I had bloody fingertips when I started playing. Like, blood-on-the-pickguard bloody.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
12 Things Bassists Hate
- Thread starter capnsandwich
- Start date
-
- Tags
- bassists
I had bloody fingertips when I started playing. Like, blood-on-the-pickguard bloody.
Forgot to include the singer, guitarist and perhaps even drummer hogging all the chicks! 
I'd like to see a guitarist play, having to shift all over the place to reach the notes (with 4-strings). The uninitiated (including me when I first picked up a bass 35 years ago) sometimes think "well, bass must be easier because it has only four strings and not six" but the reality is, having those extra 2 strings (on a guitar) make it easier, not harder, to play. A 4-string bass is in many ways harder to play than a 5 or 6 string bass (or a guitar) since you can't play horizontally across the neck as much.
Well that's because it's probably Class D, and therefore lack the "heft" of SS or tubes.Show a bass player a 4,500W 3 pound rig that fits in his front jeans pocket and has a tube pre, para EQ, and two dozen other features, sounds like the left hand of God on a thirty foot Steinway......and costs $500.... and he'll spend all afternoon telling you what's wrong with it.
Oh Man a 6 string bass is not easier if you're not use to it... I like the narrow neck of a 4 string bass, and that 5th string doesn't give me much issues on reach, but that 6 string? Waaaaaay to wide of a neck for my hands to reach everything, especially up in the higher register. For the way I like to play I need as much access to frets as possible and that 6th string gets in the way. As much as I'd love to use it for full high tone chords I really don't need it.
I hear ya, it is a physical challenge, but you can get almost 2 full octaves without shifting on a 5-string and an 2 octaves and a third on a six-string. Doing a 2-octave run or arpeggio is far easier on a 5 string than a 4 string. Now, think vs. guitar-- small neck, much less strain on tendons and muscles, and 6 strings allowing 2+ octaves of access without shifting. Easy!
Bass Strings are Ridiculously Expensive--but they typically last a relatively long time for most of us.
No one but other musicians appreciate the importance of the Bass--wait, what? Other musicians appreciate what I do? Okay, maybe a few other bass players, but otherwise, come on now...
Everyone assumes you’re laid back and boring--well, if you dress boring and stand there like a pillar.
Bass amps are inevitably way heavier than guitar amps--author of this article is obviously not familiar with new amp and speaker technology.
No one but other musicians appreciate the importance of the Bass--wait, what? Other musicians appreciate what I do? Okay, maybe a few other bass players, but otherwise, come on now...
Everyone assumes you’re laid back and boring--well, if you dress boring and stand there like a pillar.
Bass amps are inevitably way heavier than guitar amps--author of this article is obviously not familiar with new amp and speaker technology.
I don't like to jump around on stage either... I would much rather show my skill as an artist with my sound and music style.
Besides no one but Ozzy moves in Black Sabbath why should I? Lol
Besides no one but Ozzy moves in Black Sabbath why should I? Lol
True if I wanted to get really deep in octaves a 6 string wild be perfect. Maybe I like he thought of moving my hands around a lot, I dono I'm a Flea, Steve Harison, Cliff Burton kind of bassist... Could never get a hand on Les Claypool.
One obviously missing thing from that list:
Guitarists who insist on having a super thick, bassy sound reaching down near the fundamental of the bass, totally stepping on my toes, while complaining that my four-year-old flatwound strings are too bright and getting in the way of their guitar.
Guitarists who insist on having a super thick, bassy sound reaching down near the fundamental of the bass, totally stepping on my toes, while complaining that my four-year-old flatwound strings are too bright and getting in the way of their guitar.
I don't get the "it looks easy" very often, but when I do I always say: "sure, why don't you take the next set?" That usually shuts 'em up.
wmhill
Inactive
- Aug 20, 2012
- 4,054
- 17,209
- Disclosures
- MTD basses endorsed artist Bartolini pickups emerging artist TECAMP bass players gear endorsed
What's all this heavy amp talk?
My Mesa D800 weighs like 5 lbs. the Epifany UL2 1x15's are like 35 lbs each, if that.
the thing i hate about bassists is the way they generalize individuals into single classes - such as bassists!
Useless rant to me.
I don't recall the order so I'll do my own.
1) Yep, the gear is heavier. But guitar amps can't shake walls or put butts on the dance floor. Give me an SVT and a fridge over some rinky dink 30W 1-12 combo any day.
2) Boring? That's up to you. Put on a show that will leave no doubt in their minds that you are not boring. Stand there doing nothing and you prove them right.
3) It's easier/faster to START on bass than it is guitar. But mastering either is equally hard. It all depends on how far you want to go. Steeper learning curve? What is that guy even talking about?
4) I have met just as many bassists who have no idea how chord structure works as I have guitarists.
5) Drum fills? Talk to the drummer, not the interweave.
6) Price for strings? I would imagine that unless you like incredible lyrics bright tone, or play stupid hard like me, your strings will last so much longer than guitar strings the costs balance out.
7) The fish meme? OK, I'll give him that one. Even I'm tired of it.
8) Bass gear selection? This is not going to be popular. But, honestly, I find bassists to be much more picky over gear than guitarists. You can't possibly stock enough gear to make most bassists happy. Most guitarists want a Fender (or clone), a Marshall (or clone) or a Vox (or clone).
Show a bass player a 4,500W 3 pound rig that fits in his front jeans pocket and has a tube pre, para EQ, and two dozen other features, sounds like the left hand of God on a thirty foot Steinway......and costs $500.... and he'll spend all afternoon telling you what's wrong with it.
You're pretty right on most of those things IMO. Though I'm not a fan of heavier gear.You really got me on the strings bit - sure, I've paid $40 for a set of strings, but seeing as I keep them on for at least a year, and use the opportunity to put some linseed oil on the fretboard before I put the new strings on.
Up until recently I've also been the most active guy in any band I've been in on stage. With that said I've started laying back a bit on stage and actually had more fun. Also, if anybody in my bands is a womanizer, it'd be me.
