Conan Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 I'd be gutted if I had to do any overdubs! I've always prided myself in being able to get in, lay down the bass tracks and get out again. Part of that is that I find studios to be dull, stifling places and I want to be out as soon as possible; but it is also that I work on the bass parts beforehand so that I know exactly what to play, what tone to use, and so on. How many guitarists do you know who do that? Maybe the fact that the other guys are so keen to layer their parts reflects the quality of your rhythm track? Have you thought of it that way? Quote
RockfordStone Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 i sometimes wish i was JUST the bass player. in my current band i write songs, play bass, i am the lead vocalist and i have to do all the organisation etc would love to just rock up and do my bass sh*t and be done with it Quote
cheddatom Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 If there's no producer, then as the bass player, this is your job. You've already proved that as you're worried about leaving space in the mix. Becoming the producer by stealth should be one of your natural talents, it's part of the bassist mentality. Quote
Highfox Posted July 2, 2014 Author Posted July 2, 2014 Thanks guys for all the input. Thinking about it over night, I guess it's because I'd really like to have more creative input and more of a say in things. I think I will stand up and let them know how I feel and if they don't understand or accept it I'll move on and start my own project. Quote
Telebass Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 Yes. So now I've started MY OWN band. Mwahahaha! Quote
discreet Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 Yes, why not? If you're not happy then maybe do something about it. It's supposed to be fun after all... isn't it? Quote
Thunderbird Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 I love being the bass player I am not a gigging player but I just like everything about the bass and it just brings everything together...If you want to be a glory boy and steel the limelight play a guitar or sing upfront bass players are a bit like drummers they seem overlooked but the band would not work without them Quote
JTUK Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 I might have missed this... but what is the point of the recording..?? If an album to sell at gigs..then yes, consider embellishing it so it is something different from what people hear at gigs. It really helps if you freshen up tracks like that and it is hard work to change things around if you play the same numbers all the time. We revise numbers or leave them out so long that when we come back to them...they sound different because we aren't concerned how we used to do them or have even forgotten how... so we basically have to relearn them. Doesn't work well if the band plays by numbers though... If the album is to get gigs, then I am not much a fan of a produced set of songs that bear no relation to how you will sound live. We keep recorded versions on our website to a minimum and only the originals are 'produced'.. Generally, I don't think it is a good idea to let people loose in a recording studio and certainly not left to their own devices..and certainly not vain gtrs... Quote
Highfox Posted July 2, 2014 Author Posted July 2, 2014 [quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1404290720' post='2491094'] I love being the bass player I am not a gigging player but I just like everything about the bass and it just brings everything together...If you want to be a glory boy and steel the limelight play a guitar or sing upfront bass players are a bit like drummers they seem overlooked but the band would not work without them [/quote] No Glory boy here! I have been playing bass in bands for the past 36 years so know what it's about Creative input during recording and writing is a little different than looking for glory. Quote
Highfox Posted July 2, 2014 Author Posted July 2, 2014 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1404291360' post='2491101'] I might have missed this... but what is the point of the recording..?? If an album to sell at gigs..then yes, consider embellishing it so it is something different from what people hear at gigs. It really helps if you freshen up tracks like that and it is hard work to change things around if you play the same numbers all the time. We revise numbers or leave them out so long that when we come back to them...they sound different because we aren't concerned how we used to do them or have even forgotten how... so we basically have to relearn them. Doesn't work well if the band plays by numbers though... If the album is to get gigs, then I am not much a fan of a produced set of songs that bear no relation to how you will sound live. We keep recorded versions on our website to a minimum and only the originals are 'produced'.. Generally, I don't think it is a good idea to let people loose in a recording studio and certainly not left to their own devices..and certainly not vain gtrs... [/quote] Thanks, we get enough gigs and don't really need a lot more promo material. It's to catalogue the work we have done. Quote
rOB Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 We are not JUST bass players. I would suggest that you are a musician in a band and you specialise in playing the bass. Your opinion should be valued by your bandmates. Quote
Thunderbird Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 [quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1404291385' post='2491102'] No Glory boy here! I have been playing bass in bands for the past 36 years so know what it's about Creative input during recording and writing is a little different than looking for glory. [/quote] I sorry I did not mean that you were a glory boy it was a generalisation Quote
Weststarx Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 Me and my guitarist swap instruments for a song or two when we gig just to mix things up a bit. Obviously thats nothing to do with recording but it throws something different at you! Quote
