Are there any Rockabilly bassists who play electric?

cossie · #1 08-03-2009, 01:07 AM

Hi,

I've been listening to a lot of the Hillbilly Casino, on just a few tracks I'm fairly certain I can hear an electric bass - but mostly for their punk rock-ish songs - 95% of the tracks on the album are upright.

From my limited experience an upright is a pretty key element of the Rockabilly genre.

But I was wondering is there anyone out there playing purely electric bass in a Rockabilly band?

Cheers,

Cossie

N.F.A. · #2 08-03-2009, 01:10 AM

I don't play in one anymore, but when I did I used an electric bass.

cossie · #3 08-03-2009, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N.F.A.

I don't play in one anymore, but when I did I used an electric bass.

Did it make a huge difference to the sound?

I guess if you can get a nice thick bass sound then that thunka thunka thunka sound is quite possible. But then I'm assuming that the majority of Rockabilly is slap bass - I need to listen to more bands.

It seems like really fun music to play though, very energetic bass playing.

N.F.A. · #4 08-03-2009, 01:46 AM

It is great fun for a bass player. People do expect an upright player, but I don't play one.. Yes, it is a huge difference in sound. Youtube old Stray Cats stuff.. Lee Rocker is the epitome of upright rockabilly playing to me. He has an instructional video too if you are looking to learn.

N.F.A. · #5 08-03-2009, 01:51 AM

Here is a great example of Lee Rocker playing. He solos halfway through the song. I couldn't do something like that on electric. I just played the lines straight and held the bottom end down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0wnRo6TTEU

cossie · #6 08-03-2009, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N.F.A.

Here is a great example of Lee Rocker playing. He solos halfway through the song. I couldn't do something like that on electric. I just played the lines straight and held the bottom end down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0wnRo6TTEU

That was awesome. I gotta say I've always been tempted by an upright bass, I just always loved the sound of it.

Thanks N.F.A. I'll do some youtubing for the rest of today

Gotta love Bank Holidays!

N.F.A. · #7 08-03-2009, 03:21 AM

Glad to help a brother out..

N.F.A. · #8 08-03-2009, 03:25 AM

Here are some excerpts from his Slap Bass video
http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...lee+rocker+sla

55pbass · #9 05-27-2012, 09:25 AM

I was just listening to the new Mike Eldred Trio album "Elvis Unleaded". John Bazz from The Blasters is playing some tasty Rockabilly on his P Bass. Just thought I'd share.

SoCal1 · #10 05-27-2012, 09:45 AM

Bill Black who was Elvis' early (upright) bassist played some of the very first hits on electric bass...Heartbreak Hotel and/or Jailhouse Rock...1956 &1957 respectively.

55pbass · #11 05-27-2012, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal1

Bill Black who was Elvis' early (upright) bassist played some of the very first hits on electric bass...Heartbreak Hotel and/or Jailhouse Rock...1956 &1957 respectively.

Yes! Just like Marshall Grant, who switched between stand up bass and electric bass with Johnny Cash.

germ_77 · #12 05-28-2012, 01:04 AM

The lee rocker video is pretty bad, mostly just him playing and his slap instructions are pretty horrible. He's a great player but he doesn't show you much.

The Pete turland instructional DVD is much better, he breaks down all the different slaps and rhythms and explains how he does them.

Just my opinion.

As well tons of great info at rockabillybass.com for instructions.

Some other crazy bassists for rockabilly/psychobilly to check out are the legendary shack shakers, frantic flintstones, mad sin, godless wicked creeps, nekromantix