He's good, no doubt, but I still couldn't listen to this for an entire album (nor any of the other guitar solo albums for that matter). To be fair, I couldn't listen to Manring solo either, I guess I like my music in a band/group context.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
bass vs guitar
- Thread starter madmanmerc
- Start date
-
- Tags
- vs
He's good, no doubt, but I still couldn't listen to this for an entire album (nor any of the other guitar solo albums for that matter). To be fair, I couldn't listen to Manring solo either, I guess I like my music in a band/group context.
Well, there's never been a fish named after a guitar.
I started on guitar. After a couple of years of playing I joined a friends band who needed a bassist. Since then (25 years) it's been bass all the way.
I do own a guitar that I mostly use for writing and laying down ideas. Once in a while I'll fill in on guitar as a favor for friends
I do own a guitar that I mostly use for writing and laying down ideas. Once in a while I'll fill in on guitar as a favor for friends
Last edited:
I've owned most of the dream list of guitars.
In the last year I bought two very very high end acoustics (different scale sizes).
I then took them to be retrofitted to baritone (B-B tuning).. wasn't cheap (strings, fixes, setups etc)
Guitar is now a ton more fun... still have to think about it.
In the last year I bought two very very high end acoustics (different scale sizes).
I then took them to be retrofitted to baritone (B-B tuning).. wasn't cheap (strings, fixes, setups etc)
Guitar is now a ton more fun... still have to think about it.
You go 10-15 minutes on the guitar. Then one day you go 20 minutes. You do that, and it's too late--you're hooked. But don't worry, because you can love both.
I write on guitar and play it a lot. I prefer bass, but I share a living space with a lot of people who don't appreciate my low frequencies punching through their walls. I wish I could play more bass.
I played guitar for about 25 yrs off and on. Picked up bass about 4-5 yrs ago and haven't been into guitar that much ever since. Bass was the first instrument that I really learned theory on. I had a good working idea on guitar but never really learned it like I should've. I play bass everyday. Guitar maybe once a month.
Lately I'm playing more guitar than bass. Though I do suck considerably more on guitar than I suck on bass.
Any "competition" between instruments for an individual is silly. You can have your preferences and whatever works for you is fine, and if you only have the time or means to play one thing, go for it. But don't rationalize things by saying it is "bad" to play a second (or third, or fourth) instrument. Playing guitar may not make you a better bass player, but it likely will make you a better musician. So then it depends on if your goal is to be a bass player or a musician (there's a difference).
I started guitar and piano at age 8. Didn't pick up a bass until age 27. Now at 54, in the last year I've gigged primarily with bass in various bands, but also have played guitar, keys, banjo, and percussion on stage. All of those help me in my approach to bass. Guitars can be percussion instruments (e.g. funk guitarists), basses can be harmony instruments, and keys can be knife blocks (check out Keith Emerson).
Here's me doing bass, guitar, and keys in the studio:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Banjo and keys live:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Acoustic guitar live:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Helps to have great players to work with, but I'm convinced one reason they want to play with me is that I'm not "just a bass player," but instead keep striving to be a musician who keeps expanding and growing.
I started guitar and piano at age 8. Didn't pick up a bass until age 27. Now at 54, in the last year I've gigged primarily with bass in various bands, but also have played guitar, keys, banjo, and percussion on stage. All of those help me in my approach to bass. Guitars can be percussion instruments (e.g. funk guitarists), basses can be harmony instruments, and keys can be knife blocks (check out Keith Emerson).
Here's me doing bass, guitar, and keys in the studio:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Banjo and keys live:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Acoustic guitar live:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Helps to have great players to work with, but I'm convinced one reason they want to play with me is that I'm not "just a bass player," but instead keep striving to be a musician who keeps expanding and growing.
Seems like a lot of us in here either started out on guitar first or picked it up at some point only to drift towards the bass, and stay there.
