Public bass ignorance

BassPenguin22 · #1 01-20-2011, 08:57 AM

Recently I was talking to a band mate's father and when I explained that I was the bassist in his son's band he replied "Bass guitar, like the white stripes?"...

The white stripes dont even have a bass player.
While this may be a relatively stupid thing to point out but it made me think about theese sorts of things. I have had people say stuff like "Why does your guitar have such thick strings?" etc.
Do some people not know the difference between guitar and bass or am i just b****ing about something stupid?

BP

LowKee · #2 01-20-2011, 09:35 AM

I think that a lot of people look at guitar and then at bass and since they look similar from off-stage they just assume that they are basically the same instrument. I can understand this from non-musicians, but when people who should know better ask dumb questions it annoys me.

15000volts · #3 01-20-2011, 10:07 AM

it amazes me how musically dumb some people are.. I'm playing a 4 stringed instrument that is way bigger than a guitar and has much thicker strings... why should it sound the same?!?!!!

Jimbob Jones · #4 01-20-2011, 10:27 AM

Remember, they have probably never played a guitar, let alone a bass.; they're coming from a position of ignorance.

It's human nature; all CD decks are exactly the same...I mean they all do the same thing. Right?

And what about bikes; a bike is a bike, right?

Same principal with basses, most people are ready to be corrected, and are slightly embarrassed when they compliment you on your 'guitar' and you say 'well actually...'

That said, I have had actual arguements with people who wouldn't accept that my P was any different from the Guitarists strat.

pedroims · #5 01-20-2011, 10:34 AM

that's fine if they are not musicians, why they should know the difference? Chances are that they think the same about viola, violin, midi controller , piano, synthesizer. There are many things in this life that they look the same to me although for other people they are complete different things. Don't get stress, now go and play that damn guitar

Oren Hudson · #6 01-20-2011, 10:35 AM

A few weeks ago, I had a member of the congregation at my church ask me if what I was playing was a 12 string guitar.

EdMerc · #7 01-20-2011, 10:35 AM

Yeah, but why argue or even be offended for that matter?
Let's be fair. It is a bass GUITAR. So the mix-up could be forgiven for the uninitiated. It's not like it's being confused for a tuba (not that there's anything wrong with tubas).

I like having an opportunity to teach something new.

BassChuck · #8 01-20-2011, 10:41 AM

I just tell them that there's a lot of things I don't know about their job, and if they'd like, they can tell me about the correct way to fix a Big Mac or what kind of things won't fit in a garbage truck.

MuzikMan · #9 01-20-2011, 10:48 AM

Most people don't need to know the differrence and why should they? I can't look at a wall of hammers and tell you which one is best for roofing...........and I am ok with that.

Lulz · #10 01-20-2011, 10:56 AM

The world's an ignorant place, get used to it.

jnuts1 · #11 01-20-2011, 11:02 AM

everyone should know what a roofing hammer looks like

hrodbert696 · #12 01-20-2011, 11:05 AM

My mom got me a bass for Christmas a year ago. She knew it was an electric bass, and she knew that was different from a regular guitar. The thing that confused her when she dropped it off was where the electricity came from -- she couldn't find a plug. (No batteries either, it was a passive).

You're right, most people don't know anything about bass or how it's different from any other instrument. And that's ok, I don't mind. I know precious little about cars, or sports. As long as they dance.

shadowtippy · #13 01-20-2011, 11:06 AM

My guitarist's 3 year old grand daughter was watching us practice one night and asked why my guitar was bigger than "Pappa's." We showed her the difference in the way the two instruments sounded and she was happy enough with it. If you make something simple enough for a 3 year old to understand, most adults will pick up on it.

wideload · #14 01-20-2011, 11:09 AM

We are all ignorant about something.

Burlington · #15 01-20-2011, 11:19 AM

Two girls came up to us while we were setting up at a show and one of the guitar players and I what the difference between our instruments was. I told them mine was longer. Many laughs were had.

Buzzi · #16 01-20-2011, 11:24 AM

I have read a bunch of threads here like this one

Interesting notice our own tolerance evolution to these poor souls which does not know how to differ one instrument from another

I wish all humans could be like us, bassists, and evolute into their heads too.

Pilgrim · #17 01-20-2011, 11:53 AM

People are ignorant about things they don't care about.

How many on this forum know where the spark plugs are in their car, how to gap them, and how to change them? Probably less than half - because they really don't care.

edbass · #18 01-20-2011, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuzikMan

Most people don't need to know the differrence and why should they? I can't look at a wall of hammers and tell you which one is best for roofing...........and I am ok with that.

+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnuts1

everyone should know what a roofing hammer looks like

Why? I can't imagine a scenario where I would ever be on a roof with a hammer, or for that matter I don't feel the need to know the difference between surgical scalpels either.
If I think one of my roofs need hammering or I need some flesh cut, I'll call someone who knows what a roofing hammer or #10 scalpel blade looks like. Hopefully they will in return call me if they need some bass guitar played.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

People are ignorant about things they don't care about.

How many on this forum know where the spark plugs are in their car, how to gap them, and how to change them? Probably less than half - because they really don't care.

I think we have a “bingo”.

What’s the point of this thread anyway? Why should somebody know the difference between a bass and guitar unless they play, and if they DO play, don’t you suppose they do know the difference?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassPenguin22

Do some people not know the difference between guitar and bass or am i just b****ing about something stupid?

Yes and Yes.

sgtpepper · #19 01-20-2011, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdMerc

Let's be fair. It is a bass GUITAR.
I like having an opportunity to teach something new.

I agree with this. The basic idea when Leo Fender "invented" the Precision Bass GUITAR was that... an electric guitar that sounded like a (double) bass. Lighter, smaller and of course easier to carry. So don't get mad at people when they ask you about that or when they don't know the diference between both instruments. You can "teach" them something new. Everyday I learn something new about something and I'm alway glad and thankful with the person I learn from.

Remember: There are no stupid questions... Just stupids that ask. (just kidding

)

Sam Hain · #20 01-20-2011, 12:00 PM

Lifes to short to sweat the small stuff....big deal they don't know what a bass is. Don't be so sensitive.