The “other” (American) bass related conversation site.

[Dan Dare]

1 hour ago, CamdenRob said:

No matter how many times it gets asked though we still haven’t decided which bass is best for metal... 😐

Has to be Travis Bean or Kramer.

[tauzero]

6 hours ago, Marvin said:

Finnbass. I forgot that even existed. I joined because they did have a decent few bods who were knowledgeable about cab making. Apart from that it seemed to attract foul mouthed weirdos and perverts.

Looks dead now. Probably a post twice a month?

I'm still there. That'll be the foul mouthed weirdos and perverts contingent then.

[Mastodon2]

I like the other site and use it a lot. It has a huge audience and gets a lot of traffic. 

I've been browsing it since about 2001 and posting since I took up bass a few years ago, though I think my account dates back to 2008 I kept it dormant for the best part of a decade. 

It's not as good a site as it used to be, I think over the last ten years there has been a trend moving away from high-end luxury and exotic basses and more towards a "P bass is all you need" mindset. Clarity, articulation and punch used to be the order of the day, but now it's "thud is all you need", but you can't argue with these sorts as a P bass "sits in the mix", which I think is probably the catchphrase of the site these days. The P with flats crowd are the worst. I remember a thread titled "Bass should be felt, not heard" with absolutely loads of people chiming in in agreement. Cool, whatever,  but I want to hear the notes. It used to be very jazz centric, it seems to have been overcome by a different crowd these days. 

The bass porn there used to be off the chain. It's lost some of that middle class appeal now, there is less variety and less high end stuff on show these days. 

Their moderating style is a bit ridiculous. Thou shalt not openly disagree with their hallowed "name" bassists or reps from manufacturers, who often happen to be advertisers or potential advertisers. 

Still, it has a huge amount of good content to read and you can get an answer to anything there if you ask in the right place. They do still have a lot of good guys over there. 

[Beer of the Bass]

I'm presuming polite, considerate weirdos and perverts are perfectly welcome here!

[NikNik]

What about LastBassOutpost? Anyone visit there? And I regularly visit Ozbass, though it can be a bit slow on the posts.

[Newfoundfreedom]

4 hours ago, Beer of the Bass said:

I'm presuming polite, considerate weirdos and perverts are perfectly welcome here!

Yes. I've always been made to feel most welcome. 

 

[Unknown_User]

12 hours ago, spectoremg said:

What's on the end of the stick?

I don't know what it is, but it's something that just kind of gets to you in the end.

[Chris2112]

On 06/08/2019 at 09:50, oZZma said:

And to be fair, when it comes to smart*sses and "abuse" I have read a few days ago someone addressing a new user with "idiots like you" here on BC. 

So if on the bigger the site there are more rude people, maybe it's just for a mere statistical reason.

 

If that was my post you're referring to, I would reiterate that that poster was an idiot. Anyone using a fake YouTube account to make false copyright claims to get videos they don't like taken down is an idiot, and the reasoning he gave was feeble. 

 

TB is a great resource. I enjoy using it and I post there more than on BC. I started using TB around 2004 or so and I've enjoyed it ever since, though I took a significant hiatus for a few years when I wasn't really playing bass and when I returned, it had indeed changed for the worst. 

One of the biggest issues is just the size of the place. The most populous forums are now dominated by megatheads and club threads, which can be a pain to navigate. However, given the scale of the place and the information to hand, it is worth taking the time to get to grips with it.

I agree with a previous post noting that the place is now infested with P bass lovers, but that trend has taken over the bass world as a whole. It seems even beige comes on trend every now and again. The moderating is still inconsistent. I don't get in trouble but I see that the place still has a problem with super-moderators who believe they are the life and soul of TB. The issue still comes back to those mods being community members and using their mod tools to settle arguments. I'm sure that has a potential to happen anywhere, but some of the TB mods are particularly humourless and don't like dissent. 

In general, the tone of the place is different and I think a lot of that stems from the larger scene for serious players in America. A lot of users there have been to music school and studied jazz. With the general discourse being mainly Americans talking to other Americans, it can seem a bit dour at times. On the other hand, I skip through a lot of Basschat threads when they descend into long strings of increasingly bad jokes and puns. Every forum has it's way, and learning how to get on there ensures the best experience. 

[Guest oZZma]

31 minutes ago, Chris2112 said:

If that was my post you're referring to, I would reiterate that that poster was an idiot. Anyone using a fake YouTube account to make false copyright claims to get videos they don't like taken down is an idiot, and the reasoning he gave was feeble. 

 

TB is a great resource. I enjoy using it and I post there more than on BC. I started using TB around 2004 or so and I've enjoyed it ever since, though I took a significant hiatus for a few years when I wasn't really playing bass and when I returned, it had indeed changed for the worst. 

One of the biggest issues is just the size of the place. The most populous forums are now dominated by megatheads and club threads, which can be a pain to navigate. However, given the scale of the place and the information to hand, it is worth taking the time to get to grips with it.

