@@venusspacey9685 what I meant was that it's all about finding the right bass that feels right to you. I've played a lot of basses (all with the same fingers) and they don't all feel good to me. This has nothing to do with age or price either, imho
@@WCruttenden I'm telling you as a bass player it's about your fingers. You can find the bass for you but that doesn't mean you'll be called for gigs. Your fingers give you gigs. A cheap bass that's "not for you" will sound amazing if played by a musician who knows how to touch it. Most don't have this skill. Most studio musicians have a grasp of this concept.
Well, I agree with both of you. The most important part is definitely the player, of course, that is the key. But having a bass that you like makes YOU feel better, which is really important too for your own satisfaction and helps you enjoy playing.
@@cascanicoff5763 not of course because it's a lot who don't think that way. Hadrien is a bass god but has no feel. But he's very good and a beginner or even basist who've been playing forever would think that's the way to play. For the few that understand it's in the feel of your fingers look pass all the licks and runs. Having a bass you like is indeed important, but if you appreciate this music then you'd appreciate what you have
that 1959 Fender Pbass is literally what the sound that plays in the back of my head whenever someone mentions bass. i mean, that's what a bass should really sound like
@@mountaindont34ify I love P-basses, but I don't have any certain absolute "this is what a bass should sound like" tone. It all depends on what song you are playing, the genre, the feel, and lots of other factors.
A band I played bass with in Dallas in 2008 got to play on the same lineup as Snarky Puppy, and I got to meet Michael very briefly. He’s such a cool guy and seems EXACTLY the same as he did way back then. It’s so cool to see how far he’s come since then, and it’s all totally deserved. I look forward to seeing the awesome art he creates in the future!
The riff on the 59 reminds of inner city blues. The bass was giving out a natural resonance that you can hear in the tone, combined with the flat wounds it had a nice tone. I recorded inner city with garageband and this was the tone i went for. It took a bit of tweaking and in the end i was very happy with how close to a natural tone i could get using a free virtual instrument.
"Everything on value on that bass have been removed", he said, knowing full well that everything of value have in fact been distilled to it's purer self, with no paint, letting the wood breathe to furthermore accentuate the tone. Not only is he a ridiculous player and composer, he is also one hell of a business man...!!!
Well most of experts say that the fundamental mellow tone comes from the old pickups who have lost magnetism over the years...so he was right, pickup was gone so that was one fundamental thing with value that was indeed removed. 🤷🏻♂️
Isn't it funny that everybody *knows* what a P bass should sound like, and yet they're all vastly different?.. 🤣🤣🤣🤣👍 There's no right or wrong with any instrument, you just need to find the right one for your playing and where you want to go with it.... Thanks for being an inspiration, Michael!! See you on tour... 😉🙏
OK but how is no one talking about the fact the Italian bass maker made a bass from a piece of wood *eaten and rotten*, meaning he had to dry it for probably like 10 years in his shop in super difficult conditions and clean it like crazy and it still looks like absolute shit, and then he gave THAT to one of the best player in the world, and he switched bass in the middle of a tour?!! That is LEGENDARY. I bet some players will ask for a worm-wood eaten bass because of this lmao
Michael, you are one of the main reaseans why I have started using flatwound string on my Fender 1969 P bass. This was like one month ago and ..wow, I love that sounds so much that I think that I would never go back to round on this bass. By the way, your old bases are really cool.
@@TeleCaster66 Have you tried whats called "Ground Wound" flats? its round wounds that have been ground down till flat, you get the same great sound of Flat but with extended sustain, for songs you need more sustain.
It's astounding to me how incredibly approachable and nice Michael is. This was super nice - a glimpse into his studio! Sorry I missed the Puppies as they took a turn through North Carolina, hoping you guys come back in the fall!
its rare, i was in the Rock Music scene from 70-82 and met allot of jerks in the business, its good to keep your feet on the ground and not let fame get to your head.
I’ve been playing since I was fifteen years old (now currently eligible for medicare) and this has always been an awesome source of info for moi. Thank you to y’all! mr j
those necks that year were perfect, i just bought a new American 50's P-Bass neck from Fender, the most solid peice of wood for a neck ive ever used, i put it on my American Ultra P-Bass and took off the original neck which was too much like a thin jazz neck.
