New Guy Introduction & Question Re: Bass Players

[bcgd]

Hey everybody! I'm Bret and at 40 I just started playing a couple of months ago. Although I've been trying to play the guitar just never clicked with me. A couple of months ago I was asked to sit in on bass during a friend's rehearsal and loved it. In three months I'm as far as I was on guitar after 12 years! I guess I just found my niche.

Being a product of the 80's my influences are John Taylor, Peter Hook and Adam Clayton with a fascination of John Entwistle.

What's funny is listening to music growing up I always gravitated to the basslines of songs and yet I decided to try to learn guitar instead. I guess I just wanted to be "cool".

That leads me into my question about bass players. There's an joke that goes "How many guitarists does it take to change a light bulb? 7,500 - One to change it and 7,499 to say they could change it better." Is the same true with bass players? Judging by the posts I've read everyone seems pretty cool and not quick to slam each other or is it just the TalkBass members? Obviously there's going to be tone snobs anywhere but it doesn't seem as prevalent. Or is it that bass players aren't as threatened by one another?

At any point thank you in advance for all the useful information!

Cheers!
Bret

[tplyons]

There are a few who make everything a competition by playing faster, playing more this, playing more that.

The majority of us see it as a brotherhood and don't step on each other's toes.

[bcgd]

Originally Posted by tplyons

The majority of us see it as a brotherhood and don't step on each other's toes.

That's the impression I'm getting.

[Thor]

My growth as a bassist took an exponential turn after joining
this board. There is a lot of resource here, and there are some
great and talented people willing to help you with just about
anything you need.

The bassist community is pretty tight, you will like it here.
Welcome to the board.

PS, DO NOT ASK WHAT G.A.S. IS!

[bluestarbass]

run...RUN as fast as you can, or GAS will take hold, and you will own 15 basses before you know it!


oh and welcome

[uethanian]

there are plenty of stupid/egotistical/ignorant bass players out there. fortunately, not much of that at all on Talkbass (and if there is they receive a digital beating).

[Phalex]

Welcome.

Bass players are a lot like real people for the most part, but it seems that the folks with big egos gravitate toward vocals or guitar. We bass players are the backfield of music and are usually perfectly happy to hang out in the back and get it on with the drummer.

You seem to see a bit of 5 strings (or more) are better than 4, or original bands are the only place you find true artists, or the precision bass pwns the jazz bass type of arguments. But as vehemently as people will press their arguments, they are very subjective topics and are completely pointless.

So come on in, grab yourself a cup of coffee, make mention of one of the hot button topics I mentioned above sit back and enjoy the show!

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by bcgd

That leads me into my question about bass players. There's an joke that goes "How many guitarists does it take to change a light bulb? 7,500 - One to change it and 7,499 to say they could change it better."

How many country bass players does it take to screw in a lightbulb? One - Five - One - Five.....

Hey welcome aboard. I have a similar situation with guitar and bass, however I started playing bass just a year or so after starting guitar. Even after all these years it's kind of uncanny how I struggle with guitar when the bass comes so naturally to me.

Welcome aboard. Bassists tend to be a bit more laid back than guitar players, IMO it's a personality thing. The guitar is much more "out in front" so it's played more often by someone with an "out front" personality. Bass is primarily a support instrument, laying the foundation of the music, so bassists tend to be more laid back. There are, of course, many exceptions to these gross generalizations.

Besides, I'm a way better bassist than all you losers.