wankers versus groove players?

[dpbass613]

I consider myself both, i do wank away in music stores, but have chops to pull it off. Do we define a wanker s someone who has know clue musically what they are doing? Of course if I test a bass out in a music store I am going to make sure I like how it tonally performs if I were to just play it in my bedroom, however I have reserve and knowledge to know that once I get into a band setting that my tone and playing is going to change?

Pretty much the question is when you see someone wanking in a music store why do you gripe about it?
Is it just jealousy because you can only play brown eyed girl?


This may piss some of you off, sorry not really my intent just trying to get an understanding as to why it bothers you that someone is enjoying playing bass...

I could understand if it was obvious that the person was trying to show off...ie looking around to see if people are watching them play, not making any adjustments to the amp, or tone, not playing with pickup configuration or pickup blends, only playing one bass for an hour.

If someone has chops even when wanking they can probably play a pretty mean groove...thats they way i see it at least.

[BobaFret]

Chops and Groove are two totally different things. Plenty of guys have chops, unfortunately too few have groove.

The wankery thing usually comes from uninformed people who play bass. Bass players should be able to find something useful about anything that is played correctly.

If it's not played "correctly" then it isn't wankery, it's called not being able to play the piece.

[Selta]

Usually just bothers me because they play the exact same riff over and over again... usually at a high volume, too.
No, I don't get "jealous" at the fact that they can wank around, at all. Why would I? I can pick up a bass and do a lot of that too. But it's not the music that I play in my band, or by myself in my practice spot at home, so it's not something I'm going to play. If it's something that you play, cool, go ahead and do it, that's fine. But if you're just doing it to be loud and showoff, then go away

[Phalex]

I just get annoyed because if I'm in a music store, I might like to try out an amp or two, and maybe a bass. It's hard to make a judgment when checking out a new amp or a new bass when some yahoo is constantly engaged in wankery most foul.

I go to a music store when I may be interested in trying out a piece of gear that I may want to purchase. It's hard to listen for nuances in stuff when there's a continual stream of of higher ground going on.

My .02

[armybass]

Originally Posted by dpbass613

Pretty much the question is when you see someone wanking in a music store why do you gripe about it?
Is it just jealousy because you can only play brown eyed girl?

LOL,

[dpbass613]

I agree with the chops and groove thing being different, thats really a good point now that I think about it.

[BigOldHarry]

Originally Posted by dpbass613

I consider myself both, i do wank away in music stores, but have chops to pull it off. Do we define a wanker s someone who has know clue musically what they are doing? Of course if I test a bass out in a music store I am going to make sure I like how it tonally performs if I were to just play it in my bedroom, however I have reserve and knowledge to know that once I get into a band setting that my tone and playing is going to change?

Pretty much the question is when you see someone wanking in a music store why do you gripe about it?
Is it just jealousy because you can only play brown eyed girl?


This may piss some of you off, sorry not really my intent just trying to get an understanding as to why it bothers you that someone is enjoying playing bass...

I could understand if it was obvious that the person was trying to show off...ie looking around to see if people are watching them play, not making any adjustments to the amp, or tone, not playing with pickup configuration or pickup blends, only playing one bass for an hour.

If someone has chops even when wanking they can probably play a pretty mean groove...thats they way i see it at least.

Why is it annoying when someone in a music store is shredding for no reason other than to shred? Because he is saying "DIG ME!!!" while the rest of us are looking for gear. I get how young men need to posture and show their tail feathers... but really... Why would a real working musician waste his time showing off in a music store?

And it has been my experience that those guys who think they are tearing-it-up at GC are actually pretty mediocre. If they weren't, wouldn't they be actually gigging?

Just sayin....

[BobaFret]

Originally Posted by dpbass613

I agree with the chops and groove thing being different, thats really a good point now that I think about it.

And if people don't like it they are learning what "not to do" for their personal style. That's just as important as what "to do" IMO.

[PazzoBasso]

Originally Posted by Phalex

I just get annoyed because if I'm in a music store, I might like to try out an amp or two, and maybe a bass. It's hard to make a judgment when checking out a new amp or a new bass when some yahoo is constantly engaged in wankery most foul.

I go to a music store when I may be interested in trying out a piece of gear that I may want to purchase. It's hard to listen for nuances in stuff when there's a continual stream of of higher ground going on.

My .02

+ INFINITY

wankery most foul - indeed!

[ugly_bassplayer]

Originally Posted by dpbass613

i do wank away in music stores, but have chops to pull it off.

So you're "that guy" in music stores. Way to go.

[BobaFret]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

And it has been my experience that those guys who think they are tearing-it-up at GC are actually pretty mediocre. If they weren't, wouldn't they be actually gigging?

Just sayin....

Gigs don't mean anything. Anybody can get a gig.

Just sayin....

[dpbass613]

I just love gear, so i like to see what is new on the walls and give it a spin so i find myself in music stores to often, usually before the typically 3 gigs that i have for the weekend where i play Brown eyed girl haha. I can see where everyone is coming from. I usually just get really excited when i hear someone really ripping it up on bass. Even if i know that if i were to ask them what they just played they wouldn't be able to tell me.

I guess i wouldn't be classified a wanker by TB standards as I usually have a motive in playing the bass i am trying, just getting a better picture of performance and tonal options.

[Kwesi]

The minute I sit down with a bass in a music store, the rest of the world could be on fire and I would notice, lol.

But chops and groove are definitely two different things, luckily the music stores I visit always happen to have bassists with plenty of both. Personally, I define wanking as one of two things:

1) Playing without regard to making any actual music.

2) Repeatedly playing the same thing over and over to show off.

I actually don't see too many bassists like that when I go to music stores around my way but I can imagine it being annoying.

[dpbass613]

Originally Posted by ugly_bassplayer

So you're "that guy" in music stores. Way to go.

on occassion unfortunately...
I think gigs do matter, just matters on the caliber of the gig and band.

[mongo2]

My son's bass instructor asked him, "Players play. Wankers wank. Do you want to be a player or a wanker?"

[BagelBruin]

I just wanna fun!

[wilberthenry]

Like Phalex I go to music stores when I am considering buying. If someone is obviously just hanging out and showing off with no intention of buying it does bug me. I see no point in playing stuff that I would never play in a band or at home. As far as jealousy toward busy/wanking players goes I'm not buying it. Is George Porter Jr. a lesser player than Billy Sheehan because he doesn't have the same skill set? I think not (not to slam Sheehan, but you get the point). One thing I love about music is that there is room for all kinds of music and styles of playing. Wank on wankers!

[Sartori]

I would think of a wanker generally as someone who's just showing off, to the detriment of the music.

When I try a bass, I generally play the sorts of things I'm actually going to be playing on it. Some of that stuff is difficult to play, but it's all part of one song or another. Sometimes I'll play the same things over again, evaluating how it sounds on the instrument, changing settings between repetitions.

[Nev375]

Originally Posted by mongo2

My son's bass instructor asked him, "Players play. Wankers wank. Do you want to be a player or a wanker?"

That largely depends on how strong the urge is and whether there's anyone else to play with at the time.

I'm not ashamed to admit to a little wankery now and then. It's healthy unless you do it excessively.

[malthumb]

Originally Posted by Nev375

...
I'm not ashamed to admit to a little wankery now and then. It's healthy unless you do it excessively.

I didn't know Dr. Ruth was a bass player