Official Elrick Club Thread! - Page 34

Brad Johnson · #**661** 05-21-2009, 03:31 AM

While what you're saying can undoubtedly be true, I know builders who've made changes they don't particularly care for because of customer demand and they don't care for the results either

. I don't remember exactly when I got my first Elrick, it was probably around ten years ago and I'm not one of the guys who's saying he's getting better and better because I think he got it right back then

. I still have my first Elrick and it's still a great bass.

And I also don't necessarily agree that changes are improvements... sometimes they're just changes. Many bassists dwell in a laundry list kind of world and instead of taking a particular instrument as what it is, they need to have items checked off based on common misconceptions. Want a nice B string? Many will tell you that a 35" scale is a requirement... and that's not a given. But it's certainly what they believe and they'll dismiss a bass that doesn't have it based on what they hear on paper.

The horn digging into the leg complaint? Didn't bother me, I wear a strap. Apparently it didn't bother Rob either but that's an "improvement" that probably did help sell more basses. Offering other electronics probably does too and there are a couple of schools of thought there. Build basses for people who like your basses as they are, Ken Smith being an excellent example of that or build basses for folks who think they've got a better idea

. I've think I've already expressed my position on that. Maybe I'm jaded from knowing people who've ordered all sorts of stuff based mainly on ignorance and then not being blown away by the results.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with Rob making his bass sound more like a Fender... I just never got the feeling that that was his goal as a luthier. I'm in the minority who happen to like the NJS basses just as they are, an alternative to a Jazz, that plays and sounds great in it's own way and won't scare the horse (people who need to see a J style bass). And no, everybody doesn't build a Jazz.

As far as the comment about producers and MDs being disappointed if we didn't try and expand our approach as performers without having to change the way we feel music... not in my experience. Most are happy if you can simply show up and do your job. Most don't have time to waste while you try to sort out the latest science project. Maybe I'm just not seeing your point.

And sorry but everything does not have to be complicated... some people just seem to make it that way.

lowfreaknzy · #**662** 05-21-2009, 04:16 AM

You're not missing my point, we are just two different kinds of musicians....

Brad Johnson · #**663** 05-21-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowfreaknzy

You're not missing my point, we are just two different kinds of musicians....

Apparently. Can you give me an example of a producer or MD that was disappointed by a bassist who didn't expand their approach? Why'd they choose to hire/work with them in the first place?

lowfreaknzy · #**664** 05-21-2009, 12:39 PM

I wouldn't go as far as giving you names, but you see it every time you walk into a session where they want you, but the producer may ask for something that might not be your forte (slap, picking, muting, sight reading, 5th string, fretless sound, upright sound, music styles, soloing, grooving.. you name it!!), and that doesn't mean they don't appreciate the kind of musician you are, they hired YOU to begin with. I did a session where the drummer was this awesome monster player, he blew everybody away with his chops, killed it, until it was time for the ballad... they had to hire somebody else to play it cause it was so slow and so simple, he couldn't play pocket (maybe this is not the drummer they wanna take on the road).

You never seen anything like this? I wanna live in your town !!! It's so simple !!! "Just show up and do your Job" !!! Wow !!

Maybe I shouldn't have used the term dissapointed, but music is so complex, there are so many variables, like in building basses, that somebody, sometime is gonna ask you for something you are not used to, they have a mind of their own and they hear it different, and it shouldn't be the end of the world, there are artists that decide to take that as an insult... me, It makes me "go back to my drawing board" all the time, It pushes me to be better, i keep "sorting out my science projects" so I don't "waste anybodys time"...

Brad Johnson · #**665** 05-21-2009, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowfreaknzy

I wouldn't go as far as giving you names, but you see it every time you walk into a session where they want you, but the producer may ask for something that might not be your forte (slap, picking, muting, sight reading, 5th string, fretless sound, upright sound, music styles, soloing, grooving.. you name it!!), and that doesn't mean they don't appreciate the kind of musician you are, they hired YOU to begin with. I did a session where the drummer was this awesome monster player, he blew everybody away with his chops, killed it, until it was time for the ballad... they had to hire somebody else to play it cause it was so slow and so simple, he couldn't play pocket (maybe this is not the drummer they wanna take on the road).

You never seen anything like this? I wanna live in your town !!! It's so simple !!! "Just show up and do your Job" !!! Wow !!

Maybe I shouldn't have used the term dissapointed, but music is so complex, there are so many variables, like in building basses, that somebody, sometime is gonna ask you for something you are not used to, they have a mind of their own and they hear it different, and it shouldn't be the end of the world, there are artists that decide to take that as an insult... me, It makes me "go back to my drawing board" all the time, It pushes me to be better, i keep "sorting out my science projects" so I don't "waste anybodys time"...

I don't see what that has to do with instrument choice/options on a bass... which is what I thought this tangent was still relating to.

And yes, it can be that simple. Not sure where your town is. That drummer anecdote isn't about pushing any boundaries, it's about not having a basic core competency. I know guys like that.

