OK who else is an animal onstage, pretty bass wasted?

[torgeot]

I really like to have a good time when I play out. I'm up on the pool tables, (I go wireless) running around the stage, out dancing with the ladies while playing....

So here's the issue, I have a few real nice basses, but something that is real gorgeous is almost a waste on me, I will inevitably end up scratching, or chipping these nice basses. I won't even bring some of them out to a gig anymore, as I don't want to ruin a beautiful axe.

My band and the audience appreciates the wild bass player, but anyone else go through this. I want to sound great but my poor basses will take a beating.

I was actually happy when I bought a used SR5 and it had a chip in it when I bought it so it wasn't so perfect.

Anyone else have the same problem? Is it a problem? I'm actually not asking any questions just wanted to get this off my chest.

[bass_fish]

I don't have a wireless system, but still I jump around on stage....
climbing on the bass drum/jumping off, jumping off the stage and dancing a long with the crowd, running into guitarist(oops...) you know that kinda stuff, my main bass does have the scars to prove it all... but in the end, I don't really mind: I just wanna have fun on stage and standing still isn't my thing..

[torgeot]

Originally Posted by bass_fish

, running into guitarist(oops...)

I knocked a singer out one night by hitting him in the temple with my Guild SB-608 headstock.... no damage to the bass

Thanks at least there's someone else out there who's shredding their bass

maybe we should start an Animal Bassist club......

[Spinal Tapper]

You should just get a beat up vintage bass. Then it won't matter if you add a couple chips to it - as long as you have a consistent nice sound.

[mjolnir]

I personally don't understand the problem with letting your bass show that you've played it. I believe these basses we own are tools for expression, not priceless artifacts. There will be dings, there will be scratches, there will be scuffs. These things happen, and as far as I'm concerned every single imperfection is another story to tell.

Now, I'm not saying carve up your bass on purpose. But don't sweat the natural course of events. Unless you outright break something the bass will still play the same, imperfections or no.

[Phantopeth]

Originally Posted by mjolnir

I personally don't understand the problem with letting your bass show that you've played it. I believe these basses we own are tools for expression, not priceless artifacts. There will be dings, there will be scratches, there will be scuffs. These things happen, and as far as I'm concerned every single imperfection is another story to tell.

Now, I'm not saying carve up your bass on purpose. But don't sweat the natural course of events. Unless you outright break something the bass will still play the same, imperfections or no.

+1

I was an animal on stage with my previous band, and played all but 1 gig with my '80 Ric. The thing has its fair share of war-wounds; I call it character.

I am, however, in no way concerned with the resale value of this instrument. That may change things in your mind.

[Daniel J]

I'm with you guys. My whole band moves a lot on stage and we're all about having the most energetic stage show around.

As for my basses... I used to be the same way not wanting to scratch or dent a beautiful bass. But now my philosophy has changed and I buy basses to play them, not to worry about them. I was never satisfied after a show being concerned about my bass. Now giving it the all on stage and knowing that the instrument is in my hands to be played and a part of me it's a much better feeling.

If I find myself concerned about the re-sale value of a bass I sell it and find something vintage with character that's sounds great and is dying to be played hard.

ROCK

[lefty]

my main bass, a 82 ibanez roadster lefty has war wounds from my rock days in the 80's. it has gouges, scratches i wore out the neck and has been re fretted and refinished you name it. it's still my main bass and i look at it and think ahhh the good old days, or bad old days. i'd pick a good gigging bass and let er rip. look at stevie ray vaughns main guitar it was thrashed.

[ibanezcollector]

Originally Posted by torgeot

I knocked a singer out one night by hitting him in the temple with my Guild SB-608 headstock.... no damage to the bass

Thanks at least there's someone else out there who's shredding their bass

maybe we should start an Animal Bassist club......

LMAO

Thats priceless right there, and is exactly why all bands should videotape every show..

That would of made a great youtube video..

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by torgeot

I knocked a singer out one night by hitting him in the temple with my Guild SB-608 headstock.... no damage to the bass

I was playing this show at this club that had this dinky little cramped stage. Our singer was highly energetic, he did some crazy Eddie Van Halen kick thing, his foot went between the strap and body of my bass, he went face down onto the ground, with his chin bouncing off this barrier in front of the stage. He got up like nothing happened.

[TrevorOfDoom]

hell yes!!

jumping off my cab, running into everybody, whacked my singer in the head a couple times, whacked myself in the head a lot of times. i have people fearing for my life when i'm on stage, wondering when i'm going to fall off the stage, or break something. both the basses i used have scars, but not enough for me. at the end of my run, after we ended, i'd just drop my fender where-ever i was standing, grab a bottle of water, and drench myself.

i need a wireless.

