lenny kravitz 4 string policy..

[groooooove]

i went to an audition at a local recording studio the other day. after hearing my playing the owners and producers all confessed to expecting me to be "one of those jazz guys" because of my 6 string carvin. () in short, they diddnt expect pocket playing from a 6 string bass.

then since we were on the topic one of the guys told me (i believe he said a friend of his was involved in this somehow? dont really remember.) that when lenny kravitz was auditioning bass players, something like 200+ guys showed up. they diddnt have the time to get through everybody, so they told everyone to take out their instrument and tune up. lenny then told his managers to go out there and tell everyone with more than 4 strings to go home.

being that i 95% of the time play a 6 string, im not sure how i feel about that.. (weather its true or not..the story is still being told..people do feel that way..)

[BillyRay]

You have to come up to work with the right tools, especially when we're talking major league (such as Lenny Kravitz). On the other hand, generalization based on the number of strings is silly from two-bits local acts, unless your instrument choice is really out of this world (ie. goign to a country audition with a Chapman stick).

I've had the reverse experience a couple of times (why don't you have a 5 strings or Ibanez ?). Never needed to, I have short fingers and I'm a p-bass guy. I can tune one in BEAD if necessary.

[Stinsok]

Lenny Kravitz's music and look are a throwback to the past. A Warwick 5 string would really be outta place in his band.

[Mikio]

Originally Posted by Stinsok

Lenny Kravitz's music and look are a throwback to the past. A Warwick 5 string would really be outta place in his band.

besides that, they had the time factor, it was a good idea from him, I think

[bassteban]

I imagine a very large proportion of pros go into most auditions w/at least one 4; I certainly would(& I play 5 most of the time & also have a 6).

[PBass101]

Originally Posted by groooooove

being that i 95% of the time play a 6 string, im not sure how i feel about that..

You don't have to feel anything about it. His band, his call. I don't see how you can possibly take something like this personally.

For my band, a seven string guitar would not be allowed. Nor a banjo. Or tubas. There are tools that fit certain genres of music and tools that don't. An instrument is a tool, not a body part, and a band refusing the use of a 6+ string bass is not discrimination against you as a person or musician, so there is no reason whatsoever to take it as such.

[fenwickbacker]

I usually get comments from sound guys (I play a Geddy Jazz - no pre-amp added). I've often heard "thank God - a 4-string Jazz - I know how to fit you in the mix."

[metalbass777]

Originally Posted by groooooove

i went to an audition at a local recording studio the other day. after hearing my playing the owners and producers all confessed to expecting me to be "one of those jazz guys" because of my 6 string carvin. () in short, they diddnt expect pocket playing from a 6 string bass.

then since we were on the topic one of the guys told me (i believe he said a friend of his was involved in this somehow? dont really remember.) that when lenny kravitz was auditioning bass players, something like 200+ guys showed up. they diddnt have the time to get through everybody, so they told everyone to take out their instrument and tune up. lenny then told his managers to go out there and tell everyone with more than 4 strings to go home.

being that i 95% of the time play a 6 string, im not sure how i feel about that.. (weather its true or not..the story is still being told..people do feel that way..)

Well being that 95% of the music out there can be played on a 4 string I'm not surprised. Get over it.

[markkoelsch]

If you were doing the research you shoudl have if trying out for Kravitz you would know that he is retro in his approach. With this in mind, I would think 4 string, passive. It could be a P, a Jazz, a Rick...any of them will give a certain vintage tone. Also, having a fretless around might not be the worst idea.

It really comes down to being prepared. Assuming you know who you are auditioning for, and the music involved you shoud have a pretty good idea what gear to bring. Also, being pro means that you have a few instruments at your disposal so that you can meet the tonal requirements of the gig. No single bass is right for everything.

[groooooove]

Originally Posted by PBass101

You don't have to feel anything about it. His band, his call. I don't see how you can possibly take something like this personally.

For my band, a seven string guitar would not be allowed. Nor a banjo. Or tubas. There are tools that fit certain genres of music and tools that don't. An instrument is a tool, not a body part, and a band refusing the use of a 6+ string bass is not discrimination against you as a person or musician, so there is no reason whatsoever to take it as such.

i diddnt mean i feel offended or anything, what i meant was im not sure if i feel lenny is retarded or not.

i understand your point, but the differnce between saying "my band doesent need a banjo" and "if your bass has 5 strings go home" is that you dont always play those other notes. if you dont need them, dont play them. the bass shouldent matter, the playing should.

