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Bandmates prefer Jazz Basses...

#161
AlienLanes said:
Hey all! As you can tell from my profile picture on here, I play a G&L LB-100 P bass copy. I've played mostly P-style basses for the entirety of my bass playing and have always felt at home on them. I really do love my bass. However, we just got done rehearsal, and my guitar player/songwriter said something to me along the lines of: "Hey man, can't wait for you to lay down these tracks on my Jazz bass". So I guess my bass hasn't been providing the sound he's had in his head for the songs?? This also isn't the first instance of this happening, the guitar player of my last project stated multiple times: "You should totally get a jazz bass... they're the best bass."

What's a Precision loving guy to do with all these haters? I guess I should shop around and add a Jazz to the arsenal... (which I'm okay with)

Anyone else ever encounter this? I thought most people would prefer me to play a P since I would sit in the mix easier.
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Related:

The drummer in the band I just quit (also the member I respect the most) kept telling me I need to get a bass cab with an 18" woofer. For him it's the gold standard. For me, nope.

I'll bet you could count on one hand (maybe two) the number of members here that use an 18" in their cab(s).
 
#162
JimmyM said:
Well that's fine until you get in a situation where someone else wants something else. It's happened to some of the best players in the business. Flea was asked by the leader of the Mars Volta to use a Precision on a couple sessions for their first album. Flea could have told him to piss up a rope and still had enough FU money to never care, but he did it because the client wanted it and Flea is a pro.
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Again, I have a pretty good ear and would of course be willing to pull out a P or Jazz.....BUT....I am not Flea or playing at that level where you experiment with a toilet if you think it can add something to the sound. : )
 
#166
It's up to you. When it comes to ideas of how to play a part or something, I will listen to suggestions and give it an honest try. When someone asks me to turn up or turn down, no problem. But when it comes to what bass I play or what my tone should sound like, I start getting territorial. I haven't really had it happen, but I would be hesitant to play a bass I didn't like or use a tone that I didn't like. Like the other posters, this is something we usually put a lot of time into and it really is kind of our signature. Personally, I like some grind in my tone. If BL was telling me to make it less grindy, I would probably consider looking for another project. I am fortunate in that my band lets me have leeway in that department and very much likes what I have come up with. I recently switched from an EBMM to a Ric that I play in the 4001 setting with some grind and a flat EQ. I am in love with this tone and am glad that my band likes it too. If they didn't I would look for a band that did. That's me.

I also cringe at some of the passive-aggressive, snarky responses people are coming up with. No need to go there. However, don't hesitate to leave if the project is becoming more tedious than it is fun. Just my .02. Good luck.
 
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#167
Mantis Tobaggan said:
It's up to you. When it comes to ideas of how to play a part or something, I will listen to suggestions and give it an honest try. When someone asks me to turn up or turn down, no problem. But when it comes to what bass I play or what my tone should sound like, I start getting territorial. I haven't really had it happen, but I would be hesitant to play a bass I didn't like or use a tone that I didn't like. Like the other posters, this is something we usually put a lot of time into and it really is kind of our signature. Personally, I like some grind in my tone. If BL was telling me to make it less grindy, I would probably consider looking for another project. I am fortunate in that my band lets me have leeway in that department and very much likes what I have come up with. I recently switched from an EBMM to a Ric that I play in the 4001 setting with some grind and a flat EQ. I am in love with this tone and am glad that my band likes it too. If they didn't I would look for a band that did. That's me.

I also cringe at some of the passive-aggressive, snarky responses people are coming up with. No need to go there. However, don't hesitate to leave if the project is becoming more tedious than it is fun. Just my .02. Good luck.
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I agree, I would however give it a try and then go back and listen and analyze the two tracks with the group. I come off territorial but not to the point of not caring what the overall sound is. If something else works better, I would probably be the first to say it honestly but thats within the group I play now.

If you are at the pro/session player level...you are literally there to perform a specific task and you will hold the dogs head why they shag it if they say so.
 
#169
Ampig said:
No one, in any of the bands I've played in, ever gave a sh!t what bass I played.
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And the corollary, it has never occurred to me to second guess the choice of instrument or amp of a bandmate.

I was once setting up my drum kit and the singer says, "You still have a china cymbal? Guitarists hate those."

"yeah, that's why I still have it." I replied.

The guy who said: "They care more about the bassline than the bass." That is IT right there end of discussion.

Mugre
 
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#171
OP, play whatever bass is the most comfortable and fun for you. If you want to try a Jazz bass, try the Jazz bass. If you want to stick with the P bass, stick with the P bass. Like @Mantis Tobaggan said, they can suggest certain things, but they shouldn't tell you which bass to play.

