Help needed on how to talk to lame sounding bassist

[carl h.]

I'm doing a church gig of totally straight church ensemble music. Strings, woodwinds, brass, drums, piano, synth and an electric bass. Middle school level stuff.

There are 2 upright basses and the electric bass is playing the same part they are. Problem is he (EB) is using a lame distortion pedal on everything. He thinks he is going extreme and rocking the gig, but he sounds just dumb. A Brady bunch episode is the way I'd describe his sound, fuzzy and out of place.

I've never seen him before and am playing clarinet on this gig. He thinks he is rocking with a bunch of lame-O's and is way too hip to pay any attention to our comments. He isn't aware that 3 of the musicians sharing the stage (but not playing bass) are bass players with more years of gigging than he has been alive.

He sees me as some old dude with a clarinet. I don't want to throw attitude at him, or pick up his bass and show him a thing or two because this is a church gig. I want to keep our conversation in that spirit. Cooperation, birth of the savior and all that... (BTW, did I mention that the director is new and totally incompetent?)(Previous director did Jericho Horns charts and other interesting charts.)


How do I address this situation?

I'm leaning towards, smile & take my check to the bank, but the musician/teacher in me wants to talk to him or maybe hide the power source for the pedal.

What would you do?

[hankazoid]

Grab the nearest crucifix and stab him in the throat. Then tell him to stop using the distortion pedal.

[carl h.]

Originally Posted by hankazoid

Grab the nearest crucifix and stab him in the throat. Then tell him to stop using the distortion pedal.

Me LIKEY! The crucifix even keeps it in the spirit of a church gig.

[fenderfunker]

Welcome to the arrogance of youth. Don't you realize that they are the only ones who are 'cool'. If you are over 30, and I most certainly am, you are, by definition, 'uncool'. Maybe God will 'smote down' his destruction pedal for you. I guess you can't control who's in this band??? What if the guitarist goes all 'Steve Vai' on you. Maybe just 'turn the other cheek', or cut his lead (but that's what the devil in me would do). Good luck

[WOOFMAN]

Run your clarinet thru a distortion box, I think he will get the picture.

[ProgRapture]

I don't think he would be prepared for a sudden 'blown fuse' in his amp. That would be pretty sneaky and underhanded, but I'm sure God would find it in his heart to forgive you, and so would the church audience.

[phatbass]

It's the Director's job. Thus endeth the lesson...

[onlyclave]

Have the DB players just tacet and maybe the kid can hear how bad he sounds when no one is backing him up.

[nortonrider]

Originally Posted by hankazoid

Grab the nearest crucifix and stab him in the throat. Then tell him to stop using the distortion pedal.

amen

[gareth dunster]

Jesus taught that we should turn the other cheek, so arrange a 2000w 8x10 for him and let him rip.

[NickInMesa]

Originally Posted by phatbass

It's the Director's job. Thus endeth the lesson...

Exactly. Find 2 or 3 other musicians who think like you, tell the director and he will tell him.

I can't believe the director did not tell him already.

Also who does this bassist think he is? Unless this is a symphonic metal gig a la Epica, he should keep the distortion pedal for his rock gigs.

[Rocky]

I would try to explain to him that although the distorted sound may be cool it doesn't fit in with the band or the music. I would also try to help him understand that the "primary job" of the bassist is to support the music and the other musicians by providing a solid foundation.

[Disappear]

Hate breeds hate guys.

This is whatcha do, get your buddys and yourself to jam before rehearsal (granted you have one) with you on the bass. He comes in, sees you rock socks and might think more of you because you know the instrument.

[xgator4u]

Originally Posted by hankazoid

Grab the nearest crucifix and stab him in the throat. Then tell him to stop using the distortion pedal.

^ this.


Yes CRUCIFY him.

Oh wait, that is Easter, this is Christmas. What was I thinking?





Oh well, CRUCIFY him anyway.

[Jason P Bass]

Originally Posted by phatbass

It's the Director's job. Thus endeth the lesson...

I case another vote for this.

If the director tells the bass player, "Lose the distortion," and the bass player refuses, it's time to lose the bass player. We call this "order" or a "hierarchy" or "teamwork".

[chokeslam512]

Why do you need two bassists?

If you are any good with wiring, just bypass the distortion circuit so no matter what, the pedal is bypassed.

[plankspanker13]

Originally Posted by chokeslam512

Why do you need two bassists?

My thoughts exactly. I didn't know that Ned's Atomic Dustbin could do church music.

If you record a rehearsal, then maybe the kid could understand about sounding lame in the mix, and you might couple that with the splendid "jam before practice and rock socks" to solidify the respect. Lastly, have the MD endowed with sufficient stones enough to ask for the removal of the pedal as well. Life is not all about your one cool sound, unless it is able to service a broader range of material, which his does not do in this instance. He needs to learn that he has the ability to sound cool without the effects, and some bassists can take a longer time with that journey.

[carl h.]

He had his pedal this AM, but did not use it. Made himself scarce during the break too.

Oh well, ho ho ho.

[notdecraw]

Originally Posted by carl h.

He had his pedal this AM, but did not use it. Made himself scarce during the break too.

Oh well, ho ho ho.

Maybe he read this thread last night.

[carl h.]

Originally Posted by notdecraw

Maybe he read this thread last night.

I'd think if he was around here he'd have left his pedal at home.