Is there anything common to all the bass players?

CrazyArcher · #1 03-13-2006, 09:57 PM

I've spotted a phenomenon: there's something unpercievable that tells other bassist you're one of them. Several times on parties and such I was asked by people (other bassists, or even non-bassists) who barely knew me "You're a bassist, right?". At first I was shocked, then I got used to it. It's similar to ability of a hooker to spot another one in a huge crowd. Have you noticed that too?

Aaron Saunders · #2 03-13-2006, 10:31 PM

Judging by the bass humour forum and the threads that pop up here every week or so, I'd say a deeply ingrained sense of insecurity and a need to prove that the instrument really is worthwhile.

I just don't understand the compulsion for all these posts on "Why does everyone say bass is so easy, it's SOOOO hard," etc. Or "My guitar player's an idiot, he made fun of bass so I quit the band," "This girl made fun of me," etc. etc. The list goes on and on...and on.

XavierG · #3 03-14-2006, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyArcher

..... Have you noticed that too?

No.

superbassman2000 · #4 03-14-2006, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron Saunders

Judging by the bass humour forum and the threads that pop up here every week or so, I'd say a deeply ingrained sense of insecurity and a need to prove that the instrument really is worthwhile.

I just don't understand the compulsion for all these posts on "Why does everyone say bass is so easy, it's SOOOO hard," etc. Or "My guitar player's an idiot, he made fun of bass so I quit the band," "This girl made fun of me," etc. etc. The list goes on and on...and on.

i think you are right

but in reality, no...nobody looks at me and thinks "bassist" usually it's "moron"

Benjamin Strange · #5 03-14-2006, 09:19 AM

What do all bassists have in common? A deep sense of love/fear of John Turner.

tZer · #6 03-14-2006, 09:22 AM

I'd like to think that what they pick up on is a vibe like, "This guy has something going on... something deep, complex, groovy, and seemingly unattainable... And yet he has it! And I want it! Ah, but alas, I am not a bass player."

Or something like that.

--tz

morf · #7 03-14-2006, 09:28 AM

Woodchuck · #8 03-14-2006, 09:55 AM

Yeah, we can be a defensive bunch.

**Marcus Willett** · #9 03-14-2006, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron Saunders

I'd say a deeply ingrained sense of insecurity and a need to prove that the instrument really is worthwhile.

Damn dude, that made me laugh out loud.

ebe9 · #10 03-14-2006, 11:17 AM

nope, never happened..........

note too self.......practice giving off bass vibe

BassChuck · #11 03-14-2006, 03:36 PM

We all love music so much we're willing to do what we need to do to support it and make it happen.

Matthew Bryson · #12 03-14-2006, 03:42 PM

It's becasue you are wearing your Talkbass "bass cleff hoodie" at the party

...and I really don't know any hookers, so I haven't noticed the thing about how hookers usually act in a large crowd either.

jokke_v · #13 03-14-2006, 05:31 PM

Heh.. I got the "you're a bassist, right?" in a pretty weird situation once. Actually, it was the only time it has happened.

Me and my band were at band practise. Then, we felt the need for various groceries (food mostly) growing. So, me and the vocalist set off to the store. This was before any of us were old enough to drive a car, so me and the vocalist rode on his moped to the store. Being two on a moped is slightly illegal in this country, but after all this was a pretty short trip. On the way back to the rehearsal space, the vocalist slowed down and pulled over to the side. Then he said some not to friendly words. Then I looked back, and there was a car with blue and blinking lights. We were both fined. The vocalist got a fine because he didn't have his licence with him. I got a fine for not wearing a helmet.

We were obviously not going to go on with two people on the moped, so the police dudes (two of them) asked were we were going. Then, they offered to drive me. So, I got in the car and on the way back one of the officers asked what we were doing. So, I said that we were rehearsing. Then he looked at me and said, "you're the bassist, right?".

And if there's anything common for bass players? I'd say an unusual good knowledge of different wood types. Especially exotic one's.

**MAJOR METAL** · #14 03-14-2006, 05:37 PM

Their is something a littel diffrent about us , isint their ?

velvetkevorkian · #15 03-14-2006, 07:28 PM

liking Primus, it seems.

gottawalk · #16 03-14-2006, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron Saunders

Judging by the bass humour forum and the threads that pop up here every week or so, I'd say a deeply ingrained sense of insecurity and a need to prove that the instrument really is worthwhile.

Gosh, I thought I got past that when I stopped playing bassoon in college....

Keeaumoku · #17 03-14-2006, 10:34 PM

This past Saturday I show up to the gig wearing my TalkBass t-shirt... the black one with the huge white bass clef, and just below it, "Got bass?"...

...so my guitar player, who is very good with an even greater set of pipes... the man can sing

..., looks at my shirt and quizzically says, "Got bass?!?"... but he pronounces the word like the one that rhymes with 'ass'... So I replied, "Yeah... I caught a couple of large-mouths... 'bout six pounds apiece... got 'em in the cooler out there in the van..." He looked at me like I was crazy... and he still never got it...

canopener · #18 03-14-2006, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodchuck

Yeah, we can be a defensive bunch.

What's that supposed to mean, huh?

bassman275 · #19 03-14-2006, 10:58 PM

It's our gnarled up plumbers hands.

Who me defensive please!

keb · #20 03-15-2006, 06:56 AM

We all play those weird looking guitars with the long necks and big strings that no one in the audience can hear despite those endowments.