Things you've changed your mind about over time...

[Joe Nerve]

I was going to limit this to things bass related, but thought it could get interesting if I just left it open despite the fact that the things I'm going to list, are bass related.

There are a handful of things that I was pretty big mouthed about 10-15 years ago, that time has changed my opinion about.

The topics that keep presenting themselves here on Talkbass most are:

Pay to Play - used to get infuriated about it, and at times refused to do it. Today I'm realizing I got to play a lot of awesome shows paying to play, and bands that I know who never had any issues with it - are still playing the most awesome venues around.

Active and passive basses - always played active basses because I felt the tonal options and tweak-ability were absolutely necessary. Finding out only in the past couple of years that with most passive basses, those tonal options aren't necessary. My passive basses sit well in the mix no matter how I dial in the tone.

Fender - Hate, hate, hated Fender. Don't love them yet as I still think they're hit or miss, but my #2 most played bass these days is my Jazz.

And ah hem... uhh.... feel like the Fonz trying to say I was wrrooo.... wr.... OK...

Weight - I used to be very vocal about people just manning up, hitting the gym, and not crying over a 2 lb. difference in weight. That's what I did, dammit! And while I still do that, I have started to experience some lower back pain at times (which I am determined to and WILL heal). Running around a stage with a 7 lb bass for 2 hours is much, MUCH, different than running around with a 9 lb bass if yer back is messing with you.

There. I fessed up. It's a bit freeing, and humbling at the same time .

Your turn.

 

[fhm555]

Same on the active thing. The only bass I had for a long time was active and it worked for every situation. I quit for about ten years then started back but the place I started back in was not the kind of place I wanted to take my favorite bass so I picked up a plain jane MIM J bass. At first I thought I needed an active so I went through several drop in preamps, and while they all had some good points, none of them really blew my dress up. I tried a few different sets of pups and after a few years of tinkering, I came to realize my little plain jane with a set of dimarzio model j's sounded better than anything else I'd tried and could be dialed in to work well in any place I played it. I've sill got my old active bass, but it lives at my brothers home studio and I still play it when I go over there, but everywhere else I go I drag my MIM J with some aftermarket pups and a guady babicz bridge, and I'm happy as a clam. Are you back or just dropping in?

 

[Jim Carr]

Used think that all I needed was a '60s P-bass. Used to overlook the politics of some of my bandmates. Used to try to adjust to people who don't have any idea of what they are hearing or talking about, but are certain they know everything. Life is short, then you die.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Are you back or just dropping in?

For a bit. Not done with my other work yet, but able to take a couple of weeks break from it cuz it's currently in other people's hands.

 

[BigDanT]

For me it's P Basses.

I had always been a jazz guy and kind of scoffed at P-basses as old-timey, one-trick ponies even though I had never played one regularly.

Now, I don't own any jazz basses and every time I do it's short lived because I go back to a P as my main instrument. I discovered they are much more versatile than I thought and there is a great deal of beauty in their VT simplicity.

I am also (dare I say) warming to five strings. I was among the "Geddy, Jaco, Paul only needed four strings" crowd. But lately I'm coming a round a bit. Not quite there yet but... who knows.

Unlike you other guys, I'm Still not a fan of active basses though.

 

[Animal Chin]

I used to think, "it would be FUN to be in a band"
I stand corrected.

 

[Bodeanly]

Cover bands - I used to be all like, "Write your own songs, ya freakin' hacks!" Now I'm all like, "Thank you for coming, paying your money, and listening to us play songs originally performed by other people!"

Combos - Never thought they'd come this far. Never thought it would be enough amp for live situations. I was wr... wro.... I was misinformed.

John Paul Jones - I listened to LZ all through high school, but I never aspired to play LZ songs until YouTube supplied the isolated bass tracks. Holy ****!

 

[btmpancake]

I used to think subbing was taboo, now I'm in rotation with songlist and keys for several bands. Love it.
2. I always thought-If your amp doesn't weight at least 30lbs it was garbage.
3. I wouldn't play for less than $100, but now...
4.10'' and 12'' speakers used to be for guitars only- speaker technology.
5. Foot pedals, never felt the need, but now....Well I'll just say I've changed my mind about them. (actually I love them).

