What is your opinion on those that discriminate others that play affordable basses?

[crow01]

Hello J,

I have been following your music since Beck and you have been a great influence.

During my "career" as hobbyist musician I have encountered many mishaps, like everybody else, playing in different bands. But the worst I have to say is being discriminated for having affordable (cheap) basses.

My first one was a Samick in high school, I think it was like $100. I had to say that I was never able to get in a band, until I sanded off the name.

Then I became a fan of Jaco and wanted to have the same bass. Although my budget only took as far as a Squier. My luck landing a gig didn't change.

To me these basses sound really good, but I also had changed lots of things to them. Strings, pickups, bridge.

Squier and Behringer make cheap stuff, but instead they should be referred as affordable. Many times I would jam with guys who would have a $2000 gibson and yet they could barely pay for their rent. What is the point of that?

When I started with all these rejections I met Flea by chance who told me that the sound comes from ourselves and not the instruments. I stick to that.

I sure got some gigs with these basses, and some other I borrowed. But people can really give you crap if you don't have a Fender or an expensive brand.

Years later I was able to afford >$500 types of basses. But playing with affordable basses was always a pain.

I always thought that a famous bass player could play an affordable bass, to show snobs that is not wrong to play such instrument.

What are your thoughts?

[jmjbassplayer]

THANK you!

Dude, I play a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz bass for a bunch of NIN shows. They are not that expensive, though they're certainly more than $500.

I cut a bunch of Ima Robot songs on a Squier P-Bass (made in Mexico) that I fell in LOVE with at one point, and left my other 40 + "better" basses at my storage locker.

Who cares? If a bass melts your face off for cheaper, more power to you!

Now, don't feel defensive if you have in the past (or now) get discriminated against. It's just the way of the world. Similarly, people look at a Custom Shop Relic P or J (which I own) and go: "How does that sound compared to a real '64?" which is of course a rhetorical question. They've made their prejudices plain.

Fact is, I just don't see investing $5K plus in a bass, I'd rather have a couple of cheaper/beater ones that sound equally great to me.

Horses for courses.

Best,
JMJ

[JimmyM]

I LOVE cheap basses! I haven't used a bass onstage that costs over $500 in two years, and I've used my $100 SX basses on huge shows many times with great results. And you can get discriminated against with ANY bass in certain circumstances. Go into a punk gig with a Fodera 6-string and see what happens.

If you can afford to buy a more expensive bass, it's not going to hurt your hireability, no doubt. But if you can't afford one, play whatever you have with confidence and swagger.

[black.rose1402]

I find cheap gear very cool, especially these days because the quality improved a lot compared to the 80's and 90's (I started in the 80's).
Even if I have really expensive basses, one the bass I enjoy the most is a precision classic 50.
I even think of buying a squier vintage modified because the tone and the feel were really good.

I hope that someday my family think about making me a gift like a squier vintage modified (like the 75 ri), I would be so happy.

I don't like people who diss people because the don't have "top gear".
We all share the passion of the music, no matter the price of our instruments.
I can understand that buying a 8000$ bass is not possible for everybody, and sometimes I even think to myself that I'm crazy about doing that.

I you are a killer on a mia fender, I'm pretty sure that you can kill on a squier too.
it's all about the music, not the gear. I like gear, high end gear, but If i have to choose, I prefer play a 100$ bass and make music instead of having a 8000$ bass and play in my bedroom.

[Tusknia]

Originally Posted by black.rose1402

Even if I have really expensive basses, one the bass I enjoy the most is a precision classic 50.

Have to agree with you there. That is an exceptional bass, especially for the price. It sounds fantastic and the neck is so playable.

[Gashaponcito]

I got a MIJ P-Bass its not bad looking and it was cheap like 250 bucks (in Mexico thats very cheap) and I always get compliments of how good it sounds but when someone grabs it the keep getting fret buzz and don't get it to sound as good as I do... my point is that there's a connection between bass and player that translates into a good or bad sound cheers mate!

[Staccato]

Take it with a grain of salt, people are motivated to 'say' what they do by so many different things. Case in point, the parents of some musicians buy/bought their teenage or youthful offspring an expensive instrument. If that 'young' individual now owns a really fine instrument and talks bad about those that can't afford a high dollar instrument, what does that say if he/she never paid for it in the first place? I'd prefer not to judge, but to realize that this forum can be a fun place to read, learn, and perhaps share...

[J.D.B.]

Not much......see my signature.......

Josh