Is being a bassist a sign of genius?

[B Sus]

Saw this in a thread here, and couldn't help but marvel at how true it was.

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

Ah, but it's the bassist who knows how the equipment works. How to hook it all up. And often how to repair it.

I personally can set up and play every piece of gear for the band I'm in, and repair just about anything ailing said gear. I have to set up our guitards gear for him at every gig we have, and I'm usually the one setting up and tearing down the drums (more or less because our drummer is always chasing tail rather than getting work done)

Anyone else think this is coincidental? Do the low frequencies tap into the 90% of the brain that people don't use?

[fungihead]

im no psychologist or anything, but im going to agree anyway :P

[Vynns]

You're gonna get a lot of these: "Yes".

[lbanks]

Yeah, but I refuse to take that role. I saw I was becoming the 'PA guy' so I just spent more time setting up my rig. Now, everyone knows how to set it(the PA) up. I'm still the 'recording guy' and the ' Drum machine guy-(when needed)'. But I don't mind that.

[PBass101]

My band's guitar player doesn't even know which frequencies are "bass", "midrange", or "treble." I have a general idea of how to EQ a band mix to fit the acoustics of a room. Guitar player scoops the mids out of vocals, guitar, bass, and even the MP3 player on his computer. He just read the manual of his 1999 Mesa Boogie combo amp. I read manuals online before I buy products. He used a Digitech RP200 as his distortion and effects from the day he bought the Mesa Boogie until the day I finally stopped him and told him to use the tubes he paid for; something like eight years playing a $100 Digitech toy into a custom-made Mesa Boogie...

He also has absolutely no knowledge of the technical side of musicality, and has little interest or respect for anything other than his personal favorite guitar players. I was classically trained on piano and saxophone for many years and learn many different styles of music. He doesn't "get" bass tone or technique. I can't get enough of either.

My band's drummer doesn't know anything either, but at least he keeps his mouth shut.

Uh...what's this thread about?

[Vynns]

Well, actually, you're describing a gearhead. You're question is explained as being more like "Do bassist know more about equipment than the other bandmembers?".

I wouldn't know about low frequencies tapping into our brain like a brown note taps into your bowels (A grey note?), but in my band this is definitely true. I'm the only one getting into gear, and the only one getting GAS. Though that's hardly par for course I think, keeping in mind all these quitarists with Marshall fullstacks and stuff...

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by B Sus

I personally can set up and play every piece of gear for the band I'm in, and repair just about anything ailing said gear. I have to set up our guitards gear for him at every gig we have, and I'm usually the one setting up and tearing down the drums (more or less because our drummer is always chasing tail rather than getting work done)

OK, I'm confused- who's the smart one again?

[xgator4u]

^ YUP, I learned a LOOOONG time ago, what I call " The Columbo effect". I do not let on all that I know. I learned that if you let it be known that you can, and will do something, people will have no problem whatsoever letting you do it for them.

[groooooove]

in my band, im the only one with any idea how to work anything when it comes to a PA or recording.

bass players are also the best producers, we see the big picture.

[cutthroatmolloy]

Originally Posted by B Sus

I have to set up our guitards gear for him at every gig we have, and I'm usually the one setting up and tearing down the drums (more or less because our drummer is always chasing tail rather than getting work done)

Hahah, i personally wouldn't do that. thats crazy.

also, yes, bassists are geinuses.

[Otter]

It's worse for me,

I'm a broadcast engineer and an IT professional......guess what I get "volunteered" for all the time! LOL My wife keeps threatening to purchase that tee shirt that says:

"No I won't fix your computer"

Otter.

[Crazy Ivan]

I totally sperg out over gear. Ohms, watts, hertz, if it's scientific and music-related I won't shut the hell up about it. I'm also the theory geek in my band.

[rapturebass]

Most Certainly. My bandmates didn't know what pickups were until i told them...

[geeza]

If you were really a genius, you wouldn't have had to ask the question.

[skeptikal]

Originally Posted by Otter

It's worse for me,

I'm a broadcast engineer and an IT professional......guess what I get "volunteered" for all the time! LOL My wife keeps threatening to purchase that tee shirt that says:

"No I won't fix your computer"

Otter.

Hahaha story of my life minus the broadcast engineer + wife thing.

[Vynns]

Originally Posted by skeptikal

Hahaha story of my life minus the broadcast engineer + wife thing.

...So the story is that you're an IT professional?

[thudfromafar]

Genius? No.

Intelligence? Maybe...

Obsession? Probably.

[B Sus]

Originally Posted by B Sus

I'm usually the one setting up and tearing down the drums (more or less because our drummer is always chasing tail rather than getting work done)

I get it done so I can not have to worry about having something else to do, therefore not interrupting my time with the tail I chase. I've also contemplated stealing pieces of his set and not returning them, just to give him some incentive to take care of his crap.

[BassLand]

Well, I can tell you this, It takes another bassist to really understand what you are doing (as a player). That suggests a higher plain of communication. I know a lot of bassists who are computer scientists. Other than that, I dunno...

[MakiSupaStar]

Nah. I'm dumb as bricks.