I started out on guitar a million moons ago mainly because of the Beatles and the 60's in general. The music back then was very different from todays music and everybody either was a hippie or wanted to be one, Hell even my pre-K teacher was a hippie complete with ripped jeans and psychedelic shirts.
I struggled with the guitar and was a "marginal" player at best......along came 1984, the beginning of my 20's, and Prince........
That was it, I saw Purple Rain like three times in a row and went out and bought a bass after hearing all that weird new rock/funk music that he does so well, and I've never looked back.
I think the bass has a certain beauty to the sound it makes, and it's unlike any other instrument on the planet. (for me)
I could listen to bass solo's for hours, days, weeks, months on end and never get bored.
For me, there is nothing other than the bass....................
Incorrect. "Bottom" is the low-end of the instrument. just because you're holding a bass guitar sideways, the bottom end is always the bottom end. An acoustic bass is standing 'upright', your "bottom string" is still always your low E.
Get an acoustic classical guitar and learn some Andres Segovia. You WILL become a better bassist, guitarist, pianist, and musician.
I love them both. I'm lucky enough to play in different bands where I can play both instruments.
Totally depends on the player and the band/situation.
What role is the guitar playing here?
Thread needs more pix.
Here are my number ones. The model is Genesis by Epiphone. Made in '79.
These things are tonal monsters. First one cost $350 in a Portland guitar shop
(no tax, and the sales kid admitted "easily the best guitar on the floor").
I put the guitar through a bass drum at the climax of set at an show at Slabtown (or Calsport?)
around 2003 and broke the headstock.
Found a replacement on Craigslist a few years later for $300 in El Lay and came to appreciate
it so much that I took the broken original to Eric's Guitars in Van Nuys, where Eric did a brilliant repair.
I've bought a few cheap Gibsons for fun 'cause I like P90's,
but this is really all the guitar I could ever need, save an acoustic,
one of which Uncle Keef decrees every guitar should own.
Here are my number ones. The model is Genesis by Epiphone. Made in '79.
These things are tonal monsters. First one cost $350 in a Portland guitar shop
(no tax, and the sales kid admitted "easily the best guitar on the floor").
I put the guitar through a bass drum at the climax of set at an show at Slabtown (or Calsport?)
around 2003 and broke the headstock.
Found a replacement on Craigslist a few years later for $300 in El Lay and came to appreciate
it so much that I took the broken original to Eric's Guitars in Van Nuys, where Eric did a brilliant repair.
I've bought a few cheap Gibsons for fun 'cause I like P90's,
but this is really all the guitar I could ever need, save an acoustic,
one of which Uncle Keef decrees every guitar should own.
I started on the bass because of Steve Harris, Geezer Butler, Duff McKagen, Eddy Jackson, and a few other bass players you can actually hear on 80s metal albums. Of course everyone hears the guitar first, but something about those lo-mids and raspy highs just calls to me. I like the physicality of playing the bass more than the guitar.
My choice doesn't wear on me occasionally though. I hate feeling like a second class citizen both as a consumer and a band member. Bass departments in MI stores always suck compared to the mountains of guitars they have. After a show everyone goes running to talk to the singer and guitarist while the drummer and I watch the van. Writing is also hard with just the bass because while you can get a the roots of a chord progression figured out, dynamics of what chords or a single string melody playing over it are lost. Effects always sound better on a guitar because of the frequencies involved.
Different people stick to different instruments. If you go with the bass be sure you are OK with everything that goes along with it.
My choice doesn't wear on me occasionally though. I hate feeling like a second class citizen both as a consumer and a band member. Bass departments in MI stores always suck compared to the mountains of guitars they have. After a show everyone goes running to talk to the singer and guitarist while the drummer and I watch the van. Writing is also hard with just the bass because while you can get a the roots of a chord progression figured out, dynamics of what chords or a single string melody playing over it are lost. Effects always sound better on a guitar because of the frequencies involved.
Different people stick to different instruments. If you go with the bass be sure you are OK with everything that goes along with it.
