I brought a new bass, nobody noticed

[Krakmann]

Salud!

For several years I've been using this bass, with its VERY disctintive "hook headstock", as my main "battle tank".

Recently I could finally put my hands upon the one bass I modeled it after, a 2010 Wine Red Fender Jazz:

Two weeks and two gigs have passed and NOBODY in my band has even noticed. I just find it amusing.

 

[bholder]

Nice. I like the looks of the first one better, though.

 

[jd56hawk]

You're not in a stoner band, are you?
I mean, do you think they'd still fail to notice if you showed up with a white Thunderbird or a green Mockingbird?

 

[Bass Man Dan]

Seriously, I think I could show up with a pink 9 string bass and the guys in my band wouldn't notice. Ok, that might be a stretch, but...

 

[Robroy]

Pretty much only gear heads notice unless the change is dramatic. i.e. white to black.

And don't tell anybody, but to the average person all basses sound the same in the mix. They only really notice sound differences int finger vs pick vs slap, etc. and effects or dramatic cabinet changes.

At least, this is what I beleve, which is why all I have cared about for over a decade is how a bass plays, how it feels, and how its appearance matches MY personal artistic taste. I get my tone from how I play and the cabinet/effects I use. The base is just the tool in the middle.

 

[Wisebass]

Two weeks and two gigs have passed and NOBODY in my band has even noticed. I just find it amusing.

When you want to let them know...

...bring wine and cheese! Bring both basses!

... or did you already????

Wine Red Fender Jazz

Happy NRWD or NWRD!!!


Wise(b)ass

 

[Joe Nerve]

People I play with gave up on noticing when I have a new bass. It's pretty much every month at this point.

And I ain't braggin or saying that's a good thing either.

 

[Robroy]

My main bass is a Yamaha BBN 5 with Barollini 18 volt electronics installed by Mike Lull. It's also my first bass. I picked it up in a pawn shop back in 1998. It's light alder or "bass wood". i.e. plain light wood but not a remarkable looking wood.

After playing a few times at my church, I showed up one day with my silver six string I got off the scratch and dent section of Rondomusic for $130. It's very, very pretty and sounds great. It's active but just a standard Chinese/Korean setup. Nobody noticed.

After a few weeks of using that one, I switched back to the fiver and as soon as I set up the leader asked me if it was a different bass as soon as he saw it.

Next week I'm thinking of using my medium blue-green flamed maple five string fretless with black tapewound strings to see if anyone notices.

 

[Ghastly]

They're both nice lookin'!

 

[Bassist Jay]

Both are very nice basses. Maybe your band not noticing will rub off on your spouse/significant other and you can acquire more basses.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

That first one is very interesting.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

They new something was different, probably thought you got a haircut, lost weight, etc.

 

[SpyderX]

I think I am more amazed that the OP has used that bass for several years and the hook hasn't broken off...

Beautiful bass, by the way

 

[Jim622]

Your in a bubble here! In the real world your just the bass player. Nobody cares!

 

[Twocan]

You could be playing a Washtub Bass and the band prob wouldn't notice. I know mine wouldn't

 

[Fishheadjoe]

It looks like the neck has shifed on the first one, with the g string side having little to no play versus the e string side. Loosen the neck bolts, shift the neck so that both sides are even... it's a nice lookin bass!
Fishheadjoe

 

[tpaul]

Would you notice if your postman/woman got a new delivery truck? And if you did notice, would you say anything to them about it?

I think that's pretty much the way your bandmates think about your bass. As long as the mail arrives on time, the vehicle it arrives in is pretty much irrelevant.

 

[Bijoux]

LOL! I bring basses with different colors sometimes and people don't noticed.
the worst was with this band that I exclusively played 6 string basses because of all the melodies I had to play. years later the leader casually asked me if I mainly played 5 string basses!!! LOL
Not long ago I was playing upright on a gig and during the break some guy starts to talk to me when I realized he thought I was the drummer. he told me he could swear i was playing the drums!!!! LOL
Funny, but it puts things in perspective when sometimes we are obsessing about stuff only we notice.

 

[chris_b]

For several years I've been using this bass, with its VERY disctintive "hook headstock", as my main "battle tank".
Recently I could finally put my hands upon the one bass I modeled it after, a 2010 Wine Red Fender Jazz:
Two weeks and two gigs have passed and NOBODY in my band has even noticed. I just find it amusing.

Distinctive headstock? Why should anyone be expected to notice small stuff like that?

No matter what bass you're playing you're making it sound like you. That's the greatest achievement.

 

[bearhart74]

Make sure you point it out next time you see them that way they can give you opinions on which one they want you to play.