The Bass

[Harold_Z]

I know I've said it before, but here it is again. The Electric Bass is as valid as any other instrument and properly set up and played, it can swing as much as any bass. The sound can get very close to upright given the right player, techniques, knowledge, etc. The problem has always been that there are a large number of electric players with NO jazz knowledge that occasionally find themselves on the bandstand with jazz guys and can't deliver the goods. i.e. CAN'T swing and dont know the tunes. The bass is taking the blame for the player's lack of knowledge. The same player with an upright would suck just as bad and have rotten intonation too !

Edited March 9, 2005 by Harold_Z

[Jazz Kat]

I know what you mean. I played once with my drum teacher's classic rock band. He built them up so much, "this is probaly the best musicians you'll ever play with." (umm yeah right) After about 100 blues progressions, I got up there, and my friend, much older, a drum teacher, not mine was like, this kid wants to play some jazz! The bassist, (electric) looked over at the keyboardist, and said "you ever hear Milestones?" He said, "No," so he just did a fast progression, that swung. That bass player couldn't keep a steady bass line for his life. Well it got to my solo, and I 'blew the house down.' But the music sucked.

[Pete B]

But its so friken much money!

It's worth it. I wouldn't want to play anything else.

[Jazz Kat]

How much do they cost about? And where do you get one. I haven't seen one in any music store ever.

[7/4]

How much do they cost about? And where do you get one. I haven't seen one in any music store ever.

You've got to get out more! I can think of a few places in the NYC area. At Sam Ash, bowed instruments are in the sheet music section with the horns.

[Pete B]

Better to go to a luthier that knows double basses. Get yourself over to Talkbass double bass forums and check out the newbie links in the various forums. There's a wealth of information there. Also, check Bob Gollihur's Bass Pages he sells good quality entry-level basses, (some are less that $1000) and also provides a listing of bass luthiers all over the country.

[Jazz Kat]

How much do they cost about? And where do you get one. I haven't seen one in any music store ever.

You've got to get out more! I can think of a few places in the NYC area. At Sam Ash, bowed instruments are in the sheet music section with the horns.

It's called a car, which I dont have.

[7/4]

How much do they cost about? And where do you get one. I haven't seen one in any music store ever.

You've got to get out more! I can think of a few places in the NYC area. At Sam Ash, bowed instruments are in the sheet music section with the horns.

It's called a car, which I dont have.

I used public transportaztion when I was a kid. Didn't stop me from going to 48th street, NYC when I was a teenager.

[Jazz Kat]

Allright, now this other thing called parents.

[Pete B]

I am one, and that's one area I've never held back on for either of my kids- instruments and lessons.

But I understand that as a musician I'm strongly biased.

I thought parent-management was part of every young person's repertoire these days

[Jazz Kat]

The only buses that come around here, only go to schools. Which I take to and from everyday. I hardly ever get driven anywhere.

[JohnT]

I live in Florida and have two uprights (and 4 electrics). I've yet to have either one of my uprights (or double basses as I like to call them) explode...

...but when it gets warm down here I think I'm ready to myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

B-)

[Jazz Kat]

"I used to play acoustic, but in Florida it got so hot, one day my up right just exploded. So there, I decided to play electric. I carved out my frets and started playing the fretless bass," Jaco Pastorious.

Edited March 9, 2005 by Jazz Kat

[scottb]

Until the day the family sold his car. My grandfather insisted on leaving the windows of his Buick cracked so his car wouldn't explode! Never did, so I guess he was right!

Similarly, if the bass had F holes it probably would be OK

[JohnT]

I wondered why my musician friends always said "Here comes the bassman -- better duck and run for cover!!!"

hmmm...or was it my playing that they though was going to implode!!!!!!

Edited March 9, 2005 by JohnT

[Jazz Kat]

he lied.

I'm done, you three have your immature conversation.

[7/4]

The only buses that come around here, only go to schools. Which I take to and from everyday. I hardly ever get driven anywhere.

No trains? No bicycle?

If I took lessons, my parents would have driven me. But I didn't. I remember taking a bus from North Brunswick to New Brunswick, NJ and then walking across Highland Park to Edison to pick up strings at Lou Rose. I didn't realise the walk to the train station was, and still is shorter.

-

North Brunswick is south of New Brunswick. I don't know why.

-

You must live in the sticks. Around the NYC area I still take mass transit to the cool shops.

-

Guitar Center is totally clueless, parking their ass on highways I have to drive to. For fun, buy a guitar magazine there and then call the manager when you get home and complain how they charged you tax on the magazine. They can't do it.

[7/4]

he lied.

I'm done, you three have your immature conversation.

Don't insult your elders punk.

[Jazz Kat]

They're not my elders. They are just other people on the internet.

[7/4]

teen hormones...

[Jazz Kat]

whatever you wanna call it. It seems funny how grown ups make fun of kids, when THEY WERE KIDS ONCE. and how kids make fun of grown ups when, THEY WILL BE ONE SOMEDAY. I dont get the world.

[7/4]

maybe I wasn't making fun, I was a kid once too. we're all just human.

[Jazz Kat]

That's what I'm trying to say.

[JohnT]

Sorry about all the jokes Jazz kat but we Floridians get a lot of ribbing about the heat down here, our voting habits, etc.

Actually I'm a very serious bass player having played electric since I was 15 and upright since I was 17 and I'm now 50 so I'm probably your elder!! (I quit playing for about 10 years but glad I came back to it -- long story).

I play a regular jazz gig down here every Fri and Sat (we've had the same gig for a year so I'm really lucky). I also play with a 18 piece Big Band every Tuesday night at an ongoing gig.

I have a regular day job so I mostly play for the love and fun of it (but I do get paid for all my gigs).

My favorite bassists are Scott LaFaro and Sam Jones but I also have to give a nod to Ron Carter, Paul Chambers and Doug Watkins from my former Hometown of Detroit.

Who are some of your favorite bass players?? Are you gigging a lot???

[Jazz Kat]

No I havent ever got payed for a gig yet. I mostly play with my friend, (30 years old) who is my ticket to all the jazz guys around here, he has a lot of friends, and brings me to jam. I'll never forget my first time jamming with these guys. WE started with All Blues then after the bassist soloed, (I play drums too) I remember he shouted out to the guitarist, "lets give it to the kid!" It was awesome soloing in 3/4 for my first solo. At the end, they all said to my friend "man he blows you away," laughing. It's funny I guess my friend didnt really have any brush training, so he sat me down, and I showed him all my brush strokes. He has also brought me to a lot of people's houses, some 80 years old! I was sitting at the drums and this 70 year old guy, came in and started playing Samba De Orpheous, and i swung with him. It was great when he shaked my hand and told me I was good. And my teachers most encouraging quote was, "You swing!" That was great for me. And in some I played at some show, some guy told my dad I play like Chico Hamilton. I hope to do this for a living. I hope to jam on guitar and bass soon.

My favorite bassist is Charlie Mingus, for solo albums. But I love to see Paul Chambers, as a sideman. Gene Wright and Percy Heath are also favorites.