John Paul Jones has ‘52 Precision (it could very well be a ‘51 or ‘53 as well, I’m not entirely certain) and it resembles yours pretty closely! The pronounced Ash grain pattern is even similar to his! Like yours, his was stripped to natural too. No pick guard either. I’m sure you can find pics of him using it w Zeppelin out there on the net. It saw studio and stage time from ‘71-‘75. Never to be seen again after ‘75 and when he got both Alembic basses.
That’s exactly what I was thinking. In Geddy Lee’s bass book, he said he got it from a fan after a show around 70 or 71. Speaking of which, JPJ should be on an episode of Bass Tales.
@@luvbasses5487 you are so correct. He’s one of the most underrated musicians ever. Obviously that is due to the other great musicians that he played with. But the man can play almost any instrument you can think of and he writes and composes also.
@@haydenarlington8256 he was on the road at the age of 2 w his parents who were musicians too. Robert says in one show: “John comes from a circus family...!”
@@luvbasses5487 yeah exactly. And he started doing session work at 16 I believe. Once again, he’s one of the most underrated musicians in music history in my opinion.
Good stuff.. intrigued by the Huber. Don’t know who this guy - band is but it makes me very happy to see someone realizing their dream and sharing it with all of us bass lovers. 😊 '
My first was a 73 p bass, sunburst. Still had the cover over the puck ups and flat wound polymer covered strings that were probably the first strings ever on it. Ended up with new pick ups, bad ass bridge and a pro straighted up the neck. Wish i still had it. Only paid $100. It was 82 so it was just a guitar back then.
What I find interesting is how good the 52 p bass and the Hofner sound in comparison to his awesome holy grail p basses. Along with some of his newer custom basses as well. To me that was the most surprising part of this. I'm not saying they sound better that's subjective but they definitely hold up well tone wise in these short clips of him playing
LOL I bought the american original 50s p bass one week ago. Its an absolute superstar. Ichanged the tyners to gotoh lightweight tho, those vintage mechanics are super neckdivy
Not a bass player, but I understand :). My fave is a 2006 Ibanez SA. Stripped paint, new Seymour's, and the thinnest Wizard neck ever. My baby. Best Regards and Best Wishes!
7:13 - Michael says it is a Fender Custom Shop, but it looks like the American Original '50s Precision Bass in Aztec Gold. Never seen him playing it live!
I got a Squier Affinity p-bass in a pawn shop and modded it into my personal favourite. Not quite a '52 Fender, I guess but it (a) didn't cost me 4k and (b) the pawn shop actually WAS a pawn shop
Such a nice clean sound from all of them. I don't know how you choose which one to play. They all sound great! What kind of amps do you use? What kind of cables?
Ok guys, there are so many people here around who spent many grands fo r an old scratched board with a crappy old pickup, driven by an simple magnet to make the low end alive. But what is with Mikes Moogs? When did he use them instead of the old boards? How is it possible that an Bassist between so many knobs gets such an girthy sound? Please, get the miracle unveiled!
I don't mean to be disagreeable but Guitar Center in Nashville is NOT the unlikeliest of places to find something like that. Granted I haven't been there in like 7 years but that place was a flippin museum
Well i guess in spite of the crappy lesser brand of pickup in that '52 he sure likens the sound to Elvis's music. He must not get free shit from that pickup manufacturer so in true snobbish fashion let's trash them.
Pino needs to be featured on bass tales
I couldn’t agree more. He’s phenomenal.
Absolutely
nope no need
@@Deep42Thought Why not?
Yes! He does :)
This dude is living the life. Gets to live in a beautiful studio full of basses in Barcelona.
Proving once again that it's all about finding the right, individual bass for you. Michael League is always inspiring.
Nah it's only about you, you're fingers.
@@venusspacey9685 what I meant was that it's all about finding the right bass that feels right to you. I've played a lot of basses (all with the same fingers) and they don't all feel good to me. This has nothing to do with age or price either, imho
@@WCruttenden I'm telling you as a bass player it's about your fingers. You can find the bass for you but that doesn't mean you'll be called for gigs. Your fingers give you gigs. A cheap bass that's "not for you" will sound amazing if played by a musician who knows how to touch it. Most don't have this skill. Most studio musicians have a grasp of this concept.