I play a CIJ Jaguar bass, but also have a Squier Musicmaster that I'm itching to use. Both my wife (who bought me the freaking Musicmaster) and my drummer have told me the Jaguar stays no matter what. Per the drummer, that Jaguar is part of our band's sound. Mrs. Duder just thinks it's too sexy to not play. Now, I'm not saying the Jaguar is a terrible bass. It sounds great and I love it, but I really want to start playing short scales. They're just more comfortable to me. From what I've read, the Squier Jaguar SS does not sound like its big brother so that wouldn't be an option, either. I've got some repairs to do on the Squier and then it's coming to band practice. Then a more informed decision can be made.
 
#172
Yeah, I'm kinda split on this. Basically, if it's his band and he wants certain requirements for the sound of his music, then give him those requirements. If not, and all members have equal input, then play whatever the hell you want to play. Your bass lines from your bass. I suspect that, judging by your posts, he's not the kind of guy who's going to let you tell him what kind of guitar you want him to play.

I've played over the years with a guy who only plays Les Pauls through Marshalls. It's what he likes, and he has quite the collection of LPs. I always tease him that he needs a Strat, but I've never told him he has to play one. It's completely ridiculous to tell someone else - especially in an original music band - what brand and model of instrument to play. It is, in fact, quite arrogant.
 
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#173
Is this a band? Or a project where the singer/songwriter is the leader? If it's a band, then you get to say what the bass sounds like and what you're going to play... with some input from the others. If it's his project, and he's the producer of the recording, then it's his call. In any case, this sounds like a good excuse to buy a 2nd bass.
 
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#174
I am not a session muscian, i have a band (longtime friends who also play musical instruments) and we play wherever we can, and agree to play... sometimes we get formally paid, sometimes we do not, but in every situation I AM THE ONLY ONE who choose the bass ... and after 25 years playing, i am pretty sure i can tell if the bass sound sucks or not... of course i listen to bandmates suggestions, but in the end every bass related decision is mine.

I do not have a jazz bass and i wont get one based on someone else likings ... BUT if the paycheck of the gig demands it and affords it GREAT... one more to Rock n Roll ... otherwise no way...

Of course i can notice that Jazz Bass sound is a little bit thinner than the Precision, but come on... really there is no huge difference ...
 
#175
To get you out of that situation (or deeper in it, depending on the results of that little test), you should try to record a song, play the bass line on 2 different tracks with both the J and the P, then listen to the result with both (blindfold test type of thing for your bandmates). You'll all hear what sounds best...

That said, if you like your P, you like your P... You're not telling the guitar player what type of guitar he has to play, so..
 
#176
I think you might want to try this:

Play his bass, but before you do, buy these (or better still, get him to buy them):
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Try with different pup combinations on the Jazz. If he still doesn't like the sound, then take a small piece of light foam right at the bridge, and play with a pick. Turn the volume up a bit more, add a smidge of a bump on your bass and mid on your amp's EQ.

You'll cut through.
 
#177
This is really a lot more simple than we're all making it out to be. If a band wants you to play a different instrument and you want to stay in the band, do it. If you insist on playing your own bass then find a band that it's not an issue with (there are lots of them), or start your own.

The more flexible a person is, the more gigs they'll get. I don't think there's any arguing that.
 
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#178
It happened the same to me.
I started playing with this band with a J Bass, an honest MIM with overused round wound.
When recently bought a '91 Precision MIJ and had it set up by a pro with TI Flats, I loved what it e proudly had a couple of reharsals with it, and guess what....?
 
#179
AlienLanes said:
Hey all! As you can tell from my profile picture on here, I play a G&L LB-100 P bass copy. I've played mostly P-style basses for the entirety of my bass playing and have always felt at home on them. I really do love my bass. However, we just got done rehearsal, and my guitar player/songwriter said something to me along the lines of: "Hey man, can't wait for you to lay down these tracks on my Jazz bass". So I guess my bass hasn't been providing the sound he's had in his head for the songs?? This also isn't the first instance of this happening, the guitar player of my last project stated multiple times: "You should totally get a jazz bass... they're the best bass."

What's a Precision loving guy to do with all these haters? I guess I should shop around and add a Jazz to the arsenal... (which I'm okay with)

Anyone else ever encounter this? I thought most people would prefer me to play a P since I would sit in the mix easier.
Click to expand...
I hear your plight. I've been playing a Fender Blacktop P bass. I MUST suggest this. You can get P tones or J tones by just adjusting the volume pots for each of the humbucker pickups. Give it a Youtubin'!
 

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