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"Acoustic" vs "Electric" Rant
- Thread starter matthewbrown
- Start date
I play electric bass guitar on a wide variety of material, and I am utterly uninterested in playing upright bass: I have neither the space nor the means to transport one. I apply myself to getting the best tone, bass lines and musicality from my various Precisions and SR5.
I love the sound of the upright, and there are a few gifted upright players around here. It's just not possible for me.
On the other hand, there are some acoustic police persons in the area who refuse to allow credit to electric instruments. One of them once told me, "You have to plug your instrument into the wall!" in a very disapproving tone of voice. Never mind that he freely uses microphones and pickups on the various fiddles, banjos and guitars he plays. Or that he depends on an electronic stereo to play back the CDs he loves.
It's all music. Trying to separate "acoustic" from "electric" is a bit much -- we're in the 21st Century, people, and musicians are allowed to use anything they need in order to make music.
There are many emotional reasons to use traditional instruments -- my current bass of choice is a Fender '51 P reissue -- but to me, personal preferences remain personal.
I love the sound of the upright, and there are a few gifted upright players around here. It's just not possible for me.
On the other hand, there are some acoustic police persons in the area who refuse to allow credit to electric instruments. One of them once told me, "You have to plug your instrument into the wall!" in a very disapproving tone of voice. Never mind that he freely uses microphones and pickups on the various fiddles, banjos and guitars he plays. Or that he depends on an electronic stereo to play back the CDs he loves.
It's all music. Trying to separate "acoustic" from "electric" is a bit much -- we're in the 21st Century, people, and musicians are allowed to use anything they need in order to make music.
There are many emotional reasons to use traditional instruments -- my current bass of choice is a Fender '51 P reissue -- but to me, personal preferences remain personal.
Well I use my acoustic bass and my electric bass at gigs. . . .but they are very different gigs with very different musical styles.
They sound very different. Very very different as in my case.
I certainly can tell the difference in tone between my electric and acoustic rig - while both hold down the low end and drive the song, they don't have remotely the same sound coming out of the speakers.
They sound very different. Very very different as in my case.
I certainly can tell the difference in tone between my electric and acoustic rig - while both hold down the low end and drive the song, they don't have remotely the same sound coming out of the speakers.
True - my Rob Allen sounds better than any amplified upright I've ever owned or played
Was just having this conversation with steubig. Once pickups and amps are in the equation, and assuming the player can play an "electric" with an "upright" approach, there are two reasons that an upright is a clear advantage: if arco is needed, and/or if the bandleader wants the look. Beyond that, as far as the sound is concerned, the upright doesn't have a significant advantage IME. But there is more to a gig than the sound. I'm not saying that electric and upright are equivalent to the player, and certain instruments tend to lead a player in certain directions. Everyone should play what they love, and/or what gets them the gig.
I agree.
okcrum
in your chest
People listen with their eyes. Lots of gigs won't accept an EUB around here purely based on looks. People have told me how good my Fender 5 sounds until they notice it's a Carvin, and conversely, told me the same exact tone sounds better on one of my Fenders. 
I agree with those who point out that the distinction between "electric" and "acoustic" is meaningful in terms of creating expectations. But I despise musical purism for its own sake, because it's evidence of closed minds (and ears). So much of the "we play acoustic" attitude is simply narrow thinking.
On the other hand, I respect and admire people who commit to playing acoustic upright, and who are playing it honestly. But when I listen to many upright players, quite a few of them really depend so heavily on amplification to function in a group, that I feel the "acoustic" part is merely a definition of the kind of tone they get from an electric rig, reproducing an imagined sound. When I've listened to acoustic bass played without amplification, it often doesn't sound like that imagined sound. Most of the really great stuff that we love about "acoustic tone" is really dependent on a lot of factors outside of the bassist's control.
I listened to an upright player on a mainstream jazz gig with a drummer, electric keys and a sax play OUT OF DOORS with no amp. It sounded...okay. Not bad, if you were directly in front of the bass and not too far off. Not very audible if you were further out or off to the side. But I had to wonder: If you're accompanying an electric keyboard (!) why play unamplified? And if your the keys player, why restrict yourself to exactly one sound ("acoustic piano")?
So if you're going to play with amp anyway, you've got this whole range of sounds you can get, and while some players can get carried away (looping forever! DISTORTION!), most will be more judicious, whether they play an upright bass or an electric.
On the other hand, I respect and admire people who commit to playing acoustic upright, and who are playing it honestly. But when I listen to many upright players, quite a few of them really depend so heavily on amplification to function in a group, that I feel the "acoustic" part is merely a definition of the kind of tone they get from an electric rig, reproducing an imagined sound. When I've listened to acoustic bass played without amplification, it often doesn't sound like that imagined sound. Most of the really great stuff that we love about "acoustic tone" is really dependent on a lot of factors outside of the bassist's control.
I listened to an upright player on a mainstream jazz gig with a drummer, electric keys and a sax play OUT OF DOORS with no amp. It sounded...okay. Not bad, if you were directly in front of the bass and not too far off. Not very audible if you were further out or off to the side. But I had to wonder: If you're accompanying an electric keyboard (!) why play unamplified? And if your the keys player, why restrict yourself to exactly one sound ("acoustic piano")?
So if you're going to play with amp anyway, you've got this whole range of sounds you can get, and while some players can get carried away (looping forever! DISTORTION!), most will be more judicious, whether they play an upright bass or an electric.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I wouldn't call it narrow thinking - just a choice. Most music has a preferred sound. That's why we have different genres. There are a few who are into experimentation, but not many.
Recently I returned to playing some jazz after about 25 years (college). These are fantastic musicians, who love that kind of music. It is what they love. Stevie Ray Vaughn had a specific voice on guitar - was he narrow-minded, or was that just his sound?
Recently I returned to playing some jazz after about 25 years (college). These are fantastic musicians, who love that kind of music. It is what they love. Stevie Ray Vaughn had a specific voice on guitar - was he narrow-minded, or was that just his sound?
