What should we do ?

[SSPhil]

Hi,

I am the drummer in my prog metal band (but don't worry I play bass too in another band) and a couple of months back, our bassist moved to another city. We didn't make a really big case out of this because at the time, the place where we would rehearse closed.

But now that we have a practice room, it's really different. He says that he's still interested in the band ( despite the fact that he doesn't really like prog) and he want to continue with us. But he cannot come to ANY rehearsal ( he lives like 6 hours from where we are) and recently we got a couple of shows and he told me that MAYBE he was going to book vacation tickets and he couldn't be at the gigs. He's really tight on money too and cannot afford a new bass (he need 2 more).

The reason that keeps me frome kicking him out is that he's a good friend, but I don't know what to do now. We already kicked our rhythm guitarist 2 or 3 weeks ago.

That's why I'm here to ask your help, fellow TB'ers

Thank you very much

 

[hrodbert696]

But now that we have a practice room, it's really different. He says that he's still interested in the band ( despite the fact that he doesn't really like prog) and he want to continue with us. But he cannot come to ANY rehearsal ( he lives like 6 hours from where we are) and recently we got a couple of shows and he told me that MAYBE he was going to book vacation tickets and he couldn't be at the gigs. He's really tight on money too and cannot afford a new bass (he need 2 more).

So he...
...doesn't like the music
...can't come to rehearsal
...can't come to gigs
...doesn't have [enough] gear (does he not have a bass at all? Why does he need two more)?

What exactly would "keeping him in the band" mean, then, exactly?

 

[bluewine]

So he...
...doesn't like the music
...can't come to rehearsal
...can't come to gigs
...doesn't have [enough] gear (does he not have a bass at all? Why does he need two more)?

What exactly would "keeping him in the band" mean, then, exactly?

+1

blue

 

[mboogiemanusa]

Keep him as a friend but time to find a local player that meets your bands needs. If his situation changes in the future then you could look at bringing him back into the fold. i would let him know that his friendship is valuable but the situation at this time requires the band to find a replacement.

 

[GianGian]

Keep him there to jam with you whenever he can, but get a #1 bassist that you can rely on. Don't stop playing with him, but get somebody that you can count on. Keep it "just for fun"

 

[SSPhil]

So he...
...doesn't like the music

Actually he told me that prog metal wasn't his style but that he would make efforts to like it...

...doesn't have [enough] gear (does he not have a bass at all? Why does he need two more)?

He DOES have a bass, but he has only one and he needs two or three basses at least.
The reason is that we have a couple of songs that are tuned one step down and some of the songs need a 5- or 6-string bass.
This guy prefers to play 4-string basses so he's definately keeping one tuned in standard, and he probably need a backup bass.

But as mboogiemanusa and GianGian said, I will try to look for a local bassist that likes prog (that's the tough part) and I'll let you guys know how this turns out.

thank you for your advices !

 

[Stumbo]

One other thing, since you also dumped your rhythm guitarist, how is it that your band is still going? Seems like you only have a guitar player and drummer left.

Maybe you should consider playing bass in this band as well and get a new drummer instead.

I'm just sayin'...

 

[AfroCubanFunkMa]

Call me an ol' fuddy-duddy but I just don't see a guitarist's drop tuning as any reason to buy another bass.. Tone, sure.. Backup bass, sure.. Drop tuning, Not so much.. If you need an extended range, rock a 5er with a low-B..

 

[MNAirHead]

sounds like he's asking to be released

 

[sbass traveller]

Keep him as a friend but time to find a local player that meets your bands needs. If his situation changes in the future then you could look at bringing him back into the fold. i would let him know that his friendship is valuable but the situation at this time requires the band to find a replacement.

+1
If he's your good friend, he'll understand since it's obviously a difficult situation to make work.
Doesn't stop you from jamming with other people, doesn't stop him from jamming with other people wherever he may be, and it doesn't mean you can't be friends.
I remember I had a hard enough time getting up the balls to tell the bands I was in that I was moving away for a while, and I'm sure he went through something similar.

 

[fullrangebass]

So he...
...doesn't like the music
...can't come to rehearsal
...can't come to gigs
...doesn't have [enough] gear (does he not have a bass at all? Why does he need two more)?

What exactly would "keeping him in the band" mean, then, exactly?

I'm in a similar situation with one of my guitar players, who (for very well founded health and work related reasons) he could not make it to the rehearsals and gigs, the past few weeks. I had a word with him last night (in fact he called me) and we both agreed that it's best for all parties involved, that he stays as a backup, whenever we need him and if he is available, of course. No hard feelings, both ways.

 

[hrodbert696]

He DOES have a bass, but he has only one and he needs two or three basses at least.
The reason is that we have a couple of songs that are tuned one step down and some of the songs need a 5- or 6-string bass.
This guy prefers to play 4-string basses so he's definately keeping one tuned in standard, and he probably need a backup bass.

Just one five-string should enable him to play most anything tuned down a half-step (unless you're tuning all the way down to A or Bb), and while some players prefer them and really use the full range, I'd say it's a pretty rare piece of music that really NEEDS the six-string. He could get an SX fiver starting at $170 that would be basically serviceable -- I know even that can be too much to spend, depending on the person, but it's the cheap option. You may be able to find one used on CL or ebay for cheaper.

But it still doesn't really sound like there's going to be any practical way for him to actually play with you. Stay friends but let the band move on.

 

[Munjibunga]

As I told a recently-departed singer, "If you can't make it to rehearsals, you can't be in the band." What could be more simple?

 

[nutdog]

As I told a recently-departed singer, "If you can't make it to rehearsals, you can't be in the band." What could be more simple?

"I made him on offer he couldn't refuse".

Recently-departed? Did you have him whacked?

 

[Munjibunga]

"I made him on offer he couldn't refuse".

Recently-departed? Did you have him whacked?

Recently departed, not dearly-departed.

 

[nutdog]

Sorry, I just couldn't help but read your post with the Brando inflection.

 

[SSPhil]

One other thing, since you also dumped your rhythm guitarist, how is it that your band is still going? Seems like you only have a guitar player and drummer left.

Maybe you should consider playing bass in this band as well and get a new drummer instead.

I'm just sayin'...

Actually we dumped our rhythm guitarist because we found another one, and i don't want to start another story, but he was showing less and less interest in the band and we knew it, so we asked someone else if he wanted to join as a backup guitarist in case the other one quit, but instead we just replaced him because he was technically better and he was enjoying the music we play.

And I HAVE to be the drummer for the needs of this band because where we live, there's no drummer (at least I don't know others) that play prog metal (and I just love to play prog metal drum )

Anyway, as I said in my last post we are currently searching another bassist that will suit the needs of the band better.