Thanks for all of the replies.
Stickrad wrote:
Greetings AngelsMLB.
More angels in Los Angel-ese.
Hey, you might eventually get a second stick, so why not start on NS or Stick Bass..?!
NS can sound huge but the SB8 seems to me, more stripped back as an instrument but also full of possibility.
What sound are you motivated by?
Well, a good overall tone that would support gigging in a bass player's role would be useful - jazz (electric), 70's and 80's rock, pop, and funk. That said, tones I'm drawn to: Tony Levin's work with Peter Gabriel (I Have the Touch, Shock the Monkey, etc.), Fender Jazz bass tone, sometimes with just a little grit (Jaco Pastorius for sure, but I have fretless basses for that, and Marcus Miller), Steve Rodby's (Pat Metheny Group) workman-like double bass tone, Victor Wooten's finger-style tone. As for the latter, the guy's an amazing two-handed tapper on a traditional bass, but it always sounds sterile to me. I'm much more drawn to his fingerstyle that drives the band. I don't like slapping all that much but having the ability to get a slap tone (big bottom with bright high-end bite) is essential to have in the arsenal. Oh, and single-coil pickup sound with a little treble bite (Rickenbacker a la Chris Squire) would be nice - not essential as I don't get a call for a lot of that, but it would be a nice-to-have.
For melody side I don't plan on doing much at first other than accompaniment. It will take me years to become proficient with the right -hand. Some funky double stops or chords. Probably something ethereal to add to a piece - think Steve Hackett. Also, always loved the sound of a 12-string guitar. Arpeggios, lots of arpeggios.
While I'm thinking about it, what are the tonal differences between a Railboard and a wood Stick?