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Favorite bass compliments
- Thread starter SpectorBass308
- Start date
after a show, the bass player for one of the other bands came up to me and said, "dude, that's amazing, how you use your thumb like that, I need to start doing that"
jamming with a friend and some strangers, the stranger said, "I feel like I need to go home and practice for a few years now"
"dude, you always do the craziest s***"
my favorite so far, though, I was talking to a studio neighbor. this guy has been gigging for years, with all original music (not a cover band), goes on tours, plays across the nation, playing 5 shows in France this month... me and the guitar player really look up to him. he's been a great mentor and a great friend. Anyway, he was telling me about a band he knows, and how they're up and coming. He was telling me about each member of the band, and when he got to the bassist, I said, "yeah, but he's not as good as me, right?"
I was totally joking, but he got all serious and replied with, "No, he's not. if he was as good as you, they would have made it by now"
jamming with a friend and some strangers, the stranger said, "I feel like I need to go home and practice for a few years now"
"dude, you always do the craziest s***"
my favorite so far, though, I was talking to a studio neighbor. this guy has been gigging for years, with all original music (not a cover band), goes on tours, plays across the nation, playing 5 shows in France this month... me and the guitar player really look up to him. he's been a great mentor and a great friend. Anyway, he was telling me about a band he knows, and how they're up and coming. He was telling me about each member of the band, and when he got to the bassist, I said, "yeah, but he's not as good as me, right?"
I was totally joking, but he got all serious and replied with, "No, he's not. if he was as good as you, they would have made it by now"
One gal told me after a show that I had great moves and stage presence.
The bassist from one of our opening bands told my other band members (who are all sick players) that they were lucky to have me.
The bassist from one of our opening bands told my other band members (who are all sick players) that they were lucky to have me.
having a bassist from another band come up to me and say "good playing out there" and then him shaking my hand and starting to walk away without him letting go.
(After playing with pitch shifter/harmonizer)
Whoa that's like guitar tone!!
(After re-doing my standard equ slightly[added more mids and presence, I've never scooped however])
Cool!! It's REALLY punchy now.
Whoa that's like guitar tone!!
(After re-doing my standard equ slightly[added more mids and presence, I've never scooped however])
Cool!! It's REALLY punchy now.
I was playing a gig here the day the two guitarists got new amps and, of course, were trying to outdo each other in the volume wars, meaning I had to go louder too, just to hear myself 
After the gig this guy came up to me and said "I was downstairs while you guys were playing, I couldn't hear the band but I could feel the bass!"
After the gig this guy came up to me and said "I was downstairs while you guys were playing, I couldn't hear the band but I could feel the bass!"
+1 that's something we'll always have over those guitards!
About a month ago, my bandleader recounted a conversation in which a guy told him, "You better keep that guy. That's a real bass player there!"
Nice to know I'm not being perceived as fake! LOL
I occasionally play with one of the most highly respected musicians around here. People call him the "music nazi" for how anal he is about perfection. He plays all instruments, but his main one is guitar.
But I've come to find he is a very humble and nice (yet extremely talented) guy who just is very passionate about music.
He's gone through a lot of bass players. He doesn't have a regular lineup as he calls on guys from all over to play in his band. He won't play with just anybody as he's very particular.
We only play maybe four or five times a year for special events. After one gig we played together, he e-mailed me to thank me for taking the time to play with him again, but added...
"I just have to tell you, that over my entire career I've never enjoyed playing with a bass player more than you. It's like you have a sixth sense and just know where I'm going in a song and always know how to bring me back in after a long solo. You are a perfect fit for my music, and whenever I call on you, I'm grateful that you take the time to play music with me."
That was probably the biggest "pat on the back" I've ever received from anyone about my playing. The guy is just a monster on guitar and it's always such a pleasure to play with him. I can just sit back in the groove and listen to him all night with a big 'ol smile on my face. I kind of feel like I'm Tommy Shannon to his Stevie Ray. It's that special.
But I've come to find he is a very humble and nice (yet extremely talented) guy who just is very passionate about music.
He's gone through a lot of bass players. He doesn't have a regular lineup as he calls on guys from all over to play in his band. He won't play with just anybody as he's very particular.
We only play maybe four or five times a year for special events. After one gig we played together, he e-mailed me to thank me for taking the time to play with him again, but added...
"I just have to tell you, that over my entire career I've never enjoyed playing with a bass player more than you. It's like you have a sixth sense and just know where I'm going in a song and always know how to bring me back in after a long solo. You are a perfect fit for my music, and whenever I call on you, I'm grateful that you take the time to play music with me."
That was probably the biggest "pat on the back" I've ever received from anyone about my playing. The guy is just a monster on guitar and it's always such a pleasure to play with him. I can just sit back in the groove and listen to him all night with a big 'ol smile on my face. I kind of feel like I'm Tommy Shannon to his Stevie Ray. It's that special.
oh, another really big unspoken compliment,
there's a bassist down the hall from our studio room, and he's always learning my riffs by ear (just from listening through the walls while I'm playing) and playing them
imitation is the most sincere form of flattery
there's a bassist down the hall from our studio room, and he's always learning my riffs by ear (just from listening through the walls while I'm playing) and playing them
imitation is the most sincere form of flattery
Playing with several guitarists, I have gotten a few comments.
