a two bass band???

[The Bassmonkey]

Try this

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

These guys are awesome, and live, one of the funniest, and technical bass showes i have ever seen!!!!

 

[Evanseveneleven]

Australia's Pre-Shrunk. 2 basses and drummer.

 

[mikerophone]

Delta 5 did it in the late 70s! (here's a live video too)

 

[Mark Wilson]

Delta 5 did it in the late 70s! (here's a live video too)

I guess tuners weren't invented till after the 70s.

 

[somegeezer]

I'd say just make sure it doesn't turn into a bassy mush. Make sure you can tell them apart clearly and hear what each other is playing. I think it's awesome and would love to do the same thing myself. =] Maybe with rhythm bassist and lead bassist. =D

 

[alfaBAT9]

Check out Shout Out Out Out Out. They're an electronic/synth/dance/jam band and sometimes all 4 of them rock P Basses.

 

[Thankful birds]

Bearclaw - Another amazing Chicago dual bass band.

Yup.

 

[Matt Dean]

I recently saw Lauren Hill and her band had two basses... did not work; but nothing was working in this show.

:scowl:

However, I was a part of a Cuban funk thing for a while that had two basses and for some strange reason, that did work.

So, I guess it just depends.

 

[honestjohnny]

Link Removed

 

[timbledum]

Im generally against it but the friendly fires pulled it off (not sure if this song been posted.)



Its more layered rather than an actual two bass band.

 

[James Judson]

Nope won't work. Try this. Play several songs playing chords on your bass. Yes it can be done but usually not pretty. If that doesn't convince you add the gtr, sax, keys, drms etc to your chords. Mush.

YMMV

 

[Bassamatic]

Has anyone mentioned Wayman Tisdale? He played melody with a bass in the background.

 

[J Posega]

Whatever you do, don't try and sound like Bear Claw... they played a little music festival opening for Electric Six a couple months ago that I had the displeasure of having to stand through to keep my spot by the stage. Horrific, grinding noise... and it felt like Fred Durst was the singer. The singer kept humping his bass against his amp, I guess because that's really cool?

 

[Calaverasgrande]

I have done it a couple times myself. What tends to work is if one bassist goes for the low end and the other bass plays distorted.
Two basses was actually very common in the 80's if you count synth bass. For example pretty much all of New Order's output the bass chores are handled by a synth with Peter Hook taking the melody role that is normally occupied by a guitar with his bass guitar.
What get complicated is gettign the tonal ranges defined so that stuff is audible. If you all are just gonna play the same thing its kind of pointless as well. Working out arrangements that benefit from the strengths is key. (pun intended)

 

[bggeezer]

James Brown used 2 bass players for many years as posted here : http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=281324

 

[andruca]

Molotov is a famous Mexican band that uses two basses:

Yes, they do use 2 basses, but one takes on the role of the bass (Paco) and the other (a short scale bass) is in the role of a detuned distorted guitar (Miky). They don't share the low zone at all. It sounds like a charm, of course.

I like Molotov altho' they can't play nor groove that much live. In fact Paco is the only one who's really good as a player and so, IMHO, the one that keeps the band from sucking onstage.

 

[elavate7]

I don't see why not. A lot of bands have 2 guitarists, so why not too bassists?

because they have two different roles! guitar is a melody instrament, so as long as they are playing something different (or the same), with a different tone or sound, they will blend. bass is a rhythm instrament, so theres only room for one.

 

[LowB-ing]

Are we 4 pages into this thread and noone has mentioned King Crimsons "Double Trio" period?

 

[andruca]

Are we 4 pages into this thread and noone has mentioned King Crimsons "Double Trio" period?

My favourite Crimson lineup, once again, amazingly arranged so that a stick and a bass work different roles (not necessarily apart in register). Whatched this linup in a theater in Buenos Aires, center right seat, row 1, with Mr. Levin right in front of me. A blast.

ANDRUCA

 

[Calaverasgrande]

Also, Man is the Bastard, another infamous dual bass guitar band. these days they are recognized as seminal to the whole power violence and noise-core movements, but I saw them at plenty of shows where I was the only person within 20 yards of the stage.