Unpopular/Controversial opinions about bass players, playing bass, basses and bass gear!

[NoiseNinja]

So as the tittle says share your unpopular/controversial opinions about bass players, playing bass, basses and bass gear.

Here's mine:

Cheap budget basses CAN be great instruments (bar the cheap hardware and electronics).

 

[johnh89]

Here's mine . Expecting a load of 'disagreement ' but Jaco Pastorius - not for me . Been listening to a fair bit to try and convince me but not feeling the love . This is not meant to start a war and is just my opinion .

 

[bholder]

"You can't play chords on bass." hehe - always good for a few pages of yelling...

 

[nilebodgers]

Bass solos almost always sound rubbish. (Excluding locked-in funky things with the drummer - that can be great.)

Ditto chordal playing. It’s like watching an elephant dance - the dancing’s not good, but it’s amazing seeing it can dance at all.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Pedals are compensation for lack of technique

 

[MynameisMe]

Here's mine . Expecting a load of 'disagreement ' but Jaco Pastorius - not for me . Been listening to a fair bit to try and convince me but not feeling the love . This is not meant to start a war and is just my opinion .

Before I joined this forum I had never heard of him. Jazz is kind of MEH to me anyways. Not a fan either.

 

[Oddly]

Well, of the comments already posted, I agree with almost everything.
Pedals can be useful, though.

I'll add this...Geddy Lee is way over-rated, and can't sing, neither.

 

[MynameisMe]

Flats are the Holy Land of strings on a P bass.
Not so fast Mr. Joker!

 

[Bruiser Stone]

Flats are the Holy Land of strings on a P bass.
Not so fast Mr. Joker!

I’m having a reluctant realization that flats on my P are not where its at....

 

[MynameisMe]

I’m having a reluctant realization that flats on my P are not where its at....
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Been there, done that. Just not my thing. Love to hear! P bass roar! Not thump.

 

[squarepeg]

Knowing theory makes you a better musician.

 

[commonplayer]

Pedals are compensation for lack of technique

Gonna have to disagree on this one.

 

[MynameisMe]

Knowing theory makes you a better musician.

I've played with a few musicians who could only read sheet music and couldn't play at all with others.

 

[J_Bass]

Well, you asked for it.


John Entwistle playing is very annoying. Get a guitar, dude. It's what you want, anyway.

Vintage Fenders are old and overpriced. Modern ones must be much better, because Leo was cutting corners all the time. Woods bought because they were cheap, Poor painting and re-painting bodies, choosing parts on budget. How can this make for an excellent instrument? Can't make the mojo, though, they have that.

Bass solos should stop being a chops fest with no taste and start being musical. We get it, you're fast, but can you music?

People who criticize what others play (cheap or expensive instruments) need to look at themselves first. It's childish.

 

[Taustin Powers]

Flea really is a good bass player who adds value to the songs with his bass lines.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Slap bass is awesome!!!!!

 

[Bassist4Eris]

If less were really more James Jamerson would have stuck to root notes. Bass players just say "less is more" to cover up for their own lack of sophistication and technique.

 

[CGremlin]

Here's mine: Fieldy's playing won't ever be confused with a top-notch technical tour de force, but I think he's a perfect fit for Korn's style.

 

[dangevans]

Bass players should be allowed to order only off the kid's menu at Denny's.

 

[ahbradot]

I know this is "talk" bass. But I would just love to "see" and "hear" a short cell phone video of these awesome new basses here on NBD. Just a few simple bass notes would suffice on your new cool bass.
Yes, I know YouTube exists but most manufacturer videos are sterile.
Also we know bass review video's are available every.
But, a lot of these NBD's here are older model basses that can be very nice to hear and many of us are unfamiliar with.
Talkbass NBD videos could be nice and raw, pure and simple, more organic, less contrived and way more interesting to us fellow TBer's.