[Gubna]

Animal? I thought he was a drummer?!!


yeah, I used to go crazy on stage, jumping around and moving my ass - and my bass may have suffered a bit, but I wasn't abusive of it. A shot of my shoes even made it into a movie - moving around on stage. It was called "Permanent Thunder" - about the bay area punk rock scene (in 1999). Well, it was a student film done by a friends' brother - shown at the University of Montana, even Peter Fonda saw it and liked it.

[iamlowsound]

I move around a lot, but I usually don't hit anything. If it bothers you that you are dinging up a nice bass, simple solution, buy a cheaper bass. There are a lot of great sounding basses that you can pick up for cheap.

lowsound

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by mjolnir

I personally don't understand the problem with letting your bass show that you've played it. I believe these basses we own are tools for expression, not priceless artifacts. There will be dings, there will be scratches, there will be scuffs. These things happen, and as far as I'm concerned every single imperfection is another story to tell.

Now, I'm not saying carve up your bass on purpose. But don't sweat the natural course of events. Unless you outright break something the bass will still play the same, imperfections or no.

There's a line that you have to be aware of, and it's really changed over the past 10 years or so.

Where I had no problems about bringing my 65 Jazz or my 79 Thunderbird to any show at any venue I played at- the value of those instruments has gone up substantially since getting them. The other issue is that I've got a 79 Thunderbird (ostensibly one of 8 shipped from Gibson that year) without a broken headstock-

[mjolnir]

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

There's a line that you have to be aware of, and it's really changed over the past 10 years or so.

Where I had no problems about bringing my 65 Jazz or my 79 Thunderbird to any show at any venue I played at- the value of those instruments has gone up substantially since getting them. The other issue is that I've got a 79 Thunderbird (ostensibly one of 8 shipped from Gibson that year) without a broken headstock-

Granted, there will be extenuating circumstances here and there, you're absolutely right. In the end, it's really up to the discretion of the owner of the bass, because a bass is only as valuable as the owner perceives it to be.

[torgeot]

Originally Posted by ibanezcollector

LMAO

Thats priceless right there, and is exactly why all bands should videotape every show..

That would of made a great youtube video..

Actually have a tape somewhere of it, but that was in 1987... haven't seen that tape in a number of years

I've given up worrying about my basses too much, I have a nice Fender Deluxe P that I try to not go too crazy with, but my SR5 I bought with a chip and i have a Spector NS5CRFM, and luckily that has an oil finish, no need to worry about chips on that, just try to keep damage to a minimum.

Glad to see so many of us animals out there .... I may not be the best bass player in the world but I will entertain the living sh%t out of an audience... the old baffle them with bulls*&t line

[Cail]

For some reason this reminds me of when I was in the High school jazz band at my school. They had me sitting right in front of the drumset and I turned and hit the back of my t-40 on the bass drum really hard chipping the bass and doing some damage to the bass drum. Not surprising with the 200 pounds the bass weighs. If I'd hit someone in the head with it it'd probably end up killing them.

[Vic Winters]

Originally Posted by mjolnir

I personally don't understand the problem with letting your bass show that you've played it. I believe these basses we own are tools for expression, not priceless artifacts. There will be dings, there will be scratches, there will be scuffs. These things happen, and as far as I'm concerned every single imperfection is another story to tell.

Now, I'm not saying carve up your bass on purpose. But don't sweat the natural course of events. Unless you outright break something the bass will still play the same, imperfections or no.

I think some people just want their basses to stay nice. Sure a scratch of chip isn't going to change the sound or how it plays, but to some people it takes away from the appearance of the instrument. It's the same way with a vehicle. Most people don't want it to look all dinged or scratched up, while others don't care. People drive just about everyday, paint chips and scrapes are a natural occurrence. While it doesn't effect the way the care drives, it effects the way the owner feels about it, and subtracts from it's monetary value. The only difference, sometimes the beat up look is the selling point for a bass.

[Fine Cut]

i cant play and stand still, even though i play mostly southern rock, i have a punk background so i get into my basslines lol...my first gig bass was an '02 Squier affinity P, sanded the blue paint off and put screws in the bridge to hold the saddles in...it's still my backup, but it's a 3 string now...dropped it on concrete 4 times durin a gig last summer, no damage; dropped it on grass walkin to the van, and the headstock broke in half lol, i've dropped my current squier vintage mod. jazz several times and sofar the finish is flawless...we'll see how long it lasts lol

[Manndreas]

My whole band is pretty wild on stage. So my bass has it's share of battle injuries. I think it looks better with 'em, and they show off all the good times I've had with the bass. Like beerfights on stage, falling over, fighting with the vocalist etc etc