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A Guitar center "BASS OFF" ????

Mrfstop

Mrfstop

Jan 26, 2006
4,277
231
New York
#1
Ok, so In recent months I have attended Guitar centers various annual contests in the store near where I live.
These are their national contests with big prizes and exposure and recording ops, etc....

In maybe the past 6 months or so, my son and I have attended a national "drum off" contest and their "king of the blues" contest for guitarists.
Now this evening they launched the start of yet another National "Drum off" contest.
My son and I look forward to attending these GC contests!
It is a fun thing for us to do, and it often showcases some really good talent.

But here is the thing....
WHY NO BASS OFF's???? :hyper:

Is bass guitar not an instrument???
I mean GC sells basses and bass amps and bass strings, right?
So the least they should do is give us bass players an equal shot at what they are doing for guitarists and drummers.
I do not really mean to rant, nor stand here on a soap box squawking.
BUT, I think this sucks honestly.:hyper:

I asked the store manager tonight, "when is there going to be a bass off for bassists?"
He laughed and replied never....

so you guys tell me...is this right for GC to do?

well nuff for one novel...will check out your thoughts :bassist:
 
#3
I was a judge for a couple of years in one of the Seattle GC's for the guitar shred-off and the reason there isn't one for bass is there is no manufacturer willing to pony up the cash to sponsor and pay for it. Guitar Center sure isn't going to. As I recall the guitar contests are sponsored by Gibson and Line6.

You don't want a bass-off to happen. Trust me on this. It's EXTREMELY difficult for the judges to keep from laughing hysterically in your face when you're playing.
 
#4
Have you ever thumbed through a GC sales "catalog"? A whole 1/2 page devoted to bass, whereas even the DJ's get a whole section of their own.

With a name like "Guitar Center", what do you expect?

EDIT: I also prefer to think that bass players are on a whole 'nother level of class. We don't need a Bass-Off cause we're bass players; it's just not in our blood.
 
#6
I went in a GC for the first time a couple weeks ago, living in the middle of nowhere, my "local" GC is an hour and a half drive away. Walked in, saw hundreds of guitars covering every wall in there. Went looking for the bass dept., finally found a small dark circular room about 10-12 ft in diameter with a 3 ft diameter column in the center where every bass in the store lived. Not sure if there all like that, but was surprised how little love the basses get there
 
#8
Kwesi said:
I ask you, do you honestly want to see a bass off at Guitar Center :eyebrow:?

Think about it. Reeeeeeeeeeeeally think about it...
Click to expand...

Why would I not? I would say I thought about it...otherwise I would not waste time writing this thread about it.
Yes I would ...what would it hurt?

I mean many of the entrants in both the drum off and the king of the blues flat out sucked!
BUT....several of the people were truly gifted and entertaining.
I think this would be cool for the younger people playing bass , learning their chops....getting a break.

Even if the prize was not something huge in value...I am sure there are enough mfgs to pony up something to offer a prize to a winner....
Like a Stingray and a mark bass combo or something ....value is around $2,700....big whoop.

And to some young kid to win that would be the best!
 
#9
lowfreqgeek said:
Have you ever thumbed through a GC sales "catalog"? A whole 1/2 page devoted to bass, whereas even the DJ's get a whole section of their own.

With a name like "Guitar Center", what do you expect?

EDIT: I also prefer to think that bass players are on a whole 'nother level of class. We don't need a Bass-Off cause we're bass players; it's just not in our blood.
Click to expand...

yea I find that lame...one page of cheesy basses...and page after page of other random BS
 
#10
Jmac66 said:
I went in a GC for the first time a couple weeks ago, living in the middle of nowhere, my "local" GC is an hour and a half drive away. Walked in, saw hundreds of guitars covering every wall in there. Went looking for the bass dept., finally found a small dark circular room about 10-12 ft in diameter with a 3 ft diameter column in the center where every bass in the store lived. Not sure if there all like that, but was surprised how little love the basses get there
Click to expand...

yep the one I was at tonight near me is like that...smaller room size...sparse gear....mostly low entry level basses....one or two EBMM stingrays for way too much asking price...
kinda sad...
 
#12
onlyclave said:
You don't want a bass-off to happen. Trust me on this. It's EXTREMELY difficult for the judges to keep from laughing hysterically in your face when you're playing.
Click to expand...

Well.....I actually understand what you mean, But......I have some friends that will blow your minds on the bass, all by themselves. I think the 'King of Blues' thing had guitar players soloing to a backing track and that is very different from the freestyle drum solo stuff.

I think it's a real interesting idea for sure.
 
#13
Gadgetjunky said:
Well.....I actually understand what you mean, But......I have some friends that will blow your minds on the bass, all by themselves. I think the 'King of Blues' thing had guitar players soloing to a backing track and that is very different from the freestyle drum solo stuff.

I think it's a real interesting idea for sure.
Click to expand...

The thing I would find cool to watch and hear would be the various styles...
Some slap...some pluck...some use a pick...
I mean ya have guys with a steve harris speed picking style...then ya have the geddy lee clones...and john entwhistle style players, the funky bootsy Collins guys......and on and on....

A free style would be best suited for this I would guess?
Might be odd any other way.
I mean they only let ya play 3 minutes...hahaha!! So it could not be too hard to come up with a cool 3 minute jam.
 
#16
They know that us bass players are above all of that competition.

Who am I kidding, they clearly don't see bass as an equal instrument. Just look at how small the rumble room is compared to the guitar or percussion sections.
 
#17
Ever since Chuck Berry did the duck walk, the lead instrument in R&R and popular music has been the guitar. Think about it...if it hadn't been for him it would have been the sax player. Unfortunately this hasn't changed much since 1955. Face it guys, no one notices us until we're late.
 
#18
Audiophage said:
They know that us bass players are above all of that competition.

Who am I kidding, they clearly don't see bass as an equal instrument. Just look at how small the rumble room is compared to the guitar or percussion sections.
Click to expand...

It has nothing to do with respect (or not) for the bass. It is purely economics. There are what, 10, 20, 30 guitarists for every bass player of equivalent skill? GC is in this for the money.
 
#20
lowfreqgeek said:
Have you ever thumbed through a GC sales "catalog"? A whole 1/2 page devoted to bass, whereas even the DJ's get a whole section of their own.

With a name like "Guitar Center", what do you expect?

EDIT: I also prefer to think that bass players are on a whole 'nother level of class. We don't need a Bass-Off cause we're bass players; it's just not in our blood.
Click to expand...
Yeah totally man, i'm above that.

Now, off to go slap inarticulate phrases as fast as I possibly can at full volume at my local music store - it's very important that everyone around knows how fast I can slap
 

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