Two bassists in a band?

[Sketchead0114]

So the singer/guitarist in my band asked me last night if he could play bass alongside me in the band. When we originally started out, I played drums and he was the bassist, but after a while I switched to bass, he switched to guitar and we got a new drummer in.
He feels he's a better bassist than he is a guitar player BUT he wants to make his bass sound like a distorted electric guitar, so it just sounds like I'm the only actual bassist playing. An example of the sound he's looking for is like Royal Blood (Just one bassist/singer with a heavy sounding setup and drummer)

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He's told me he will play high up on the fretboard so it doesn't sound muddy. A lot of our songs come from my basslines but he thinks he can come up with stuff that will compliment my playing. We have another guitarist in the band so he could take care of all the clean sounds that we might need.


Do you guys think this will work? He's really excited about the idea and I'm optimistic about the thought of him making huge, heavy, driving guitar-like riffs with myself playing in the pocket, but the other side I'm worried that it just won't fit together.

 

[Icemanaroonie]

Just try it and see what happens. You might need to do some crazy EQing to make it sit just right, or have to mess with effects. In my school's contemporary band, we've messed around with 2 bassists, a guitarist and a drummer. Last thing we did was jam on These Damn Blue Collar Tweekers, and that led to some neat stuff with my slapping the main riff, and the other bassist playing textural stuff high up the neck. I liked it.

 

[Marial]

It depends on how you do it, but two-bassist bands have been known to happen. I'm in one myself and it's a blast. It just takes some consideration for sonic and rhythmic space. Try it!

 

[Nic.]

I really like the sound of bass played way high up the register so I'm totally for that idea! Would also love to see him playing clean and you play distorted.

 

[Pandastylebass]

When ever anyone talks about two bass players in a band I always think of Ned's Atomic Dustbin. It works well when done right

 

[Jolagh]

Maybe have him try tuning up to piccolo bass. I love bass so more basses more better.

 

[Sketchead0114]

Thanks for your advice guys, I think we'll give it a shot and hopefully it'll work out!

 

[Marial]

When ever anyone talks about two bass players in a band I always think of Ned's Atomic Dustbin. It works well when done right

I always think about Girls V Boys.



'kill both bass players'

 

[29A]

Ever listen to Cop Shoot Cop? Was one of my favorites back in the '90s for that industrial-strength scary dirt rock. One guy played a short scale. Cool stuff.

I'm a sucker for those kind of out of the box setups, but it only works well when the guys doing it give it a fair shot by taking the time to work it out.

Go for it!

 

[robd]

In the video in the OP that is about the most massive bass sound I have ever heard

 

[Sketchead0114]

In the video in the OP that is about the most massive bass sound I have ever heard

Crazy, isn't it! That's the result of two Fender Supersonic 22s, a Super Bassman and a ton of pedals drool

 

[HolmeBass]

Lots of two bass bands. I personally like it, but it does take more thought and coordination than just jamming out. Check out Dumpstaphunk.

 

[Runlikegregg]

It's all in the execution.
it could be awesome!

 

[7dollarbologna]

Piccolo bass?

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

How bout 3 bassists. Then you can play this.

 

[AciDBatH666]

Couple of things come to mind.
First, Extinction Level Event is a newer Djent style 3 bass band. Think Meshuggah


The 2nd is Shrum, an old school local band in my area from back in the day that had 2 bassists. I never really checked them out, this was in the mid 90s before internet really was widespread. They're more psychedelic.

 

[singlemalt]

Another fine example is Dumpstaphunk.

I always liked Ned's too.

Tune him up E-C. With the right approach to his sound, you'll get tons of range.

And you guys could switch basses as well.

Really, if a band has something entertaining going on, I don't care who's playing what.

This is the Lovebomb GoGo Marching band from Portland, OR.

Wildly entertaining, whether the guy was playing eight string bass or Sousaphone. They have dancing girls in knee pads too.

 

[PortlandBass77]

I might be biased since Royal Blood is my favorite new band in a very long time, so I think it's a great idea.

 

[PortlandBass77]

Another fine example is Dumpstaphunk.

I always liked Ned's too.

Tune him up E-C. With the right approach to his sound, you'll get tons of range.

And you guys could switch basses as well.

Really, if a band has something entertaining going on, I don't care who's playing what.

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This is the Lovebomb GoGo Marching band from Portland, OR.

Wildly entertaining, whether the guy was playing eight string bass or Sousaphone. They have dancing girls in knee pads too.

Was these from the Blues Fest by any chance? I saw them there in July.

 

[singlemalt]

The Lovebombs do get around! I follow them on Facebook. They keep a pretty full schedule.

The have a cool bus, too.

I think they were everyday, average band geeks until the alien abduction, and first interplanetary tour forged them into the white unit they are today.