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Bass Player Pet Peeves

#181
Being constantly castigated for "Selling Out" by being a member of a Covers Band. Over 30 years ago, I played American Air Bases in Germany, I played sh*thole clubs in Hamburg, I lived in the back of a van, I slogged round scumbag toilets passing themselves off as clubs in my own country, I wrote my own Songs (with the other guys in the band, of course). We had Albums out, we appeared on Top of the Pops, and the Old Grey Whistle Test. As we were supposed to be the "Next Big Thing", we eventually supported most of the "Big" name Bands in larger Venues. I had a great time, made a hell of a lot of money, bought a House and all the luxuries I wanted, and then............
The Record Company decided to invest in the Next "Next Big Thing", and we were dropped.
After a few years of kicking my heels, trying to get other Projects off the ground, I decided I wanted to play live again, and ended up joining a local Cover Band playing the Pubs and Clubs round my area. Yes, I'm old, but I'm out most nights, enjoying the positive reaction I get from most audiences, and making a bit of cash into the bargain. Don't take the p*ss! I haven't sold out, I just re-directed my goals.

and another peeve!-Please try using the spell-checker! I realise my punctuation wasn't perfect during my rant, but at least it was spelt correctly and made sense (I Hope).
 
#186
Meehaw said:
Hmm... well, when they ask me if I'm a bass player, I am usually happy that they know what a bass is and say "Hell, yeah!"

By saying what you say, you imply that the term "a bass player" is pejorative, while it is not. For me, "a bass player" has an inherent quality of "a musician". So what's the point?:confused:
Click to expand...

I guess I should have explained a little more. I don't take offense at the name "bass player", but I'm not merely a "bass player". I have released an album and an EP of stuff I wrote and recorded where I did the lyrics, vocals, guitars, bass, and percussion, in addition to co-engineering the recordings. So when a singer asks me if I'm the bass player, as if to insinuate I know nothing about being a singer/lyricist, I get upset. When a guitar player acts like I don't know my way around on a guitar, I get upset. When a drummer questions my explanation of a particular time signature or rhythm like I don't know anything about keeping a beat, I get upset.

Sure I play bass, but I'm not just a "bass player". Not that there's anything wrong with bass, it's certainly my first love.

Sorry for the confusion.
 
#189
Big Al said:
Being constantly castigated for "Selling Out" by being a member of a Covers Band. Over 30 years ago, I played American Air Bases in Germany, I played sh*thole clubs in Hamburg, I lived in the back of a van, I slogged round scumbag toilets passing themselves off as clubs in my own country, I wrote my own Songs (with the other guys in the band, of course). We had Albums out, we appeared on Top of the Pops, and the Old Grey Whistle Test. As we were supposed to be the "Next Big Thing", we eventually supported most of the "Big" name Bands in larger Venues. I had a great time, made a hell of a lot of money, bought a House and all the luxuries I wanted, and then............
The Record Company decided to invest in the Next "Next Big Thing", and we were dropped.
After a few years of kicking my heels, trying to get other Projects off the ground, I decided I wanted to play live again, and ended up joining a local Cover Band playing the Pubs and Clubs round my area. Yes, I'm old, but I'm out most nights, enjoying the positive reaction I get from most audiences, and making a bit of cash into the bargain. Don't take the p*ss! I haven't sold out, I just re-directed my goals.

And another peeve!-Please try using the spell-checker! I realise my punctuation wasn't perfect during my rant, but at least it was spelt correctly and made sense (I Hope).
Click to expand...
Oh, the irony!

Kidding, kidding. ;)

And why was this thread bumped?
 
#190
the guitar player that won't quit with the damn 30+ effects

every single sound guy

bands that think they are better than everyone else

the kids in guitar center that play higher ground sloppy and wrong.

the guitar players at GC that play stairway to heaven

guitar center employees that don't know anything and insist i don't know what i'm talking about.

do singers ever move equipment? (help with the goliath Sr. would be nice)

jalepanio and cream cheese taquitos.

bass players with really expensive equipment but don't know how to use it.

bands that screw up and restart a song halfway through.
 
#191
-Drummers who slow down halfway through a song despite the bass is continuing the same tempo (I get that all the time when I do Shout at jazz band rehersal)

-Salesmen who try to keep me away from buying a bass (or keyboard) and push for me to get a guitar

-Vocalists who try to hard to hit a register too high or low for thier range thus throwing the band out of tune (I always sing on the bass cleft, I have about 2 and a half octave range and never go over tenor since I know what'll happen)


Every band I've played in apart from the college jazz band I double on keyboards, so when I'm on the boards I have to play loud left hand bass lines, unless I use my bass pedal synth but it often gets in the way of my sustain and soft pedals, but when I do play with another pianist thier overpowing left hand and thier habbit of turning my amp down, off or unplugging me on purpose gets me going
 
#192
txbasschik said:
Keyboard players who think they should be holding down the bass line, and that the bass should only play the root so that they can do whatever they like.

