Electric bass with trad. jazz; credibilty?

[Buh_Sheeky]

Going on a tangent to the electric jazz bassists thread, I'm wondering on your view of playing traditional jazz with an electric bass, do you think it makes them seem less credible than upright players? I've heard of this issue alot and I just wanted to know some of your opinions.

Mods:it's been a while since i've been on on the forums, so if this thread crosses a line, which I hope it doesn't, lemmie know and delete, no biggie

[Samuel]

It depends on how they play and EQ. A lot of players switch into their funky Jaco mode as soon as they strap one on, and there's a time and a place for that. If they have a good tone and can still swing, then sure, I'm down with it. But I think they should be able to play upright as well, it's an important skill, and the tradition demands it if you want to be a serious jazz musician.

[baggagebassman]

I think the more important thing is the musician playing it.

[pipe]

the upright has a different feel to it. i've played stuff on the electric (fretted by the way) thats normally played on the upright, and its a bit different. i dunno, because of the position of your left hand and the upright position it changes the dynamics of playing.
but if you modify your EQ, you can play that stuff with the electric, and can be very credible.
i personally prefer the electric, cause its more versatile than the upright, imo. but with the upright you can do some wicked things too.

[Caleb3221]

I don't think there should be any credibility loss at all. Jazz traditionally goes against tradition(tee-hee) for the sake of music. I don't think the upright should be held onto just because that's what traditoin dictates. I am personally a huge fan of the sound of an upright, and there are legitimate arguments for why upright playing tends to swing harder, etc. But, I don't think a player should EVER be dismissed or looked down on becasue they play electric. If the player can sound good and swing hard on an electric, why make them play an upright?

[pianoplyr77]

I think the only issue would be the sound. An electric bass sounds a lot different than an upright bass, and I'm sure a lot of band leaders, especially smaller combos, would be looking for an upright bass player. I think if an electric bass player was really killer, he would take the time to learn upright as well.

[Tillmon]

You can change the EQ of an electric bass to sound pretty close to an upright bass. The electric bass allows for faster, more accurate playing, and blends a lot better with instruments like rhodes and electric guitar. Playing the electric bass is easier than playing the upright, but that doesn't mean that an electric bassist is any less of a musician.

[some jive turkey]

yeah, i agree.
it's the musician that matters, not the design of the instrument. no credibility loss for elecrtric bass players, unless they can't play.

[traveller]

i agree with the others. personally upright sounds better but electric bass is no less of an instrument that upright.

[jake plays guitar]

i once heard that only stand up basses can swing. but ive heard electric basses swing. so im sure electric players are just as good and swinging but they lose credability due to the fact that they dont have as much to carry around.

[~Sophie~]

Frettless (electric) can also sound great. Depends completly on the sort of jazz however.

[trev913]

Interesting debate sparked here. I believe it depends on the type of music one is playing. I think that if what you're going with is something more old-school oriented an upright is the way to go. If you're breaking tradition (which I thought is what jazz is all about...) then an electric is more your game.

[~Sophie~]

If you're breaking tradition (which I thought is what jazz is all about...) then an electric is more your game.

Intresting point!

[pipe]

ok, but you can break tradition too using the upright. i mean, 4/4 swing isn't the only way to play the upright. if youre talking about breaking tradition refering to the sound the instrument has, then youre right. but you can break the tradition by creating a new way a new technique, or a new role using the upright too. im sure you know chick corea's my spanish heart. now on that album, stanley clarke uses a whole different aspect of the upright.
anyway, just for the record, i think that jazz is all about breaking tradition too.

[Tillmon]

ok, but you can break tradition too using the upright. i mean, 4/4 swing isn't the only way to play the upright. if youre talking about breaking tradition refering to the sound the instrument has, then youre right. but you can break the tradition by creating a new way a new technique, or a new role using the upright too. im sure you know chick corea's my spanish heart. now on that album, stanley clarke uses a whole different aspect of the upright.
anyway, just for the record, i think that jazz is all about breaking tradition too.

Yeah, aside from Stanley Clarke, check out Dave Holland too. Nothing traditional about his music.

[gaslight]

I don't have a problem with electric bass in jazz, but I'm not a jazz purist. I can see why some people prefer an upright bass in the jazz context but I don't agree with them personally.