IME most people who are heavily into switching things usually don't have a clear idea of what they want. The funny thing is that I've seen some of those same people blame the builder for the result of their experiments ("He really missed on this one"). As if taking ownership for their experimentation is not logical for them.

nalapit13 · #**666** 05-21-2009, 08:34 PM

you guys should take this to pm or at least post some elrick porn in your tangents.

Mr. Majestic · #**667** 05-21-2009, 08:46 PM

nalapit13 · #**668** 05-21-2009, 08:55 PM

i have no choice but to keep posting cute pics of lola with one of my little e's. dont make me keep doing this!!!!

lowfreaknzy · #**669** 05-21-2009, 09:13 PM

Well Brad, don't ask for specific things about random examples Im giving you that are actually relevant to the point im trying to make. Then if you come back saying: " What does that have to do with bass options?, wow! Really?either you are missing the point or you can't carry a conversation that you are starting with these questions.
Look, I can't keep repeating myself, read and you'll see that I know exactly what I want. That was 3 pages ago!
But I'll put it like this for you:
1- We all change and improve by making mistakes and try again
2- I'm probably right by changing components on this bass to make it more suitable for me, but maybe I'm wrong and should get a Sadowsky or whatever like everybody else.
3- Rob might be right with this bass the way it is. But maybe, there's the small possibility that he might not be happy anymore with this model and decides to make changes to it in a couple of yrs .Why not? he's done it before
4- but we don't know, you don't know. To you the bass was perfect the first time, but you are a minority, I've had conversations with luthiers that say Rob has problems with "tone", and I find myself defending the quality of his stuff.
Don't ask which luthiers, you might get distracted and miss my point again.
simple enough for you now?
definately I'm too complicated for you, and you are way too simple for me.
nice try making me seem incoherent

-

lowfreaknzy · #**670** 05-21-2009, 09:48 PM

Yeah.. dude this is not interesting to anybody anymore
Sorry guys !

Brad Johnson · #**671** 05-21-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowfreaknzy

Well Brad, don't ask for specific things about random examples Im giving you that are actually relevant to the point im trying to make. Then if you come back saying: " What does that have to do with bass options?, wow! Really?either you are missing the point or you can't carry a conversation that you are starting with these questions.
Look, I can't keep repeating myself, read and you'll see that I know exactly what I want. That was 3 pages ago!
But I'll put it like this for you:
1- We all change and improve by making mistakes and try again
2- I'm probably right by changing components on this bass to make it more suitable for me, but maybe I'm wrong and should get a Sadowsky or whatever like everybody else.
3- Rob might be right with this bass the way it is. But maybe, there's the small possibility that he might not be happy anymore with this model and decides to make changes to it in a couple of yrs .Why not? he's done it before
4- but we don't know, you don't know. To you the bass was perfect the first time, but you are a minority, I've had conversations with luthiers that say Rob has problems with "tone", and I find myself defending the quality of his stuff.
Don't ask which luthiers, you might get distracted and miss my point again.
simple enough for you now?
definately I'm too complicated for you, and you are way too simple for me.
nice try making me seem incoherent

-

As a multiple Elrick owner, I'm in the majority. I know you don't get that either. And I'm not making you "seem" like anything... that's all you.

Okay?

Brad Johnson · #**672** 05-21-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nalapit13

you guys should take this to pm or at least post some elrick porn in your tangents.

I don't do pms on stuff like this. I'm done... maybe he is too.

Brad Johnson · #**673** 05-21-2009, 10:50 PM

Here's one I didn't keep... it didn't resemble the photo I purchased it from IRL. Yikes.

Brad Johnson · #**674** 05-21-2009, 10:56 PM

Something you don't see every day... the 5 in line NJS headstock on my semi hollow fretless.

lowfreaknzy · #**675** 05-21-2009, 10:59 PM

Ok, ok... too personal... nobody's enjoying this...

Brad Johnson · #**676** 05-21-2009, 11:00 PM

My former Platinum Hybrid 6...

Brad Johnson · #**677** 05-21-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowfreaknzy

Ok, ok... too personal... nobody's enjoying this...

Then stop. Like I said, I'm done.

lowfreaknzy · #**678** 05-21-2009, 11:02 PM

Time to bring sexy back:

This are my desktop pics (hope I get them right)

blowinblue · #**679** 05-21-2009, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowfreaknzy

I've had conversations with luthiers that say Rob has problems with "tone", and I find myself defending the quality of his stuff.

While it is a great thing that you own and use Elrick basses, repeating the above on a public forum is just plain bad form. Defending him in the same post or even the same sentence doesn't make up for it. I've had many conversations with well-known bass builders, amp/cab makers, store owners. I am reluctant to repeat positive stuff they say...repeating something negative like this is unthinkable.

I personally am glad Rob Elrick has 'problems' with tone. My two Elricks sound awesome.

M. M.

lowfreaknzy · #**680** 05-22-2009, 12:18 AM

I'm sorry if that sounded offensive or just "bad taste" to anybody.