Carol Kaye and Electric Bass

[DeanT]

Let me first say that I respect Carol Kaye as a pioneering bass player and have learned a lot from her books. But sometimes she goes into the revisionist history a bit too far.

In a recent interview with Woman magazine, she takes credit for naming the "Fender Bass" the "Electric Bass."

I don't know if this is true or not. But knowing Carol's penchant for overstatement when it comes to the history of the bass, I suspect she is remembering things a bit differently than they occurred.

"I liked playing the Fender Bass ....I later named it the "Electric Bass" with my first book "How To Play The Electric Bass" which I wrote myself and published it with my own publishing company, Gwyn (named after my youngest child) Publishing Co. Inc., in 1969 started on my kitchen table and with more books I wrote and published on others like Joe Pass, Emil Richards, Abe Most, Clare Fischer, too I formed the Corporation then and trained employees of my co. The Musician Union Chapters all adopted my name, Electric Bass, for this instrument rather than using "Fender Bass" in their Directories and the name caught on with all the professionals too."

[lunarpollen]

I wonder what the "professionals" who played Rickenbackers, Gibsons, Epiphones, Harmonys, Hofners, Voxes, Danelectros, Burns, etc. before 1969 refered to their instruments as.

[kenlacam]

Sounds very pompous to me, very full of herself.

[Alan Vorse]

I've seen a few things here and there like liner notes or articles from 40 years ago that use the term "Fender Bass" but I don't know if that was a widespread kind of thing. Maybe some of our members that were playing back in the 60s could weigh in on the issue?

[Slax]

Originally Posted by Alan Vorse

I've seen a few things here and there like liner notes or articles from 40 years ago that use the term "Fender Bass" but I don't know if that was a widespread kind of thing. Maybe some of our members that were playing back in the 60s could weigh in on the issue?

I'm probably completely wrong (I wasn't born yet when this was in question ), but I feel like "fender bass" was more of a 50s saying. I feel by 1969 not everyone would still be calling it that. I can't see that she could have coined the phrase 18 years after it was released...

[JimmyM]

It was a VERY widespread kind of thing in America. Even on Elvis' "Aloha From Hawaii" concert which came out in like 71, Elvis introduced Jerry Scheff by saying, "On the Fender bass, Jerry Scheff." Many people called it the bass guitar as well...I'd say it was about 50/50. But nobody called it the electric bass until Carol did...that much is true.

[Slax]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

It was a VERY widespread kind of thing in America. Even on Elvis' "Aloha From Hawaii" concert which came out in like 71, Elvis introduced Jerry Scheff by saying, "On the Fender bass, Jerry Scheff." Many people called it the bass guitar as well...I'd say it was about 50/50. But nobody called it the electric bass until Carol did...that much is true.

Very interesting. Thanks for the info Jimmy

[stefandisgust]

I never liked the lady. I have, in a magazine somewhere, an interview with her where she just talks smack about the art of the 5 string bass. After reading that line I just stopped.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by stefandisgust

I never liked the lady. I have, in a magazine somewhere, an interview with her where she just talks smack about the art of the 5 string bass. After reading that line I just stopped.

Carol has a knack for causing that kind of reaction in people. She's extremely knowledgeable but she's dead set in her ways and God forbid anyone have an opinion other than hers.

[Lesfunk]

Ms. Kaye's resume' is impeccable and her skill unquestionable. She does, however, have a reputation in certain circles to be a little eccentric.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Lesfunk

Ms. Kaye's resume' is impeccable and her skill unquestionable. She does, however, have a reputation in certain circles to be a little eccentric.

Understatement of the month!

[Lesfunk]

Well, I didn't want to belittle the lady.... i...Oh nothing.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Lesfunk

Well, I didn't want to belittle the lady.... i...Oh nothing.

Don't worry, dude...I know

[vlxyooper]

I'm just glad someone figured out what to call it. I mean, could you imagine someone asking you "....and what do you do in the band?"

[barebones]

Interesting. I've heard that the electric bass in general was often generically called the "Fender bass" in the early days, but I didn't know the name transition was attributable to any one person. I just thought it was the natural offshoot to the electric guitar name-wise. Ultimately, who really cares? Maybe I do, since I'm posting here.

[barebones]

Originally Posted by vlxyooper

I'm just glad someone figured out what to call it. I mean, could you imagine someone asking you "....and what do you do in the band?"

I'm the clarinet player.

[bassie12]

I think Leo Fender and his posse may have referred to it as an electric bass a month or two before Carol made her revelation to the masses.....

[Lesfunk]

Back in the day the term "fender bass" was a generic term for electric bass guitar just like "aspirin" was once a brand name

[rodl2005]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

It was a VERY widespread kind of thing in America. Even on Elvis' "Aloha From Hawaii" concert which came out in like 71, Elvis introduced Jerry Scheff by saying, "On the Fender bass, Jerry Scheff." Many people called it the bass guitar as well...I'd say it was about 50/50. But nobody called it the electric bass until Carol did...that much is true.

+1. I've got that "ELVIS 25" concert where he's on the big screen & all the orig. muso's are there "today" AMAZING concert! & yes he does say "on Fender Bass.." So Carol DOES actually lay a bit of a claim to renaming the 'general' name AFAIK to elec. bass I've heard other's speak of this 15 yrs ago & many then referred to C.Kaye's books helping to dispel the MYTH that all elec basses were Fenders!!
I had her 1st book-named in the OP- as my 1st learning book. By that stage I was calling it simply a BASS, bass guitar, elec bass guitar & WISHING I could have a "FENDER BASS"

[barebones]

Originally Posted by Lesfunk

Back in the day the term "fender bass" was a generic term for electric bass guitar just like "aspirin" was once a brand name

Yeah. What he said.