keefbaker Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1456133683' post='2985581'] Yes, why would anyone care? If I said to someone in possession of, for example, a Fender Precision bass 'so, you're the bass guitarist' and they replied 'no, I am a bassist, it's not a guitar', I would think 'what a pompous twat!' [/quote] Well, I own an actual bass guitar, the Fender Bass VI. That is actually a bass guitar with it's etymology in the guitar. The traditional Bass Guitar is a cross between a traditional Contrabass and a guitar with it's etymology more in contrabass than guitar. So if I get called Bass Guitarist the pedant in me silently winces and I don't show it. I say, "yes" because otherwise, you will indeed, look like a knob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Musician. That's whats on my tax returns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1456133683' post='2985581'] Yes, why would anyone care? If I said to someone in possession of, for example, a Fender Precision bass 'so, you're the bass guitarist' and they replied 'no, I am a bassist, it's not a guitar', I would think 'what a pompous twat!' [/quote] This. Unfortunately playing an instrument of some sort & being a pompous twat all too often go hand in hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Bass player. But I don't really care. I'm more worried that someone will find out I'm a fraud and that I really have no idea what I'm doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameronj279 Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 I usually just say I play bass. Either of the above work though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 A double bass player. Sometimes a jazz double bass player, but that's a bit ponderous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 I actually don't care what we call it or ourselves but here's the US Patent for a BASS GUITAR ... ... and another one doesn't even use the word BASS ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Musician! I played guitar for years, then I started on bass. After a few years playing bass in bands I became a musician. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 [quote name='keefbaker' timestamp='1456134253' post='2985589'] Well, I own an actual bass guitar, the Fender Bass VI ... [/quote] The Bass VI is unusual and does historically use the word 'guitar' [in fact 'Electric Bass Guitar'] on the headstock. The Squier version, which I have, does not say that. Fender guitars, e.g. Stratocasters, Telecasters, Mustangs, Coronados, etc., do not use the word 'guitar' on the headstocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oopsdabassist Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 (edited) I'm just happy if someone talks to me! Subsequently I'll answer to anything, even Oi...you! edit just re-read the thread title...oops....I think of myself as 'damn lucky I'm getting away with this' mainly. Edited February 22, 2016 by Oopsdabassist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earbrass Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Musician. One of the instruments I play is the bass guitar. I will often refer to it as a "bass", but that's just shorthand for bass guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Another groundhog argument My 2p is: Leo called it a bass 'guitar' on his patent application. I see no reason to argue with the man who developed our modern instrument. Added to which, 'bass' is its voice. If you told an orchestral musician that you played 'bass', he'd say "Bass [i]what[/i]? Clarinet? Saxophone?" The term 'electric bass' doesn't work because I also have an acoustic bass (a guitar as opposed to a bass viol) So personally, I am a bass guitarist. As stated, this is just my 2p and YMMV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 I've changed my mind. I think I will go for "failed musician". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 If I pitch up to the local orchestra and say "bassist" then I'd be handed a Double Bass, not a bass guitar. If I just said "bass player" - I'd be asked what instrument? There's a good chance I'd be lumped with the bass clarinets. So it depends on the situation and who I'm talking to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 [quote name='paul h' timestamp='1456138348' post='2985678'] I've changed my mind. I think I will go for "failed musician". [/quote] I'll go for "failed guitarist"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Yep, I'm bored too. But I think I'll go for a run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmettC Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 I usually say bass player, but when speaking to other musicians I quite often say bass guitar player, I wouldn't want anyone offering me a gig under the assumption I can play double bass to a professional standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Clarence L. Fender! I learned something today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 (edited) [quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1456146712' post='2985826'] Clarence L. Fender! I learned something today [/quote] That's why some G&L serial numbers start with CLF .... Edited February 22, 2016 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushbo Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 I'm a "Bassist" who plays "Bass Guitar". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EliasMooseblaster Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 I've never let it bother me...so I was a bit surprised when I first saw a thread about this over at TB, and the strong opinions being hurled back and forth! Bassist, bass player, bass guitarist, "the weird one," I'm quite happy with all of them. Yes, the instrument's role is entirely different from that of a conventional guitar, but then you wouldn't ask a double bass player if he or she played the same thing as the violinist or the cellist. (I have even been known to refer to "the guitars" when loading up the van, referring to our guitarist's and to my bass guitars...heresy, I know.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaos Daveo Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Depends if it's the weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 [quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1456101555' post='2985478'] When asked what I do, I usually reply "I play bass", [/quote] This although to be more accurate it ought to be " I try to play bass" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 [size=5][quote name='paul h' timestamp='1456138348' post='2985678'][/size] [size=5]I've changed my mind.[/size] [size=5]I think I will go for "failed musician".[/size] [size=5][/quote][/size] [size=5]Lol! Me too, I'll go for...[/size] [size=5]Wannabe musician. [/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Anyway, surely it's more interesting to hear what other people call you, than what you call yourself? Well, in some cases anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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