Grassie Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Not as replaceable as the drummer - he's getting on me tits... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I almost forgot, I am a replacement at the moment in another band. Got a phone call from a friend a couple of days ago saying their bass player had quit and would I step in. Don't know if it's permanent, but I'll go along for the ride . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I play in three bands and fortunately I'm replaceable in all of them because we, including the deps, are professionals. 'Fortunately' because there are sometimes diary clashes within the three bands and sometimes a family commitment intrudes - and sometimes I break my arm, as just gone by. We manage but we have this A-Team thing: however good the dep, the band never sounds as good as when all the regulars are together which, fortunately, is most of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mokl Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Replace me playing - wise? I wouldn't think that would be a big problem... I am the best-looking one in the band though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blademan_98 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 It's my band...... probably get replaced next week now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blademan_98 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1329416018' post='1542228'] There's a bit more to me than just my natural charm, wit and sophistication you know... [/quote] You're not Bass player by any chance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMX Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Reasonably simple to replace. Though I rate my chops, my music theory knowledge is tosh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 [quote name='Blademan_98' timestamp='1329428466' post='1542490'] You're not Bass player by any chance? [/quote] Well I have been known to dabble from time to time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Bass players are rare round these parts. Particularly those who can play in time, have their own gear, and have a good tone. Those to me are must-have qualities in any serious bassist. I should probably be more easily replacable than I actually am! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 [quote name='EmmettC' timestamp='1329417305' post='1542257'] When is your next gig in Edinburgh? [/quote] 24th Jan teatime slot at whistlebinkies with the Houserockers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmettC Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I'll try an get in for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I think if I was replaced in my folk band 1/2 the songs would change completely & 1/2 would just get lost/replaced & it would then become a different band. Me & the singer do the majority of the songwriting & each person writes their own parts. If I left BigRoom & joined/started another band I'd probably take a few of the songs & basslines with me (do covers of them as such). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I assumed I was easy to replace, but having recently told the covers band i'm leaving, I have realised that without me the singer will never find the venue in his van, and will continue to wire up the PA wrong and not be double checked before there is no sound. Also the rest of the band will have to cue themselves in on bits they can't remember without my nods. And they may not know to not turn up most of the drummers mics in the PA, they are just there to make him happy. My replacement is a member here, and I wish him the very best of luck (and a map) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 [quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1329473766' post='1542903'] And they may not know to not turn up most of the drummers mics in the PA, they are just there to make him happy. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 It seems to me that there are two things at work here. While to majority of us are fairly eaily replaceable if the band simply want someone to play the right low notes at the right time in the right order, it's all the other non-bass-playing things that we do that make us invaluable. Also any change in personnel will change the dynamic and sound of the band. No matter how similar the new member is in technical ability to the musician they are replacing it will never be exactly the same. Some bands are able to embrace this change and build on it. Others never cope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
achknalligewelt Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I've just had a kid, and so am on a hiatius from my band. However, I saw our drummer in town this weekend, and asked him how my dep, an old mate of our guitarist who I didn't knw at all, was going. He's been a musician for forty years, apparently, and a pro at that. I was apprehensive that I'd been replaced all too easily. I'm a self-taught amateur with a taste for being a bit too loud. A proper bassist of the old school would walk all over me. "Erm, you see," he started. This is it, I thought, I was going to get the sack. "He got drunk and mucked up all of the second set. I can't work with him at all. We need you back, mate!" Felt pretty good... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Having just quit my band, there is obviously a part of me that hopes that they will recognise (in searching for my replacement) how committed, flexible, team-minded and friendly I was. Truth is, though, my bass lines were very easy and even a DB player of modest ability should be able to replace me without much difficulty. Its the non-playing elements I think they will miss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 [quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1329818723' post='1547692'] Having just quit my band, there is obviously a part of me that hopes that they will recognise (in searching for my replacement) how committed, flexible, team-minded and friendly I was. Truth is, though, my bass lines were very easy and even a DB player of modest ability should be able to replace me without much difficulty. Its the non-playing elements I think they will miss. [/quote] Got anything lined up Mr C? You can always reform Sensation=blue/grey........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulypbass Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 i think everyone at one time or another things about being replaced or if there good enough for the band. The band i'm in is with my mates so if i got replaced or another member did then it be like loosing a mate. Personally i think the drummer and guitarist are good at what they do and i would be the easyest to replace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shizznit Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 [quote name='achknalligewelt' timestamp='1329818099' post='1547682'] I've just had a kid, and so am on a hiatius from my band. However, I saw our drummer in town this weekend, and asked him how my dep, an old mate of our guitarist who I didn't knw at all, was going. He's been a musician for forty years, apparently, and a pro at that. I was apprehensive that I'd been replaced all too easily. I'm a self-taught amateur with a taste for being a bit too loud. A proper bassist of the old school would walk all over me. "Erm, you see," he started. This is it, I thought, I was going to get the sack. "He got drunk and mucked up all of the second set. I can't work with him at all. We need you back, mate!" Felt pretty good... [/quote] I can relate to that. I moved to the US for just over a year and the band I was playing for before I left the UK replaced me with 2 different players within that time. When they heard I was back in the country they wanted me back in because the guys that they brought in struggled to play my lines. I found that a bit odd because I thought that my bass lines weren't that difficult to play and the first guy they hired was way more suited and skilled to that style of music than I was. I even emailed them tabs when I was over there! When I met the singer he said that it was the 'feel' that was missing. Technical ability is one thing, but every musician has their own musical voice and character and sometimes that can't be replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayben Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 There very few decent bass players in my area, so the bands I'm in would have difficulty finding a bass player that a) is local and can actually play the material. I have been having doubts about the metal band though, since last week I've been very self-critical about my ability to play the songs, and where I fit in with the rest of the band personality-wise. Added to the fact that I contribute very little to the band musically - most of the songs are written by the drummer and guitarist together. So.. If there was more talent around, I have no doubt whatsoever that I'd be replaceable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 [quote name='silddx' timestamp='1329399878' post='1541850'] ....If you had to replace yourself by auditioning new bass players for your band, do you think that would be an easy thing to do?.... [/quote] Write the songs and you might be safe but the reality is that 99% of players in bands are replaceable. I know better players than most of the guys in my bands but that's not the point. A friend once said to me that you can always find someone better. You just have to know when to stop looking. I have been dumped in favour of the dep and depped for players who were then dumped in favour of me. I have just quit a band because I was being messed about and they didn't bat an eyelid. That's life. You learn from every experience, lick your wounds and move on. I play like me, that's all I can do. I’m quite flexible but I can’t play everything so I just try to be the best round peg in a round hole. The other stuff I do is to always try to sound better than the competition, know all the numbers I'm supposed to know and give every gig 100%, even if there is only one man and a dog in the audience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 (edited) I'd be hard to replace - I'm the only band member with a vehicle large enough to cart the PA around... Edited February 21, 2012 by simon1964 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetKing Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Talent-wise I'm sure I could be easily replaced since I only started playing bass to join our band (used to play drums). However the band had tried other bass players before but couldn't find anyone that fitted in personality, age etc. These types of things are very important to how a band gets along. Talent is only part of a much bigger equation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I've always been in covers bands so obviously I'm quite replaceable, I'd be slightly delusional to think otherwise. Curiously though of all the genuine gigging bands I've been in I've actually only been replaced in one of them, shortly followed by 2 other band members from what I later heard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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