Bass rejected from band leaders

[Mlazarus]

JazzyVee, no I won't get an Alembic with pbass pickups. Maybe if I record and play in a big group with various music, I'll bring my series 1 and pbass. Set them up and use each for specific styles. I always liked that method. When I was stationed in Germany, one of my commanders/band masters (had 3 different over 6 years) wanted me to play the stick/upright bass, since he was a big band/Glenn Miller type. I was using my 6 string Ken smith as my main bass at the time and already sold my Alembic Distillate (Always regretted that), but didn't mind because I was learning to play the upright. I wonder if Alembic has the stick bass. I know they have the Big classico.

[Mlazarus]

DR Chill, actually I did set my series 1 to sound very close to Jaco's jazz bass/pb neck. I set the pickup selector to Bridge and set the bottom tone dial arrows to 2 o'clock (if you are looking down), the Q switched are set to 9db. then play on the bridge pickup. Wala! Instant Joco.

And if you are an Isley Brother fan during their 77' to 81' funk days, set the pickup selector to "BOTH", set the Q switches to 9db and turn the tone dials to 3 0'clock. I know the Isley Sound!

[jazzyvee]

JazzyVee, no I won't get an Alembic with pbass pickups. Maybe if I record and play in a big group with various music, I'll bring my series 1 and pbass. Set them up and use each for specific styles. I always liked that method. When I was stationed in Germany, one of my commanders/band masters (had 3 different over 6 years) wanted me to play the stick/upright bass, since he was a big band/Glenn Miller type. I was using my 6 string Ken smith as my main bass at the time and already sold my Alembic Distillate (Always regretted that), but didn't mind because I was learning to play the upright. I wonder if Alembic has the stick bass. I know they have the Big classico.

I have one of those Classico Basses too, though i wouldn't be so bold as to describe myself as a double bass player yet. :-)

[goran]

I have a small thing to chip in.
If people tel you to change bass in a bad way, remember they have no respect for you, bass is just an excuse for them to be an asshole.
There were many situations where guy told me to bring my '66 jazz in studio and I always bring Alembic next to that bass, and usually it's just a jazz bass. and I'm ok with that because I'm just a call guy for certain session, but they asked me nicely " hey I think you 66 jazz would fit perfectly on this track". And al that is ok.

Best thing is when I record at home and send the track to them, that's where I lie
A bunch of time they asked is that Jazz bass? I usually when they ask they are not sure, so if it was alembic I say, it a jaz bass.
But, I also love when they say man that bass sounds great, then I brag that it's the Alembic.

It's just so personal thing, so if someone wants you to play jazz bass on their track, that's personal for them too. I'm just honored to be on it with any bass, because I will play it as I play it.

Also on the other side, for me Alembic is a big difference because I play it, but for listeners, sometime they just here it as bass guitar

[cozmik_cowboy]

I have heard many stories of this happening - to bass players.  Only a few times to guitar players.

Though I do love the one I heard one of the Wrecking Crew (Leon Russell, I think, but maybe not) tell:  He was on a session with Tommy Tedesco, who was in a shoulder-high isolation booth.  Producer says that's not the sound he's looking for; could Tommy try a different guitar?  TT bends down, sits back up, and plays the part again; no, not it - try another one.  TT does it again.  After several attempts, the producers says "Yes!  That's the sound!"  Tommy only brought one guitar that day......

Peter

[garyhead]

We're talking Bass players here.....what happens when the producer / band leader has problems with the piano sound?  Wheel in More pianos! 

[goran]

Or just check how Leland is doing it

check it at 0:48

[lbpesq]

Once again, we REALLY need a "like" button!