[bassteban]

Originally Posted by groooooove

...what i meant was im not sure if i feel lenny is retarded or not.

[Gard]

I love these threads.



With the Kravitz audition story, I follow the logic: he has a particular "vibe" he's going for and boutique 5 or 6 isn't going to fit it. If I got called on that audition, I'd bring a passive 4.

However, otherwise, some schmuck calling me out for showing up with whatever instrument I use is an idiot.

I don't OWN a 4, or even a 5 string bass guitar (I do have a 5 string EUB), just a pair of 6's.

Guess what, I can do whatever any one of you guys playing 4 do. However, the reverse isn't true, so get off your high horse, ok? Just because I have (or any other player has) more than 4 doesn't mean we're going to misuse them. If you fail an audition because of the number of strings you bring, consider it a favor, you don't want to gig with idiots.

For the record, here are the types of bands I've been in using 6's:

Metal
Country
Motown style R&B (or as I like to call it REAL R&B )
Blues
Classic Rock
Latin
Jazz

Thankfully, I've been fortunate to audition for bandleaders that listen before they look, and realize you can't hear the number of strings or the name on the headstock, just the player and what they do with those things.

[mat666]

Originally Posted by Gard

I love these threads.



With the Kravitz audition story, I follow the logic: he has a particular "vibe" he's going for and boutique 5 or 6 isn't going to fit it. If I got called on that audition, I'd bring a passive 4.

However, otherwise, some schmuck calling me out for showing up with whatever instrument I use is an idiot.

I don't OWN a 4, or even a 5 string bass guitar (I do have a 5 string EUB), just a pair of 6's.

Guess what, I can do whatever any one of you guys playing 4 do. However, the reverse isn't true, so get off your high horse, ok? Just because I have (or any other player has) more than 4 doesn't mean we're going to misuse them. If you fail an audition because of the number of strings you bring, consider it a favor, you don't want to gig with idiots.

For the record, here are the types of bands I've been in using 6's:

Metal
Country
Motown style R&B (or as I like to call it REAL R&B )
Blues
Classic Rock
Latin
Jazz

Thankfully, I've been fortunate to audition for bandleaders that listen before they look, and realize you can't hear the number of strings or the name on the headstock, just the player and what they do with those things.

I completely understand Kravitz if in fact he was rushed in time because of too many people. A similar thing happened to metallica when claypool auditioned after cliff's death, the guy just didnt fit. I would do the same to narrow down auditions when you have 200+ waiting in the next room.

[cbass1]

whoa, Claypool auditioned for Metallica, I have to hear that story.

[Nino Valenti]

Originally Posted by Gard

If you fail an audition because of the number of strings you bring, consider it a favor, you don't want to gig with idiots.

+1

[PBass101]

Originally Posted by cbass1

whoa, Claypool auditioned for Metallica, I have to hear that story.

There's a youTube interview where James says that he was "too good" and just didn't fit their "thing." Claypool claims they never called him back which resulted in him "weeping like a little girl." It's alright, Claypool's better than to play with Metallica anyway. Who doesn't want banjo bass solos?

[MNAirHead]

He may have been looking for someone more of the backline type.

I really only play 5 or 6 when chording is necessary.

[jaywa]

Well one indication might be the fact that on every piece of Kravitz video footage that I've ever seen, the bassist is playing a 4-string and usually a Jazz.

You could argue that Kravitz could/should have specified "4-string" in his call, but as other posters have noted, it seems a pretty safe assumption given his "thing" so he probably figured it wasn't necessary.

BTW Kravitz plays bass on a lot of his recorded tracks and is no slouch. That might not be as easy of a gig as one might assume.

As for Claypool not getting the Metallica gig, he should be on his knees giving thanks for that. #1 he still has his hearing and #2 he didn't have to put up with James and Lars' BS.

[Mojo-Man]

If Lenny is writing the check.
He can make the rules.

There was a period when I played 6-string exclusively.(singlecut)
I was told buy some Blues, and Root, band leaders.
Leave that "coffee-table at home, and bring a Fender.

Some people can't change.

[BillyRay]

^^^ Sometimes they don't need to change. Sorry, but when you audition, you're the low guy on the totem pole. If you choose to go to a rock audition with a boutique ERB, you certainly lessen your chances in some circles. And the times I arrived with a four stringer strung BEAD to an audition for a downtuned, metal band that asked me if I had a fiver, I lessened my chances too.

Not that it isn't ridiculous from local acts who will play to crowds that don't even know what a Fender is to implement such restrictions, but it's their decision to make. It also doesn't make them idiots in my book, just image oriented.