The History Of the Bass Guitar
The History of The Bass Guitar
The history of the bass guitar, also known as the electric bass or bass, is an interesting journey that spans more than a century.
While the roots of this instrument date back centuries, it wasn’t until the early 1900s that the ideas and designs for the modern bass guitar began to take shape.
The true bass revolution kicked off when electronic technology and amplification emerged in the middle of the 20th century.
Remarkably, it was one of the few instruments originally crafted with amplification in mind.
In this article, we will embark on a time-traveling adventure. We will explore the history of the bass guitar, charting its progress from its early days to the cutting-edge instruments we have today.
The Invention of the Bass Guitar
The precursor to the contemporary bass guitar traces its roots back to the double bass, a towering, upright instrument cherished in orchestras and jazz ensembles.
However, due to its unwieldy size, the double bass faced challenges in portability. It also struggled to match the amplified volume of the electric Les Paul guitar.
In the late 19th century, efforts were made to craft smaller, more manageable versions of the double bass, referred to as the “bass violin” and “bull fiddle”.
While these scaled-down instruments were easier to transport, they still grappled with meeting the volume demands of evolving music.
“Consequently, throughout the 20th century, double bass players sought ways to achieve greater projection.
Luthiers worked tirelessly to craft a more powerful yet lightweight alternative to the double bass.
This pursuit ultimately led to the invention of the bass guitar.
In 1910, Gibson introduced the inaugural acoustic bass. Although it functioned without an amplifier, it provided a crucial solution for musicians’ needs at the time.
History of the Bass Guitar: The Emergence of Electric Bass (1930s–1940s)
In the 1930s, American musician and inventor Paul Tutmarc envisioned the concept of the electric bass.
He brought his idea to life with the creation of the Model 736 Bass Fiddle, which was manufactured and distributed by the Audiovox Manufacturing Company from 1935 onwards.
This groundbreaking instrument boasted a solid body made of black walnut, four strings, and a single pickup.
It also had a scale length of thirty and a half inches (775 millimeters) and an ebony fingerboard with 16 frets.
During this initial production phase, approximately 100 of these instruments were crafted.
Additionally, Audiovox offered a complementary “Model 236” bass amplifier to complement the innovative bass guitar.
History of the Bass Guitar: Diverse Designs and Manufacturers (1950s)
In the 1950s, several other companies joined the venture of manufacturing bass guitars.
It was during this period that Leo Fender and George Fullerton made a significant stride by developing the first mass-produced electric bass guitar.
This innovation included the addition of frets, which greatly improved the accuracy of pitch for players.
This enhancement made it much easier for guitarists to transition to this new instrument.
The inaugural modern bass, known as the Precision Bass or P Bass, rolled off the production line in October 1951 under what would later become Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.
The P Bass boasted an ash body, a 20-fret maple neck, a 34-inch scale length, and a single pickup.
Since its inception, the P Bass has undergone various modifications, with alterations in size and pickup arrangements.
In tandem with these advancements, the Kay Musical Instrument Company initiated the production of the K162 in 1952.
In 1953, Gibson Guitar Corporation, which later became Gibson Brands, Inc., introduced the very first short-scale violin-shaped electric bass, later renamed the EB-1.
This innovative bass featured a compact 30.5-inch scale length, a solid mahogany body in the shape of a violin, and a unique adjustable end pin.
This allowed musicians to play the instrument upright, akin to an upright bass, as well as horizontally, like a guitar.
History of the Bass Guitar: 1955–1959
The year 1956 saw the release of the Danelectro Longhorn, while at the “Musikmesse Frankfurt” trade fair in Germany, the Höfner 500/1 violin-shaped bass made its debut.
Crafted using traditional violin-making techniques by Walter Höfner, a skilled second-generation violin luthier, this bass gained fame. It became popularly known as the “Beatle bass” due to its association with Paul McCartney.
Nevertheless, by 1957, Fender’s Precision Bass underwent further refinements.
Its design now closely resembles the iconic Fender Stratocaster, featuring beveled body edges for enhanced comfort. Additionally, the pickup underwent a transformation, adopting a split coil design.