JTUK Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 [quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1404291569' post='2491105'] Thanks, we get enough gigs and don't really need a lot more promo material. It's to catalogue the work we have done. [/quote] A good live gig recording works for me best in this regard altho we have a studio booked for originals but the budget isn't the issue, it is time... The bass and drums will be live within a band context and then they can come in and brush up their parts ... but only to re-do a solo maybe, or fine-tune BV's. I expect to be done in half a day and that suits me. I get more satisfaction from a Zoom recording at a live gig when we are cooking, tbh Quote
JapanAxe Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 Next time, do a McCartney: Insist that you add your bass part last, and completely change the harmonic feel of the song by playing cheeky high-register melodic runs. All in the best possible taste of course. Quote
stingrayPete1977 Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 [quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1404283568' post='2491015'] lol Pete. I did play a fretless on a couple of tracks.. not the same I know.. I guess I could of played up the intonation a bit more [/quote] Lol Quote
BassTractor Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 Only relating to the title of the thread, and not to the content of recording situations and overdubs: Rather than pee'd off, I did get somewhat startled when a friend volunteered the notion that it was startling that someone like me would voluntarily choose JUST the bass as an instrument... I still shake my head in disbelief three years later, but then again I do realise it just means he needs to hear more different music. Quote
Skol303 Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 (edited) Guitars typically need overdubs because they are more 'forward' in a mix than bass parts, and so even minor mistakes get exaggerated. It might also be because overdubs are needed to add to interest/dynamics to certain parts of the song, and that the need for these overdubs wasn't apparent until the first takes had been recorded. Same goes for percussion. Bass generally requires fewer (if any) overdubs unless a) The bass is poorly played and out of time; or b ) The song is being revised while in the studio and a new bass part is needed to fit the new composition. Getting your part down without the need for overdubs is - as a bass player - a GOOD THING If you want more involvement in the production then you need to spend time in the studio when the track is being mixed. These are two separate issues. How much studio time/cost you spend to record each part of a song is something only you as a band can agree upon. Ultimately, it's the finished product that matters - the sum of the parts, more than the parts themselves. However, if you think you're spending too much time/money recording a certain part then it might be time to think 'is this necessary?' or perhaps even 'is this musician up to the task??'. But that's for you to decide Edited July 2, 2014 by Skol303 Quote
discreet Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 [quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1404294804' post='2491165'] Only relating to the title of the thread... [/quote] On the home page the title reads, 'Do you guys ever get pee...', to which the answer is 'yes, I do'. OK then, moving on now... Quote
discreet Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1404295066' post='2491166'] Bass generally requires fewer (if any) overdubs unless a) The bass is poorly played and out of time; or b ) The song is being revised while in the studio and a new bass part is needed to fit the new composition. Getting your part down without the need for overdubs is - as a bass player - a GOOD THING If you want more involvement in the production then you need to spend time in the studio when the track is being mixed. These are two separate issues. [/quote] +2[color=#ffffff]M[/color]Yes, and yes. Good post. Edited July 2, 2014 by discreet Quote
dmccombe7 Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 (edited) One band i was in told me that when i left for a short period they realised on my return just exactly what the band was missing and they now understood what my style of bass playing brought to the band. Point of that story is to highlight you are never "just the bass player". Each member of a band brings to the forum their own descriptive style and therefore should warrant an equal share of viewpoint towards the end product. Summary :- state your point of view. You've earned it. !!! Hope all works out ok and to your satisfaction. PS I have given up with bands once again cause i cant be arsed with the band politics. Pity cause i enjoy playing in a good happy band. All the best Dave Edited July 2, 2014 by dmccombe7 Quote
Highfox Posted July 2, 2014 Author Posted July 2, 2014 (edited) Thanks everyone. I cleared the air a bit this morning, spoke to the guitarist today and he said I'm welcome to come along and make suggestions at any point, he also said the extra guitar parts are there to just beef things up if need. I made him aware that I'd like to have a say in the final sound and production stages. Seems we might be batting for the same team after all.. He also complemented my bass playing and said that I bring my own sound to the band and that that won't be lost. Lets see.. I'm a lot more confident today. Thanks again to the caring bass chat members for letting me air my worries and insecurities. I'll post up when we have the final product in the bag so to speak. Edited July 2, 2014 by Highfox Quote
wateroftyne Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 I don't get sick of being 'just' the bass player. If I have a vested interest in the recording, I'm usually there 'till the bitter end. If it's a session, I'll do two takes, drop in any cheeky fixes, and vamoosh. Quote
discreet Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 [quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1404300798' post='2491264'] Lets see... I'm a lot more confident today. [/quote] That's what it's all about in the end. Quote
UglyDog Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1404252311' post='2490902'] Hee, hee. Just stick a hoover in a wardrobe, turn it on, and record that instead. [/quote] Good tip. Similarly, a slap bass solo can easily be replaced by simply recording a shopping trolley full of empty coke cans being pushed down a fire escape. Quote
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