Lowender

We've all seen the chops and the speed and gymnastics. And then there are those who claim a bass should stick to the role of playing bass. And then there's this. A couple of examples of musical creative bass playing that suite the instrument perfectly. And both instances where the instrumentation is very bare. An inventive use of the bass taking on the role of string quartet. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2E-F5sToKU[/media] And I don't even like this song but love what these guys did with it. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8QPXKUOYTk[/media]

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/mighty-mite-mm2703-jazz-bass-replacement-body--burst-finish

Maybe because they don't look as cool beat up? Rics need to be slick and shiny and space age! lol I have a 1979 Maple 4001 Ric that I'm considering selling and all the books say it's worth 3K (dollars) but I see them selling closer to 2K -- about the cost of a new one -- which makes sense since I can't tell much of a difference, though I'm no expert on Rics. Any ideas?

I do the same thing and will look for other people's covers in order to hear the bass better. EVERYTHING has been covered! A really cool track is "No Opportunity Necessary" by Yes.

Love Harris. Amazing musician. And Maiden were a great band up until they added a 3rd guitarist.

Questioning one's self is a part of being an artist. Growth is a matter of addressing the flaws but not letting them overcome you. As far as the final outcome, that is perspective and that's always in flux.

Ain't working for me.

2 bars of four, one bar of 3.

I didn't get form your post why you should change anything. Because some famous guys use only one bass? Some famous guys uses dozens. Who cares? Do what makes you happy.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1363885307' post='2018951'] I do deny it. .................... Denial can be very comforting. .............. It's hard to tell that you stopped. ...................... Go figure. I thought I was just explaining myself. [/quote] ...

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1363827161' post='2018395'] Definitely, not the decent ones. If you're a good enough player then you can expect to get calls from people who will want to work with you regardless of the instrument you're using. Engineers and producers may have their own ideas about what kind of bass they'd like you to play, but the good ones won't discriminate providing the end result is there, that's their job. I know countless players that use cheap instruments in professional environments with big names that you wouldn't dream of pulling from a gig for the sake of their choice of guitar/bass. [/quote] You can be a fine player but if there's a problem in the studio getting a sound an they see you're using a $200 bass they may make assumptions. This is simply human nature. You can deny it all you want. I learned long ago to stop trying to convince people to change their way of thinking. It's easier to just avoid the potential problem. I'm not advocating the use of a fake decal because of it, but it is a viable reason.

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1363824246' post='2018369'] Then talk me through your thinking on this one. Here's mine. For starters, 99% of an audience don't give a rat's ass about what bass you're using full stop, and in fact depending on the audience they probably aren't even aware of your musical function in a live situation. Those that do care/might care about what bass you're using and might turn their noses up at the fact you're using a cheap/inferior/smalltime brand instrument (delete as applicable) are so low down on the scale by this stage that not only is their presumption totally ignorant, it actually pales into almost total insignificance. [/quote] I wasn't talking about the audience. But there are musicians, engineers, band leaders, who will all make assumptions based on what they see. I'm not saying showing up with a Squier is a deal breaker, but some people may put a strike against you. So if someone wants to change the decal for that reason, I say it's no big deal as long as he doesn't try to sell it as such. You may feel those people are insignificant but if you're looking to establish yourself as a professional musician, every bit of an edge counts. That's the way the world works. But if you're just doing it as a hobby, then yeah, it makes no difference, in which case he can put whatever decal he wants on his bass. It's his bass.

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1363393188' post='2012375'] Not even close to being true. [/quote] Incorrect.

A lot of guys are going back to a 4. I use both but find I only need (or want) a note lower than a low E on very, very few occasions. For the rest of the night that B is just in my way! Of course , it's a personal choice -- even in regard to the people you work with. I've known engineers and band mates who want that 5er, while there were others who just hated seeing anyone pull more than a 4 string instrument out of the case. (Probably from too many fusion cats and guys playing in the sub basement too much).

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1361558289' post='1987631'] Trust someone who knows all about this after 35 years of fitting replacement bridges to Fenders (mostly Badass) The best option is to go for the Gotoh 201. Does everything the badass will do; direct replacement for Fender/Squier stock bridge, and sounds every bit as good as much more expensive models. [/quote] As someone having done the same I couldn't disagree more. The bridge on the Squier is fine. Replacing the bridge would be like replacing a Honda steering wheel on a Cadillac steering wheel. You just don't have to.

People hear with their eyes. Nobody will be impressed that you sound good on a cheap bass. They'll just assume you're an amateur for not having a better instrument. If you like the Fender logo, put it on. Just don't try to sell it as such.

The one that began Heavy Metal -- and has never been topped. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5yR5XhCIeg

I treat cover songs like I'm the bassist in the band. What would I do that fits? Some guys play all over songs that they don't like. That shows disrespect for the music and the audience. Some of those basslines on hit songs were very thought-out and fit the music well and I feel lucky to be able to present that and get paid for it. If a part is sub par, I try to make it better. That's what music is about. No sense hating what you set out to do.

[quote name='Kes' timestamp='1328493660' post='1528126'] I've always hated 'hey Jude' can't stand the song. a few years ago when in a covers band that played gigs about once a week. we all hated the song and so never played it. Got asked as a special request from the person who booked us, so learnt it, played it once or twice during practice, played it once on stage for them and NEVER AGAIN. Ugh, horrible horrible and i'm surprised its not on more people's lists... [/quote] A great song, but not so much fun to play -- like many standard ballads. But hey. that's out job, right?

[quote name='eddiehoffmann' timestamp='1328483467' post='1528004'] Many, but the one I really hate is 'You Can Call Me All', by Paul Simon. I never liked Paul Simon, but the drummer in one of my bands is a massive fan and on top of it he wants to sing this song. I already told everybody I absolutely hate it, but I guess the more I say it, the more they want to play it, so I gave up. [/quote] That classic "backwards" slap fill is a challenge and everyone loves it when it's pulled off well. That's a favorite moment for me.

[quote name='Thor' timestamp='1328479706' post='1527914'] Stuck in the Middle - "Well I don't know why I came here tonight" - have played this in 3 out of the last 5 bands I've played with (each time through gritted teeth). [/quote] I'm surprised. The original version has a very cool bass part.

[quote name='Blademan_98' timestamp='1328477043' post='1527852'] Build me up buttercup...... hate it [/quote] Great tune. Always look forward to playing it.

[quote name='Dave Tipping' timestamp='1328476184' post='1527819'] ... It's got to be Black eyed peas "tonights gonna be a good night". It winds me up some nights you nail a bit of rush etc. Which gets little response ... Then you repeat the same four notes along with a sample and the crowd go wild! It leaves me hating the world! Ha ha [/quote] I play the intro on that one as a 2 handed tap. It makes it fun.

You're in a band and don't know what to play? That's like opening a restaurant and not knowing what food to serve.

Not a fan of either but, as played out as it is , "Living on a Prayer is a great tune, but they didn't write it and it's questionable if the band even played it. And a "Love Bites" is a great song. Try singing that one and get back to me on how well you knock out that "cheesy" vocal.