Well, I agree with both of you. The most important part is definitely the player, of course, that is the key. But having a bass that you like makes YOU feel better, which is really important too for your own satisfaction and helps you enjoy playing.
@@cascanicoff5763 not of course because it's a lot who don't think that way. Hadrien is a bass god but has no feel. But he's very good and a beginner or even basist who've been playing forever would think that's the way to play. For the few that understand it's in the feel of your fingers look pass all the licks and runs. Having a bass you like is indeed important, but if you appreciate this music then you'd appreciate what you have
Mike has the best sounding bass ever made, that ‘59 Snarky bass is something else
that 1959 Fender Pbass is literally what the sound that plays in the back of my head whenever someone mentions bass. i mean, that's what a bass should really sound like
Agree. That's "The Bass".
For you personally. I'd hate to play with this tone
@@ileutur6863 same. I mean I appreciate the tone but I'd hate to play with it personally. It's fun to toy with from time to time but that's it
AND look like!
@@mountaindont34ify I love P-basses, but I don't have any certain absolute "this is what a bass should sound like" tone. It all depends on what song you are playing, the genre, the feel, and lots of other factors.
A band I played bass with in Dallas in 2008 got to play on the same lineup as Snarky Puppy, and I got to meet Michael very briefly. He’s such a cool guy and seems EXACTLY the same as he did way back then. It’s so cool to see how far he’s come since then, and it’s all totally deserved. I look forward to seeing the awesome art he creates in the future!
Great player. Great dude.
The riff on the 59 reminds of inner city blues. The bass was giving out a natural resonance that you can hear in the tone, combined with the flat wounds it had a nice tone. I recorded inner city with garageband and this was the tone i went for. It took a bit of tweaking and in the end i was very happy with how close to a natural tone i could get using a free virtual instrument.
Don’t know much about this dude other than he can play. He seems like a cool guy. Great video.
"Everything on value on that bass have been removed", he said, knowing full well that everything of value have in fact been distilled to it's purer self, with no paint, letting the wood breathe to furthermore accentuate the tone. Not only is he a ridiculous player and composer, he is also one hell of a business man...!!!
Well most of experts say that the fundamental mellow tone comes from the old pickups who have lost magnetism over the years...so he was right, pickup was gone so that was one fundamental thing with value that was indeed removed. 🤷🏻♂️
I dig how much this dude loves bass
Isn't it funny that everybody *knows* what a P bass should sound like, and yet they're all vastly different?..
🤣🤣🤣🤣👍
There's no right or wrong with any instrument, you just need to find the right one for your playing and where you want to go with it....
Thanks for being an inspiration, Michael!! See you on tour... 😉🙏
OK but how is no one talking about the fact the Italian bass maker made a bass from a piece of wood *eaten and rotten*, meaning he had to dry it for probably like 10 years in his shop in super difficult conditions and clean it like crazy and it still looks like absolute shit, and then he gave THAT to one of the best player in the world, and he switched bass in the middle of a tour?!! That is LEGENDARY. I bet some players will ask for a worm-wood eaten bass because of this lmao
But the paths of the worms really determine how that bass will sound. It is not about tone WOOD but about tone WORMS!
Had the honor of jamming on Michael’s ‘76 P-Bass back in 2014 during a forum for my master’s program at Berklee Valencia. Played like buttah!
Michael, you are one of the main reaseans why I have started using flatwound string on my Fender 1969 P bass. This was like one month ago and ..wow, I love that sounds so much that I think that I would never go back to round on this bass. By the way, your old bases are really cool.
I much prefer the sound of flats, I run them on my Telecaster even.
@@TeleCaster66 Have you tried whats called "Ground Wound" flats? its round wounds that have been ground
down till flat, you get the same great sound of Flat but with extended sustain, for songs you need more
sustain.
Everyone one of those basses sounded INCREDIBLE.
PBass forever! They deserve you.
One of the best Bass Tales!
Agreed!
Beautiful collection! Thanks for sharing it with us.
you can tell the man spent some quality time in istanbul. bargaining skills.
Michael League living in Barcelona is a such a Michael League thing to do. lol
Love the guy.
