i've noticed two things about being a bass player

[funkybass]

The first thing is go see a live local band, and more times than not the bass is buried in the mix and you cant hear it.


Two, you'll probably never hear someone say, dang, did you hear that bass player, he rocked! You will hear them say that about the drummer, and guitar player too.

 

[StanFan]

I guess your first observation explains your second one.

 

[baalroo]

The scene (local alternative/DIY) I'm in almost always has prominent bass lines and bass players are highly regarded and some of the most "well known" dudes around.

However, with the radio rock/metal scene around here that is certainly the case IME.

 

[derelicte]

The first thing is go see a live local band, and more times than not the bass is buried in the mix and you cant hear it.


Two, you'll probably never hear someone say, dang, did you hear that bass player, he rocked! You will hear them say that about the drummer, and guitar player too.

comepletely true, bass isn't a standout-ish instrument to begin with. I never noticed bass much at all until I heard sucky bands. much of the reason they sucked I discovered, was b.c the bass was bad. that's not to say that bass should be felt only and not heard, but when bass is GOOD, you can feel it and everything can melt into place.

If the bass is buried in the mix, blame the FOH. That's the reason I started into sound, b/c i couldn't stand how badly the mixer guys were.

But to your second point, people seem to notice a great bass player when they hear one; and drummers. guitarists are a dime a dozen so it's not something spectacular hearing good guitarists, for me at least.

 

[the evil]

The first thing is go see a live local band, and more times than not the bass is buried in the mix and you cant hear it.


Two, you'll probably never hear someone say, dang, did you hear that bass player, he rocked! You will hear them say that about the drummer, and guitar player too.

Funny thing was, one of my most popular bands i was in used this one mixing/recording guy who had this amazing studio he built himself in his basement. He was great except one thing, i found myself mixed out of a lot of stuff, which was odd because my guys "supposedly" wanted me so bad because i was so great compared to the regular one note players. The even odder thing was, besides our recording tech, this guy by trade was a frickin bass player himself of like 35 years..... go figure. he also tried to keep me playing roots behind our guitarist a lot as well.

you will NEVER hear someone say "wow that bass player was awesome!"

though you WILL hear someone say "man that bass player was a douche!". a bass player is the last to be congratulated but the first to be crucified. i remember me and some freinds got front row seats to maiden like 2 years ago. the opening band was this small time group from where ever. they were not horrible but everyone around us (and even us cough cough) were just tearing the bass player apart for TRYING to act "cool" on stage with his one leg on the amp and spiky hair. now the guitarist was doing pretty much the same stuff but no one minded cause, well, he was a guitarist. But god for bid a bass player try and act like hes just a cool and WHAM! your down in a ditch getting spit on.

now some humor: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jvl8rs95pU