"Bass"ial Discrimination

[grimmbass]

To all my brothers and sisters on the bottom end....

I recently visited an area music store (outside of Altoona) to check out a few sweet four-strings when I became involved in a discussion with the owner about tone, technique, and the "role" of the bass. When I cited a few of my favorite unorthadox players, namely Geddy, Chris Squire, and some of my local heros (names ommitted for fear of leaving someone out), the owner offered his unsolicited opinions about "bass". According to this gentleman:

1. Bass players who use picks are somehow less skilled than finger players (note: some of my favorite players use picks, as do I on occassion.)
2. Bass players should not play solos, "busy" parts, or in any way be a part of the musical forefront.
3. Bass players need to know their "place" (note: my blood pressure still rises when I write this last one)

I responded that bassists, like all other musicians, should not be afraid to question, expand, and experiment with the roles and limitations of their instrument. He did not exactly agree.

Just curious...anybody out there been a victim of "bassial" discrimination? Should we know our place? And is George Bush an anti-bassist? (Just kidding...please, no comments on this one!).

Your brutha on the bottom, and low man of the Grimm Totem

Kent