Lovely guy, killer player and a beautiful collection!
It's astounding to me how incredibly approachable and nice Michael is. This was super nice - a glimpse into his studio! Sorry I missed the Puppies as they took a turn through North Carolina, hoping you guys come back in the fall!
its rare, i was in the Rock Music scene from 70-82 and met allot of jerks in the business, its good to keep your
feet on the ground and not let fame get to your head.
@@cliffords2315the scene has changed since you were apart of it 40-50 years ago
What an inspiring man!
So passionate.
What a lovely chap, with some lovely basses. Quality, wholesome content, love it!
i wish fender would make a signature model of your 59
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
So i can buy it!!!
Oh man, can we get isolated tracks SBL? Michael's chops are to die for.
Awesome collection of basses Michael, you and your band are very inspiring.
I’ve been playing since I was fifteen years old (now currently eligible for medicare) and this has always been an awesome source of info for moi. Thank you to y’all! mr j
That ‘59 p bass has been my dream bass since hearing it in Snarky Puppy’s rig rundown. So damn sweet!
those necks that year were perfect, i just bought a new American 50's P-Bass neck from Fender, the most
solid peice of wood for a neck ive ever used, i put it on my American Ultra P-Bass and took off the
original neck which was too much like a thin jazz neck.
Hoo boy that 52 sounds so good.
John Paul Jones has ‘52 Precision (it could very well be a ‘51 or ‘53 as well, I’m not entirely certain) and it resembles yours pretty closely! The pronounced Ash grain pattern is even similar to his! Like yours, his was stripped to natural too. No pick guard either. I’m sure you can find pics of him using it w Zeppelin out there on the net. It saw studio and stage time from ‘71-‘75. Never to be seen again after ‘75 and when he got both Alembic basses.
That’s exactly what I was thinking. In Geddy Lee’s bass book, he said he got it from a fan after a show around 70 or 71. Speaking of which, JPJ should be on an episode of Bass Tales.
…I’m still waiting for someone to write a book on JPJ. I’d say he’s very deserving of the attention, given all his achievements.
@@luvbasses5487 you are so correct. He’s one of the most underrated musicians ever. Obviously that is due to the other great musicians that he played with. But the man can play almost any instrument you can think of and he writes and composes also.
@@haydenarlington8256 he was on the road at the age of 2 w his parents who were musicians too. Robert says in one show: “John comes from a circus family...!”
@@luvbasses5487 yeah exactly. And he started doing session work at 16 I believe. Once again, he’s one of the most underrated musicians in music history in my opinion.
I have a 2018 Fender Original 60s P-bass that is actually really great. I can't even imagine how cool it would be to have a real vintage one!
Highly enjoyed dis
👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻
Maaan, damn, I want more of this 59! I can listen it to hours!
Good stuff.. intrigued by the Huber.
Don’t know who this guy - band is but it makes me very happy to see someone realizing their dream and sharing it with all of us bass lovers. 😊 '
I'm a guitar player, but the bass is the coolest!!!
My first was a 73 p bass, sunburst. Still had the cover over the puck ups and flat wound polymer covered strings that were probably the first strings ever on it. Ended up with new pick ups, bad ass bridge and a pro straighted up the neck. Wish i still had it. Only paid $100. It was 82 so it was just a guitar back then.
that bacci bass tone is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I love the sound of the single coil on the original P basses. I wish they had stayed with that.
What I find interesting is how good the 52 p bass and the Hofner sound in comparison to his awesome holy grail p basses. Along with some of his newer custom basses as well. To me that was the most surprising part of this. I'm not saying they sound better that's subjective but they definitely hold up well tone wise in these short clips of him playing
Damn, that 59 brought tears to my eyes
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
@@devinebassDoes Michael use flatwounds on his p bass?
If you live in Cataluya, then you are probably a Barca fan. One more reason to love you!
That was fun! Thanks for the tour.
I’m a fan. Period.
That red nick bass is so amazing..looks beautiful ❤️
True musical genius
I could listen to him talk about his basses all day long.😏🎸🎼🎵🎶
Very nice video. Nice tales👌🏿
Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤
This was fun. Thanks for sharing.
