No bottom-enders?

[a.j.]

I was wondering how many bass players we have on the forum. I've seen a couple of midi-backed bands that also include a bass player, but not that often. I'm currently self teaching bass - you're never to old to learn (besides, there's not much call for a classical viola player in our two-piece cover band - unless we do Dixie Chicks stuff, and you can't play and sing at the same time). Ther are some interesting coordination challenges in being a front singer and playing a bass-line, which I hope will become easier with time and practice.

Our current repertoire of midi tracks is coming in very handy for practicing in the spare room, but I must say, there's nothing like getting together with other musicians to see how much you have learned (or need to).

Gearwise, I have two basses - both 4-string. A Blade Tetra Standard (Jazz bass style), that I bought as my first student instrument ('cause I loved the neck and couldn't justify a Fender at the time), a Fender 60th Ann. Precision (my pride and joy), a Hartke Kickback 15 combo and a 70's Fender Bassman head and cab.

We also have a couple of bass-related restoration projects on the go. One is an old 50 watt Elk head that is being restored, and the other one is the rebuilding of a 60's Telecaster bass - originally butterscotch (all maple neck), that has a chequered history. It was butchered about 20 years ago by a music shop trying to fit a non-standard pickup (never found out why). It belonged to a someone that my husband played in a band with, and he lost interest in it when they dug a hole in it, and actually cut the scratch plate in half to get the pickup in. He sold it for next to nothing to a guy who hand-painted it matt black, and then didn't pay him. He was in the process of moving back to the UK, and ended up giving it to my husband, who retrived it from "paint it black" boy. Fender have been really great about sourcing an original spec pickup and scratch plate. It's turning into a long-term project, but one day, we hope to have it close to it's original glory.

My better half is a guitarist - and like all of 'em I'm sure he'd love me to tell you about his gear (from a lifetime of being in the right place at the right time), but that's a whole thread by itself...

[mark]

I used to have a fender Bass many years ago which i gave to a classical guitarist to learn for my group. When we playe d out he was the most talked about Bass player. A very unusual Style. I gave him the bass. I do play a little myself but prefer my trusty 6 string.
Regards
Mark

[Steptoe]

Hi a.j.

This is no reflection on you but Bass Players are a strange bunch!

Must be some kind of 6 string envy ;D

[rockabilly]

Hi Steptoe...........Didn't know you played bass (hee heee heee).

Hey a.j. keep with the bass - I've been looking for a bass player for 3 years and so decided to buy one - a 3/4 Double bass that I try to slap. Also got a nice yamaha bass..... but like Steptoe, I'll stick to the trusty 6 strings.

Tot siens

[dixon]

Hi AJ I am glad to see bass players also performing with midi. My main insturment is guitar but I play bass and drums as well. What does that make me (Tri-polar)? I like the Fender bassman cabinet, I found a old Peavey tweed 80s with 4 Jensens only it's stereo (I like that). Back to the point, a live bass player adds a whole different atmosphere on stage and sound. One band in West Virginia a 3piece with a vocalist uses midi for all the strings organs brass & woodwinds they sound good just not my style. Keep playing and above all have a real good time.

[a.j.]

Hey Steptoe,

According to a couple of violin players I know, as a viola player, I'm apparently already suffering from E string envy..... But I must say, going form the viola to a bass is like going from being a nerd a lager lout. Great fun.

I have met my share of strange bass players myself, but then again, I know a couple of sax players who are definitely not playing on the same page as everyone else. They're both brilliant musicians, but..... there's just something else.

Thanks for the encouragement Dixon, we had a band play at our company Christmas function last year. The vocalist was in the South African idols last three, and her dad (also in the band) is a great bass player. He's usually the first choice for most of the orchestras here, and for TV work. Anyway, back to the point, they did a really slick show with live drums, keyboards and bass, and had a midi track running in the background. If figured if it was good enough for him, it's good enough for me to aspire to.

[Steptoe]

Your right a.j. sax players are definately a strange breed!!

[bri]

Hi a.j.
If you're looking for a coordination challenge between playing and vox, here's one - although it's not singing lead; just summat to get your head (and fingers) round for practice.
Play the bass line to "Higher and Higher" and sing the backing vocal...it's a swine. At least, I thought so when I played bass, 40 odd years ago. If you can get round that, you should be able to play anything (unless I was just not very good at playing bass).
Regards
Bri

[a.j.]

I'll give it a try sometime.

Incidentally, this is my first post from my mobile phone - old dogs and all that. Portable boredom relief.

[shezza]

Hi aj, I am a bass player and proud of it,I had my first bass back in 1967 a Watkins rapier,from WEM in London and since then, you name it I've had it, I've been through Fenders,Rickenbackers,Hofner's and all the makes in between.
I had an original violin bass it cost 62gns, And now I have a Hofner contemporary violin bass. Although being a solo artist,(Keyboard Vocalist it seems to be the only way to make a living in the music business) I hate being stuck behind a keyboard so in the new year I will probably go on to bass with the mini disc's
that I make up from the midi files.Lets face it when you play the keyboard with midi files you can read the punters lips "saying he's not playing that keyboard because there's drums and bass and strings" etc. they don't realize we can only play one instrument at a time so it may as well be the bass. Anyway I just miss the bass like mad.
A band can always do without a keyboard,or a guitar but you take away the bass and just listen to the sound ugh.....Merry Christmas.

[a.j.]

Hi Bri. Just listened to the Jackie Wilson version of Higher and Higher - NOW I remember how the harmomy goes. I see what you mean...

I know Jackie Wilson wasn't a motown artist (changing the subject), I love listening to motown music, James Jamerson left a fantastic legacy.