When playing in more dorm room with 810 and tube amp-
"Man you are good player, keep playing bass. You play much better than most of the bands in this college"
"I can really hear your bass tone, it's not just low rumbly crap; I can actually hear notes."
"I can't keep up with your groove, how do you do that?" You could play all by yourself and get everyone moving. How did you get that sense of beat?"
"Wow your fingers move fast. Most bass players have to grab a pick to go that fast."
"That bass rig is scary, holy ****. I hope I am not around when you turn it on!"
All of these comments made me realize that I am doing something right!
When playing in more dorm room with 810 and tube amp-
"Man you are good player, keep playing bass. You play much better than most of the bands in this college"
"I can really hear your bass tone, it's not just low rumbly crap; I can actually hear notes."
"I can't keep up with your groove, how do you do that?" You could play all by yourself and get everyone moving. How did you get that sense of beat?"
"Wow your fingers move fast. Most bass players have to grab a pick to go that fast."
"That bass rig is scary, holy ****. I hope I am not around when you turn it on!"
All of these comments made me realize that I am doing something right!
I've had a few fans mention that they really liked how I was able to incorporate the drummer's rhythms, guitard's riffs, and vocals into my bass lines. I always thought that was what I was supposed to do?
I think they were just complimenting me on my ability to do it tastefully.
But, it's always an ego boost when you have other bass players approach you after your set to ask you how you did that little thing, or how you came up with a particular line.
The most frustrating, sort of back-handed compliment always happened during the writing process. See, I would work all week to come up with the perfect bass line for an incomplete song that we had worked on last practice, just to have it stolen by one of the guitard players.
I would come in and play and the singer would be like "That sounds really good. Hey (guitar player), why don't you play that." And then he would have the nerve to expect me to (on the spot) come up with a new bass line to compliment the stolen bass line that I had worked on for hours!!
That crap always drove me nuts! I eventually gave that up only to later be accused of not contributing enough to the band. I don't miss that one bit.
I think they were just complimenting me on my ability to do it tastefully.But, it's always an ego boost when you have other bass players approach you after your set to ask you how you did that little thing, or how you came up with a particular line.
The most frustrating, sort of back-handed compliment always happened during the writing process. See, I would work all week to come up with the perfect bass line for an incomplete song that we had worked on last practice, just to have it stolen by one of the guitard players.
I would come in and play and the singer would be like "That sounds really good. Hey (guitar player), why don't you play that." And then he would have the nerve to expect me to (on the spot) come up with a new bass line to compliment the stolen bass line that I had worked on for hours!!
That crap always drove me nuts! I eventually gave that up only to later be accused of not contributing enough to the band. I don't miss that one bit.Ive gotten some great compliments over the fews years Ive been playing.
-A drum instructor that comes to our school is a well season drummer. He's played gigs all his life . He's travelled with big stars and knows music. He is the instructor for the drumline which I play bass in and he barely says alot to me. After one of our practices I was the last one out and he stopped me and said" Man your sound is awesome, everything is just solid. IT ment alot to me cause I have alot of respect for this guy.
-there's a family friend and I went to his house for a couple lessons/jams a few times. One week I went and he was teaching me Zeppelin songs. Well our school had a basketball game the next week and afterwards while the rest of the band was tearing down me, a guitarist , and the drummer started doing Rock N Roll by Zeppelin and played for a few minutes before stopping and my dad talked to the teacher a few days later and the teacher said he heard Rock N Roll and said I was playing it right , while the other two were in the dust. Everytime I go to his house he always remarks on how great im getting. He always tells me somethin like IF you get these certain things down , I see you going far. Its a great put up.
-A drum instructor that comes to our school is a well season drummer. He's played gigs all his life . He's travelled with big stars and knows music. He is the instructor for the drumline which I play bass in and he barely says alot to me. After one of our practices I was the last one out and he stopped me and said" Man your sound is awesome, everything is just solid. IT ment alot to me cause I have alot of respect for this guy.
-there's a family friend and I went to his house for a couple lessons/jams a few times. One week I went and he was teaching me Zeppelin songs. Well our school had a basketball game the next week and afterwards while the rest of the band was tearing down me, a guitarist , and the drummer started doing Rock N Roll by Zeppelin and played for a few minutes before stopping and my dad talked to the teacher a few days later and the teacher said he heard Rock N Roll and said I was playing it right , while the other two were in the dust. Everytime I go to his house he always remarks on how great im getting. He always tells me somethin like IF you get these certain things down , I see you going far. Its a great put up.
Here are three:
Non-verbal: seeing the floor fill up with dancers at the first gig with a new band = bass & drums doing it RIGHT
1980's using an SVT w/two 8x10's and an Acoustic 370 with two 1x18's. Manager comes in during 1st set. On break he tells me "I can tell what song ya'll are playing because I could hear the bass a block away from the club when I got out of my car!"
