What I hate? Well, I can't fault physics for me wanting to play bass, so the size of my amp and the cost of my strings isn't anything to complain about- there's good and valid reasons for both (and threads on TB about both to boot, so no point rehashing those things).
The electric bass is definitely descended from the electric guitar so even though I used to be really edgy when people called my instrument a "bass guitar", I don't care any more.
No, what I hate is...
A. The guitarist doubling as sound guy who figured since it was bass he needed to cut the highs and boost the bass on my channel without even listening to what was going on in the room.
B. Keyboard players who don't understand the difference between the solo piano gig and the rock 'n' roll band gig- heavy left hand and big bottom EQ.
C. Guitarists who don't understand harmony on any level, even intuitive. Also guitarists and keyboard players who don't understand fitting into the band.
D. ANY musician, bassists included (or perhaps bassists especially) who want to "cut through the mix". If everyone is cutting through it, there simply ain't no mix.
E. Musicians who piss off sound guys out of hand. Musicians who are so precious about "my" sound but don't really have a clue about the band's sound, and blame the sound guy for trying to do their job and MIX.
F. Drummers who don't understand Al Jackson, Ringo, Clyde Stubblefield, or Russ Kunkle
G. Guitarist who think doubling the guitar part is what bass is supposed to do. Obviously never listened to what Carl Radle does on "Cocaine"...
H. Any musician who thinks the popular studio recording of most R'n'B based songs is the ONLY way to play the song- One should never confuse the record nor the arrangement with the SONG
I. Fender Super Reverbs in a small club
J. Guitarists who don't understand Steve Cropper, Cornell Dupree, Danny Korthmar, or George Harrison.
K. People who equate slap with funk.
L. People who think a bass solo is totally inappropriate at all times.
M. Bass players whose solos make people think all bass solos are totally inappropriate at all times.
N. Guitarists who think a simple boogie pattern is what a bass solo should be.
O. Musicians who play "Johhny B. Goode" with a V IV on the turn around.
P. The "there's no money above the fifth fret" mentality- Listen to Duck Dunn on "Knock On Wood"!!
Q. Folks who think if it isn't a Fender that the bassist is a wanker.
R. Folks who think if it is a Fender the bassist is lame.
S. Ads for a bass player for a "blues band" when they're going to be playing Skynyrd, SRV, Yardbirds, Black Crowes, and Molly Hatchet.
T. The guys who say "I play bass, not treble" and think no one is a serious bassist if they are concerned with the full spectrum of sound available from an instrument.
U. People who listen with their eyes.
V. Any band at a multi-band gig that can't get their stuff set up in fifteen minutes, and thinks that a half-hour screwing around with set-up and "sound check" is OK.
W. Bands that can't play for more than 45 minutes because they don't have material.
X. "Original" bands that don't have good songs. Every turd you produce ain't a gold nugget- bonus annoyance points for only having songs that are five minutes or longer.
Y. Any band that doesn't engage the audience.
Z. Drummers who don't listen or understand MUSIC. Putting a fill in every four bars just because it's been four bars is totally wrong.
John
