be Wrong: The Story of the Jazz Bass". Fender. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Most apparent was a feature borrowed from the Jazzmaster—an offset waist—that conveyed a sleeker and more curvaceous look to the Jazz Bass. In true Fender fashion, however, this was an innovation rooted not in form but in function—the sexier look was a by-product of the more practical consideration that the offset waist made the instrument more comfortable to play when seated
  30. "Mustang Bass". sFender. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
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