How come Edgar Meyer has markers on his bass?

Blazemourne · #1 07-05-2008, 05:03 PM

I was just wondering why an awesome bassist like him would need markers.

kesslari · #2 07-05-2008, 05:41 PM

Seems kind of a silly question.
If he likes 'em, why not?
It's not like there's an edict somewhere - Great Bass Players Must Not Use Markers. Or Lines.
You do what you like. He does what he likes.
What's the problem?

mikeypbass · #3 07-05-2008, 05:44 PM

He swallowed his ego and pride and just put em up there, its kind of inspirational in a way

bassteban · #4 07-05-2008, 05:45 PM

I don't think they hurt his tone much.

Blazemourne · #5 07-06-2008, 04:35 PM

So there was no point he was trying to make or anything? He just simply wanted them there?

therex · #6 07-06-2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blazemourne

So there was no point he was trying to make or anything? He just simply wanted them there?

i have no idea who are you talking about but if his bass had already the markers whats the point of taking them out?

Joe Gress · #7 07-06-2008, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

I don't think they hurt his tone much.

I bet they are clay and make his bass sound better.

PaulCannon · #8 07-06-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therex

i have no idea who are you talking about but if his bass had already the markers whats the point of taking them out?

He had them installed at Robertsons. They are wood dots inlaid into the fingerboard. He claims it helps his intonation slightly.

JoeyNaeger · #9 07-07-2008, 09:25 AM

He gets payed a lot of money to play in tune (among other things). I'd want a little help too in that situation.

damonsmith · #10 07-10-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeyNaeger

He gets payed a lot of money to play in tune (among other things). I'd want a little help too in that situation.

I'd go with that. With all the studio work he does there a lot of situations where our "natural" facilities for intonation are interrupted - iso booths, cans, etc. Not to mention all the club work with dubious soundpeople he does.
Learning a solo composition in the upper register is one thing, improvising one live against a mandolin or banjo in a duo is another.
So is being asked to hit a high Ab at the end of the fingerboard in the studio.
I have done studio sessions with my tuner on and on the music stand.

Gearhead43 · #11 07-11-2008, 08:56 PM

Nothing wrong with playing in tune.

jayarroz · #12 07-11-2008, 09:04 PM

Funny this came up! I got a new "well old" carved german with an Eb neck so I put some markers on. I asked my teacher who's up there with edgar and those cats, and he said who gives a F*** what people think, Edgar Meyer does it! And he's a bad A**... Funny this came up !

Dave Muscato · #13 07-11-2008, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blazemourne

I was just wondering why an awesome bassist like him would need markers.

Makes it easier to get proper intonation while drunk.

No, really. I imagine it's the same reason that some electric basses have them - why make things unnecessarily more challenging, if the goal is good intonation? As long as you're not using them as a substitute for ear training, I see no reason *not* to have them.

jayarroz · #14 07-11-2008, 09:26 PM

I see a lot of classical cats doing it to. It's easier when you have to fly up two octaves for a quick moment. But you can't see them under stage lights/dark usually and especially when your reading from a chart you can't see both at the same time. Another thing is as my bass expands and moves with the environment those markers aren't always dead on, so they help but there not perfect!

MR PC · #15 07-12-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

- why make things unnecessarily more challenging, if the goal is good intonation? As long as you're not using them as a substitute for ear training, I see no reason *not* to have them.

+1:

Mr.Phil · #16 07-12-2008, 03:36 PM

When I saw him play he didn't seem to look at them at all. I really doubt he needs them. But what the heck his bass, he wanted them, there you go.

bopeuph · #17 07-12-2008, 04:41 PM

A teacher I had a lesson with said Meyer mentioned something along the lines of the fingerboard being 3 feet long, and it's just wrong to expect us to start a high note or jump across the fingerboard and be dead on.

I wish I'd had them in venues where I'm sitting in a dead bass spot, where everyone's telling me the bass is too loud, but I can't hear a thing.

Nick

peterbright · #18 07-12-2008, 04:45 PM

He wants them

fretlessman71 · #19 07-12-2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead43

Nothing wrong with playing in tune.

Unless you're Steve Bailey.

Jazz Ad · #20 07-12-2008, 05:03 PM

Ouch.
Deserved but still harsh.