Could we cool it with the bass jargon?

[Ulf Buck]

As long as I'm playing steelies on my E peege with hot rods I'll never stop.

 

[Tim Schnautz]

L is next to P on an ASCII keyboard and it was probably a typo

Yeah, I was kinda thinking in that direction....

 

[red_rhino]

To avoid confusion, I propose that all acronyms be tracked and approved by the Department of Acronyms (DOA). Like diamonds, acronyms could be graded on the 3 C's (clarity, confusion, and consternation). The use of unapproved acronyms would render a given post as DOA by the DOA.

 

[Pocket4]

Context and clubby-ness allow some interpretation. Random key strokes autocorrect and just plain wildness with the post add to the fun. But in a little seriousness, the guys that drop in the obscure model number alphabet soup and do not reference the brand of the equipment is like a 'you wouldn't get my obsession' kind of vibe to the thread.

 

[Bikeguy57]

This thread is starting to make me verklempt.

It's making me meshuggeneh.

 

[gumbynotpokey]

I feel many abbreviations/codes are already part of our community. For reference sake here are ones commonly used that most people here would understand. Some are obvious and have been around a long time. Some are bass-centric and others are player/playing related. There are others which can be added to determine how commonly (or not) they are understood. Feel free to add.

pu = pick-up
fb = fingerboard
tr = truss-rod
P/P-bass/P = Fender Precision bass
J/J-bass/J = Fender Jazz bass
P/J = a bass, usually Fender but not always with a split & single pu combo
Beatle bass = Hofners violin bass
fridge = Ampeg with 8 speaker cab
FOH = front of house sound system
Dano = Danelectro
long-horn (bass) = Danelectro bass with long upper and lower symmetric "horns"
boner bass = reference to longer upper horn on late-'80s/early '90's P's and J's designed by George Binda at Fender
3TSB = three tone sunburst
Oly wht = Olympic white
BL = band leader
hippy sandwich = bass made of multi-laminated exotic woods
ss = short-scale, stainless-steel, solid-state
rig = amp/speaker cabinet
combo (amp) = combined amp/speaker unit
axe (antiquated) = bass/guitar/instrument
downbeat = live set start
pause for the cause = pee break

+1 (LOL!)
and i'd like to go on the record (pun intended) that a long horn just MIGHT be referring to the Bunny Brunel bass he did with Carvin for many years. Might. I know it probably doesn't but it might, and I'm just trying to have something to add, to fit in, and try to be clever. But alas this is TB so I'm done before I start.

Carrots.

Peace. Carry on.

YMMV

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Not only that, but they have this secret language with lines and dots and squigglies and odd bits of Italian!

That's a spicy meat-a-ball!

 

[underwhelmist]

Carrots.

I have picked up most of the TB lingo, but I've never understood the "Carrots" thing...AND I DON'T WANT TO! It's good that there's an air of mystique around some of the jargon/slang on here.
I use a car forum where, instead of saying "BMW 3 Series", they'll say "E46" or "E39" or whatever - not just for BMWs, they do it for all kinds of cars. I rarely have any idea what they're on about.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Nah

 

[Renaissance]

I guess the secret handshake I was thinking about will never work!

 

[Tim Schnautz]

I feel many abbreviations/codes are already part of our community. For reference sake here are ones commonly used that most people here would understand. Some are obvious and have been around a long time. Some are bass-centric and others are player/playing related. There are others which can be added to determine how commonly (or not) they are understood. Feel free to add.

pu = pick-up
fb = fingerboard
tr = truss-rod
P/P-bass/P = Fender Precision bass
J/J-bass/J = Fender Jazz bass
P/J = a bass, usually Fender but not always with a split & single pu combo
Beatle bass = Hofners violin bass
fridge = Ampeg with 8 speaker cab
FOH = front of house sound system
Dano = Danelectro
long-horn (bass) = Danelectro bass with long upper and lower symmetric "horns"
boner bass = reference to longer upper horn on late-'80s/early '90's P's and J's designed by George Binda at Fender
3TSB = three tone sunburst
Oly wht = Olympic white
BL = band leader
hippy sandwich = bass made of multi-laminated exotic woods
ss = short-scale, stainless-steel, solid-state
rig = amp/speaker cabinet
combo (amp) = combined amp/speaker unit
axe (antiquated) = bass/guitar/instrument
downbeat = live set start
pause for the cause = pee break

Only modification to your list I'd make would be:

P/P-bass/P = Fender Precision "style" bass
J/J-bass/J = Fender Jazz "style" bass
MOT - mother of toilet seat ( usually pearloid) pickguard.
Barts- Bartolini pickups
Qualm}
Bad Ass} All the same bridge
BAII }
LQ BA II}
HB- humbucker pickup
Mudbucker - Gibson humbucker pickup.
soap bar - fat pickup
URB- upright bass
Doghouse - Upright bass
Doghouse 2- (couch) Where you'll be sleeping when the wife finds out how much you spent on bass gear
Eh, the list is endless. just some of my views...

 

[73jbass]

 

[casualmadness]

fist bumping.

100% with you on this one

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I think we should develop a test for those newbies wanting to join. If they pass the test they're in. The criteria are listed here.

Bass and Music Dictionary | Bass Tools | StudyBass

Seriously, eventually everyone who wants to be part of TB will figure out the jargon. Society has become too sensitive and soft anymore. Toughen up kid! It's a rough world out there! Once you learn the slang you'll be slangin' with the best of them! GLWLTS ROTFL *** YMMV.

 

[electracoyote]

And when you see the word "poopy," you can bet the person didn't really type "poopy."

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Yes, I hate those fatuous players that treat nomenclature as aprior obligatory when they are actually supererogatory or minimally prima facie.

 

[moreblues]

I hear ya and agree...I find myself googling what some Abbrev...LOL.. means too many times...It takes more time for someone to look it up then if the poster just spelled it out!

 

[Anemic_SluG]

 

[Fat Freddy]

“Pups”, fist bumping, and people calling me “bro” or “homie” send me into a homicidal rage...

but that’s just me..

Silly boy!......There are far more important things to get into a homicidal rage about....

Chil bro....Chill....

 

[TuneIn]

In the interest of efficient communication, would it be possible to use standard language rather than bass jargon in posts?

I can understand "pups" as shorthand for pickups, but I also see some newer members thinking they've stumbled into a dog owners' group. "Tort" means one thing to us, but something completely different to lawyers.

I bring this up because of two recent experiences.

One poster referred to something like his "Fender L." I know Ps and Js and PJs, but couldn't recollect any Fender model that started with an L. Another TB-er thought that it was a reference to Fender's early numbering system, where an L serial number would have indicated a pre-1965 vintage. But even today, neither of us knows for sure.

And just today, a TB-er posted something about his "Sting." Some responders to the post thought he was talking about the P-bass model that Sting uses. As it turns out (I think, anyway), he was referring to a MusicMan StingRay.

Since we're all in this together, and we do really want to understand and help each other, do you think it might be possible to take a look at your post before sending, just to make sure you're saying what you mean and making your point clearly to a general audience? Assuming that everyone you want to communicate with is familiar with all the bass jargon is usually a mistake.

Thanks.

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