Squid
Joined: Aug 22, 2010
Posts: 1018
Portland, Oregon with Insanitizers
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Posted on Dec 03 2014 11:12 AM
Gilette wrote:
...I've played my cheapo, round wound fitted bass for half an hour last night and now it feels like someone's stuck a needle in my index finger! To bad it's practicing day today. I wonder if I can do something to numb my fingertip because it hurts like hell.
It is possible to wear a glove on the fretting hand while playing bass guitar. A nitrile (rubber-like) or other stretchy glove should work. You can put some adhesive tape or a bandaid on your finger inside it. I once wore a cotton work glove while playing without problem.
You can temporarily smooth round wound bass guitar strings by rubbing a thick paraffin (wax) candle on them.
— Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com
Last edited: Dec 03, 2014 11:15:15
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montereyjack66
Joined: Jul 23, 2014
Posts: 637
LA -ish
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Posted on Dec 03 2014 07:47 PM
Roundwounds are good for ya! But they can be unpleasant until you build up some tough stuff on your fingertips. Some might suggest a little super glue on the fingertips as a temporary measure. Others might suggest just singing the low notes for tonight. Of course, that may lead to a need for more superglue if you're not careful.
mj
— mj
bent playing for benter results
Do not attempt to adjust your TV set.
https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/
https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Planet-Shamen-366987463657230/
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TVTheWiredTurtle
Joined: Dec 03, 2009
Posts: 859
Sandy Eggo
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Posted on Dec 03 2014 10:27 PM
My son plays steels on his King double bass and too often gets stuck pedaling 1/8th notes for some of the songs we do but refuses to use my 51' relic p-bass (sez they are for wimps, that disrespectful little ape). He has some fugly calluses on his finger tips from playing but he also has to take care of the calluses. You cant get your hands wet in the shower or pool and let that water soak into them and expect to go out and play. They have to stay dry. 
When he started, he was in a lot of pain and I offered him the superglue trick that our good man Monterey talked about. He instead tried band-aids but they fell off mid performance while slapping. Pain, blisters, then calluses as trophies.
— http://www.thenocturnebrain.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nocturne-Brain-Preamp-Zombies/240721872969
Last edited: Dec 03, 2014 22:28:13
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Gilette
Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 734
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Posted on Dec 04 2014 08:41 AM
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Last edited: Mar 03, 2022 02:30:13
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montereyjack66
Joined: Jul 23, 2014
Posts: 637
LA -ish
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Posted on Dec 04 2014 09:32 AM
Ahhhh, the joys of progress! Remember, pain is your friend, but only if you listen. In a three piece, try to let the extra space work for you, treating it almost like a fourth player. Your compatriots may need to adjust their playing as well.
Good luck with the potential bass player, but don't settle for less if he's a drugged out fool. Remember what Tavo said. "Trophies!"
mj
— mj
bent playing for benter results
Do not attempt to adjust your TV set.
https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/
https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Planet-Shamen-366987463657230/
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Gilette
Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 734
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Posted on Dec 04 2014 10:22 AM
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Last edited: Mar 03, 2022 02:34:21
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montereyjack66
Joined: Jul 23, 2014
Posts: 637
LA -ish
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Posted on Jan 10 2015 04:55 PM
Couldn't resist. This contains adult/juvenile language. Feel free to to kill it if it goes beyond any editorial guidelines.
— mj
bent playing for benter results
Do not attempt to adjust your TV set.
https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/
https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Planet-Shamen-366987463657230/
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Gilette
Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 734
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Posted on Jan 11 2015 03:49 AM
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Last edited: Mar 03, 2022 02:34:33
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
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Posted on Jan 11 2015 06:34 AM
Gilette wrote:
So, we've played yesterday, as a trio. With me on the bass. Man, was that a rough experience! So empty it sounded, so tempting to fill up the gaps with a few extra notes and nowhere to hide!
I've had a secret desire for years to pickup bass so this thread has been of interest (although I don't even know which basic profile I'd pickup, JB or Precision, as they hang in the pawn shop). But to the above point I'm reminded recently of a great clip from Dave Wronski (I think it's a Longboard Legato lesson), wherein he discusses the variations and extra notes HE has to play because they operate as a trio.
Might be valuable to remember that - given this decision to operate as a trio, with you sucking up the pain on bass - it is ALSO incumbent on the other guitar to pickup some melodic slack, and not for you to take that burden on by your lonesome. Just a thought. 
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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WoodyJ
Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1544
Bethlehem, GA
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Posted on Jan 11 2015 08:45 AM
What Badger said in the above post is 100% true. It is the guitarist's job to fill the gap of the missing rhythm/second guitarist in a trio - not the bassist.
IMO the most important of the Commandments listed above are numbers 1 and 8.
Unless you are playing avant garde Jazz, not playing a bunch of notes just to show off your virtuosity is the best way to be an effective bassist on many other styles of music. Lock in with the drummer, keep the groove going. In a trio, you and he/she ARE the rhythm section! A bassist who sounds like a wannabe lead guitarist will likely ruin the sound of an otherwise good band.
Donald "Duck" Dunn was the master of the Less is More style. Listen to some Booker T. or Blues Brothers tracks and you will see what I mean. These guys were masters of The Groove.
