Are we here at TB a bit out of touch...

uglybassplayer · #1 06-07-2006, 10:42 AM

... With the regular "Joe Bassplayer" when it comes to our gear?

I played at an event a few nights ago along with several other bands with bass players in age from the mid 30's to late 50's. Everyone was intrigued by my bass & rig (Cirrus Tigereye 6 --> GK 1001RB-II --> Schroeder 1210), partly because of the sound I was getting out of such a tiny rig, but even more so because no one there had ever heard of a "Cirrus" (You say that there's a Peavey Bass???) or "Schroeder" before. As we talked more about gear, it quickly became evident to me that none of the other guys were familiar with the "boutique" gear that we so casually show & tell about here on TB. Thunderfunk? Phil Jones? Sadowski? Bergantino? Acme? I may as well been speaking another language. This was very much a Fender, Ampeg, Musicman group (although one guy had an Eden rig, and another knew about Ken Smith... or was it Paul Reed Smith

). It made me realize that until I started lurking around here, I didn't know a Sadowski from a Valenti, or a Stambaugh from a Nordstrand either.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

- Ugly.

WalterBush · #2 06-07-2006, 10:46 AM

I'd say that rather, a large part of the bass-playing world is out of touch, and we are in the know. Really. They don't know what they're missing. The names you mentioned are nothing shocking for a bass-playing proffesional.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #3 06-07-2006, 10:47 AM

Pretty much. I remember going to a guitar store to buy a stand for my old Conklin GT-BD7. I told the guy I needed one with a wide neck holder because my Hercules brand one was too narrow for my seven-string. The guy said, "you mean your six-string." I explained that no, I mean my seven string bass. Guy had never heard of one, and thought I was crazy to own one. This was just a few years ago.

**john turner** · #4 06-07-2006, 10:48 AM

i agree with jabberwock - they are unaware of what's there. that makes them out of touch.

there is never a good reason to be purposefully ignorant, whether it's about gear or theory.

Bruce Lindfield · #5 06-07-2006, 10:49 AM

Most of the "journeyman" gigging pros I meet in person (not on TB of course) are so busy going from one gig to the next, that they never get home and mostly don't have computers and would never have time to look at them, if they did!!

They are constantly checking the phone about next gigs etc. and really just need gear that is reliable and will be working without problem for the next XX years !!

I think a lot of the people with exotic gear are making their money elsewhere, through successful businesses which use the net a lot, so they have an excuse to be constantly checking it out!!

They wish they were playing/practicing more - but make up for it by buying high-end gear!!

Kosko · #6 06-07-2006, 10:49 AM

me and my friends were driving in boston and passed a place called, "Exotic Woods", and I said, "I wonder if they have things made of cocobolo, bubinga, wenge, koa, etc."

Got some reaaaally strange looks, they had no idea what I was talking about... i knew then i may have studied wood a bit much.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #7 06-07-2006, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabberwock777

I'd say that rather, a large part of the bass-playing world is out of touch, and we are in the know. Really. They don't know what they're missing. The names you mentioned are nothing shocking for a bass-playing proffesional.

That's a good point- your average bar bassist might not have any idea what an Epifani amp is, even though they're heralded by some of the top jazz/fusion players out there.

Dr. Cheese · #8 06-07-2006, 10:49 AM

You should not surprised that players who don't spend inordinate amounts of time online or looking at BassPlayer aren't up on the latest gear. These guys probably know what's at the local store or Pawn Shop. Hey, if works for them, cool.

uglybassplayer · #9 06-07-2006, 10:50 AM

I was a bit surprised myself, because these were guys that have been playing out for years (one of them professionally back in the 60's and 70's).

Marcus · #10 06-07-2006, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john turner

There is never a good reason to be purposefully ignorant, whether it's about gear or theory.

Word.

WovenGraphite · #11 06-07-2006, 10:54 AM

I agree with Doc Cheese here...

Bass + amp are tools to make music.
Some people cherish the tool to look good, some other use the tool to create something, some do both!
Whatever man, as long as you are having fun, that's the most important.

Basso Gruvitas · #12 06-07-2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabberwock777

I'd say that rather, a large part of the bass-playing world is out of touch, and we are in the know. Really. They don't know what they're missing. The names you mentioned are nothing shocking for a bass-playing proffesional.

I love it!! "Bass-playing proffesional." Or should it be "prufeshunul"

+1 here

almost no one I run into has heard of Roscoe basses....but everyone LOVES mine! Your tone is part of your "calling card", don't worry about whether non-bassists know the name.

CamMcIntyre · #13 06-07-2006, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabberwock777

I'd say that rather, a large part of the bass-playing world is out of touch, and we are in the know. Really. They don't know what they're missing. The names you mentioned are nothing shocking for a bass-playing proffesional.

I agree entirely. The bass players that i've met/know that play on a certain level [thinking of studio & musical bassists] definately know about Sadowsky & the other gear brands. Through a bit of research, it's hit me that a Sadowsky is a pretty much a "standard issue" type of bass for certain cats. SO-i want to get a Sadowsky, if all these cats that i look up to play one and they sound good-why not? If Roger Sadowsky read that i think he'd be smiling, marketing a quality instrument works.

