M I A bass player who can't shoulder the bass?

torchah · #1 11-07-2008, 07:35 PM

Hi, bass gurus. Got some time?

I am a clarinetist/singer (in atrophy), now a magazine editor, who longs to start a band with my ex-local-rock-guitar-turned business man in the next decade. I am willing to take the slow approach. I do feel the bass and can follow that in any tune. As I (former clarinet ninja . . . 28 years ago) will never have the chops to be a wind synth performer, feel I could lend ye-old-basic-bass to our forthcoming band, given the right equipment.

I tried my man's bass (he has every electronic instrument on the globe, gathering dust) but it hurt me. Too heavy; I have very small hands. I see my future as a singer, but also know and love the fundamental heart and soul of the bass line in every piece and can pick it out. Maybe that's not that remarkable, but I think it could help: I will never be a real bass player, but believe I am capable of basic bass sustance because of my basic intelligence . . . long enough to attract a REAL bassist to the band, once I get my singer/performer chops back.

SO . . . bass (not to be confused with the fish) gurus: . . . Should schlepbass singer wannabee get the Yamaha RBX A2? I played with one of my beloved (former rock band god)'s toys tonight (a full-bodied synth) and saw I could find the bass note to any song I knew. Whoopdee doo, on a piano, I'm Johnny one-note. But as a proclaimed beginner bass player, the fools might give me some credibility.

But I CAN'T PLAY THE ROCK GOD'S BIG, HEAVY BASS. Can you smarties help me?

**Stumbo** · #2 11-08-2008, 09:26 PM

This should be posted in the "bass" forum.

kmac4648 · #3 11-08-2008, 11:47 PM

try the Ibanez Soundgear line. Lightweight and very thin neck. I love mine.

MyUsernameHere · #4 11-09-2008, 12:04 AM

Not sure exactly what you're asking? If all your asking us is whether you should buy a bass if you want to buy one, then go ahead. If you're asking whether or not a light-weight bass is taboo for some reason, it isn't. If you're wondering if it'll sound worse than a heavy bass, it all depends on the basses being compared and who's doing the comparing.

If you're wondering if it would be alright to say, "screw it" and just play the bass part on a keyboard...well, that's a different story. We'd all be out of work if we started telling people it would be alright to do that.