David Hood (FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound Studios) and Bob Babbitt (Motown- "Funk Brothers") were also masters of this approach. It works perfectly for most surf music.
— Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)
The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)
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montereyjack66
Joined: Jul 23, 2014
Posts: 637
LA -ish
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Posted on Jan 11 2015 12:13 PM
WoodyJ wrote:
What Badger said in the above post is 100% true. It is the guitarist's job to fill the gap of the missing rhythm/second guitarist in a trio - not the bassist.
IMO the most important of the Commandments listed above are numbers 1 and 8.
Unless you are playing avant garde Jazz, not playing a bunch of notes just to show off your virtuosity is the best way to be an effective bassist on many other styles of music. Lock in with the drummer, keep the groove going. In a trio, you and he/she ARE the rhythm section! A bassist who sounds like a wannabe lead guitarist will likely ruin the sound of an otherwise good band.
Donald "Duck" Dunn was the master of the Less is More style. Listen to some Booker T. or Blues Brothers tracks and you will see what I mean. These guys were masters of The Groove.
David Hood (FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound Studios) and Bob Babbitt (Motown- "Funk Brothers") were also masters of this approach. It works perfectly for most surf music.
Oui! 1 and 8. Sort of obliquely related - I believe it was the Edge who said that(paraphrasing) those who do not keep their popular music dance-able...do so at their own peril. Surrender to the groove! Enforce the groove!
— mj
bent playing for benter results
Do not attempt to adjust your TV set.
https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/
https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Planet-Shamen-366987463657230/
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Jan 11 2015 01:26 PM
I can only add that, as a very intermittent bass player, I use a pick, normally a Fender Heavy Bass pick. But for the acoustic bass/cello part in Good Vibrations, I use a felt pick. I couldn't play the triplets any other way.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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montereyjack66
Joined: Jul 23, 2014
Posts: 637
LA -ish
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Posted on Jan 11 2015 02:17 PM
Noel wrote:
I can only add that, as a very intermittent bass player, I use a pick, normally a Fender Heavy Bass pick. But for the acoustic bass/cello part in Good Vibrations, I use a felt pick. I couldn't play the triplets any other way.
Yeah. I'm not a strict constructionist when it comes to commandment #6 either. Whatever floats yer boat and works for the song. Flat earthers are welcome in my world, but you mainly find them in the flat parts.
mj 
— mj
bent playing for benter results
Do not attempt to adjust your TV set.
https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/
https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Planet-Shamen-366987463657230/
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jimmyjazz
Joined: Apr 20, 2007
Posts: 47
Twin Cities
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Posted on Jan 23 2015 02:04 PM
Gilette wrote:
So, we've played yesterday, as a trio. With me on the bass. Man, was that a rough experience!
I'd be happy to be your band's bass player but the practice and gig commute might be tough.
I've only played bass and my bands are only trios. Keep it simple and in the groove.
— Looking for some jazz and a little libations - js
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MrNatural55
Joined: May 13, 2014
Posts: 6
Apalachicola, FL
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Posted on Jan 29 2015 11:52 AM
Gilette, I was in a similar situation a few months ago. Rhythm guitar player for 40 years. We needed a bass player and I took on the task. Virtually what everyone has said is true. My mantra is "less is more" meaning don't feel the need to fill every gap in. Thumping the steady low end gets the job done. Don't try and play it like a guitar, and leave the bass VI to the guitar player. I also advocate buying a decent bass. I traded most of my gear in on an American Special Jazz and couldn't be happier. After 40 years of playing guitar I discovered the bass is really my musical soulmate.
— Mr. Natural 55
Otto and the Ottomans 2014-2017
The Apaches 2017-2019
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LukeGriffin
Joined: Jan 30, 2015
Posts: 8
Austin, TX
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Posted on Jan 30 2015 12:47 PM
I really enjoy playing guitar, but I find that holding the lead, rhythm guitar, and drums together with the bass is where it's at!
I also find that one of the most interesting things about surf bass is that that you can go from playing the lines like a guitar (complimenting the lead) to playing the bass in a more traditional role throughout the course of a song. It's very free, in that way.
By the way, this is my first post. I'm a new member. My name is Luke Griffin and I play with a band called V2. Hi everybody!
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
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Posted on Jan 30 2015 01:06 PM
LukeGriffin wrote:
By the way, this is my first post. I'm a new member. My name is Luke Griffin and I play with a band called V2. Hi everybody!
Luke, Welcome to SG101!
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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LukeGriffin
Joined: Jan 30, 2015
Posts: 8
Austin, TX
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Posted on Jan 30 2015 01:07 PM
Badger wrote:
LukeGriffin wrote:
By the way, this is my first post. I'm a new member. My name is Luke Griffin and I play with a band called V2. Hi everybody!
Luke, Welcome to SG101!
Thanks Badger!
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Surf_Skater
Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1300
Lawrenceville , GA
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Posted on Jan 30 2015 02:23 PM
Luke, Welcome to SG101. You wouldn't happen to be from my neck of the woods?
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LukeGriffin
Joined: Jan 30, 2015
Posts: 8
Austin, TX
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Posted on Jan 30 2015 02:50 PM
Surf_Skater wrote:
Luke, Welcome to SG101. You wouldn't happen to be from my neck of the woods?
No sir. Originally from VA, but right now I'm living just outside of Austin.
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