Now-about the every day "joe bassplayer"-they honestly, don't care about all of our boutique gear. To some guys, their epitome of gear would be a Fender through an SVT. I'd love to have an SVT, and yeah-i'm looking to pickup a P-bass-this stuff is to serve a specific purpose though. Amp wise, where i'm at now, we can drive right up to the front door of most venues to load in-hardly any lugging required and you can make multiple trips so having huge heavy cabs work-even though the back hates em. What i'm doing at a school....i'm saving and working so that i can get the AI/Epifani rig that is under 30 pounds.

I think members of TB are generallly the kind of person that WANTS to talk about the newiest/oldest bass stuff. To discuss the differences between a Swamp Ash bodied J and an Alder, to others-well a j is a j.

take it easy.

James Hart · #14 06-07-2006, 10:59 AM

I've always played what suited me best, I couldn't care any less about Regular Joe.... he's got his own gig!

I was running a Carvin 5 string tuned tenor, AMP BH-250 (thunderfunk is a tweeked copy of it's biggest brother), Bagend S12 & S15 from 1991 on... got plenty of crocked stares and chuckles while setting up followed by dropped jaws and big smiles after the set started

It was better outside of my shows...

Reg Joe: "What kinda rig you running?"
Me: "An Amp and some Bags"
Reg Joe: *blink blink* "Yeah what kinda Amp and stuff?"
Me: *sigh* "Pro stuff, I bought it on 48th street"
Reg Joe: *nods* "Good stuff in NYC, I need to go some time"

**john turner** · #15 06-07-2006, 11:00 AM

Quote:

I think members of TB are generallly the kind of person that WANTS to talk about the newiest/oldest bass stuff. To discuss the differences between a Swamp Ash bodied J and an Alder, to others-well a j is a j.

and yet the difference is quite palpable between the two, isn't it?

Bruce Lindfield · #16 06-07-2006, 11:01 AM

uglybassplayer · #17 06-07-2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

Pretty much. I remember going to a guitar store to buy a stand for my old Conklin GT-BD7. I told the guy I needed one with a wide neck holder because my Hercules brand one was too narrow for my seven-string. The guy said, "you mean your six-string." I explained that no, I mean my seven string bass. Guy had never heard of one, and thought I was crazy to own one. This was just a few years ago.

Believe me, this was a 4 banger "Classic Rock" bunch of guys. My sixer sparked an interesting debate on the need (or rather lack of) for more than four. I was even surprised (maybe I shouldn't have been) to hear the drummers talking proudly about their Ludwigs and Swingerlands (at least I heard one of them pronounce "Paiste" correctly though

)

Mustafa · #18 06-07-2006, 11:04 AM

Ignorance is bliss! I wish I only knew about Fender, Ampeg and Musicman.

I'd say yes, we are a group of nerds with a gear fixation and sufferers of accute G.A.S. that can never get enough and will comb the planet looking for boutique gear and the Holy Grail of basses.

I play profesionally, with plenty of gigs around town, and 99% of other felow bass player and musicians in general don't know about most of the brands and pedigree of equipment out there - Warwick is the most exotic brand they know! LOL!

bassbully43 · #19 06-07-2006, 11:08 AM

This is great...heres why i get into this thought from time to time from other passions i have had in my life. Many mainstream bassists are to busy playing and using regular local music store products to much care about anything else. they survive ...very well on Fender,Gibson, Ernie Ball,etc and have no need or wants to go out looking elsewhere.Then the other breed are always looking and wanting better to go to the oddball maker or to own something nobody else has always looking for the next best thing. The funny thing is the best players for the most part as well as the best in other things i did in the past were the guys who stuck to basic gear. They never went to the fancy stuff...they stuck to good gear with brand names learned to use it and saved money and made money while the rest of us shopped online ..compared...drooled over the latest gizzmos looked for an extra watt or two and spent $$ and time comparing apples to oranges for the most part. I myself suffer from comparing and get caught up in wanting to soak up to much info and spend alot of time on here learning and reading about gear i will never own or ever to be able to afford. You know what...i get great tone and hear great things from a MIM Fender and hopefully soon my Carvin thru a GK210 Backline combo pushing a Sunn 410 bottom its all paid for and i secretly wish i had a Ritter and a Bagend or Sadowsky...would it help....no but i spend alot of time dreaming ..or do i waste it and should be practicing like the guys i know who only buy and trust standard name brand gear?

bassjigga · #20 06-07-2006, 11:13 AM

I know a regularly gigging jazz bassist locally who plays an F bass through a Glockenklang rig. The idea that pro musicians are too busy gigging to have nice gear is just silly. Michael Manring has like eleventy-billion Zons; Tripster's got several Alembics, Vigiers, Glock stuff; Matt Garrison and Vic Wooten both play Foderas; need the list go on?