In addition to these developments, 1957 marked the introduction of Rickenbacker’s Model 4000.
This was a groundbreaking bass that introduced a neck-through-body design, integrating the neck as an integral part of the body’s wood.
Not long after, in 1958, the Burns London Supersound made its debut.
The Fender Bass emerged as a game-changer for performing musicians.
Compared to the bulky and weighty upright bass, which had been the primary bass instrument in popular music up until the 1940s, the bass guitar offered portability.
Furthermore, when amplified, it proved to be less susceptible to unwanted audio feedback compared to acoustic basses.
In 1958, Gibson Guitar replaced the EB-1 with the maple-arched-top EB-2.
The Gibson catalog described the EB-2 as a “hollow-body electric bass with a Bass/Baritone push button for two distinct tonal characteristics.” The EB-2 brought a new dimension to the bass guitar repertoire.
The year 1959 saw the introduction of the more conventionally designed EB-0 Bass.
It closely resembled a Gibson SG in appearance (although the earliest models featured a slab-sided body shape more akin to the double-cutaway Les Paul Special).
Both the Fender and Gibson versions utilized bolt-on and set necks for their bass guitars.
Explosion of Innovation (1960s) 1960s
Amidst the surge in rock music’s popularity during the 1960s, numerous new manufacturers joined the ranks of those producing electric basses.
Notable names like Yamaha, Teisco, and Guyatone joined the musical instrument landscape.
In this dynamic period of 1960, Fender unveiled the Deluxe Model, which would later be known as the Jazz Bass.
Setting it apart was its relatively slender neck, allowing for swift movement along its length—an attribute highly prized in the realm of jazz bass playing.
Moreover, it offered a wide tonal spectrum, achieved through the incorporation of two single-coil pickups, the tones of which could be expertly blended using dials on the body.
Introducing a “Gibson-scale” instrument—departing from the 34-inch (864 mm) scale of the Jazz and Precision. Then, Fender brought forth the Mustang Bass, featuring a shorter 30-inch (762 mm) scale length.
Additionally, the Fender VI, a six-string bass, was tuned one octave lower than the standard guitar tuning. This unique instrument made its debut in 1961 and briefly gained favor, notably being championed by Jack Bruce of Cream.
In 1961, Gibson unveiled the EB-3, boasting a shorter 30.5-inch (775 mm) scale length, a feature also favored by Bruce.
This model was equipped with a distinctive “mini-humbucker” positioned at the bridge.
Notably, Gibson basses were characterized by a shorter scale length of 30.5 inches, as opposed to the Precision.
It wasn’t until 1963 that Gibson released the Thunderbird, their first bass featuring the standard 34-inch (864 mm) scale length.
Note
In the 1960s, the EB3 bass guitar gained immense popularity among British bands. Jack Bruce, the bassist of Cream, was known for his unique style, which he closely linked with the short-scale EB3s he used.
This instrument from the sixties was recognized for its one-piece mahogany body and neck. It also had a relatively compact size, just slightly larger than a same-era SG guitar, and a distinctive sound.
Even in the early seventies, it remained a favored choice among musicians.
Invention of Fret-Less Bass
In 1966, Ampeg made waves with the introduction of the AUB-1, marking the inception of the fretless bass.
The original AUB-1 incorporated a unique “mystery” pickup concealed within the body beneath the bridge and utilized gut strings.
While this design aimed to replicate the feel of an upright bass on a horizontal instrument, it resulted in lower signal output and occasionally produced unusual overtones.
Eventually, Ampeg made a pivotal adjustment, replacing the mystery pickup with a magnetic one.
As the late 1960s unfolded, a new wave of innovation emerged with the introduction of eight-string basses.
These instruments featured four octave-paired courses, akin to a 12-string guitar. One such example was the Hagström H8.
1970s
In 1972, Alembic revolutionized the world of electric bass guitars by establishing what would later be known as “boutique” or “high-end” instruments.
