• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass The day the BG took over.

Paul Warburton

Paul Warburton

In Memoriam
Aug 17, 2003
9,424
663
84
Denver, Co.
#1
My first Thread Topic in a while.

I'm one of the older persons here and one of the few players who never "went over" or even ever played a gig on the bass guitar.
I was around (actually, living in Vegas, playing a lot of shows) when the **** hit the fan in terms of the impact the advent of the slab had on us double bassists who were predominantely pizz players, so I thought it might be an interesting topic, especially to younger slabbists and doublers who aren't aware of some of the history involved during that period which, at least in Vegas, was about 1966. I know Leo Fender actually brought the Fender bass guitar onto the scene in the early 50's, but the true impact wasn't really felt for us until the former date. I did a search and found some TB threads alluding to this topic but none that had some players that actually were around during that huge transition.
It was pretty interesting and I have some stories about the impact on us "upright" players, financially and artistically, during the period, including the name of the best known DBer who did the switch in terms of recording, at least.

EDIT: I'll try not to get grouchy, pissed or make fun of any posts that may come in, including those of slabbers.
 
#2
I know that my dad quit playing in 1968 for several different reasons. One of the biggest that he always said was that people wanted him to play 'Fender Bass' on gigs instead of the String Bass. He never went into much detail about it, but I do know that we were based mainly in Indiana, and he had gigs all across the country, particularly in San Francisco. The day he quit (at least this is the story I remember) he was about to get on the bus to tour with Wes Montgomery, and looked around at the people that were there and decided that he just didn't want to do it anymore. This had nothing to do with the impact of the BG as much as the impact of the lifestyle finally got to him.

A few years later I announced that I wanted to play bass. He refused to finance a BG until I learned the basics on the DB. I was going to be serious and play a 'real' instrument. He did encourage my love for the Beatles and he thought that McCartney was one of the best bassists he had ever heard - DB or Slab. I ended up playing in the school jazz band and orchestra (something else he hardly ever did was use the bow). Then it started to happen. He was getting calls from people to play, and instead of taking the gig himself, he recommended me. Then got ticked because people started calling me directly instead of him. Never understood that one. After school I laid the DB down, concentrating on BG. He died in 2002, and I took possesion of the bass I learned to play on all those years ago in 2006. I hardly ever practice with the BG anymore, but gig about 75/25 BG/DB. I came to this site to become educated and catch up on a lot that I missed out on in the 25 to 30 years since I last played the instrument. I have been met with a mix of the old attitudes and grouchiness toward slabbers (understandable, I may be an exception as most BG players have never touched a DB in their life, and are only doing so as part of a fad IMHO), and the true guidance of 'Do what works for you, but here are some valid tips and pointers.'. I would love to hear the stories of other 'upright' players that were affected by the 'Fender' bass, and other factors as well.
 
#6
I heard in my youth (from David Baker, I think) that Monk Montgomery was one of the first in jazz to make the switch. Ron Carter plays BG on a cut on Miles in the Sky from 1967. Of course, Steve Swallow did it in the 60's. I heard him playing BG with Keith Jarrett and Gary Burton at the 1970 Newport Jazz Festival. The only other bass guitarist I remember at that festival was Jack Bruce playing with Tony Williams.

I'll guess that Bob Cranshaw started pretty early on, too.
 
#7
Anyone here old enough to remember when the double bass took over from the tuba?


==

Which electric bass amps/speakers were that ones that gave enough sound volume and quality to convince people to play BG in bands? It seems that even the the 'Fender bass' came out in '51, the amp combos were not ready for a few years afterwards.

Funny how back then, people started on DB and then went to BG, but now it reverse is more the norm.
 
#8
I thought of Monk after I posted earlier. I was under the impression that both he and Jamerson made the switch to recording and gigging both with the instrument, doing the occassional jam session with the DB. Same with Jack Bruce. I know that the riff to 'Sunshine of Your Love' cane from such a jam session.
 
#9
bassist1962 said:
I know that my dad quit playing in 1968 for several different reasons. One of the biggest that he always said was that people wanted him to play 'Fender Bass' on gigs instead of the String Bass. He never went into much detail about it, but I do know that we were based mainly in Indiana, and he had gigs all across the country, particularly in San Francisco. The day he quit (at least this is the story I remember) he was about to get on the bus to tour with Wes Montgomery, and looked around at the people that were there and decided that he just didn't want to do it anymore. This had nothing to do with the impact of the BG as much as the impact of the lifestyle finally got to him.
Click to expand...

Who is your dad, John?
 
#10
bassist1962 said:
I have been met with a mix of the old attitudes and grouchiness toward slabbers (understandable, I may be an exception as most BG players have never touched a DB in their life, and are only doing so as part of a fad IMHO), and the true guidance of 'Do what works for you, but here are some valid tips and pointers.'. I would love to hear the stories of other 'upright' players that were affected by the 'Fender' bass, and other factors as well.
Click to expand...

Just out of curiosity, what is this "fad" of Electric Bass players playing(or not playing?) Double Bass?
 
#11
Eric Hochberg said:
Who is your dad, John?
Click to expand...

+?

I actually never thought of Monk Montgomery (I used to play a bit with his brother, pianist, Buddy). because I never heard him play DB. IME, Max Bennett, the L.A studio/jazz bassist was the first DBer that made the switch, who played DB on Peggy Lee's hit, "Fever".
I remember him coming into a gig in Vegas I was working with Carl Fontana's quintet (featuring Art Pepper) carrying what looked like a guitar in about 1966 and asking if he could sit in. I said I didn't know you played guitar. He said.."I don't, it's a Fender." Carl kind of got on his case because he didn't dig it. Max said in another couple of years you won't see any basses in Vegas or L.A.
 
#13
Audiophage said:
Just out of curiosity, what is this "fad" of Electric Bass players playing(or not playing?) Double Bass?
Click to expand...

Like I said - just my opinion, but to me it is part of the whole 'unplugged' scene, or some well known BG player has taken up DB, and to seem just as 'cool', some fan decides to take the plunge. It's okay if you decide to become a student of the instrument, but to get one and think you can actually play it right from the start just because you have played the BG...It's gonna take awhile.
 
#19
I met Max a few times in L.A.; A great guy and if I recall, he played with Tom Scott quite a bit. I think John Guerrin was the drummer and Larry Carlton (who I played with for bit) was the guitarist in the "L.A. Express".

Here's an amusing personal story. About 1966 or 1967 I was playing the Double bass in H.S. and studying with a good symphonic teacher so that I would be prepared to go to San Fran. State and further my studies in DB & overall music ed. On a whim, a friend of mine who was also a h.s. music geek, and I went to a concert featuring The Who and Cream. Both bands had bassists who pretty much wrote the book on electric bass playing; Jack Bruce and John Entwhistle. Within a few weeks I went out and bought a Fender bass with money that I had been saving for college. I still remember the horrified look on my string bass teacher's face at our next lesson when I earnestly explained to him, "but I can play so much louder now!" Ah youth!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back