Whammy bar on a bass ???

[JRA]

i'm probably impressed with charles berthoud's whammy bar playing --- it sounds mighty fine/fun, but i can see how a little of it might go a long way. OTOH: the member's axes/pics in the thread are really cool.

 

[moon-bass]

Like anything it's a tool, and you get out of it what you put into it. I personally like it, so much that I'm having one put on one of my new basses. Also, it's worth noting that today's whammy bars are a lot different (better) than those from the 80's.

 

[keto]

I've been doing a deep dive on Tom Cochrane/Red Rider stuff recently, there's one or two mid 80's tracks that I noticed some pretty divey bass going on, that fit well in the song(s).

 

[corvette_br]

I think André Gomes, a great Brazilian bassist, played a bass with a whammy back in the 80's.

 

[AudioTaper]

I know him, yeah he's got some chops, thats for sure. But I stopped watching out of principle when I discovered he actually doubled his tracks on a video, making it seem like he's playing a single bassline, when in fact, he's recorded 2 separate parts, put them on top of each other, and then mimed playing it as a single part for the video. (he didnt even hit 1/3d of the notes and it was visible to anyone whos played for a few years).
I didn't bother with any more of his videos after that, as I suspected there'd be the same kind of trickery going on.

Tbh there's nothing technically wrong with doing it that way, I've worked in tv and music production for years, so I know how "the sausage is made" so to speak, but it's just extremely dishonest, and he never disclosed it to any of his viewers, so.

I'm more interested in seeing what people can actually accomplish playing on their own, without "playing with themselves" so to speak, or using technology to make it seem more impressive. There's plenty other -amazing- bassists out there worth watching who dont misrepresent themselves or cater to the clickbait crowd.

Tbh I feel like doing stuff like that is detrimental to young players, or any players for that matter. They get a false sense of whats possible, and might not discover for themselves that he's "cheated" until they've already spent years and years idolizing the guy and working to earn an unachieveable level of proficiency.. Plus you know, it puts the rest of us in a bad light aswell, as some people start expecting a single player not only to be able to play a super hard bassline, but playing 2 at the same time.

I might start watching him again when my 2nd pair of arms grow in.


Just my 2 cents. I hate to bash on the guy, but you asked.

Well, hes the not the first to double (or more) tracks. Many of his videos do show different takes as he plays a different part so I wouldnt exactly call that trickery.

 

[H K]

Well, hes the not the first to double (or more) tracks. Many of his videos do show different takes as he plays a different part so I wouldnt exactly call that trickery.
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I mean, if you are set on disagreeing you will always find a way. If you re-read what I wrote with an open mind instead of one set on not being contradicted you might actually understand what I said.

 

[PizzaFiend]

My very first bass, a Hondo Fame Bassmaster 001, had a stock Kahler Bass Tremolo on it. I never really used it, and the bar for it spent most of its time with me in the case.
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You sent time in the case with the bar?

 

[JC BASS 91]

You sent time in the case with the bar?

This is the kind of stuff that happens when I try to type a post, text or email when my coworker is yapping at me about things I really don't care about...