• 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.

underrated/overrated bassists?

The Ethanator

The Ethanator

Jul 28, 2008
517
68
Illinois, except like 6 hours from Chicago
#1
im not talking about famous bassists or bassists that should be famous. but this is something i deal with daily:
i go to a private school of about 600 or so. my crowd is the crowd that everyone considers to be 'goth', but thats a different story for a different day. were not the cool kids because we dont care how cool people think we are. for the most part, we pretty much keep to ourselves. we dont mess with other people, they dont mess with us. but my social status isnt exactly the point here
theres a sizeable amount of bass players at my school. but heres the thing:
  • only 2 are recognized and 'cool' because they play in the jazz band
  • theres 5 or so bassists that take their playing seriously (this includes me), but get little credit except among their good friends, since noone really knows they play
  • and theres 20 of those kids that get an ibanez or squier starter pack for chrsitmas, and think that it automatically makes them a 'bassist', even though they think its cool for a week before it gathers dust in their basement
i dont have a problem with the good players and the respect they get. but those of us in the 2nd category are forgotten, and then when people find out that a 3rd-category person plays bass (whos probably 'cooler' than i am), everyone loves them when i could probably outplay them any day (and i try not to brag, seriously). does this happen with anyone else? what do you think about it all?
 
#2
I think you are the arbitrator of your own coolness. If you know you are cool, you are. I don't think that Miles ever consulted anyone on his coolness. He just was.

High school is not a good place for cool people. Lemmings are intimidated by coolness and they make up 98% of the average high school population (the percentage of lemmings goes down just slightly when you get out of high school).

Play your bass because you love to play your bass; not to be cool. Listen to 'goth' because you dig the sound, not to be cool. Read On The Road because it is an awesome book- not because someone told you it is cool. Get down with your own bad self.

Oh- and get a pair of shite-kicking rocker boots (consult any MC5 video on YouTube for the look). The boots will get you through when you are having doubts about who you are.
 
#7
You Tube is filled with tremendous 'unknown' players doing a piece or two. It also has some horrific vids of players that should play tuba or trombone.

In my gig travels around LA, I come across amazing players, some as old as I am (almost 60) who just play casuals, and have never tried to 'make it'. That's really what you are asking....successful commercial players. Stay with the music and the money, will come or not..

-richard
 
#8
Bass playing career chart

<--------------------------------------------------------------------------->
Less money you make ---------------------------More money you make


<--------------------------------------------------------------------------->
More notes you play---------------------------------- Less notes you play


<--------------------------------------------------------------------------->
Underrated bassists------------------------------------ Overrated bassists

John Entwistle is about the only bassist I can think of that bucked these charts
 
#9
The Ethanator said:
im not talking about famous bassists or bassists that should be famous. but this is something i deal with daily:
i go to a private school of about 600 or so. my crowd is the crowd that everyone considers to be 'goth', but thats a different story for a different day. were not the cool kids because we dont care how cool people think we are. for the most part, we pretty much keep to ourselves. we dont mess with other people, they dont mess with us. but my social status isnt exactly the point here
theres a sizeable amount of bass players at my school. but heres the thing:
  • only 2 are recognized and 'cool' because they play in the jazz band
  • theres 5 or so bassists that take their playing seriously (this includes me), but get little credit except among their good friends, since noone really knows they play
  • and theres 20 of those kids that get an ibanez or squier starter pack for chrsitmas, and think that it automatically makes them a 'bassist', even though they think its cool for a week before it gathers dust in their basement
i dont have a problem with the good players and the respect they get. but those of us in the 2nd category are forgotten, and then when people find out that a 3rd-category person plays bass (whos probably 'cooler' than i am), everyone loves them when i could probably outplay them any day (and i try not to brag, seriously). does this happen with anyone else? what do you think about it all?
Click to expand...

OK, so I don't understand why the first category and the second category have to be different. If you take your playing seriously, what harm would it be to join the jazz band? What stops you from doing this? Just wondering, as all schools are different in terms of joining the jazz band.

