Perfect example.
I'll tell you what is ironic, though. Being told that setting something on fire is a cliche and has been done a billion times before by people who still play Freebird.
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Setting your bass on fire
- Thread starter AaronVonRock
- Start date
Perfect example.
I'll tell you what is ironic, though. Being told that setting something on fire is a cliche and has been done a billion times before by people who still play Freebird.
That's true, but I think there is a higher demand for coverbands than for people setting stuff on fire. I mean if you watch one there's surely one dude yelling Freebird.
Mediocrity is always in higher demand. Not just in music, but in books, movies, TV shows, food, etc. Many people like what's easy, familiar, and safe.
Yes, there is that one person who yells out "FREEBIRD!", and it's usually done ironically as a joke. I once saw a band actually kick into Freebird for a minute after someone yelled that out. It got a big laugh from the audience. But some people still play that song and other songs like it without a trace of irony. In 2015.
My band in Fort Wayne Indiana ended every single show with Freebird without a trace of irony, and it usually resulted in the entire audience gathering on the dance floor, and flicking their lighters. There's your fire!
You can say playing that song is "mediocrity," but it's actually a fairly difficult song to play well, and many of the people who spit on it couldn't play it well to save their lives.
So you started a thread asking the best way to start your bass on fire, were advised that it was a bad idea by quite a number of actual gigging musicians, and then slowly started turning into a way to knock on people who play songs you don't like. You must be very proud.
Light your bass on fire. Here's the best way:
Soak it in gasoline for a whole day. Strap 16 bottle rockets to it. Coat the whole thing in gunpowder. Light it. Have fun.
wmhill
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that my point exactly
Yeah, but it also looks totally boring. Those guys could stuff a candle in the cymbal's pole - same effect. Fire is used, because it's supposed to look wild and out of control.
wmhill
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it's a 3 piece rockabilly band, playing for tourist at a bar & grill- not Rammstein.........
I don't know why there are so many safety and righteous indignation posts! Never expected bassists to be such Nancy boys about this.
So practically speaking Fail Army is a good place to start. Using a liquid will let it run and spread, so a gel is better.
The thing is it should burn off with a bright flame and low temperature. Someone here at TB can speak to that, or look around for engine degreaser or hand cleaners that are flammable.
Finally experiment and film it. Fail Army needs new material.
So practically speaking Fail Army is a good place to start. Using a liquid will let it run and spread, so a gel is better.
The thing is it should burn off with a bright flame and low temperature. Someone here at TB can speak to that, or look around for engine degreaser or hand cleaners that are flammable.
Finally experiment and film it. Fail Army needs new material.
wmhill
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you're right, would have been way cooler to douse the place with napalm, so then the anti fire police could have another club fire to quote on this thread. Point missed, I'm out
That's the thing, isn't it. Fire is supposed to look wild and dangerous. So with practice and preparation, it could come off looking like that without actually being that dangerous. Or if it's done lamely, it will look like some guy standing on the side of building lighting his cigarette.
I didn't miss your point. You just won't allow my opinion.
A gel is better sure, but it will still burn til it's used up. Best way would be propan through a controlable valve.
I didn't consider engine degreasers or hand cleaning gel. That's sounds safer than a flammable liquid running and spreading. Thanks, I'll look into that option.
I hesitate to even reply, because I don't want to encourage irresponsible behavior. But flash paper and alcohol are completely different. Flash paper is designed to combust and be completely consumed in a very short duration- less than a second for a sheet. It basically explodes. If ignited in a place where the explosion can't expand, it can cause damage and ignite secondary fires. There are restrictions on its manufacture and transportation- you can't just send it through the mail. Seriously, few people even use it anymore. It's a hassle to use safely.
Alcohol, on the other hand, burns 'cool' and burns dim. You can get second-degree burns and not even see the flame that burned you. It can also ignite secondary fires. Chefs, you might notice, usually do this over a stove that can contain the smoke and flame. They also watch it constantly, and extinguish the fire with a cover the moment it looks like it's getting out of control.
Just don't. None of this is stuff you want to play with casually.
Alcohol, on the other hand, burns 'cool' and burns dim. You can get second-degree burns and not even see the flame that burned you. It can also ignite secondary fires. Chefs, you might notice, usually do this over a stove that can contain the smoke and flame. They also watch it constantly, and extinguish the fire with a cover the moment it looks like it's getting out of control.
Just don't. None of this is stuff you want to play with casually.
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Call me a Nancy boy, but remember, eyebrows take a long time to grow back, and you look kind of weird without them. And that's a better-case scenario.
Rig up LEDs or lasers. They look pretty cool, too, and are a lot safer.
Thanks for the informative response. Rest assured you are not encouraging irresponsible behavior. Sounds like flash paper is a not an option for me. Alcohol or another flammable liquid sounds a bit safer, but requires a lot of safety precautions and practice. That might be a more viable option. Or a flammable gel might be my best bet. I'm going to experiment with those two options. I'm also going to have a chat with the chemistry teacher at my school today and maybe experiment in the lab after school. Thanks again for taking the time to share your knowledge.
No problem. As long as your chemistry teacher isn't Walter White, he should give you good advice.
So may I ask what the hell is so Nancy-boy about going to a nightclub and wanting to live through the experience? Some of you have a real warped sense about "manliness." And to compare it with making a flaming drink or smoking a cigarette is asinine. Hey, I love when the chef at the Japanese steakhouse sets the grill on fire, but it's a very controlled situation. Besides, Hendrix already did it way better at Monterey.
I wouldn't say "no" the idea out of hand, but I wouldn't say "yes" to it either unless it was done with the cooperation of a) a professional pyrotechnician, b) the local fire marshal, and c) the venue owner. I would not just try lighting a bass on fire in a small club on my own initiative, even if I had practiced with it at home. Maybe at an outdoor gig. There are fire jugglers and such in the world. I would find some and learn all I could about how they work and what their safety precautions are.
Sorry if you got offended about my Freebird comments. But surely you know that song has a stigma attached to it as being a cliche song to cover and yelling out "FREEBIRD" at most shows is a joke.
Here is a current thread that is active today with a lot of Freebird content. Get ready to be angry.
A catcaller last night | TalkBass.com