As I live in Lou Ferlenetto's hometown of Hamilton, it's ALWAYS nice to see someone show off a killer F bass.....or two, as in this case!
Great stuff!!! Thanks for sharing!
👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻
Damn! I need a complete tour on that studio! 😱😱😱
The king... hail!
LOL I bought the american original 50s p bass one week ago. Its an absolute superstar.
Ichanged the tyners to gotoh lightweight tho, those vintage mechanics are super neckdivy
That 52 P sounds AMAZING...
Always make your purchase decisions using your ears, well done
great bass player. I thought all the basses sounded the same :) The sound is in his hands :)
Not a bass player, but I understand :). My fave is a 2006 Ibanez SA. Stripped paint, new Seymour's, and the thinnest Wizard neck ever. My baby. Best Regards and Best Wishes!
This guy!!!!
...loved...this segment
WOW !
Really enjoyed it... Lovely basses ..
Absolute treat ❤️,,, regards from India
Troppi bassi!
Great ty.
🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
That Bacci was sooooo nice
That '52 sounds great!
Thanks 🙏
7:13 - Michael says it is a Fender Custom Shop, but it looks like the American Original '50s Precision Bass in Aztec Gold. Never seen him playing it live!
Nice stuff. 😎👌
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
I got a Squier Affinity p-bass in a pawn shop and modded it into my personal favourite. Not quite a '52 Fender, I guess but it (a) didn't cost me 4k and (b) the pawn shop actually WAS a pawn shop
Picked up a vox teardrop at my local pawn shop a few years back, vox basses have necks like broom handles and play like butter
This was a really cool video
I really hope that "lesser" pickup you were talking about wasn't a Seymour Duncan. I rock those in all my basses.
It was an 80’s EMG. He mentions it in Snarky Puppy’s episode of Rig Rundown with Premier Guitar.
on thios fender p bass there are flatwounds? I have pj bass i I really want to make it sound like this, i love it!
B
ro my whole body collapsed when heard that hollow body!!!
I wish I had the insane talent to make my bass famous
Snarky is a good description of Michael L
looking forward to Glastonbury!
❤❤❤❤❤
This moment at 4:10: Great stuff! 🤣
and they all sound good through the good old ampeg b15n lol
Michael, have you considered replacing that P52 pickup with something more original, or do you actually like the unnamable pickup?
Get an original spec 1952 single coil!
Same question: what's the pickup now? OMG that sound.
No Music Man love. :(
Great collection, though. Thanks for sharing!
Such a nice clean sound from all of them. I don't know how you choose which one to play. They all sound great! What kind of amps do you use? What kind of cables?
Ok guys, there are so many people here around who spent many grands fo r an old scratched board with a crappy old pickup, driven by an simple magnet to make the low end alive. But what is with Mikes Moogs? When did he use them instead of the old boards? How is it possible that an Bassist between so many knobs gets such an girthy sound? Please, get the miracle unveiled!
He looks 100% like thomas muller while playing bass
League makes me wanna move to Spain
that's great.. Thanksalot! but what is the single cutaway in the front..?
Vlček bass
Thank you so much !
NOW
GET PINO OVER HERE
...i died the moment michael said the pickup on the '52 was replaced...
Playing inner city blues, wind cries Mary, lol.
please do one of this with les claypool i will love to see that
Nice studio.
I don't mean to be disagreeable but Guitar Center in Nashville is NOT the unlikeliest of places to find something like that. Granted I haven't been there in like 7 years but that place was a flippin museum
What are the black strings you’re using on some of the basses? Like the nik Huber one, among others.
52 P Bass is sweet..
Well i guess in spite of the crappy lesser brand of pickup in that '52 he sure likens the sound to Elvis's music. He must not get free shit from that pickup manufacturer so in true snobbish fashion let's trash them.
I have a 1968 telecaster bass near barcelona, maybe he could be interested in...
Fat Mike I just think it would be funny (also he’s the reason why I started playing bass so also you know I’m big fan of him)
Does Mike still have the 1970's P bass in natural finish? So many good tunes recorded with the beast!
Yes, at 6:53 he mentions that his natural '76 P Bass is back at his other studio in the States.
@@Bennyplays lol I got excited and commented too quick thx!