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Do you reply to 'bass wanted' ads?

Herbal

Herbal

Guest
Jul 10, 2016
229
183
England
#1
I just replied to one, the guy lives kind of local and wants to do a 70's cover band.

TBH I've replied to a lot before and the people rarely or never reply.

I often wonder that maybe they are just time wasters or dreamers?

My jam band only gets too meet about once every three months & I'm getting sick from not actually doing much except practice on my own..
 
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#6
Do you mean "Bass (player) wanted", or "Bass (instrument) wanted"? In any case, my answer is No, I never have. In the first case, it's "No" because I just don't want to be in a band any more. In the second case, it's "No" because I don't really want to sell any of them. It's taken me too much time, effort a $$$'s to get them. But, if you're a lefty, and you want to make me an offer for one or two of them....:whistle:
 
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#8
Yeah,

When looking for a situation, I'll replay to anything that feel like it might fit. I've had a few "no-replys", but that's just an early indication of how they roll - no thanks.

I have also purchased a few basses and other misc. equipment via CL with no major problems. Some people are easier to work with then others and not every deal went down, but unless there was something creepy about the communication, I'd not hesitate to do it again.
 
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#9
Herbal said:
I just replied to one, the guy lives kind of local and wants to do a 70's cover band.

TBH I've replied to a lot before and the people rarely or never reply.

I often wonder that maybe they are just time wasters or dreamers?

My jam band only gets too meet about once every three months & I'm getting sick from not actually doing much except practice on my own..
Click to expand...
I tried. I think a lot of bands just sort of look for a bass player because they want some silent robot doing work that their bass knob on their amp could do. Especially because "musician wanted" ads usually seek lead instruments; reading some of these "bass ads" it sounds like they're always pushing some low-rung position with a hard-nosed "you better" attitude. I remember I tried a couple cover groups where they were listing songs they WANT to play, that doesn't mean they can!

I used to love music, but I'm no negotiator. Just a guy with a lot of ideas.
 
#10
A while back, as I came out of my 8 year, self imposed hiatus from playing, I replied to a CL add for musicians for a "Jazz Jam". There I met a piano player and he and I stated playing outside of the jam. We ended up working together in quintets, trios and duos. Fifteen years later, we still get together on weekends, regardless of who else is available to join us.
 
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#13
Back in March of 2012 I answered a CL ad for someone who was putting together a Tom Petty tribute, and he needed all musicians - drums, keys, guitars and bass. Six years later and some personnel changes later we're still at it, and in June we're going to have our biggest month to date with 4 gigs, including a trip to Maine and our biggest gig yet, at Foxwoods Casino and Resort on June 21. It's been a fun trip so far, with lots of hard work and many varied gigs along the way, but i'm so glad I answered that CL ad so long ago.
 
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#14
Most of the time when I was looking for gigs or people to play with, it didn't work out.

But one time it didn't work out but it did.... Let me explain:

The singer / songwriter / guitarist who put up the ad and recruited me to join his projected with a guitarist and drummer dissolved the band the day before our first gig. No big deal. I didn't like him that much any way — his songs were good, no doubt. But I really liked playing with the other guys. So we kept playing.

The guitar player played mandolin in a local band that was blowing up and gigging like crazy. Their bass player quit so he recruited me and the drummer to fill the void. That was a great 5 years of playing and touring and I'm still friends with everyone in that band.

The band I'm in now I was recruited by the banjo player of that previous band. He thinks I'm a weirdo and he's not wrong but he gets and appreciates what I do on bass and brought me on for what is a great ride: some small tours, cutting delicious records in amazing analog studios in Nashville and the usual stuff.

I'm also still playing with that drummer and guitar player. It's never going to go anywhere, but those two guys are probably the only close friends I've made since I was in college. It's not easy to make friends as an adult. But music helps.

So yeah, I can credit one Craigslist ad looking for a bass player for a project that didn't work out for a great friendship and some amazing opportunities to travel and record. So I would advocate taking a chance. Usually it's a dead end, sure. But almost everything I'm doing musically is because I answered that ad.
 
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#16
I answered a paper ad on a bulletin board in a music store in late 1990, after buying a bass and playing along to records for three months. So glad I did. That band didn't last six months, but it reintroduced me to musicianship after nine years removed from my HS band (timpani, snare).
 
#18
Yeah, if it sounds appealing. Four times I answered CL listing and got into two bands. One I enjoyed until it imploded and one I turned down because it wasn’t right for me. Twice I was rejected and I believe that was because I am too old. No reason NOT to apply if you want to make live music. There is a joy in playing live music that can’t be emulated in a layered studio recording situation (where I spend 90% of my musical time).
 
#19
That's how I got in my current band. It's a rough slog though. Seems like there is only one ad every two or three months that would even be worth replying to. Too many flakes or music I would have zero interest in playing.
 

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