Elecrtic bass or bass guitar?

[J-B'ass]

More of a philosophical question I guess than theory related, but do you consider your bass to be a type of guitar, or an electric version of the double bass?
Me; the second, as that is it's historical origins, and I think if it is a type of guitar, then it really does become the easier version for people who can't play guitar, whereas I like the idea that it's essentially an ancient, pre-rock instrument which dabbles in rock. Basslines happen to be simpler because bass is played by guitarists who can't play bass.

Also Anthony Jackson seems pretty convinced that the bass IS a kind of guitar, and should therefore have six strings and all the rest of it, and Anthony is one of those people who generally know exactly what the're talking about, usualy to a staggeringly well researchd degree. Anyone have any thoughts on these two things?
Sorry it's more a stream of conciousness than an actual question, but I think it's worth thinking about how you think about your instrument. Personally I never refer to my bass as a bass guitar, always electric bass.

[Ric5]

I play bass guitar!

[SwamiRob]

I always consider it a bass guitar, what with Leo Fender making the first one in very much the same style as the first solid bodied electric. Bearing in mind how different a guitar and a double bass were in acoustic forms to what they are now. Obviously there were things like the guitarron however (can't spell the name) in South American music though, but for the most part bass and guitar were very different until the conception of their common electric forms.

Anyway I don't think it's that important, I refer to my bass or bass guitar or whatever simply as "my guitar". To me it depends what kinda music I'm playing, when I hear "bass guitar" I think more of rock based music and such, because I usually equate it - not surprisingly - to sounding like a big deeper sounding guitar, which is what rock bass often sounds like. Whereas when I just hear "bass" I'm usually more reminded of playing groove based stuff like reggea or funk or something.

In all honest it doesn't REALLY matter that much though does it?

[Busker]

Its more guitar than violin, is it not?

Its a bass guitar.

[JimK]

IMO, the function is still that of the bass (viol) used in Jazz, early R&B, early RnR, etc...therefore, it's an electric bass!

[JimK]

Originally Posted by SwamiRob

I always consider it a bass guitar, what with Leo Fender making the first one in very much the same style as the first solid bodied electric.

The Fender Jazz bass was the 'electric bass' designed for guitarists making the switch.

[Joel S.]

Electric Bass Guitar. :P

[BullHorn]

Ass guitar. It is nice. I like.

[RustyAxe]

I was at an acoustic jam this past weekend. Three D-35's, a couple of other guitars, mando, banjo. I was glad I brought along my bass. At some point, I handed the bass to an accomplished guitarist (so I thought, he played well) and after a few minutes of noodling he said, "I can't play bass", and handed it back. Not all guitarists have any sense of what a bassist should be playing, nor do they seem to know what they could be playing.

I'm a guitarist who is also a bassist. I don't think of the bass as a guitar ... it is a bass ... more akin to a standup bass than to a guitar.

[cnltb]

I play electric bass not bass guitar.
I define it by function. Also...the electric bass was meant as an alternative to the upright bass, not the guitar, wasn't it?

[T-MOST]

Bass guitar.

[ryco]

Originally Posted by Joel S.

Electric Bass Guitar. :P

FTW

I play bass .

[SBassman]

I'm with you.

No *electric*, no *guitar*.

Just - bass.

[Would'e?]

Bass is an adjective. Guitar is a noun. The instrument is the noun, guitar. The function is to carry the bass notes in the music. Therefore: Bass guitar.

You don't call an alto saxophone an alto.

[John Wentzien]

Back when I started it was called "Fender Bass" for any electric bass.

[cnltb]

Originally Posted by Would'e?

Bass is an adjective. Guitar is a noun. The instrument is the noun, guitar. The function is to carry the bass notes in the music. Therefore: Bass guitar.

You don't call an alto saxophone an alto.

When referring to singers, the low male voice is simply called "bass" not bass voice...adjective becomes a noun...same goes for the instrument. no?

[HaVIC5]

As far as technique goes, bass guitar is far more similar to guitar than standup bass. Those who think otherwise don't play the upright - it's an entirely different technical approach. Functionally they are the same within a musical context, but electric bass guitar simply is too similar to the guitar to warrant any sort of technical comparison to the double bass. Double bass is to cello is what bass guitar is to guitar.

[HaVIC5]

Originally Posted by SBassman

I'm with you.

No *electric*, no *guitar*.

Just - bass.

It gets confusing if you label it "bass" and nothing else in the end. It will very likely be confused with the upright bass, but not only that, composers and classical brass players call the tuba the bass (like they call the euphonium the baritone), and voice qualities can be labeled "bass" also.

[Tnavis]

Electric bass.

The first electric bass was created in the 30's by Paul Tutmarc as a replacement for a double bass.

http://www.historylink.org/essays/ou...m?file_id=7479

In February 1935, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer discovered Tutmarc and ran a photograph showing him with his latest invention -- an electrified, cello-sized, solid-bodied bass instrument -- and noted that “People have always pitied the poor bass-fiddler ... who has to lug his big bull-fiddle home through the dark streets after the theatre closes. But he doesn’t have to do it any more. Because Paul Tutmarc, Seattle music teacher and KOMO radio artist, has invented an electric bull-fiddle. One you can carry under your arm ... . The first electric bass-viol is only four feet tall, instead of six. It could be made a lot smaller, but Tutmarc didn’t want to be too revolutionary right off the bat. Bass violinists are a conservative race, and have to be accustomed gradually to the idea, he says.”

[wagstaff]

i just say bass but if i had to catagorize i would:
ABG- Acoustic Bass Guitar
EBG- Electric Bass Guitar
EDB- Electric Double Bass
DB- Double Bass