Adventures in Lower Frequency Land

[Richard Monroe]

Well, my brother, now estranged from family, was a badass bass player indeed, and I used to noodle around on his Les Paul Studio Bass in the days of yore. So, not too long ago, I decided to lay my hands on an entry level bass rig, and add it to the studio's options. Hell, maybe I could learn to play it, right? So I bought a bottom feeder Squire P-bass at GC. THey were $149, or $119 if it was Baltic Blue. I immediately decided Baltic blue was the color for me. Ha. I got a hard case cheap, a Bass VAMP Pro, and a set of DR's. I also found a 1X12 Ampeg extension cab, 4 ohms, for $99. Not bad.
I already own an Avalon AD2022, which is a kickass DI box, and a Carver PM125 power amp. So- I can go DI via the Avalon or VAMP (I just got the VAMP to play around with some sounds), or I can send the Avalon or the VAMP to the Carver to drive the Ampeg cab, and mic it up. I'm not going to simulate any earthquakes, but it's a recording rig, not a stage kit.
Jeez, this is fun. I've actually gotten some complements on some of my first tracks. My conclusions?- You bass guys have it easy. You can change your strings once a year, instead of once a week, and you can tune the thing 5 minutes after stringing it, instead of an hour (24 hours with nylon strings).
More importantly, you can get decent sound DI, without fighting with mics and modelers until the end of time. It makes a hell of a blunt instrument. Well, I guess I've necome a little bit of a bass player, although light-years away from being a "bassist". Right now, I'm happy to be able to handle the roots of other people's chords. With luck, I'll get fancier later. No big point here- just sharing.-Richie

[Halion]

Trust me mate, that's just the beginning. To me, getting a killer base tone is just as hard, if not harder to get than a killer guitar tone.

[astoebe]

I've come to appreciate what a good bass player can do compared to a guitar player playing root notes. So much so that I get a friend to play bass for my recordings.....it adds so much more. Sure playing root notes is real easy, but there is so much more to being a good bass player....and I am certainly not one

[Richard Monroe]

I am totally aware of that. I was rased with a *great* bassist. Bill Van Pelt, the bassist on my first album is one of those. On ther other hand, that's no reason not to try. Who knows? I could get good at it. I've got no delusions about what's involved in mastering any instrument.-Richie

[Garry Sharp]

Originally Posted by Richard Monroe

I am totally aware of that. I was rased with a *great* bassist. Bill Van Pelt, the bassist on my first album is one of those. On ther other hand, that's no reason not to try. Who knows? I could get good at it. I've got no delusions about what's involved in mastering any instrument.-Richie

Go for it. Enjoy. I love playing bass

[Dani Pace]

Hey, I'm a guitarist (not a great one but pretty good) and also dabble with bass. Bass is fun and has opened my mind so now I really appreciate and respect really good bass players. Granted the theory is the same but the way you handle the instrument is an entirely different thing. Who knows, you might even discover a few "tricks" on bass that you can apply to guitar, I know that I have.

The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.

[mjareo]

I agree with the above sentiments. Learning to play (or at least trying to learn to play) gives you a greater appreciation for those who have mastered their particular instrument. I have been a guitar player for many years, but I love playing bass - perhaps even more. And I think any time you can add another instrument to your playing repertoire, you improve your playing on all of them. Besides, it is just really fun to be able to play a bunch of things to add to, or fill in for, groups you can jam with.

[astoebe]

hey, sorry to post again, i just wanted to say good point.....the more i play drums and bass, the more i understand how the whole band works together. I can hear more of what is happening and know how to make stuff sound better. The more instruments you pick up, the more you understand the sound as a whole definitely...