Keyboards, in general. 'Cause they're in the way. ;)

And lead singers who pay zero attention to anyone's tempo but the incorrect one that is in their head, and give dirty looks to everyone for not following their erratic, messed up tempo. (My ex-lead singer is so bad about this that I will not join her for any project, not even a one-nighter, unless we have a strong, dead-bang-on, drummer. Which she refuses to use. Gee, wonder why?)

Cherie
Click to expand...
Agree with that. My keyboardist has a sub cab that I get blamed for too often when it feeds back.

. Keyboard player is soo drunk/stoned, that when he sings, it doesn't sound like English.

. Sound engineer who won't line me out to HS because keyboard is playing my sound range.

. Guitar players who want me to play the bass lines like a tuba. Oom Pah.

. Guitar players who mess up, then lash out the next day in emails on how everybody else screwed up.

. Having a 2X2 square patch of stage so the dancers that the singer hired can have more room. Stage was 80' X 55".

. Again, drummers who follow the lead guitar.

. Singers who have to have mirrors in front of them to rehearse.

. Just like the record. I have imagination/creativity. Why I play. Hire a tuba if you don't like it.

. Music stores who rip you off.

. Idiots who ask me if I play slap often. This was at a country music show I was playing. I calmly answered not in this genre.

Feelin' betta now
db
 
#193
Munjibunga said:
Are the little Darwin fish OK?
Click to expand...
The other day I saw a JesusFish being eaten by a bigger fish called "Truth." Almost drove into a ditch, I was laughing so hard.

1."Hey, why is your guitar little? It only has four strings."

2.Drummers that NEVER have their own money. Is there one that DOES?

3a.Helping haul in & set up everyone else's crap, then everyone magically disappears when you need to get yours.

3b.When you finally get your gear onstage, the rest of the band thinks it's time to play. Nevermind the fact that you still have to plug in your amp, get out your bass, tune up, etc. "Why do you always take so long, dude?" :mad:

4. Guitar Center. Well, that's not fair. Guitar Center employees. The ones who know "everything" because they work at Guitar Center. I once pointed out a bad volume pot on a $4200 Pedulla. I kid you not, the response: "Well, no, see, this bass is a lot better than anything you've ever touched; and these things here are called 'knobs' and they like, change the sound and ****. You just don't know how it works 'cause it's like really high-tech and ****." And that was the manager.

5. I know it's been said before, but the price of bass strings.

6.Trying to relearn how to play with no feeling in two of my fingers. (had a little booboo)
 
#194
slap being played in songs that dont have slap in them!

being told to fit a 4 piece rock band in the space under the dart board!

expensively built reception venues with a huge dance floor and a stage the size of a postage stamp!

argueing with security guys to let you in after going to the car for a replacement lead or such to make the gig happen.(yes it has happened!)

finding that the stage power supply is also running the venue's freezers in the kitchen!

the person paying for the gig at a party wanting his best mate who is undoubtedly the BEST bass player I've ever heard to have a go on MY gear with MY band......my reply to this request is usually...."If he is soooooo good why are you you paying me and my guys and not getting his band to do this for free.If he wants to go home and get his own gear he can have a go and I'll drink all night"
 
#195
Wow lets see so many pet peeves....

1. Keyboard players that think they are better than they really are and never have to show up to rehearsals.

2. Keyboard players who think only their songs should be played.

3. Keyboard players that play the bass notes (DAMN IT THAT'S WHY I'M THERE!)

4. Keyboard players that have songs that all start in "D" and we can now medley those bastards together into a giant piece of crap instead of 5 separate pieces of crap.

5. Keyboard players that tell me to turn it down because the mics are starting to feed back.

6. Keyboard players that are already running at 75% volume of their overall monitor mix and still say, "Can I get a little more of my own vocal?"

7. Keyboard players that come into rehearsal 30 minutes late and then take over like they were the first one to show up and the last to leave.

8. Keyboard players who think they don't have to set up or transport their gear just because they are a girl! (<---what the "F", don't buy an 88 key triton then!!!)

9. Keyboard players who never help set up the PA or at least the mics while the guys take care of the heavy stuff.

10. Keyboard players who never agree with your comments on song development.

11. Keyboard players that say "don't worry about this song I'll just sing it solo w/Keys", while you stand their like an idiot on stage for 5 minutes and then at the next rehearsal/gig you ask them how to play the song they sang solo w/Keys and they say "don't worry about this song I'll just do it solo w/Keys"

12. Keyboard players that you know are out to get you but you can't prove it yet.

13. Keyboard players that have an idea for a song that you already said 6 months ago but everyone thinks it&#8217;s the greatest idea since sliced bread.

14. Keyboard players that yell at you because you are too loud and tell you to turn down when you purposely didn't play the part just to show them that they are the one's feeding back.

15. Keyboard players

16. Security at the Whisky a-Go-Go that assumes you are filming just because you don't take pictures with flash to get a desired lighting effect and threaten to take your camera away and never return it. (They must play keyboards!)

