The Last Bass Outpost

Having weird opinions is part of what makes life worth living.  You're not a stranger to iconoclasm yourself

I don't know what exactly prompted this thread, but I'm glad to see Bad Brains getting their respect (though, because things are often complicated, it is possible to be kick-ass musical pioneers and also reactionary homophobes at the same time ... who have possibly somewhat evolved in that regard since the old days, maybe ... and I'll just leave that topic alone for now).

On the topic of race and rock, one of the most interesting things I read recently was an interview with a guy I used to play bass for about 9 years ago ... excerpted from http://dylansparrow.com/blog/2015/7/20/interview-with-dylan-sparrow-319-2014 :

J: ... Alright, here’s another thought. I don’t want to be sticky about this kind of thing, but—you’re a black guy…

D: Actually, I’m not.

J: Haha. But um, has that ever been an issue in terms of people you play musically with, or want to play with? I mean, I’ve never witnessed it, but…

D: Well you probably wouldn’t ask this question if I were a rapper or R&B singer. Rock-based music is still largely populated by people with pink skin and straight hair. That’s what you’re getting at.

J: Yeah…

D: I don’t have pink skin and straight hair, so I stand out. Whether I stand out in a goofy way, or scary way, or a sexy way, or an antagonizing way…I’ve felt it all. The rejections are usually subtle but psychically cumulative. And yes that impacts my ability to accomplish certain things, musically or otherwise.

J: Wow. I didn’t…hmm.

D: I mean, sometimes being seen as different is an advantage. Like that Detroit band, Death. If those were a bunch of pink dudes, no one would’ve made a movie about them. On the flipside, they had to wait 40 years for anyone to care! Eh, what can I say. Humanity needs a whole lot of f***in’ work.

I like guitars to have a little wobble to them. Perfect intonation doesn't sound like a guitar to me anymore.

What is the body made of? It's so glossy and curvy it brings to mind molded plastic or fiberglass or something! Probably it's wood and that's just an impression i get?

I remember the Acmes ... got to play through one of the 210 cabs at one point.  My impression of it was exactly as advertised - strong fundamental all the way down (at least on a 4-string), very even and tight lows ... and very low output compared to pretty much any other bass cab with the same amp.  Anybody who claimed otherwise would have to be nuts.  I think it's a nice design if you don't mind throwing tons of power at it.  (And maybe more cabinets too ... low efficiency plus similar power handling as other cabs means max output has to be lower!)

Talkbass seems to set their own trends, then decide that those trends aren't cool anymore, then everyone has to change to something else.

I haven't been there much since the days when Schroeder was one of the cabs du jour. Early-mid 2000s maybe?  I got on the hype bandwagon for a little while; bought one, it did a job pretty well that wasn't the job I ultimately needed done; I sold it, don't miss it.  Funny thing is, last time I looked, Schroeder had redone all his designs and completely eliminated the distinctive quasi-folded compact design that was supposedly their raison d'etre in the early days.   

... over in the for sale section.  Just sayin'.