Stupid or otherwise unwise depictions of Double Basses in media, etc.

[Bob Gollihur]

Catching a rerun of an old Star Trek TNG reminded me of the ridiculous things I see on TV and in movies. As a pretty knowledgeable, longtime computer guy I laugh at the amazing things that TV shows and movies can make computers magically, and often impossibly do!

The ignorance of the general populace extends to those behind the director's chair... the TNG episode "11001001" has Cmdr Riker in the holodeck (actually) playing trombone with a trio-- the tall bass player is standing completely behind an URB whose scroll just about comes up to his nose, as his arms hang down and repeatedly stroke the strings at the upper fingerboard. The poor guy looks lost. You'd think that if the actor actually does play the trombone that he might have encountered a real bass player in his travels. Perhaps they lost the endpin shaft?

I know I've seen other stupid URB tricks (that won't come to me) -- anyone else have a favorite of theirs to share?

[Matthew Tucker]

Originally Posted by Bob Gollihur

standing completely behind an URB whose scroll just about comes up to his nose, as his arms hang down and repeatedly stroke the strings at the upper fingerboard.

Er, that's the way I've always done it. Is there a better way?

This guy's doing it too!

[Jake deVilliers]

Of course he is; he's trying to hide from the BANJO-MANDOLIN!!

That's some pretty serious run-out on the guitar too - must be a Martin. :-)

[Matthew Tucker]

trust me to load a random image. the one i meant to put there is now locked in stone!

[WalterBush]

The Applebee's commercials come to mind. Playing your DB hip deep in the ocean can't be good.

[relacey]

There's this from Bill Bentgen's site.

[Dad Bass]

There's a bar scene with a very attractive brunette showing a fair amout of leg and you're noticing the bass player.

Bob, I saw the same show and had the same concerns.

[Jazzin']

Originally Posted by jabberwock777

The Applebee's commercials come to mind. Playing your DB hip deep in the ocean can't be good.

Somehow it still sounds the same when he plays it out of the water.

[evan_phi]

i wonder what it would be like to record a full album where evrything is recorded underwater. just for shats and giggles.

[Jazzin']

It would probably just sound the same as a human being attacked and eaten by a shark underwater.

[Boardndave]

Imagine the drum playing... Yikes!

[nicklloyd]

Originally Posted by relacey

There's this from Bill Bentgen's site.

My favorite episode!

[.matthew e wengerd.]

subscribed.

[Steve Boisen]

I immediately thought of Jack Lemmon dressed in drag, on a train, pretending to play his bullet hole-ridden Kay bass with an all-girl orchestra in "Some Like It Hot". Silly yes, but a hilarious movie indeed .

- Steve

My web page

[jdapodaca]

i'm watching True Lies (the arnold movie) on HBO, and Arnold is riding a horse, chasing a guy on a motorcycle, through a hotel.

In the hotel, theres a little jazz band, and the bass player is standing like directly behind his bass. the nut is also right about even with his neck.

THEN arnold rides his horse through the band, forcing aforementioned bass player to jump out of the way, holding the bass in his hand as he does so.

good times.

[bejoyous]

My friend, greg Sheldon and his wife Karen MacLellen, of the Windsor symphony were once in commercial (I think it was for Hockey Night in Canada) many years ago. The director tried to make a quartet of strings look like a full orchestra so he had them line upe in a visual row and use tight camera angles, had them play way up the neck on the lower strings so you could see both hands in the tight shot and so on. It looked really bad.