Besides that, I wouldn't think too much of this. Does your school offer chances for performance? If so, make the best of these! If not, well I can't say it really matters what everyone else thinks, regardless.
 
#10
rarisgod said:
OK, so I don't understand why the first category and the second category have to be different. If you take your playing seriously, what harm would it be to join the jazz band? What stops you from doing this? Just wondering, as all schools are different in terms of joining the jazz band.

Besides that, I wouldn't think too much of this. Does your school offer chances for performance? If so, make the best of these! If not, well I can't say it really matters what everyone else thinks, regardless.
Click to expand...

Becuase he/she just ditched what made them special and they'll conform just to be part of the status quo. As Audi says - lead never follow! That's why leaders are different then the masses.
 
#12
MetroBass said:
Becuase he/she just ditched what made them special and they'll conform just to be part of the status quo. As Audi says - lead never follow! That's why leaders are different then the masses.
Click to expand...

Whoa whoa whoa...

Ditched what made them special and conform just to be part of the status quo?!

That's a huge statement. How do you know they ditched what makes them special? What if they DO love jazz and enjoy playing in a big band setting AND learn from it?

Since when was joining legitimate groups a thing that just means that you ditched your personality? It's just an experience, and if the jazz band is good isn't it great to learn things from there?

I understand if Ethanator feels left out because it's unfair and I do agree that if he's a better bassist but doesn't get recognised instead weaker bassists, who because they joined a recognised band, get all the attention. It's understandable and it's the tough reality and I believe that if you really want to get heard and recognised the only way is to play and thus get noticed for it. Finding a good band to play with is always difficult but hopefully you can get such an opportunity.
 
#13
well the guy in the jazz band is a senior and plays jazz better than i. plus, tryouts were at the begining of the year. so its too late at least this year. plus, i decided that i wouldnt be a dick and take the position away from him. im talking to my director tomorrow about playing bass for pep band (football/basketball games) next year. theres a freshman who plays bass and is taking dans spot next year, since dans teaching him how to play jazz. id ask him to teach me some stuff, but he seems to hate me for some reason. meh, hell be gone next year. im not much of a jazz band guy myself anyway, i play metal :D. and they have to get up at 5 for practices 3 times a week. i like my beauty sleep lol
 
#15
The Ethanator said:
well the guy in the jazz band is a senior and plays jazz better than i. plus, tryouts were at the begining of the year. so its too late at least this year. plus, i decided that i wouldnt be a dick and take the position away from him. im talking to my director tomorrow about playing bass for pep band (football/basketball games) next year. theres a freshman who plays bass and is taking dans spot next year, since dans teaching him how to play jazz. id ask him to teach me some stuff, but he seems to hate me for some reason. meh, hell be gone next year. im not much of a jazz band guy myself anyway, i play metal :D. and they have to get up at 5 for practices 3 times a week. i like my beauty sleep lol
Click to expand...

This sounds very Dawson's creek for a group of people who dont care what people think. If you want respect as a musician, getting up at five and learning to play music (not jazz or metal or what have you) better every single day will get you that respect. Called dedication. Fair has nothing to do with anything if you want to be considered better than someone else. And if you choose to be in the "goth" or "metal" or whatever crowd, don't go throwing up the BS flag when the satus quo rejects you. Thats the game of the non-conformist. Either way, High school respect and a buck will get you a cup of coffee once you graduate.
 
#16
High school is great, but also, it sucks. It's fun, but, also, it sucks. Being grown is way funner.

Bass players are cool. You play bass; ergo, you are cool.

With the right GF (or BF), none of this will matter. At all.

It may seem like I do not understand the issue. I do.

--Bomb :bassist:
 
#17
My young friend, high school SUCKS. At least while you're in it. I look back and recall it with a combination of horror and desire to do it all over again - but better!

Suggest you pay no mind to those around you. You'll forget most of them before you know it.

And what Johnny P said could not be more correct: Miles was the absolute king of cool, and he often paid the price for that. Of course, he was also a wife-beating jerk... but no one did Musician Cool like old Miles. So were I you, I'd try channeling him.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back