Band I'm currently in at our 1st or 2nd gig doing a cover tune and saying after the song "Now we don't have to wonder what's he's(bass player now me) gonna play on that part. It's just like the record".
Non-verbal: seeing the floor fill up with dancers at the first gig with a new band = bass & drums doing it RIGHT
1980's using an SVT w/two 8x10's and an Acoustic 370 with two 1x18's. Manager comes in during 1st set. On break he tells me "I can tell what song ya'll are playing because I could hear the bass a block away from the club when I got out of my car!"
Band I'm currently in at our 1st or 2nd gig doing a cover tune and saying after the song "Now we don't have to wonder what's he's(bass player now me) gonna play on that part. It's just like the record".
Just got my first and favorite compliment, played some blues progression so the guitar player could wank over it and the girls watching got up and danced.
The best I've got is from the bass player of my favourite local band, who also happens to be a really good bassist.
During a gig my guitarist broke a string and after the song as he was changing it the drummer and me were just jamming, when some friends at the front of the crowd started shouting ''bass solo''. Well i obliged, and while playing the bassist from the
other band came to the front to watch. Well at the end of the gig, he came up to me and said,
''Wow i was amazed watching you play, your a f****** beast on bass''
I went weak at the knees
During a gig my guitarist broke a string and after the song as he was changing it the drummer and me were just jamming, when some friends at the front of the crowd started shouting ''bass solo''. Well i obliged, and while playing the bassist from the
other band came to the front to watch. Well at the end of the gig, he came up to me and said,
''Wow i was amazed watching you play, your a f****** beast on bass''
I went weak at the knees
One I get a lot from my guitarist's father is, "You are exactly what a bassist should be, keeping the groove like that."
I had a sort of indirect compliment at a gig a few weeks ago. My band had a half hour set which we had just finished, and I started taking my bass off so I could pack up. Suddenly I hear the beginnings of an encore, and one voice yelling, "Put that ****in' strap back on! Yer not done yet!" There were cheers at that. I thought it was nice.
I had a sort of indirect compliment at a gig a few weeks ago. My band had a half hour set which we had just finished, and I started taking my bass off so I could pack up. Suddenly I hear the beginnings of an encore, and one voice yelling, "Put that ****in' strap back on! Yer not done yet!" There were cheers at that. I thought it was nice.
Once after a gig at a local music pub, a guy came up to me and said I was the tightest bassist he'd heard in a very long time. 
That was really nice to hear since here in my town there are some really great professional bass players that have played with world-famous musicians also, and I know that at least one of them play quite regularly there at the same pub.
From amateur musicians I've got quite many compliments on my bass playing, but none from real pro's. I guess I still have a way to go to get to that level... But for my singing, I've got compliments from pro's also.
Some musicians have also given compliments on my ability to sing and play on the same time... That's also nice since I've been working hard getting that to work. However, I prefer focusing on either one at a time. I want to be able to focus 100% on everything I do, and I can't focus 100% on both singing and playing when doing it simultaneously, there's always a compromise...
That was really nice to hear since here in my town there are some really great professional bass players that have played with world-famous musicians also, and I know that at least one of them play quite regularly there at the same pub.From amateur musicians I've got quite many compliments on my bass playing, but none from real pro's. I guess I still have a way to go to get to that level... But for my singing, I've got compliments from pro's also.
Some musicians have also given compliments on my ability to sing and play on the same time... That's also nice since I've been working hard getting that to work. However, I prefer focusing on either one at a time. I want to be able to focus 100% on everything I do, and I can't focus 100% on both singing and playing when doing it simultaneously, there's always a compromise...i was complaining about how our schools other bass players had better sounding basses and my two guitarist friends said "who cares your bass looks awesome it kicks my guitars ass"
Last practice we had some "practice crashers" who came in for a listen (I'm the new bassist this was my first practice) and I was noodling around with the drummer in between songs while the guitarists tuned up, one of the guys listening said I sounded really great
Made my day
Made my day
1. At a VFW, my first night with this band. Some drunk lady front row of tables looking to her husband(?) "Fire my bass player, I want this guy!"
2. On stage after the male strippers, a chick walks up to me and says "I love your bass playing, it makes my boobs bounce"
3. At a place that was not much more than an orchastrated whorehouse+boxing wring, a fairly good looking woman (and sober), walks up to the bandstand as we just finish the set."Iknow you are trying hard to pull and keep this bunch of misfits together. Don't worry, you will have better nights.'
5. Best friend explaining to someone else, " He plays pretty good, don't let him sing though."
6. Guiatrist friend, "I like wes's bass playing and hid sound.'
Best of Luck,
Wesley R.
2. On stage after the male strippers, a chick walks up to me and says "I love your bass playing, it makes my boobs bounce"
3. At a place that was not much more than an orchastrated whorehouse+boxing wring, a fairly good looking woman (and sober), walks up to the bandstand as we just finish the set."Iknow you are trying hard to pull and keep this bunch of misfits together. Don't worry, you will have better nights.'
5. Best friend explaining to someone else, " He plays pretty good, don't let him sing though."
6. Guiatrist friend, "I like wes's bass playing and hid sound.'
Best of Luck,
Wesley R.