These exclusive, tailor-made basses were favored by renowned musicians like Phil Lesh, Stanley Clarke, and Jack Casady. They boasted distinctive designs and meticulously crafted wood bodies.
Additionally, they featured groundbreaking construction techniques, including multi-laminate neck-through-body construction and graphite necks.
Alembic also led the way in integrating onboard electronics for pre-amplification and equalization.
This innovation not only increased the instrument’s output volume but also provided players with a wider range of tonal control.
They could amplify or attenuate specific frequency ranges. This resulted in a more refined overall frequency response that encompassed both low and high registers.
In 1976, the UK-based company Wal embarked on the production of their own line of active basses.
Two years prior, in 1974, Music Man Instruments, co-founded by Tom Walker, Forrest White, and Leo Fender, unveiled the StingRay.
This bass marked a significant milestone as the first widely produced instrument with active (powered) electronics integrated directly into the body.
Basses equipped with active electronics often feature a preamplifier and knobs for boosting or cutting the low and high frequencies.
During the mid-1970s, the introduction of five-string basses, incorporating an extra-low “B” string, reshaped the bass landscape.
In 1975, bassist Anthony Jackson collaborated with luthier Carl Thompson to craft a six-string bass guitar.
These strings are tuned from low to high as B0, E1, A1, D2, G2, and C3. This innovation introduced both a low B string and a high C string to expand the instrument’s tonal range.
1980s-1990s
In the mid-20th century, a wave of innovation swept through bass guitar design.
Instruments with five, six, and even eight strings emerged, each featuring unique materials and neck styles.
The 1980s in particular witnessed a surge in technological advancements, including new pickups, volume and tone controls, and improved nuts.
Manufacturers recognized the diverse preferences of musicians and sought to cater to a wide range of tastes.
This era saw a surge in creativity from composers, leading to the development of various bass guitar variations.
Some models were even tuned an octave lower than standard, while 5-string and 6-string basses gained popularity in Latin, jazz, funk, and metal music.
Flashy bass guitar designs, like the iconic Gibson Thunderbird favored by Motley Crue, became emblematic of the energetic metal scene in the 1980s.
With nearly a century of history, the bass guitar has evolved into distinct sub-categories. These include electric basses, electro-acoustic basses, fretless basses, and extended-range basses (ERB) with 5 or 6 strings.
In the 1990s, Gibson solidified its position as a leading brand in the alternative rock scene. This happened when Nirvana’s bassist, Krist Novoselic, relied on Gibson RD bass guitars for the groundbreaking album “Nevermind.”
Today, bassists have a wealth of options when it comes to amplification. Their choices range from combo amps to heads, and they also need to decide between tubes or transistors.
It’s important to note that bass amps are tailored to handle specific frequencies and differ from those used for guitars.
2000s
Over the years, the bass guitar has seen significant advancements, spanning from string technology to various functional improvements.
In 2011, Gibson paid tribute to the twentieth anniversary of Nirvana’s Nevermind album with the release of the Krist Novoselic Signature RD Bass Guitar.
While classic wood-based electric bass designs remain highly popular, we’re now witnessing the emergence of innovative, future-oriented models.
For instance, Stash has introduced a bass guitar made entirely from stainless steel. This stainless steel guitar features a tubular neck to reduce strain on the hand.
This cutting-edge design ensures the instrument remains in tune, regardless of temperature changes.
It’s safe to say that with the continuous march of technology, we can expect some truly unique bass guitars to grace stages in concerts over the coming years.
Final Note
As we conclude our journey through the history of the bass guitar, it’s clear that this instrument has come a long way.
From its early days as an acoustic prototype, the bass guitar has undergone revolutionary developments in electronics and design.
Each innovation and modification have contributed to creating the diverse array of bass guitars we see today.
These instruments are tailored to suit the unique preferences and styles of musicians around the globe.
With a rich legacy spanning over a century, the bass guitar continues to be a driving force in shaping the sound of contemporary music.
In fact, it has left an indelible mark on the world of popular music.
It indeed enabled musicians from various genres, such as jazz bassists and the Beatles, to play with greater volume and portability.
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