17. Bands that act like they are better than you even though you have gone out of your way to be cool to people and roll with the punches.

18. The drunken fat chick in front that is kissing her fat boyfriend and then dancing like she's a stripper right in front of you while you play.

19. Go-Go dancers not moving out of the way while you set up.

20. Go-Go dancers that look like Nazi cocaine addict chicks, tattooed form head to toe with butch haircuts that don't move out of the way while you are setting up.

21. Having someone book a room and then ordering a stage that is more like a drum riser than a stage.

22. Having someone book a room and then having you set up the entire band on the side of the room that only has one outlet.

23. Having someone come up to you after a gig and asking if you would teach them how to play guitar. (??????)

24. People swearing that they will come to your show and then never show up.

25. People that swear they can't make it to your show and then call you 5 minutes before you go on stage for directions.

26. The monitor mix at The Roxy, Hollywood, CA

27. The monitor guy at The Roxy, Hollywood, CA

28. The PA @ The Doll Hut, Anaheim, CA

29. Submitting a gear list for an east coast gig only to fly there and find out you are playing through a crate 25w bass amp and your drummer has to play on a $100 dollar drum kit.

30. People who don't know 2 craps about sound and stage telling you that the FOH (front of house) needs to be somewhere behind the mains and then looking at you asking why everything sounds so bad.

31. Son's of Bitches that just don't listen to good reason.

32. When you run sound having a 100 people who you know don't know anything about anything come up to you and say "Hey its a little loud no?"

33. Guitar Center sales people who don't know what the hell you just asked them when you are trying to make small talk about instruments.

34. Guitar Center sales people who try to sell you fender/Ibanez/ who ever, starter bass packs.

35. Guitar Center because they never have enough of the good stuff only 200 bass starter packs.

36. Fender S-1 bass switching system and the fact that I can't buy an American made fender p-bass the way they used to be wired. (SOB's)

37. Fender starting to sell 300w guitar amps. (Is it just me or did we not go through about a bazillion years of great rock 'n' roll with just 50w and 100w amps????????)

38. My Ampeg bass amp acting up after its been fixed and taking it back to the repair shop 40 miles away only to have it work perfectly when I bring it to the repair shop 40 miles away and having the repair shop guy look at me like I'm crazy and getting home and have it not work right the second I plug it in.

39. Carvin guitar pups.

40. Carvin bass pups.

41. The Carvin salesman saying that there is no way that I could have a dead string in my brand new pack of strings because their strings are made by La Bella and they never have that problem.

42. Peavey equipment (I don't know what it is about that stuff it just pisses me off)

43. People who ask to use my gear for a show and then getting mad when I tell the no!

44. EBay fees.

45. Ticket master fees.

46. Skattin' Jazz bass lines (sorry jazzers it just doesn't make sense to me yet, maybe one day it will)

47. Guys who play with their bass about 2 inches from their chin.

48. Guys who play with their bass about 2 inches from there chin and fully rule the bass.

49. Guys who play with their bass about 2 inches from their chin and you know you should be doing it too because it will drastically improve your playing.

50. Lazy work ethic when it comes to your band.
 
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#197
Beanstoot said:
Wow lets see so many pet peeves....

1. Keyboard players that think they are better than they really are and never have to show up to rehearsals.

2. Keyboard players who think only their songs should be played.

3. Keyboard players that play the bass notes (DAMN IT THAT'S WHY I'M THERE!)

4. Keyboard players that have songs that all start in "D" and we can now medley those bastards together into a giant piece of crap instead of 5 separate pieces of crap.

5. Keyboard players that tell me to turn it down because the mics are starting to feed back.

6. Keyboard players that are already running at 75% volume of their overall monitor mix and still say, "Can I get a little more of my own vocal?"

7. Keyboard players that come into rehearsal 30 minutes late and then take over like they were the first one to show up and the last to leave.

8. Keyboard players who think they don't have to set up or transport their gear just because they are a girl! (<---what the "F", don't buy an 88 key triton then!!!)

9. Keyboard players who never help set up the PA or at least the mics while the guys take care of the heavy stuff.

10. Keyboard players who never agree with your comments on song development.

11. Keyboard players that say "don't worry about this song I'll just sing it solo w/Keys", while you stand their like an idiot on stage for 5 minutes and then at the next rehearsal/gig you ask them how to play the song they sang solo w/Keys and they say "don't worry about this song I'll just do it solo w/Keys"

12. Keyboard players that you know are out to get you but you can't prove it yet.

13. Keyboard players that have an idea for a song that you already said 6 months ago but everyone thinks it&#8217;s the greatest idea since sliced bread.

14. Keyboard players that yell at you because you are too loud and tell you to turn down when you purposely didn't play the part just to show them that they are the one's feeding back.

15. Keyboard players
Click to expand...

Bitter breakup, eh?:D
 

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