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Best Bass for Bar Fights?
- Thread starter Jamvan
- Start date
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
Not sure why you would be concerned with this. I have been gigging since the late 70s and have only seen on bar fight.
I know most of this is joking, but in all seriousness if you connect with someone's head with the average bass, you very well will be going to jail for murder.
The only bar fight I witnessed was solved by the audience, they threw out the troublemakers.
The hooligans came back with a bunch of friends (and bats & pipe ends), trying to break their way back into the venue.
Locals, who knew the troublemakers, then organised the audience.
They made two groups, one big group with pieces of wood and a smaller group of guys that could deliver a solid punch.
The first group stormed out of the building, chasing the hoodlums over the pavement.
The second group kept an eye on the equipment and made sure none of the roughs came in.
Anyway, the police showed up after the first group had chased them through the street and arrested the worst of them.
The hooligans came back with a bunch of friends (and bats & pipe ends), trying to break their way back into the venue.
Locals, who knew the troublemakers, then organised the audience.
They made two groups, one big group with pieces of wood and a smaller group of guys that could deliver a solid punch.
The first group stormed out of the building, chasing the hoodlums over the pavement.
The second group kept an eye on the equipment and made sure none of the roughs came in.
Anyway, the police showed up after the first group had chased them through the street and arrested the worst of them.
Not sure you read the entire thread but I'm not. Purely for fun but 180+ posts later, it apparently struck a nerve...
actually they will shatter theyre hollow i know someone (with an endorsement ) years ago who demonstrated this ...lol
A local bass player broke the jaw of a guy with his Spector. The band gave him a 2 month ban and the injured guy never pressed charges... I replaced the guy during the 2 month ban.
Back in the 80's, when I was young(er) and (more) foolish, we had earned an encore and a guy was standing right in front of our singer giving her the finger, which upset her a bit. I took exception to this behavior and when the song ended I unplugged my new 62RI Jazz and holding it at the neck joint jumped off the 3 foot stage and drilled him in the sternum with the bass' body, knocking him back and flat on his ass. Had an oh-sh*t moment the second I realized that his sternum was at the height of my face! Anyway, he was down long enough for me to make it to the dressing room and the bouncers to see him safely out of the club.
Lesson learned. Never did anything like that again.
Most important; The bass stayed in tune.
Lesson learned. Never did anything like that again.
Most important; The bass stayed in tune.
Point taken, and I'm sure you'd have a story or two to tell us why (not being snarky). Your responses read of someone that has very, very good reasons to feel that way, but I've been taking this thread as a mix of humor, cautionary tales, good defensive tactics, and to have a good exit strategy. I think you'd agree that the best thing would be to avoid trouble in the first place and get out of the way if you can't.
Just letting you know that your words of caution are heard and I at least am taking them seriously.
Under Canadian law you're only allowed to exert enough force to defend yourself. The instant you become the aggressor, you're in line for assault charges.
That said, I built this fella for rougher venues where I might need to use it as a shield. Sort of implicit that it's also my "punk" sounding bass.
That said, I built this fella for rougher venues where I might need to use it as a shield. Sort of implicit that it's also my "punk" sounding bass.
Just zap em with Liquid Bullet pepper spray, but u must get the direct stream or the foam one, they re not gas its liquid, so u wont have to clear the bar, u can just carry on playing! Nail those drunk scumbags!! Have NO MERCY.
Well said, and thank you.
Thankfully I have no stories to tell that turned out badly for me due to violence but have had friends who were not as lucky.
At this point in my life, if I have to take a gig in a bad part of town, I'll park safely and take a cab. If it doesn't pay that well than I will decline.
When I played for a living I didn't always have this option although the world was a far safer place.
I realize that many are being playful but the subject can stir up bad feelings when something terrible happened to friend or acquantance.
I think you hit the truth with having an exit strategy as a good plan.
I honestly hope all my bass playing brothers are able to avoid violence the best you can.
I realize this is really hard for you younger guys as I too felt invincible back in my day; truth is, you never are anymore.
I have seen a lot more than that but it is rare that anyone wants to punch out a band member.
If it ever involves the band, IME it is almost always a drunk hopping on stage. Should be security's problem to deal with, not for a bassist to clune someone upside the head with a bass.
Has happened to me exactly twice in 30 years. If I didn't nail those guys, I would likely have been lying on the ground covered in blood and pieces of crunched bass.
