Do bassists seem to be the biggest gear geeks?

Juniorkimbrough · #1 08-11-2005, 03:46 PM

to me it seems that bassists always seem to be the biggest gear geeks compared to everyone else in a band.......guitar, drums, etc..

What do you think? Are we the most obsessed with our gear?

Trevorus · #2 08-11-2005, 03:51 PM

Guitarists seem to be more obsessed. But we have a lot more boutique gear.

Bernie Connors · #3 08-11-2005, 04:48 PM

I think basing the gear lust of most bassists by the players from TB will not give you a clear demographic. Alot of bassists out there are happy with one bass and a trusty standby amp.

Every instrument has the potential to clean out your pocketbook real quick. Guitars definitely do, we all know that. Keyboards have a ton of outboard gear that you can spend a mint on. I think it just depends on the player.

spc · #4 08-11-2005, 05:13 PM

Don't horn players spend megabucks as well?

Bassossorus · #5 08-11-2005, 05:16 PM

Also with bass-
it seems to be evolving at the quickest pace- for several reasons.
- Its just a baby in the instrument world (what 60 years?) There are so many types of basses when you think about it too- fretless, 3-10 strings and beyond, strings in groupings, alternate tunings, etc. etc......bass is really starting to evolve in many cool ways.
- In terms of amplification, bass frequencies are harder to project clearly when compared to guitars, so people are constantly trying to find "that" perfect combo for them. Now days it is all about how light can you get while maintaining that perfect tone....hard to do, but it is getting better and better.

with guitar, equipment is naturally lighter, smaller, and much easier to deal with. I think that bass requires a lot more attention in some ways, which is why gear plays such a big role. Just my two cents....

Supernova67 · #6 08-11-2005, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juniorkimbrough

to me it seems that bassists always seem to be the biggest gear geeks compared to everyone else in a band.......guitar, drums, etc..

What do you think? Are we the most obsessed with our gear?

Dude your on a site called talkbass, which discusses basically every aspect of bass playing (other players, techniques, GEAR, ect.) down to the smallest little detail. What do you think?

NJL · #7 08-11-2005, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spc

Don't horn players spend megabucks as well?

My main axe is trumpet. Although I play on $200+ mouthpieces and a vintage horn, I really don't see other horn players paying big bucks for axes. IMHO, horn players tend to "grow" into horns....

Bernie Connors · #8 08-11-2005, 05:33 PM

Violin and cello players pay much more than any bassist does on an instrument.

paz · #9 08-11-2005, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernie Connors

Violin and cello players pay much more than any bassist does on an instrument.

yeah, but might be because none of us can buy a 200 year old bass can we!

James Hart · #10 08-11-2005, 05:39 PM

my old intermediate sax cost more than either of my boutique basses.

FlawLaw · #11 08-11-2005, 05:58 PM

I think it is hard to generalize. I think there are gear obsessives in every area. Mandolin players pay $25,000.00 for a new Gibson, Celloists pay thousands for a bow, jazz drummers obsess about getting the right ride or a vintage K. It goes on and on. Browse places like mandolincafe or cymbalholics and you can find gear heads just as "out of control" as any bassist.

Bernie Connors · #12 08-11-2005, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paz

yeah, but might be because none of us can buy a 200 year old bass can we!

Haha, only URB'ers I guess.

Trevorus · #13 08-11-2005, 06:10 PM

I think being a gear geek means hoarding large collections of instruments, amps, effects and accessories. I think we can all admit that bass players are bad, but guitarists are worse. That said, I am both.

Figjam · #14 08-11-2005, 07:37 PM

My starter poop trumpet cost more than my musicman.

Tash · #15 08-12-2005, 03:33 PM

Recording geeks and electronic music artists are the biggest gear heads, hands down. Maybe not in terms of $$$ but definately in terms of variety and sheer number of thingies owned for the simple purpose of make sounds.

Lorenzini · #16 08-12-2005, 04:44 PM

Keyboardists do pretty damn well on this too.
Synth buffs get into their crap like no tomorrow.

SuperDuck · #17 08-12-2005, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernie Connors

I think basing the gear lust of most bassists by the players from TB will not give you a clear demographic. Alot of bassists out there are happy with one bass and a trusty standby amp.

I would agree wholeheartedly with that statement.

Having said that, considering guitarists collect Boss pedals like Pokemon, I would say that bassists are pretty tame compared to them and synth players, as mentioned above.

Planet Boulder · #18 08-12-2005, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

Keyboardists do pretty damn well on this too.
Synth buffs get into their crap like no tomorrow.

Man, is this ever the truth! Our keyboardist and I are the biggest gear geeks in the band, but the drummer and guitarist aren't too far behind...

clanner · #19 08-12-2005, 06:53 PM

I'm really bad with knowing which gear I want, but my friend that plays drums is insane, he gets new cymbols and heads every month or so. funny thing is he's only used one pair of drumsticks throughout highschool. (third year now), including band class and everything. that being said. he and I go through stuff fast just because we play ridiculously hard. (why the new head, and I got through strings like my cousin goes through weed)

f'nar f'nar · #20 08-12-2005, 06:54 PM

I'd say drummers. My drummer blows all his money on symbols and useless cowbells and the like. You can never have too many varieties of cowbell and vibraslap.