Hi Shezza, it seems that as long as the public can see someone playing an instrument (preferably something that looks like a guitar), they don't think about where the rest of the sound is coming from. I used to work with a live band - the transition to midi files was quite a mindshift and even though my husband plays guitar, it still feels a bit like karaoke to me, which is why I'm so keen to add some bass.

Thanks for the encouragement guys (not like I really need it though - I'm loving the challenge of a new instrument). Have a fab Christmas y'all.

[a.j.]

I've just been corrected about Jackie Wilson - he did not actually sign with Motown, but he was from Detroit and Reet Petite was written by Berry Gordy (then unknown)

[bri]

Hiya a.j.
I'm sure you'll get your fingers and voice round it with a bit of perseverance.
I also used to play in a band, then a trio, then a duo and finally on my own until I jacked it in. I played guitar originally, then bass with a soul band and finally keyboards, which I suppose really I started out on, due to my parents sending me to piano lessons - which I hated. I s'pose playing those other instuments got me really interested in the challenge of keys and after that I went into backing cabaret for several years until, as say, I hit the road on my own. Enjoyed it though; at least for a while, until the audiences' disinterest finally got to me. Then it was Final Bow, Thankyou and Goodnight. I just put songs on the members' stage here now.
Regards and have a great Xmas
Bri

[bladez]

I curently do a duo show with an old friend of mine who plays bass. We have been in bands and different projects on and off for the past 15 years. I was doing a solo show and have expanded it to the duo and I got asked one day by a musical friend why I chose to add bass as my second instrument. His argument was that bass doesn't add anything to the mix.
My reply was that because we had a history he was the only person that could work with me lol
I have tried to get him to play some guitar in parts of the night but he says that he feels the most comfortable on bass. I drive him nuts by doing new songs and springing them on him at gigs, we don't rehearse at all, and he is the only muscian I have found that I can do that too and he pulls it off no problem.
As far as being a front singer and playing bass, just watch some early Police clips or The Knack, My Sharona. Good ole Oz seems to have had a lot of lead singers playing bass as well....Spy V Spy, etc

[a.j.]

Hi Bri,

I worked a lot with a club/pub band at the end of the 80's/ early 90s - I know what you mean about the indifference - it can get be soul destroying. This is a whole discussion thread on it's own. I'm lucky enough to know some really good local pro musicians - when we go and watch them, I like to watch the audiences as well - I'm sure that most of the time they have no idea how good some of these people are.


Bladez, you're right - a while ago VH1 showed some early Beat Club videos of the Police - it does my head in to watch.

I was lucky enough to go and see Fourplay when they were here about a year ago. Nathan East has been one of my bass heroes for quite a while, but to see him on stage was a real treat. He makes it look so easy (they all do).

[bri]

Hi a.j.
In 1985 I spent 3 months in Norway as a duo - myself on keys with a drummer. Gorgeous place, lovely people. I'd flit there 2moz. I don't know if it would still be the same today, but back then you could play disco and they'd all be up dancing. you could follow it up immediately with a polka and there'd be even more people up bopping (and don't forget, they were already all up). On our last night there, the drummer turned to me and said, "You do realise what we're going back to?" Boy, was he right. It was Christmas and we couldn't even get the audience to clap, let alone dance. Needless to say, the polkas were straight out of the window. The funny thing is, I do miss playing...but not THAT much.
Regards
Bri

[ironbaden]

as far as putting live bass in a midi situation.... its awesome.... there is something about the sound of live bass that the sequencer just hasn't quite copied. ;D

[a.j.]

Oh Bri - bring back to the good old days. I feel a venting session coming on.

You know, a few years ago, playing (and recording) music was restricted to real musicians who had to have their talent recognised by someone else in order to get anywhere. Now, with it being relatively inexpensive to set up a more than half decent digital recording studio, CD writing, and the advances in midi (sorry, I'm really midi bashing today), that anybody and his dog has the ability to masquerade as a musician, and mediocrity has become the norm. Unfortunately, the public is largely unable to differentiate. There is some serious no-talent playing the circuit here and getting paid for it.

[a.j.]

Hi Ironbaden,

I love my basses, don't forget that apart from adding that essential live sound, it also looks really cool!

I should have done this 20 years ago...

[bladez]

I have to agree with you aj, I have been playing in bands for years before finances forced me to look at midi. The problem I see here with midi solo/duos is that it's relatively easy to get started.
Go to the local music store and throw down a few grand for an Ashton PA package and a few par cans, get on the net and download a few free midis (no sence paying for anything like quality!!!) Do little or no mastering of the tracks, no rehearsal and go get gigs by being the cheapest act in town. When playing have no stage presence, performance or tangible talent.

When I started doing midi I wanted to stay true to all that I had learnt in my band playing days...how to treat an audience, how to perform a song instead of mearly singing it. I spend hours on each track getting it to sound the way I want. I treat it just like a band, if I would audition 10 drummers to get one that can play what I want in a professional manner then I want the same from my midi drummer.

There are true muscians out there doing midi, but they are getting outnumbered by the wannabees out to make a fast buck. The trouble is these guys will do it for a few months then drop out saying that it's too hard and you can't make a buck out of it. (these are the guys who dropped the price in the first place to get started!!)

All this seems to be dumbing down the audience, they don't seem to be as picky as before. There are also a lot less venues and more entertainment choices (inhome dvd entertainment systems, video games, etc etc) taking crowds away from traditional venues.

I remeber years ago when I first started I was given some advice from the local music shop owner ( who was also a great player and had a great band) We were discussing playing and pricing and he said that we should all stick together and set realistic prices and not undercut each other. I said what if I don't think I'm worth the amount of money your asking and he just said, go back to your garage and practice untill you are.
Really can't agrue with that.