Maybe Quitting Upright: Me Crazy?

Tampabass · #1 06-07-2010, 02:34 PM

I don't have to be convinced about the beauty of upright bass tone, and all of its other great attributes. Or its usefulness and desirability as a jazz instrument.

That said, I've been giving serious consideration to quitting upright and focusing exclusively on electric - fretted and fretless - which I've played for about 35 years.

My question (which, ultimately, I know, only I can answer) is this: How much will I regret quitting upright? I'd particularly appreciate any responses from upright players who have done this, or who have contemplated doing this.

Background: I've played upright at least semi-seriously, with some success locally, for nearly 20 years. Strictly jazz, jamband, and bluegrass, and no bowing worth mentioning.

For the last couple of years, I've been experiencing some pain issues, in fingers, hands, arms, when playing the upright. I'm 48.

So, for that reason and more (below) ... I'm feeling inclined to cut my losses and switch to electric.

Another factor: As a part-timer (but with regular paying gigs) I don't feel as if I have the time to do the work that will help me improve on upright. I have way more facility on electric, and I'm feeling like the time I have available for practice could be better used and payoff more if I focused on electric only.

I wish I had all the time in the world to spend on practicing and playing out, but I have a dayjob, some assorted second jobs, and a family and house to take care of, etc. Not complaining, just explaining.

I know of at least two well-known bassists -- Steve Swallow and Bob Cranshaw -- who have successfully made the switch from upright to electric, and have continued to have great success in jazz.

And I know several others, including Jeff Berlin (many others, f course), who have been known for their jazz electric playing from day one.

I realize that some who have hired me for jazz gigs may not want me on electric, although some will. I have my own band, too.

Am I crazy to be considering this?

Marcus Johnson · #2 06-07-2010, 03:17 PM

Play the slab but keep the bass if you have doubts. No harm, no foul. Play whatever gets the sound in your head.

JtheJazzMan · #3 06-07-2010, 05:37 PM

An EUB may be an option. If pain is an issue you can have the strings as low as you want, and theres always the option to bow it. Thats if you want to keep the tactile sense of the contrabass.

TroyK · #4 06-07-2010, 05:50 PM

Let me ask you this? How fulfilling is playing electric bass to you?

If your answer is "Very!" or "making music is fulfilling, it doesn't matter what I play!" Then you probably will look back on your doublebass days and smile with no regrets. But if there is something about communing with the doublebass that is spiritual and necessary, then perhaps doing the same thing, even same gigs with same people, on an electric won't answer. Sorry, only you know.

And I'm sorry about the pain. I've had and continue to have my issues too. It changes things when you start to associate touching the bass with pain and it is tough (and slow) to work through.

Good luck.

tomshepp · #5 06-07-2010, 05:56 PM

Seems that the real question is, can you recover from the pain issues and still play upright? I'm in the same position as you and have been playing in pain for quite some time. I've been told by the PT that as I age, the larger muscles get out of shape, which forces smaller muscles to over work. My plan, should I make the time, will include building the large muscle groups up. Hopefully, I can play without pain. We'll see. If you enjoy the upright, why stop?

Tampabass · #6 06-07-2010, 06:25 PM

Thanks for the input, guys.
And Troy, what you said is particularly true, and relevant to my recent experience:
"It changes things when you start to associate touching the bass with pain and it is tough (and slow) to work through." Not sure that I have the patience/energy/time to work through all of that.

hdiddy · #7 06-07-2010, 06:33 PM

Well if the hunger to play UB is there... it's up to you to satisfy it. If it's not well... doesn't matter I guess.

Side note: I think it's also worth treating bass as a sort of atheltic sport? Maybe you need to actually physically cross train so you can be in shape to play without pain. For some it could me working out, for others it could be yoga or getting something to help work up the muscle groups.

I know it sounds odd, but half of the time I do other physical activities I figure out new ways to approach the bass in a different physical way that I couldn't before. If I'm neglecting my health, I'm sure my bass playing will suffer as well. In a small way, my addiction to skiing has helped my bass playing a bit, esp with how I approach pulling my strings and just general overall relaxation while playing.

Steve Killingsworth · #8 06-07-2010, 06:49 PM

Your profile doesn't mention what strings you use. If you use higher tension strings, how would it affect things if you tried a set with lower tension?

Chris Symer · #9 06-07-2010, 07:49 PM

I don't quite get why this decision has to be made as such a hard line. If you feel like playing more electric right now go ahead and do it and see what happens. Some people probably won't hire you, but there are lots of people to play with who still will. Don't sell your DB right away and the decision does not need to be permenent. If after a year or so you're not feeling moved to play DB, and don't need it to make a living, put it up for sale.

