I think most of us have felt like this at some point...

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

...but the older I get, the less sense I see on that. Yesterday, I had a rehearsal with my rock band and the drummer arrived with an extremely happy face showing us something he recently bought and had it as a BIG surprise for us: A set of Zildjian Paragon cymbals, the ones signed by Neil Peart himself.

He was really happy and I sincerely shared his happiness, but what made me think about this topic was the result when he played them: Those cymbals sound great and he kept saying things like "can't believe how these cymbals sound", "just listen how loud and clear they are", "this crash is so powerful"... but to my ears, there are lots of different cymbals that sound like those. I mean, not trying to underestimate them, but I felt this guy's enthusiasm about their tone really exaggerated. It would make more sense to me if he said things like "I have the same cymbals that Neil Peart plays!", "My cymbals are signed by Neil Peart!" or simply "These are the coolest-looking cymbals I've owned". To me, it is OK to feel proud of playing my musical hero's weapon of choice, but I can't believe how just a name can alter a customer's perception.

Any comments or similar stories? Thanks for reading!

[anderbass]

When it comes to your Rick or Bongo's, He's probably not as appreciative as you either...

[dan.ablett]

those would be sabian paragons btw.....


im actually a drummer by trade, i make my entire income from gigging and teaching drums.... bass is what i do late at night and some weekends......


man, firstly when a drummer buys new cymbals, its a huge financial investment. even if they dont believe it, drummers want to talk their gear up, and hype themself about them... and cymbals that sound good makes everything in the world brighter, the music sounds and feels better...


the other big thing to note (but dont tell your drummer this, it might burst his bubble) is that the cymbals he hears and the cymbals you hear are COMPLETELY different. having the cymbals within 1 metre of earshot, you hear the pitch, frequencies and nuance of the cymbals so much more then someone 3 or 4 metres away, ESPECIALLY with a band playing.

he is probably in sonic heaven, because his sound is big and rich from BEHIND the kit. Could be a different story altogether for a non drummer standing a few metres off...

do him a favor, inbetween songs in a rehearsal, say these words... "hey man, those crashes are killer!" (dont say those crashes are killing me..... bad move).

inclosing, drummers are like women. they love it when you notice theyve bought a new 'purse or shoes'. they love it more if you validate their decision to spend 2 months paycheck on it too....
but in the end of the day, new good gear just inspires you to play, and inspires you to enjoy playing. good on him for getting the paragons, great rock cymbals. the few mates of mine that have them arent that fussed about them being the 'niel peart' cymbals, its just a sound they desire, a pure shimmering cymbal that REALLY cuts.
the other cool thing about them is the laser etched logos.
personally these cymbals are too thick for me, but they are good.

[Baryonyx]

May I suggest the band learns "Prime Mover" to keep him happy!

[Munjibunga]

Sure. My Fender Jazz sounds about as good as one of my Sadowskys and cost less than half as much. But I feel better when I'm playing the Sadowsky. No one in the audience is going to be able to tell the difference.

[Unrepresented]

Eh, I bitch about having to suffer through rehearsal room quality bass amps and no one else in the band probably notices or cares as much as I do. The inverse -- in this case being perhaps excessively satisfied with a recent purchase -- seems fair game, and probably far more productive than my spoiled complaints are.

BTW dan.ablett's comments are definitely spot on.

[superbassman2000]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

...but I can't believe how just a name can alter a customer's perception.

Any comments or similar stories? Thanks for reading!

lol yes i have heard this story many times! it was on an internet forum...talkbass i think it was called?

[Nino Valenti]

Originally Posted by anderbass

When it comes to your Rick or Bongo's, He's probably not as appreciative as you either...

+1

[fenderhutz]

What is the saying,

One mans meal is another mans fodder.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

lol yes i have heard this story many times! it was on an internet forum...talkbass i think it was called?

Originally Posted by anderbass

When it comes to your Rick or Bongo's, He's probably not as appreciative as you either...

I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean with that.

[ROON]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean with that.

Well, while you are thinking "my Bongo is so great for tapping out van Halen songs" or "my Rick sounds great when I play YYZ" He's probably not too impressed because to him, it's just bass. To you, those cymbals are just, cymbals!!!

[anderbass]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean with that.

I'm saying that his drummer probably doesn't appreciate his nice basses anymore than he appreciates his drummers new cymbals.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

OK. Got it. Thank you!

[CelinderMotoMan]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

I think most of us have felt like this at some point... ...but the older I get, the less sense I see on that.

I am so old that I can't make sense of your statement.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by CelinderMotoMan

I am so old that I can't make sense of your statement.

Well, as a counter-example to explain my point, fifteen years ago I'd love to have a Fender Urge bass (and felt like the only Coke in the middle of the desert for sure because of that) since that's what Stuart Hamm chose to play. Now I can say that I'd never consider to buy one of those basses just because they are Stu's signature instruments (I love Kubicki Ex Factors, but not just because Stu played them. Anyway, they've never been "signature" basses).

[ROON]

So you've grown out of your fanboy stage Alvaro.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Exactly.

[funkalicious101]

tip: yell "China on the offbeats!!!" and start playing Subdivisions

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by funkalicious101

tip: yell "China on the offbeats!!!" and start playing Subdivisions

He, he... coincidentally, that's one of the songs we agreed to rehearse for the next time, since the keyboard player also got a new and good instrument.

[Musiclogic]

No Bongo's for the Rush.....Ric's, Jazzers, Wals or Steinbergers ONLY.....Thank you and have a nice day....LMAO