How many steel pickers play upright bass too?

[Dave Zirbel]

I just traded some gig services for an upright bass! Been wanting one for quite awhile but could never afford it. Where are the good bass forums on the net?

Dave

[Joseph Carlson]

I used to play. Sold it to buy a steel.
Anyway, if you have a lot of time to kill:

http://www.gollihurmusic.com/links.cfm

Happy surfing!

[Dave Zirbel]

Thanks Joseph. Hope you're doing well.

[Clyde Mattocks]

Here. Have a '62 Gotz. Am doing sessions Monday and Tuesday on upright bass.

[Johnny Cox]

I make a poor attempt.

[Gary Meyer]

I blame playing upright bass on my lack of coordination,finese,and sensitivity on the steel. But I dont let the little things stop me.

[Jim Cohen]

I make a poor attempt.

Johnny, I'd hate to hear what you'd sound like if you made a "serious attempt"! Man, you sound goood on that bass! In fact, I read the other thread where you said your steel gigs had just about dried up, which is a shame. But good bass players have always been in greater demand than steelers, so can you get bass gigs to keep ya going? I hope so, my friend.

[Kevin Hatton]

I think that upright bass is vastly superior sonicly to electric bass. Takes alot more talent to play one well also. Very physical. There is a shortage of good upright bass players. Paul Martin in the Marty Suart band is a steel player and a great upright bass player. If I had more time I'd do it.

[Dave Zirbel]

I figure I have a tiny head start since I've been playing an unfretted non fixed pitch instrument for 20 years! Also I played tuba/sousaphone from 4th grade through high school so I understand what the bass needs to do. If I was to pick another horn it would probably be the trombone because of the non fixed pitch.

Seems like it would take lots of muscle to get through a gig. I've messed with one for a little bit.

Kevin, no shortage of GOOD upright players in the bay area. Seems like for 10 years almost every band I was in had an upright. I too prefer the acoustic bass over electric.

[James Marlowe]

I 'play' bass fiddle in a bluegrass Gospel band. At least I'm a better bass hack than steel hack. One string at a time...how can you go wrong?

[George McLellan]

They sure can be tough on the fingers. I had a lot of fun playing with Albert Svenndal and Dennis Atkins at the Lake Superior Showcase.

Geo

[KENNY KRUPNICK]

I do. Ampeg Baby Bass.

[Bill Moran]

I play bass but my " upright bass" is in the back room, " at someones house ". I only have a Precision at home.

[Rick Campbell]

I play bass but my " upright bass" is in the back room, " at someones house ". I only have a Precision at home.

I play upright bass, and I'd feel less guilty referring to myself as a bass player than a steel player.

Bill, I used to know a bass player up your way. Mitchell Mosier (sp?). I worked a few shows with him when he was with Carl Story.

[Stephen Gambrell]

Guilty.
Rick, you think Carl would remember us?

[Bill Cunningham]

What Jim Cohen said about Johnny Cox. I rememeber him playing the entire TSGA dance with Tom Morrell a few years ago.

I've never owned an upright. My wife only allows me to own instruments that can be stored under a bed. On second thought maybe we should buy one of those beds that's about 4 ft. tall

It would take a lot of ongoing work to keep both hands in shape I think. I have burned my right fingers and cramped my left hand in an hour sitting in at Fiddlers' Conventions and Bluegrass Festivals a few times but I don't really consider myself an upright player. But the sound sure is awesome.

[Rick Barnhart]

I've tried upright bass, they ARE hard on a player, and definately off my "to do" list. You have to admire anyone who plays one well. SWSGA's Denny Sarver comes to mind, he sure can thump.

I've been chasing that upright tone for years with an electric bass, without a lot of success. That was until I found my Peavey BAM amplifier. It's a high watt combo modeling bass amp with two tens and a horn. It weighs a ton, but once you dial it in, it's hard to tell the difference.

[Duncan Hodge]

Good Morning, Dave. Does on have to play the upright bass well in order to answer yea? If not, then my answer is yes. If so, then my answer would be no.
Duncan

[john widgren]

Forumite Steve Alcott (Texas Dance Hall Classics Tracks)is a classically trained Bassist.
He plays a U12-Willie, and a D-10 Minnellie.

[chris ivey]

...as in 'liza' minnellie?

[Mike Flick]

I've played electric and string bass for 30 years- but I'm not as old as I look. Talkbass.com has an upright forum that's worth checking out.

[Clyde Mattocks]

Thanks Mike. That's a great site. I bookmarked it!
Some funny humor over there, those guys are as warped as steelers!

[Joe Cook]

I do as you can probably tell. I picked it up again after about 20 yrs of not playing one. Played electric bass for my whole life but got into a classic rockabilly band. You gotta' have upright in a rockabilly band, however, Robert Gordon did pretty good with EB in his band. Remember "The Humbler" with Danny Gatton on guitar? Now I'm playing in folk band and bluegrass band which is a lot of fun. But I haven't touched my bass since I started playing PSG! I think it's gonna' be a while! Lot's of similarities between UB players and PSG players! They are warped Clyde, just in different direction.

[Tim Fleming]

From April, 2010 - Michael's Rooftop, Long Beach, CA

[Geoff Barnes]

Guilty as charged... well guilty of being an owner of a double bass (and a P-bass).
Playing steel has helped in "pitch sensitivity" I have to say. It still feels like a wrestle though when I grab the monster chestnut... very physical.