Bill, tgo

[Mlazarus]

cozmik cowboy, Ha Ha, THAT'S A GOOD STORY ABOUT THE GUITAR PLAYER ACTING LIKE HE IS CHANGING HIS GUITAR AND THE PRODUCERS THINK HE HAS MANY IN HIS RECORDING BOOTH. i HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH A 40'S JAZZ MINDED COMMANDER/band MASTER IN THE 90'S. My Army band performed in Debrecen, Hungary. At the downbeat of the 1st song, the Commander looked at me and said< "turn it down!" So, since he always pulled this volume control game with me i decided to turn around and pull the jack out of the amp. Told the Rhythm section "watch this guys!" I turned back around and acted like I was playing. The Jerk Commander/Bandmaster said "Perfec!" with the ok hand sign. This goes to prove these people don't really care or don't listen. It's just control. Some, in your case, don't know the difference in tonal quality, they just have to justify their power tripping by messing with someone.

[hankster]

I bet if you were using a Pbass with Activators the leader would have thought everything was fine. They’d think you had the best sounding precision ever. And they’d be right.

[Mlazarus]

I keep all my pbasses with dirty round wounds or flat wounds. They produce that old 60s to early 70s thumpy dull sound that some of us used to here. Listen to the Brady Bunch etudes. The only Fender I keep an ultra-clean sound with is my Jazz bass, where I combine new round wounds, chorus, compression and the Tech 21 Stomp box. I don't really need the Tech 21 for the series 1 though, all though I may experiment.

[jazzyvee]

I bet if you were using a Pbass with Activators the leader would have thought everything was fine. They’d think you had the best sounding precision ever. And they’d be right.

There are two pro bass players who have tried my Elan with P-style pickups and one said it was really authentic but more variations on the  sound and the other one said it sounds nice and he get's what alembic is but for him it wasn't the classic sound. Well i guess it's not designed to be.

[Mlazarus]

Alembic, musicman, pbass, Rickenbacker. The top 4 basses with a distinct sound.

[gtrguy]

Add BC Rich Eagle and Mockingbird from back in the day also!

[glocke]

How often has anyone of you been in a situation where you are in a new group and the leader of the group tells you, "I don't like the sound of that bass!" This 1st experience happened to me when I was in a jazz combo of an Army band, stationed in Alabama 1993. I was playing my distillate when the group leader told me this. I thought, there must be a practical explanation of why he confronted me, but damn, he didn't have to be rude about it. If it was a genre thing--you know the Pbass is more appropriate for the type of sound we need to play these old jazz and pop standards, then I would have appreciated it. OR was he just jealous?

Just recently, I had the SAME situation with my Series 1 Bass. The leader of the trio told me the other day "I like your 'special bass' and I know you like playing it but, can you play
your other bass (Pbass) instead? I don't like the sound"   

WTF! it's one thing to tell a bass player to change their bass (if they own another one) for recordings. You know, perhaps the producer and writers are looking for a 'specific sound'. like. Take Quincy jones for example; he allowed Louis Johnson to play his 76' pbass one their 1st album. It led to hit songs, but in 76 most bass players were playing the pbass anyway. yet, in 1977 Johnson was allowed to play his --77' Alembic series 1 Omega bass-- on their 2nd album. The sound of that Alembic was the "trademark sound" for the Brother's Johnson hit song "Strawberry letter 23". Then the following year, 1978, Johnson was playing a Musicman stingray on their 3rd album. Hits again. Johnson seemed to have many freedoms to change his sound. ALL the basses had distinct sounds, yet the songs became popular. All for the 1970's R n B, Funk genre.

So, what's the possible deal with this leader I have? I'm annoyed but may comply to his request ONLY because he wrote all the original songs. It's his group after all. I was also using a small cheap amp, so maybe if I use my bigger amp, it may change his mind. Two Alembic experiences in a row. Wow!

I've showed up at rehearsals or gigs with my Alembics before and received comments that range from " next time can you bring your jazz bass ?", to comments that were nothing more than veiled insults thrown at me that were the result of jealousy or contempt for having something nice. 

Had one guy comment on a gig that my Series 2 was probably " more expensive than the ceiling in this place"...

Another time a friend of the other band members starting ranting at a gig that he knew how much my bass cost, and went on and on...At the end of the night when I was packing up and my Alembic was lying there in the case this guy did a " fake fall " and landed on top my my bass case in what was obviously and attempt to damage my property. 

Those aren't the only two examples I have, there are more but those are the two worst ones.

People and musicians can be complete jerks a great deal of the time....