Trip to the music strore.... what's with these employees?

[powderfinger]

Went into a local music store yesterday. Looking at maybe getting a new bass. I fender J caught my eye. I haven't played a jazz in 10 years, so I was like, "cool, let's try this one out". So the guy working there (a known guitarist in town), pulled the bass off the wall, plugged it up, sat down, and slapped for about 30 seconds....then he looked up and me, smiled, and said, "sounds good... give it a shot".

I just looked at him in disgust (although I hid my disgust pretty well, hoping for a good deal).

Here is my question. Why does EVERY single music store employee feel the need to SLAP the bass? I mean, why can't they pick up a bass and lay down a Duck Dunn groove? Or a smooth Jamerson line? Seriosly, this isn't doing them any favors in selling to bassists (unless the bassist is wanting to play only funk music). Are they showing off? Or unable to groove?

[Passifid]

I would agree, but they dont down in my music store when they play a rick or ray, when they play a jazz however, they do slap, because slap + jazz is like steroids and athletes

[Mushroo]

Slapping is fun and can sound good, don't take it personal.

[snyderz]

You tell him he's the best bass player you have ever heard. Then you say 'So...what's the best deal you can give me on this Jazz?'

[powderfinger]

This is my analogy regarding slap players vs. groove players in a music store.

My analogy is comparing bassists to weightlifters.

The groove bassists are the guys in gym shorts and a t-shirt. They stretch good before their workout. They do warm ups. They rest between sets. They drink plenty of water between sets. Before a workout they eat a power bar.

The slap bassists are the guys in spandex booty shorts and a tank top. They might stretch for a second, but they immediately go to trying to bench press 800 lbs. before starting out with lower weights. They grunt, arch their back, and attract the attention of everyone in the gym. They shoot up steroids before working out.

[shackled]

I just got back from my local music store, and the guy there is as cool as can be. He's a guitarist, and I've never seen him play an instrument but his own.
I just bought some strings and we chatted for a while.
So not all employees are like the one you describe...

[Staccato]

The employee is enjoying one of perks of working there.

[koobie]

Originally Posted by powderfinger

The slap bassists are the guys in spandex booty shorts and a tank top.

sig worthy

[powderfinger]

Originally Posted by koobie

sig worthy

Yay, finally I made a sig worthy post!

[powderfinger]

Originally Posted by shackled

I just got back from my local music store, and the guy there is as cool as can be. He's a guitarist, and I've never seen him play an instrument but his own.
I just bought some strings and we chatted for a while.
So not all employees are like the one you describe...

Don't get me wrong, the guy from the music store I go to is nice as he can be. He is a very cool, nice, friendly guy. He is just slap happy./

[BagelBruin]

Let him have fun! The only time I slap is when I try a bass. It's the law.

[Chef FourString]

Originally Posted by powderfinger

This is my analogy regarding slap players vs. groove players in a music store.

My analogy is comparing bassists to weightlifters.

The groove bassists are the guys in gym shorts and a t-shirt. They stretch good before their workout. They do warm ups. They rest between sets. They drink plenty of water between sets. Before a workout they eat a power bar.

The slap bassists are the guys in spandex booty shorts and a tank top. They might stretch for a second, but they immediately go to trying to bench press 800 lbs. before starting out with lower weights. They grunt, arch their back, and attract the attention of everyone in the gym. They shoot up steroids before working out.

I like that. Good analogy.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by powderfinger

The groove bassists are the guys in gym shorts and a t-shirt. They stretch good before their workout. They do warm ups. They rest between sets. They drink plenty of water between sets. Before a workout they eat a power bar.

Is that you, grand dad?

[bjabass]

When I grew up in Fla I lived in a little town without a music store. The hot tip back then was Ace Music in Miami, 160 miles away, so when we went, we stayed a while. There was a salesman there who was the same way, demo'ed everything then handed it over with a smirk. A lady asked him one day about a set of congas for her friend who didn't speak english....we saw her sort of trying to disappear, obviously very Cuban, very shy and out of place, I'd have to guess a new immigrant. Anyway the salesman walks over to a set of congas and does his best Desi Arnez. The lady asks if her friend could try them and he says yes......

The shy lady walks up to the congas and proceeds to wear the skins off them, a real life Shiela Esposito type, 10 years before Shiela Esposito. Enjoyed watching the salesmans face.....

[pacojas]

slapping is to bass playing as the slam dunk is to basketball playing.

no jump shot but the shock & awe of a thunderous dunk WILL get you laid. so,... a thunderous slap exhibition is all it might take for some guy to get people to think he's awesome.

i use to slap for food, booze, etc. now i feel like a whore if i'm trying to show-off.

[powderfinger]

Originally Posted by bjabass

When I grew up in Fla I lived in a little town without a music store. The hot tip back then was Ace Music in Miami, 160 miles away, so when we went, we stayed a while. There was a salesman there who was the same way, demo'ed everything then handed it over with a smirk. A lady asked him one day about a set of congas for her friend who didn't speak english....we saw her sort of trying to disappear, obviously very Cuban, very shy and out of place, I'd have to guess a new immigrant. Anyway the salesman walks over to a set of congas and does his best Desi Arnez. The lady asks if her friend could try them and he says yes......

The shy lady walks up to the congas and proceeds to wear the skins off them, a real life Shiela Esposito type, 10 years before Shiela Esposito. Enjoyed watching the salesmans face.....

If my salesman yesterday would've been asked to demo a set of congas, he would have tried to play a medley of 2112 Rush songs.

[Snuggles]

I find that annoying as well. It's much easier to determine the feel and tone of the bass when playing fingerstyle. When playing slap, the playability is no longer as important, and the sound of the slap technique actually masks most of the bass's natural tone.

Fingerstyle, on the other hand, reveals all. Fret buzz, high action, crappy tone, whatever.

[DiabolicLow B]

Why do they even have to play the instrument at all?
Why can't they just hand it over and let you be?
That's what really bugs me...

[Hawaii Islander]

Originally Posted by DiabolicLow B

Why do they even have to play the instrument at all?
Why can't they just hand it over and let you be?
That's what really bugs me...

+1

All I ever expect from sales people (in any store) is to provide assistance when asked.

I was in a music shop in Kona a several days ago (my brother and his family took me to Bubba Gumps for my birthday ). The person in the store was easy going and very accomodating. I didn't try out any basses because they didn't have anything that interested me. My sister-in-law and her daughter jammed out on several nice Ukuleles with the sales guy.

[Electricblue]

Maybe they are demonstrating how good that bass can sound in good hands. Rather than handing it over for you to be disappointed with it because you cant play for sh**