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

nothing's changed.
I got it right the first time.

 

[ONYX]

Cover bands - I used to be all like, "Write your own songs, ya freakin' hacks!" Now I'm all like, "Thank you for coming, paying your money, and listening to us play songs originally performed by other people!"

I'll +1 you on that. I used to think that playing in a cover band was just riding the wave and I'd snub my nose at the prospect of playing in one. Now--I've come to realize that cranking out "Black Dog" or "The Ocean" to a roomful of rowdy drunks looking to have a good time is just as much fun*


*: John Paul Jones reference implied.

 

[viper4000]

Mine was cover bands. Just didn't understand why you would spend so much energy creating a set of other peoples' music. Focused on the "art" of it. After my first cover band experience, I have changed. If you do it properly, learning a ton of cover songs will force you to learn many different techniques and styles, therefore giving you more tools in your tool kit. My chops are so much better after the variety cover band experience.

That's not even mentioning most original bands only play single sets with multiple bands (YMMV), whereas cover bands play the entire night. The stamina required to play 4 hour shows is very understated.

 

[Marial]

Solo Phil Collins isn't all that bad.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

learning a ton of cover songs will force you to learn many different techniques and styles, therefore giving you more tools in your tool kit. My chops are so much better after the variety cover band experience.

This!
Then your original material gets better, too.

 

[pjbassist]

Using a pick. I always looked down on pick players as not REAL bass players, but some of the BEST players alive today know how to use a pick and use it well. Don't know that I could do it all the time, but its a tool I need in my bag!

 

[10cc]

So for all you cover band converts did you guys apply all those learned skills to your originals approach or did you just stick with covers and give up on originals?

For me it was soft rock. I had a crappy job as a teenager stocking shelves at a store that kept this genre on heavy rotation. I hated it with a passion. But now I'm in my mid forties I rock the poopie out of that stuff while driving or cooking out. For the most part those guys were heads above most musicians in the talent department. Tasty as hell!

 

[rtslinger]

I have to go with having children. Never in my plan as a younger person grabbing for the "RockStar" golden ring ever.
But now, I couldn't see my life without them it. That one was the important one
The other's was early on as a player I had to have the top of the line equipment Ampeg SVTs, Name brand basses, best recording equipment if I could afford it or not. A true gear snob. No longer important to me. And I did not respect those who were not doing original music. I was young and had my head up my butt. In time I came to realize for the most part even pro basses doing original music in some cases are playing covers. Case in point any of Metallic's bassist in recent years had to learn Cliff's lines to get the gig. And the list goes on and on. I now do covers only without feeling like I sold out.

 

[ultra60]

Hated natural finish and maple fingerboard Fenders... probably cause in the 70's they were everywhere. Today, I find it to be a beautiful combination. That said, all my basses are either black or white.

 

[PillO]

I tend to be agnostic about most things. Trained as a scientist, I look for evidence to support my beliefs, and more importantly, think about what evidence would change my mind or introduce doubt and I seek out that evidence.

But, I used to think that I could appreciate and understand music well without playing anything other than a stereo.

 

[viper4000]

So for all you cover band converts did you guys apply all those learned skills to your originals approach or did you just stick with covers and give up on originals?

For me it was soft rock. I had a crappy job as a teenager stocking shelves at a store that kept this genre on heavy rotation. I hated it with a passion. But now I'm in my mid forties I rock the poopie out of that stuff while driving or cooking out. For the most part those guys were heads above most musicians in the talent department. Tasty as hell!

I have definitely used that knowledge on my own material. I'm not a chops beast, but I feel I am a much better player and writer from that experience.

 

[RichardW]

As I've learned to play the bass I've become much more forgiving and tolerant toward musical genres I used to disdain. It used to be: "Pop music? Feh!" Now when I hear a Top 40 hit, while it's still not my cup of tea, I can appreciate the talent that goes into making a hit record. And there are a number of bands whose music I didn't particularly enjoy, but once I started covering their tunes in my band, I've developed a whole new appreciation for them. The Grateful Dead comes to mind.

As for cover bands--how come, when a symphony orchestra plays a piece by Beethoven or Mozart, nobody says: "sheesh, it's just a cover band."