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As of today, I'm a bass player.

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by twofiveone, Nov 29, 2005.

  1. Nov 29, 2005 #1
    twofiveone

    twofiveone

    Nov 11, 2005
    Adelaide, South Australia
    Yo!

    I've just finished my 2nd year of a jazz guitar performance degree, and as I teach part-time during term, things are looking a little dry as the 3-month Christmas break begins. For the past few months I've been noticing that all my bass-playing friends are getting heaps more work than me and my guitar buddies, especially in the house band/pub covers band scenes. So, after observing this, a few months ago I borrowed a Soundgear 5-stringer and a little cruddy practise amp in the hope of maybe hooking up with a cover band or something, and I found myself totally hooked on bass playing. I've justified spending heaps of my guitar practise time playing bass by thinking that it can only improve my time-feel and interaction with the rhythm section, and besides, there's no better way to get inside a chord progression than learning how to play a walking bass line through it.

    Today, as an early Christmas present to myself, I went out and bought a Washburn RB2502 active 5-er, with a J and MM pu configuration, and a Warwick ProFet 5.1 500w solid-state head, sitting on top of a W411Pro 600w 4x10 cab. The stuff is fantastic! I'm totally stoked, and I'm hoping that by the end of the summer I'll be able to get serious gigs both as a guitarist and a bassist. I've already managed line up some covers gigs, and I can't wait to get out and see how this gear handles a stage.

    Anyway, reading tb has been great fun for the last couple of months (I got turned onto this by the crew over at HC), so I'm looking forward to learning heaps about this new instrument, and shootin' the breeze about all things below middle-C.

    Cheers,

    tommy b
     
  2. Nov 29, 2005 #2
    jnprather

    jnprather

    Jan 11, 2001
    Northern California
    Sweet. Not a bad first rig, I must say :)
     
  3. Nov 29, 2005 #3
    Alistair R

    Alistair R

    Nov 28, 2005
    Melbourne, Australia
    Awesome! That rig will serve you well for years to come.
     
  4. Nov 29, 2005 #4
    matthewfoote

    matthewfoote

    Sep 18, 2002
    Somerset, England
    Great rig. Also as this is your first post welcome to TalkBass.

    Regards

    Matthew
     
  5. Nov 29, 2005 #5
    Stox

    Stox

    Mar 18, 2005
    London UK
    Welcome to the low end.......
     
  6. Nov 29, 2005 #6
    Philbiker

    Philbiker Pat's the best!

    Dec 28, 2000
    Northern Virginia, USA
    Welcome to the low end. It's fun here. Your guitar chordal knowledge will go a long way toward uynderstanding the instrument. Very nice bass and rig.

    When you see heads bobbing and butts moving you'll know you're doing something right.
     
  7. Nov 29, 2005 #7
    Gard

    Gard

    Mar 31, 2000
    Fuquay-Varina, NC, USA
    Welcome to the dark side...

    :)

    ...as a fellow recovering guitarist ("I used to play guitar...but I got better!" ;) ...all my guitarist buddies love that one! :D ), I can tell you that you will find much joy down here. Phil's comment about your chordal knowledge is spot-on as well, it really DOES help (every bassist should spend time learning guitar or piano for this reason!).

    Anytime someone disses you for the switch, just tell 'em this:

    Their eyes may be on the star, but their @$$3$ are shakin' to the BASS GUITAR!!! :hyper: :hyper: :hyper:

    :D
     
  8. Nov 29, 2005 #8
    Ed Goode

    Ed Goode Jersey to Georgia

    Nov 4, 2004
    Acworth, GA
    Welcome to the bottom end and welcome to TB! Stick around here a while, there's a bunch of cool info .....

    But be aware, it's only a matter of time before all of your home/car stereo equipment EQ's get boosted to the bass side and your treble starts to drop out :eek: Bass is definitely addictive ... :cool:
     
  9. Nov 29, 2005 #9
    pickles

    pickles Gold Supporting Member

    Mar 23, 2000
    Ventura, CA
    F'real.

    And what I tell them is "I know it may look like a funny guitar with big strings ... but try to remeber that its a BASS first".

    Your primary job as the bass player is to make everyone in the room feel good, and especially make the singers and lead players feel confident that the groove is going to be there, every time, so they can relax and stretch out.

    Congrats on the switch!
     
  10. Nov 29, 2005 #10
    bad_andy

    bad_andy

    Sep 21, 2005
    Omaha, NE
    Welcome aboard! More groups out there need bass than guitar. You will work a lot more and in a greater variety of musical situations as a bass player (provided you play like a bass player). ;) Now just get an upright and your transition in jazz will be complete... along with the consumption of what's left of your practice time. :rolleyes:
     
  11. Nov 29, 2005 #11
    T. B. Player

    T. B. Player

    Apr 8, 2004
    Southwestern Pennsylvania
    As a former Jazz Guitar major, you are in good company, my friend. I believe that a jazz guitar background is the best preparation for a bass player...since you can pick up all the chordal harmonies and bring out some great counter melodies when you have the space.

    As for the bottom line, make sure your groove is married to the drummer's kick drum pattern, and you'll be on your way to comments like, "Oh...so you used to play guitar?" It's always fun when you're on a bass gig, and at some point pick a guitar and pull off Grant Geissman's solo from "Feels So Good" (http://www.grantgeissman.com/). It comes in handy when the band is arguing about musicality, sending a not-so-subtle message that you know just a little more than "root-fifth."

    Enjoy it!!