Central Oregon Blues Society
Introduction And Question
Hi Everyone!
Welcome to the Friends In Low Places group. Over a late night, early morning breakfast, Bob Akers suggested we start a group for bass players and bass related topics. Since Bob's only method of typing is hunt and peck he asked that I give it a start. Now, thankfully, Bob's method of bass playing isn't hunt and peck, and we have this new discussion area! So, embrace your inner bass player, or get to know your favorite local players right here.
I'll give it a start. So, back to the beginning. Question: Why did you choose to become a bass player?
I was in a music shop in the mid-70's hanging out with some friends that played guitar. I remember the exact spot where I was standing as if it were yesterday. Over the loudspeakers came "I saw her standing there" by The Beatles. Frozen, I stood there, still in time. I didn't know what instrument it was that moved that song along a such a pace that my heart seem to move with it. All I knew, in that moment was that that instrument was what I wanted to play. I didn't even know what it was called. I asked my buddy, "Oh that's a bass", was his casual reply. A casual reply that changed my life forever. Bass. I liked the way the word sounded -- solid and round, something that you could cup your hands together and hold like a sphere. From that moment on I was a bass player, even though it was a few month later that I actually bought a bass. I just received a meager inheritance from my father's estate. Three hundred dollars and a leather motorcycle suit. (That, by the way, is a whole other story) I bought a used 1965 P-bass for two hundred dollars and a Sears Silvertone bass amp with the remaining money. I still have the bass, and the leather suit too.
Johnny
Welcome to the Friends In Low Places group. Over a late night, early morning breakfast, Bob Akers suggested we start a group for bass players and bass related topics. Since Bob's only method of typing is hunt and peck he asked that I give it a start. Now, thankfully, Bob's method of bass playing isn't hunt and peck, and we have this new discussion area! So, embrace your inner bass player, or get to know your favorite local players right here.
I'll give it a start. So, back to the beginning. Question: Why did you choose to become a bass player?
I was in a music shop in the mid-70's hanging out with some friends that played guitar. I remember the exact spot where I was standing as if it were yesterday. Over the loudspeakers came "I saw her standing there" by The Beatles. Frozen, I stood there, still in time. I didn't know what instrument it was that moved that song along a such a pace that my heart seem to move with it. All I knew, in that moment was that that instrument was what I wanted to play. I didn't even know what it was called. I asked my buddy, "Oh that's a bass", was his casual reply. A casual reply that changed my life forever. Bass. I liked the way the word sounded -- solid and round, something that you could cup your hands together and hold like a sphere. From that moment on I was a bass player, even though it was a few month later that I actually bought a bass. I just received a meager inheritance from my father's estate. Three hundred dollars and a leather motorcycle suit. (That, by the way, is a whole other story) I bought a used 1965 P-bass for two hundred dollars and a Sears Silvertone bass amp with the remaining money. I still have the bass, and the leather suit too.
Johnny
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Garth Osborn on -
Interesting stuff. My first paid gigs were as a bass player. Everyone else wanted to play guitar, so I bought an Epiphone hollowbody bass with a bridge mute (looked like a 335) for $200 and used a Sunn Concert Lead head and a Marshall 4x12 cabinet. I'm still very much into bass players, and great bass tone and stuff.
My son Shane (currently in Marine Corps boot camp) is a wonderfully gifted bass player. When he had only been playing about a year or so, I took him with me to the Sunday jam at the Black Horse Saloon. He met Bob Akers there and they talked about stuff. Shane played a set with me and Bob talked to him afterward, complimenting Shane's playing and his tone. For weeks, Shane would crow..."Bob Akers likes my tone!" What a huge encouragement that was for Shane! From one of the best bassists I've ever heard and one heck of a nice guy, that small compliment really gave Shane a huge boost.
My personal favorite bass is the Fender P Bass with the split pickup. Just kinda grew to really like that solid low end. My favorite bass players are Jack Bruce and John Entwistle. I love how Entwistle got such amazing tone back when good bass amps weren't even available. A guy named Glenn Worf who played with Mark Knopfler for about 10 years is very, very good. He plays string bass, too.
Johnny, you're absolutely right about the electric bass. That's what really put the mojo in the music, even moreso than the electric guitar. That's what gets the bodies out on the dance floor and gets those derrieres shakin' around...the bass line.
I'd like to buy a decent bass for recording and just messing around. I've played bass a few times at the jam sessions...mostly I sound like "a guitar player playing bass" but have been leaning more and more into the rhythm section even as a guitar player, so I think I do okay. I mean, I'm nowhere near the level of Johnny or Bob or Thomas T, or any of the many fine bass players I know locally. Shane Osborn (no relation) and Jeff Leslie are also excellent bass players, in addition to being really good guitar players.
I think my favorite bass line of all time has to be...well, I guess I have the top 3. "The Real Me" by John Entwistle (The Who)..."My City Was Gone" by Tony Butler (the Pretenders) and a guy named Gerry McAvoy on a Rory Gallagher song called "Calling Card." Great P-bass tone there, methinks.
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