adding a second bass player (but without a bass)

[lancimouspitt]

I've been playing in a country/southern rock band for the past 2 or so months.
Things are progressing,but slowly.
We just added a lead guitar player who is good,but i've stressed to these guys on several occassions that we really should implement the fact that (not including the lead guitarist),we have 3 rythem guitarist + me on bass.
Maybe before adding a 4th guitar player maybe we should get more on the same page?

Well now one of the guitards called me last night.
The guy who orginally created the project wanted back in on the idea,the only catch? He wanted to play bass.
I gracefully told the guitar player I would gladly step down and let him have the spot.No hard feelings.
But he responded and said "no we want 2 bass players".



He then said the other bass player wanted to play the "high end" while I played the low end.I have no problem holding down the low end and keeping my ego in check,but I really think that's something the other bass player should probably discuss with me. Probably the lead guitar player as well.

Now i've wanted to be in a band with another bass player for a while just to see how it would turn out,but i didn't want it under this scenario. This band has got so many strings going in it I just don't think we can fit a second bass player in this gig. We sound good i'm just not sure it will work.

With all that being said I told my friend I would try it out,despite my skeptic outlook.
Then he dropped the biggest bomb.

"Well man,he don't even own a bass right now."



I thought, Okaaay.

He then went on to explain that this second bass player wanted to play percussion as well.And that this 2nd bass player wouldn't be at every practice.

It sounds like to me he may just be wanting to get his friend back in the band anyway he can.
Can anybody else make any sense out of this?

[R. Laevinus]

...I understood your post - it's well written - but I am mad confused.

If it were me, man, I'd either be running or demanding an explanation.

And what's up with 4 guitarists?!? Granted country isn't my area of expertise... but that can't be normal, can it?

[PBass101]

Originally Posted by lancimouspitt

Can anybody else make any sense out of this?

Yes.

Originally Posted by lancimouspitt

It sounds like to me he may just be wanting to get his friend back in the band anyway he can.

[chokeslam512]

One bass player only. Tell him he can have a baritone guitar if he wants to play "up high".

[kcole4001]

So four (!!!!) guitars = 1 rythm, 2 lead (so you can play some cool dual lead tunes I assume), but the fourth guy: ????
What's he going to be doing?
And a drummer and a percussionist as well.
Its really more of an orchestra at that point.

Just makes it harder to schedule everyone for the same times/dates for practices and gigs, and probably takes longer to do everything.
Not to mention less money fom every gig and WAY more gear to haul around and set up.

[Steve]

You sir, are in a band full of friggan idiots. Time to move on.

IMHO YMMV

[Zmanofbass]

option 1) Lay down the law. You have a say in what happens in that band. You don't need to let them make your decisions for you. Im sure you only need on bass player... give em what for then mate!

option2) Your in a band full of knuckle heads, get out

[Stumbo]

The other "bass" player doesn't have a bass, will play percussion also (does he have percussion instruments?) and won't be at every practice.

How many country bands have percussion players? What's he gonna play? Cowbell, tambourine, etc.

How many bands are formed with guys that flat out state up front: "I can't make every practice". I doubt if the guy will actually make any of the practices. If the band can practice w/o the guy, it can also perform w/o him as well.

Is he going to get an equal share of the gig pay as well? Btw, when will he get a bass? IMO, I doubt that will happen as well. Sounds like his buddy just wants him to get a cut of the money because he's his friend.

Run, Forest, Run....::

[ChrisB2]

While watching Country Music Awards the other night (I'm not a big country fan but my daughters are), I noticed one band with, yes, at LEAST four guitar players, NOT counting the main man - who really didn't "play" his guitar, he just kinda-strummed it when he wasn't singing - PLUS at least a mandolin and yeah, various percussionists... so, I guess there is a "need" in country music for that many guitars(???), but... I only saw one bass player!

I don't know, man... I don't even like guitarists playing their low E! I know I wouldn't like a second bassist... but, if you always wanted to try it... why not?

[JustDavid]

Why not trade 3 guitarists for one sound tech, & let the bass-less bassist do lights?

[lonote]

Country band...4 guitars and 2 bass players? My question is, What country? Maybe even what planet?