One of the things some people I work with have against the E bass is the facility. It might be good to ease people into the transition by thinking like you would on the big bass. It's really easy to over play with E bass in a jazz setting (yes, I'm guilty), try and avoid the temptation and it'll go a lot easier for you. In most jazz contexts good to be told that you play electric like a DBer. In any case I think you should play what you want, but play it pain free.

Tampabass · #10 06-07-2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Killingsworth

Your profile doesn't mention what strings you use. If you use higher tension strings, how would it affect things if you tried a set with lower tension?

hey, I use Thomastik Spirocores

Marc Piane · #11 06-07-2010, 07:59 PM

I think you should quit. More gigs for the rest of us.

Ed Fuqua · #12 06-07-2010, 08:09 PM

Playing upright is not some sort of sign of moral superiority. The ONLY reason to play upright is because that's the sound that coalesces meaning from chaos for you. If it's not, life's too ****ing short, dude.

If the main reason you're playing an instrument (or pretty much doing ANYTHING) because you think that's what you're "supposed" to do, you're wasting precious time...

But like Chris says, it's not like you're deciding on gender reassignment. You can stop and start as often as you want. Just try to figure out if you're stopping cause it's hard or because it's something you don't want to do....

fdeck · #13 06-07-2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Playing upright is not some sort of sign of moral superiority.

Yes it is.

Just kidding, of course. To the OP, I'd lose the Spiro's. In fact, I just hung Spiro Mittels on my bass, and am wondering if "every jazz bassist must put up with Spiro's" is as questionable of an assumption as "every jazz bassist must play upright."

But also, I have radically changed musical direction more than once in my "career." I was a really serious classical cello student through high school, then dropped it to play jazz on the electric bass. Then circumstances drove me to try upright, and I went back to classical before eventually finding my way into the jazz scene. Every new direction took me somewhere interesting, with much to learn and enjoy.

Tampabass · #14 06-07-2010, 08:21 PM

Nope, not like gender reassignment.

But playing upright isn't like riding a bicycle, either. You can start and stop as often as you want ... only to a point.

Because of the sheer physicality involved in playing upright versus playing electric, it's far easier (physically) to take a break from electric and return to it than to take a break from upright and return to it.

That's been my experience, at least.

fish slapper · #15 06-07-2010, 08:36 PM

I feel your pain (literally). I'm 50 and went through a bout with the big C last year (things are looking good now). During my cancer treatments, I wasn't in near physical shape to handle a DB. But even before that, I was realizing that, like you, I'm a hobby player and it seems to me to do DB justice, you need almost full-time dedication. Hence, I have gone to fret-less BG for my casual Jazz jamming and have been very fulfilled.

I will say that I think sometimes, for a Jazz gig a DB player will get called before a BG player just for the "cool factor." Even if a BG makes more sense musically, audiences who don't know the difference, the DB adds to the bandstand appearance. And it is show business.

But I'm at the point the music is for me. I'm fortunate that I jam with a great group of guys who wouldn't mind if I showed up with a wash tub bass if I could make it swing.

Tampabass · #16 06-07-2010, 08:49 PM

Well, as someone who gigs more than some of the "full-time" players around here, and has scored a decent amount of success with several bands, I think of myself as more than a hobby player.

But you're right on the "cool factor" regarding upright basses, and sometimes upright is just the bass you (meaning:I) want to hear in certain jazz settings. Not all, though. Take Weather Report, for instance.

(I know - Miroslav was the first WR bassist).

Add: this (below) is exactly what I've been feeling lately. Hence my mixed feelings about continuing on UB.

"it seems to me to do DB justice, you need almost full-time dedication."

And Fish Slapper, I'm glad to hear that you are in better shape now.

Ed Fuqua · #17 06-07-2010, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tampabass

You can start and stop as often as you want ... only to a point.
Because of the sheer physicality involved in playing upright versus playing electric, it's far easier (physically) to take a break from electric and return to it than to take a break from upright and return to it.
That's been my experience, at least.

OK, then.
Have a blessed day.

Chris Symer · #18 06-07-2010, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tampabass

Well, as someone who gigs more than some of the "full-time" players around here,,,,,,,,

And these "full timers" would be gigging how much?????

Paul Warburton · #19 06-07-2010, 11:14 PM

I got 2 gigs this month again in Niwot, Co!!!! The usual $62.57!!!!!

EDIT: That's per night!

LouisF · #20 06-07-2010, 11:21 PM

Try Corelli strings -- much easier on the hands -- there's some volume loss etc, but... Check with Bob Gollihur. He use them and sells them. I don't which ones would be best for pizz/jazz. I use the 370 TX Fortes and the 380 Fortes as orchestra strings and they are life savers if you have arthritis or carpal tunnel issues, IMO

Louis