I agree with a previous post noting that the place is now infested with P bass lovers, but that trend has taken over the bass world as a whole. It seems even beige comes on trend every now and again. The moderating is still inconsistent. I don't get in trouble but I see that the place still has a problem with super-moderators who believe they are the life and soul of TB. The issue still comes back to those mods being community members and using their mod tools to settle arguments. I'm sure that has a potential to happen anywhere, but some of the TB mods are particularly humourless and don't like dissent. 

In general, the tone of the place is different and I think a lot of that stems from the larger scene for serious players in America. A lot of users there have been to music school and studied jazz. With the general discourse being mainly Americans talking to other Americans, it can seem a bit dour at times. On the other hand, I skip through a lot of Basschat threads when they descend into long strings of increasingly bad jokes and puns. Every forum has it's way, and learning how to get on there ensures the best experience. 

Oh, that was you? 😁 I don't totally disagree with your point but still I find it too blunt to call someone an "Idiot" for such a trivial and unimportant reason. After all those youtubers are an intrusive plague and I can't blame too much people for getting annoyed to that point. 

As for the P bass fixation, mere statistic. I don't think it's TB specific, Fender Precision is the first, most iconic, most widespread, most readily available type of bass and it's pretty obvious to find a lot of owners and potential owners discussing it. What's so baffling about it, is beyond me. And I don't play a Fender.

Edited August 7, 2019 by oZZma

[Guest oZZma]

I don't read the Fender threads since I have developed a taste for a different and specific type of sound, but I don't find it strange, or suspect. I don't believe there is a "Fender conspiracy", or Fender employees to boost visibility on the forum or anything like that. It's just an "obvious", easy choice and thus the most widespread.

[Guest oZZma]

What I dislike on TB is maybe that too many people seem to be professionals and to be after money and easy gigs. While I play for personal pleasure and my reward is writing a good song without compromise (like "what would the audience appreciate"), which seems a concept lost to the most. But this is statistic too, I don't think this forum is different.

[Quilly]

8 minutes ago, oZZma said:

I don't read the Fender threads since I have developed a taste for a different and specific type of sound, but I don't find it strange, or suspect. I don't believe there is a "Fender conspiracy", or Fender employees to boost visibility on the forum or anything like that. It's just an "obvious", easy choice and thus the most widespread.

TBH, I think geographically we're far more spoiled for choice , some fantastic basses coming from central Europe these days most Americans aren't even aware of. Fender is a home product and is cheaper over there. 

Edited August 7, 2019 by Quilly

[Chris2112]

5 minutes ago, oZZma said:

Oh, that was you? 😁 I don't totally disagree with your point but still I find it too blunt to call someone an "Idiot" for such a trivial and unimportant reason. After all those youtubers are an intrusive plague and I can't blame too much people for getting annoyed to that point. 

 

The point was made after Adam Neely posted on BC to defend clickbait titles as a necessary evil, highlighting the wider issue that some great content of real musical value will be buried if it doesn't have a clickbait title to satisfy YouTube's homepage algorithm. We also know that videos that are incorrectly flagged and then later reinstated never make 'clicks' like they would if they had not been flagged as once they're 'old's they don't get put into YouTube's promoted selection algorithm. That is a serious issue for anyone who makes their living by making YouTube videos, and whilst we might like to slate the worst of YouTube, it still provides seriously amazing niche content that is far beyond what you can find on TV. 

Various parties have used this trick to meet their own ends, I recall that some games developer used copyright claims to suppress bad reviews on a video game until the point where the bas reviews would fall off the front pages and no longer receive much viewership. 

OTOH, that poster was probably a troll and I would have used stronger language if not for the filter.

[Guest oZZma]

Just now, Quilly said:

TBH, I think geographically we're far more spoiled for choice , some fantastic basses coming from central Europe these days most Americans aren't even aware of. Fender is a home product and is cheaper over there. 

And with a long history on famous records and the likes. Nothing too strange IMO.

[Quilly]

Just now, oZZma said:

And with a long history on famous records and the likes. Nothing too strange IMO.

not a Fender hater by any means, I've owned a good few and they're 'fine'.  

[Guest oZZma]

2 minutes ago, Chris2112 said:

The point was made after Adam Neely posted on BC to defend clickbait titles as a necessary evil, highlighting the wider issue that some great content of real musical value will be buried if it doesn't have a clickbait title to satisfy YouTube's homepage algorithm. We also know that videos that are incorrectly flagged and then later reinstated never make 'clicks' like they would if they had not been flagged as once they're 'old's they don't get put into YouTube's promoted selection algorithm. That is a serious issue for anyone who makes their living by making YouTube videos, and whilst we might like to slate the worst of YouTube, it still provides seriously amazing niche content that is far beyond what you can find on TV. 

Various parties have used this trick to meet their own ends, I recall that some games developer used copyright claims to suppress bad reviews on a video game until the point where the bas reviews would fall off the front pages and no longer receive much viewership. 

OTOH, that poster was probably a troll and I would have used stronger language if not for the filter.

As I said, I don't totally disagree with your point. I would have used a different wording tho.

[Rich]

I got a thorough public bollocking on there once in a 'famous people who play musical instruments' thread for mentioning the words 'Tony Blair'. Was told in no uncertain terms that they have a no-politics rule and that I was never to do it ever again, 'do you understand?' I think I've been there maybe once or twice since.

