I was asked "Do you slap the bass?"

[Richland123]

I was on the phone with one of our company technical support people who is in the Ireland call center. While he was checking into my technical issue, we started a conversation about where we are and what we do. I happened to mention that I play in a band. He asked me what do I play and I answered that I play bass guitar and sing. He asked me, "Do you slap the bass?" I thought that it was funny that was the first thing he thought to ask a bass player. I told him that I do not slap the bass.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Only when it's been a BAAAAAAD boy.

Or when she asks me nicely.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Darn stereotypes.

 

[Parzival]

My answer is always, Only when it doesn't listen.

 

[Luke19Boarder]

Slappa da byass, mon!





(I know, an aggravating reference for most here, but it still makes me laugh)

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

It's a shame it was on the phone because my usual response is "only mouths" before slapping them across the face.

 

[Smoove-Groove]

Did he say "slap the bass" or did he say "slappa da bass"? Because if he didn't say the latter, I would be very surprised.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

 

[Fat Freddy]

Did he say "slap the bass" or did he say "slappa da bass"? Because if he didn't say the latter, I would be very surprised.

Thinking that slappa da bass would sound REALLY funny in an Irish accent

 

[Richland123]

Did he say "slap the bass" or did he say "slappa da bass"? Because if he didn't say the latter, I would be very surprised.

Nah, he just said "Slap the Bass", but, he did say it with an Irish accent.

 

[40Hz]

 

[two fingers]

"All the time. Doc says I'm gonna go blind but I don't care.:

 

[Pandastylebass]

If I had a dollar for every time someone said that I would be posting a NBD with a Alembic, Carl Thompson and a Fodera

 

[liquidfingers]

Slappa da byass, mon!





(I know, an aggravating reference for most here, but it still makes me laugh)

Every time I tell someone that I play the bass, that is their exact reaction, but it's still funny!

 

[TedH]

Nah, he just said "Slap the Bass", but, he did say it with an Irish accent.

I would imagine the Irish came with the full "you slap the bass do ya?"

Had an Irish colleague, blond hair and white as cheese as the Germans would say, who had a pretty good brogue. We had 2 cashiers in the cantine, one who was born in Mexico and spoke Spanish to everyone for fun if they wanted to (amazing how many people busted out their HS Spanish), and then your average Boston lady. Thomas, our fine young Irish lad, goes up to the Bostonian and says "gettin' ready for the weekend are ya?", to which she responded "I'm sorry I don't speak Spanish, that's Maria over there".

To this day he is referred to as Tomasito.

 

[BostonJazz72]

I get the same reaction too when I tell people that I play bass. If they have seen this movie then they go into this bit too:



I find it comical although others find it offensive or just poor taste.

 

[wmhill]

"no, but I slap people that ask me that...."

 

[HolmeBass]

Yeah, it's tiresome. I played a gig with a quartet, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, drums, and myself. The acoustic player is really mostly a singer. The band does a lot of jams and some extended improv sections, in the mold of 60's psychedelic rock, so the electric guitarist and I both really get our ya-yas out, and both the drummer and I have to play a lot of solos over the course of a gig.

After a wedding gig, a guy was saying how much he liked my bass playing, but was wondering why I didn't take any solos. He said, "The guitar player got his, why didn't you step up? I was waiting to see you slap that bass!" Evidently in his mind playing really loud melodic leads on bass didn't count as soloing, only slap bass counted. I told him I don't slap, and it wouldn't fit with the music anyway. Some people are truly clueless.

 

[pie_man_25]

I've heard the joke a million times, it got boring after about the fourth time. I still try not to shut them down about it though, I just say "I actually never did slap all that well, in all honesty". Maybe that IS shutting them down?

 

[DavC]

i still have my Pedulla T-shirt that's says ... ' love at first slap ' got it back in 1994 ,... not so PC any more ..?!!