[klokker]

Originally Posted by lancimouspitt

He then said the other bass player wanted to play the "high end" while I played the low end.

ROFLOL!!!! ROFLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Joe Black]

I don't suppose this will morph into a "Neds Atomic Dustbin" two bass player situation? Or maybe a "Revenge" two bass player situation? Or even, maybe, possibly, the way The Cure did two basses (one normal, one six string) on Disintegration or Pornography?

I thought not. I would run to the hills and find a band that only wants one bass player. Unless it's well thought out, it'll be a disaster.

[michael_atw]

Forget about making any more than a beat-up, bent, chewed-up nickel at any given gig. Soon you'll be splitting that $500 (if you're lucky) per gig check 47 different ways. They'll be the manager, 12 guitar players, 5 bassists, 4 drummers, "Bongo Joe", the homeless rain-stick guy, a cut for the tithe down at First Lutheran for supplying the 19-person choir, Billy the egotistical 2nd lead singer who never actually does anything but b**** and wail, the bagpiper that happened to be walking by the bar as you were unloading the equipment van, some semi-attractive chick who sings backup and has dated half the band within the first 2 months, and the hippie sound guy whose joint-rolling fingers always stick to the EQ knobs and throw them out of place.

Oh...and don't forget your new mascot, "Dwayne"...the Alpaca the hippie sound guy rescued from the ASPCA. He deserves to eat, right? Better yet, everyone is hoping he'll learn bass too. They'd have recruited him for 6-string purposes, but his big, stumpy, hairy paws get in the way of the correct finger positions.

[walterw]

"man, what a great gig! the place was packed, and we just killed! OK, here's your $14.50 pay for the night, nice job!"

[LiquidMidnight]

I never understood the need for a whole guitar section like it's a freakin' orchestra section. Two kick ass guitar players > Four mediocre guitar players. I realize that a lot of Southern rock relies on a triple guitar attack (e.g., Skynrd, Outlaws), but even that's not needed for the average cover band, IMO.

[JohnMCA72]

"Air Bass" (not like the kind where they park the airplanes)?

The question is, how well can he play that bass that he doesn't have?

Hopefully, he won't show you up! ;-)

JM

[walterw]

this goofiness is not without precedent. doesn't 38 special have 2 drummers? and not a drummer + "percussionist", either. you watch the videos, and it's two guys with regular kits going "boom, tap, boom tap" at the same time

IIRC, one of their 3 guitar players (who now just plays lead) used to be the lead singer in the early days.

my theory is, they should have just made the rhythm player (who sang all the big hits) switch to bass, then they could split the band into two power trios and tour different parts of the country at the same time!

[DoggBisket]

Originally Posted by lancimouspitt

I've been playing in a country/southern rock band for the past 2 or so months.
Things are progressing,but slowly.
We just added a lead guitar player who is good,but i've stressed to these guys on several occassions that we really should implement the fact that (not including the lead guitarist),we have 3 rythem guitarist + me on bass.
Maybe before adding a 4th guitar player maybe we should get more on the same page?

Well now one of the guitards called me last night.
The guy who orginally created the project wanted back in on the idea,the only catch? He wanted to play bass.
I gracefully told the guitar player I would gladly step down and let him have the spot.No hard feelings.
But he responded and said "no we want 2 bass players".



He then said the other bass player wanted to play the "high end" while I played the low end.I have no problem holding down the low end and keeping my ego in check,but I really think that's something the other bass player should probably discuss with me. Probably the lead guitar player as well.

Now i've wanted to be in a band with another bass player for a while just to see how it would turn out,but i didn't want it under this scenario. This band has got so many strings going in it I just don't think we can fit a second bass player in this gig. We sound good i'm just not sure it will work.

With all that being said I told my friend I would try it out,despite my skeptic outlook.
Then he dropped the biggest bomb.

"Well man,he don't even own a bass right now."



I thought, Okaaay.

He then went on to explain that this second bass player wanted to play percussion as well.And that this 2nd bass player wouldn't be at every practice.

It sounds like to me he may just be wanting to get his friend back in the band anyway he can.
Can anybody else make any sense out of this?

It sounds retarded to me.

[lancimouspitt]

Thanks for the imput everyone.
The practice is suppose to be tonight.
I'll post back with an update afterwards.