On ‎05‎/‎08‎/‎2019 at 19:25, Jimothey said:

Let alone if you if you make a P bass without use genuine Fender licensed parts they lose their S**t!!! 

Oh brilliant. I must go there and post about my bitsa P bass, they'll love it. No-name body, Wilkinson pup, and a Squier Jazz neck with a Fender P decal. The only genuine Fender part is the neck plate.   I'm gonna go troll me some yankees.

[Guest oZZma]

(I like Adam Neely's channel, I am a follower and I see the copyright infringement claims are absurd. In HIS case, because his content is great and nothing like that stupid DavieWhatever)

Edited August 7, 2019 by oZZma

[Teebs]

11 minutes ago, Rich said:

 I'm gonna go troll me some yankees.

I'm gonna moderate yo' a$$ if you do!

(* I'm not really a mod on TB - I don't even go there - I like the mods on here too much!   )

Edited August 7, 2019 by Teebs

[Chris2112]

14 minutes ago, Rich said:

I got a thorough public bollocking on there once in a 'famous people who play musical instruments' thread for mentioning the words 'Tony Blair'. Was told in no uncertain terms that they have a no-politics rule and that I was never to do it ever again, 'do you understand?' I think I've been there maybe once or twice since.

 

Discussion was a lot more open a few years ago. Politics was shut down as a topic because it was so divisive. That and the place was absolutely flooded with nonsense threads about Mike Huckabee. 

A bigger loss in the shutdown of open debate there was the loss of the gun threads. There were some really excellent topics on gun ownership, collecting and shooting and reams of information. Now, it is all verboten. I had a post deleted a while back because I jokingly said I'd use a shotgun to defend my bass collection from a burglar. Even mentioning a gun in passing is now banned! 😂

[Guest oZZma]

6 minutes ago, Chris2112 said:

Discussion was a lot more open a few years ago. Politics was shut down as a topic because it was so divisive. That and the place was absolutely flooded with nonsense threads about Mike Huckabee. 

A bigger loss in the shutdown of open debate there was the loss of the gun threads. There were some really excellent topics on gun ownership, collecting and shooting and reams of information. Now, it is all verboten. I had a post deleted a while back because I jokingly said I'd use a shotgun to defend my bass collection from a burglar. Even mentioning a gun in passing is now banned! 😂

Politics are forbidden here too, if I recall correctly.

(I am more annoyed by the "profanity" filter 

May I spell S-H-I-T here? 😛)

 

[Rich]

14 minutes ago, Chris2112 said:

Discussion was a lot more open a few years ago. Politics was shut down as a topic because it was so divisive. That and the place was absolutely flooded with nonsense threads about Mike Huckabee. 

The thing that annoyed me about it was that I hadn't even mentioned politics per se. All I said was something along the lines of "That piece of halibut was good enough for Jehovah" "I believe Tony Blair plays guitar", that was it. But apparently just mentioning the name was enough to get me told off like a naughty 6 year old. Ridiculous kneejerk reaction.

 

[BreadBin]

2 minutes ago, Rich said:

The thing that annoyed me about it was that I hadn't even mentioned politics per se. All I said was something along the lines of "That piece of halibut was good enough for Jehovah" "I believe Tony Blair plays guitar", that was it. But apparently just mentioning the name was enough to get me told off like a naughty 6 year old. Ridiculous kneejerk reaction.

 

That has happened here with at least one mention of Brexit.

[dmccombe7]

7 minutes ago, BreadBin said:

That has happened here with at least one mention of Brexit.

I wasn't aware that politics was of the table on BC. I thought all respectable topics were open for conversation and debate. Aha that's the rub it has to be respectable. Politics is out then.

I follow the malt whisky thread on TB and was shot down when i made a comment about the way to taste a Malt Whisky. Who am i to critise how a Scottish Malt whisky should be tasted, I only drink the stuff, live in the country its made and have been to several distillery guided tours. Sometimes i get the feeling the Americans think they own everything and therefore know more about it than anyone else.....just because they are from the US.

I still follow the thread but i am very aware of what i say and how i word things. 

I just find BC a little more accepting to suggestion, comment or opinion.

Dave

[Monkey Steve]

I'm not a prolific user of forums, but I'd say that it's a truism that people tend to use ones that largely agree with their own viewpoint (in a broad sense, not a "P basses are good/bad" sense).  So I'm not that surprised to see people who like BC being less keen on TB.  For me personally, I'm not that fussed, live and let live and if I don't like a website then it's pretty easy not to go back there.

I do think that the tone of any site reflects the moderators, and without wanting to blow smoke up anybody's backside I think BC gets it about right in allowing some challenging debate, but shutting things down quickly when they become abusive.  Having seen a (non-bass) forum effectively get shut down by trolls, it's good to know that somebody is keeping an eye on things.

I do have some sympathy for the over enthusiastic shutting down of "political" and gun related postings even at a non-political stage, because the whole subject is so toxic and divisive in these post-truth days, particularly on that side of the pond

Edited August 7, 2019 by Monkey Steve