Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I can't stand it when people see a bass and say "Hey, nice guitar there!"

I don't care what it evolved from, it's a BASS, not a bass guitar, not a guitar. A BASS, dammit!

To me, "bass guitar" should denote something similar to a baritone guitar...

I used to call it a bass too but since I started playing upright bass, I understand that it really is a bass guitar. Nothing wrong with that. Maybe even sub-bass guitar, or contrabass guitar. Cello is a bass instrument, our instrument covers the sub-bass range of the spectrum.

ilan wrote:or contrabass guitar. Cello is a bass instrument, our instrument covers the sub-bass range of the spectrum.

Now we're talking AJ territory.

badeggs wrote:I don't care what it evolved from, it's a BASS, not a bass guitar, not a guitar. A BASS, dammit!

Spot on.

I thought it was 'electric bass'?

FretlessOnly wrote:

badeggs wrote:I don't care what it evolved from, it's a BASS, not a bass guitar, not a guitar. A BASS, dammit!

Spot on.

You call what you want, I call it what I what. I hate calling it, The Bass". Do we call any treble instruments, "The Treble"? No!
Do bass drums, tubas, trombones, bass clarinets and bass saxophones get called "The Bass"? No!
It's a guitar designed to play bass notes, just as a bass saxophone is a saxophone designed to play bass notes. They are made by guitar manufacturers, seen in guitar publications and at guitar shows. Therefore, it's an electric bass or bass guitar in my book.

coolhandjjl wrote:I thought it was 'electric bass'?

What about an acoustic version?

In music, when some says The Bass, I think of this:

Rather than saying I play the electric bass glockenspiel, acoustic bass hurdy gurdy, or whatever; how about simply using the term bassist?

g-wiz Batman,, can't we all just get along ?? I'm the bass player, but I dont drive the winnebago,, yet.

When I used to tell people I played bass, a lot used to think it was a "double bass" and not a bass guitar. People seem to be a lot more savvy now and if you say you play "Bass" they know what you mean.

If the wife tells someone though she always says I am a Bass Player!