How do you feel when the new bassist....

[cronker]

Is not as good as you were.
In a break up with a band, it's usual for someone to take your place. Best of all worlds is that there are no hard feelings and we all move on.
Recently, though, I saw a band made up of my old drummer and guitarist/singer and they were now doing all originals, with a new singer.
They weren't bad by any measure, but the bassist made Adam Clayton look like Jaco. He never once moved off the root note, and played 8ths with a pick (not that there's anything wrong with that).
Compared to the grooves we used to make together, this new band just felt soulless. I'm not bitter in anyway, because it was I who decided to leave the former band.

I talked to my ex drummer friend after his gig and he admitted that the band were quite "beige"
Discuss.

 

[JACink]

Wouldn't it be worse if they replaced you with somebody much better?

 

[FretNoMore]

If it was not my band anymore I couldn't care less; it'd be their business, not mine.

 

[cronker]

Wouldn't it be worse if they replaced you with somebody much better?

Good question, but easy for me to say that if they found a bassist who was heaps better, then I'm all in for it.
It's like asking John Rutsey how he feels.

 

[JACink]

It's like asking John Rutsey how he feels.

Right now? not too good.

Jokes aside, I bet even Rutsey had some regret, seeing what he could have been.

 

[brianrost]

Makes no difference to me if the "new guy" is better or worse.

Now if it's someone else in the band being replaced I do care because it affects me

 

[tangentmusic]

I talked to my ex drummer friend after his gig and he admitted that the band were quite "beige"
Discuss.

Beige is the new red?

Maybe they're going for a less-is-more approach, and the new bass player is actually quite good, just holding back for the sake of the new original music.

 

[Humbled]

My wife suggested we go see the Denver and The Mile High Orchestra Christmas Show last week.



Tony Marvelli uses all seven strings, to say the least. (Let it get about 30 seconds in).

Then we went the next morning to visit a church that had a root thumper on bass.

I told my wife I think I had bassist whiplash when we left.

 

[cnltb]

Is not as good as you were.
In a break up with a band, it's usual for someone to take your place. Best of all worlds is that there are no hard feelings and we all move on.
Recently, though, I saw a band made up of my old drummer and guitarist/singer and they were now doing all originals, with a new singer.
They weren't bad by any measure, but the bassist made Adam Clayton look like Jaco. He never once moved off the root note, and played 8ths with a pick (not that there's anything wrong with that).
Compared to the grooves we used to make together, this new band just felt soulless. I'm not bitter in anyway, because it was I who decided to leave the former band.

I talked to my ex drummer friend after his gig and he admitted that the band were quite "beige"
Discuss.

it is not always the qualities as a player/ musician that lead to replacement.
I wouldn't spend much thought on it.

 

[Frank77]

I talked to my ex drummer friend after his gig and he admitted that the band were quite "beige"
Discuss.

I'm not sure what is there to discuss: You left, they replaced you, new guy is either a bad fit or not yet broken in. Not sure exactly what is bothering you with this situation.

 

[SteveV74]

Would make me feel pretty good

 

[Kmonk]

I have been in a similar situation. I left a band in August. We didn't have anything booked until December so I figured it would give them plenty of time to find a replacement. They held several auditions and made a decision on hiring the new bassist. After a few rehearsals they realized that things just weren't the same. Every member of the band called and asked me to come back. Since there were some shows booked prior to me leaving, I agreed to play them but didn't commit beyond that.

The bottom line (no pun intended) is that once you leave the band, its up to the remaining members to decide whether or not things are working with the new bassist. If they are happy, that's what really matters. It might be possible that your playing was too busy and the new guy is exactly what they were looking for. It could also be that the replacement was the only guy they could find who can actually hold the groove so they felt that more complicated bass lines weren't as important as his ability to lock in with the drummer.

 

[WalWarrior]

My wife suggested we go see the Denver and The Mile High Orchestra Christmas Show last week.



Tony Marvelli uses all seven strings, to say the least. (Let it get about 30 seconds in).

Then we went the next morning to visit a church that had a root thumper on bass.

I told my wife I think I had bassist whiplash when we left.

Holy Smokes! That is an awesome band!

 

[Thomas Kievit]

Why should you care in the first place? You're not in the band anymore, remember?

 

[lfmn16]

I can't remember the last time I left a band on bad terms. I always wish them well. Not to be cold, but what happens after I leave isn't my problem or concern. I have sat in with bands I've left many times when the new guy didn't work out, but when I part ways my worrying is over.

 

[HarrisonJ.Gool]

Good question, but easy for me to say that if they found a bassist who was heaps better, then I'm all in for it.
It's like asking John Rutsey how he feels.

By the way your abs look FANTASTIC!

 

[GKon]

I recently saw the band I was previously in, which I quit because I felt they were going to go nowhere, having decided to
swap me out as bass player singer to just bass player and have a person that couldn't sing be the lead "singer".

The bass player they how now is below average (I'm nothing "special", but definitely better than him).

They sounded like a band of muzak. yuck.

 

[Mvilmany]

Honestly, if my replacement was not as good, I'd feel a small amount of boost to my self esteem. If the replacement was better than me, I'd feel a small amount of self consciousness. Neither of these scenarios and the resulting feelings would make or break anything for me.

 

[squirefan]

I left a good cover band (for personal reasons) years back, and they replaced me with a fine bass player who could also share vocals better than I could.
Also added an extra, very talented guitar player.
They're doing great and staying very busy.
I'm happy for them, love them, and see them every chance I get.

On another note, I now play in a very serious and talented Skynyrd tribute, and made it clear to the BL that if they find someone to handle the chore of playing the part of Leon that looks more like him than I do, I'd be fully supportive and no hard feelings.

I just don't get butt-hurt over bands doing what they need to do as long as it isn't underhanded or unscrupulous.

 

[MTFD24]

This past summer I left our Worship & Praise team, as well as the church. I still have many friends there, and still attend the Men's Ministry monthly. They have someone that could have replaced me, and is better than me, but he doesn't want to play, depsite his grandfather playing keys and is the Pastor. He actually was the bass player before me, but had to jump on the drums do to the drummer leaving. They have another drummer, former local "pro", but he doesn't want to play due to the same reasons why I left.

Many have requested my return, as the group sounds "hollow" according to them. I wish all them well, and pray that it would work itself out. But I am not there, and it's up to them to get the sound that they want.