bassist recruitments ads and equipment specs.... rant

marcopalla · #1 01-16-2009, 08:27 AM

First of all, I hate bassist recruitments ads that indicate equipment specs...
you can be Jaco and play a squire, Isn't it?
or you can play a modern bass but you ca have a vintage tone (tubes preamp etc.)

by the way, the funny story:

a well known band was looking for a bassist, good cash etc. so... I decide to do the audition, in the adv they say "vintage fender required" (

)

I play a warwick and a VI so I asked to a friend of mine for his vintage sadowsky.
I start the audition and before I plug, their poducer tell me: "this is a cheap fender copy, do you have only this?"

ok here in europe sadowsky is not so popular, but listen to my music, don't look to my equip!!

so I really have gone out of head... definetly my fault

me: "what's your problem? are you retarded man? this is a boutique american bass!"
p.:"but is not vintage"
me:"whaaaaat? it's the vintage serie, has a great tone! listen!"
p."no, no, modern vintage is not vintage"
me"you're the biggest idiot I've ever met, f**** you and your idiot band"
p."you are idiot!"
me "come out and I'll kick your a**"

....fortunatly he didn't come out... also the band members don't say a world.... life is strage sometimes

peace and respect

AlembicPlayer · #2 01-16-2009, 08:32 AM

uh,
interesting...you may need to work on your professionalism if you want work.
the "employer" was clear about the requirements, why did you feel the need to challenge that? Did you think you would convince him by name calling?

good luck

guizzy · #3 01-16-2009, 08:42 AM

Indeed; you could have been perhaps less, confrontational?

And maybe even tell him that you don't own a vintage Fender, but you borrowed something close for the audition and that you'd be willing to acquire one if you got the gig?

marcopalla · #4 01-16-2009, 08:50 AM

I know, you 're all right brothers
(@guizzy I think your words were an obviuous thing...)

some stupid apologies:

unfortunatly I'm not young, so I'm what I'm... but fortunatly I work quite a lot....

by the way, a vintage jazz is a vintage jazz!
and if you are a good producer in a rich band, and anal about it buy a 1964 fender for your works, recordings....
I can afford a vintage fender.... but....

somethimes is a feeling problem with people... I'd never like to play in that band, such a so bad first feeling....

guizzy · #5 01-16-2009, 08:53 AM

Yeah, you're right though that it's a bit petty having precise requirements like that. Unless someone else in the band is a good bassist themselves, what do they know about basses?

AlembicPlayer · #6 01-16-2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcopalla

I know, you 're all right brothers

some stupid apologies:

unfortunatly I'm not young, so I'm what I'm... but fortunatly I work quite a lot....

by the way, a vintage jazz is a vintage jazz!
and if you are a good producer in a rich band, and anal about it buy a 1964 fender for your works, recordings....
I can afford a vintage fender.... but....

somethimes is a feeling problem with people... I'd never like to play in that band, such a so bad first feeling....

well cool, you are owning up.
to me, a gear requirement, fashion requirement or any other requirement for that matter is not unusual or unjust. Like any other job. If you don't jive with what is asked in advance, then maybe that's not the job for you.

I don't apply to jobs that require piss tests,haircuts, or religious qualifications that's just my own prerequisite for the right jobs for me. I wouldn't go to a job that required one then complain about it when I got there.

anyway, sounds like you just needed to vent a bit. cool

rock on bro!

Joe Nerve · #7 01-16-2009, 09:02 AM

Sometimes it's nice to simply say what anyone else in that situation would think but NOT say.

Nice story. Thanks.

Joe Nerve · #8 01-16-2009, 09:05 AM

Oh yeah - what alembicplayer said. It don't bother me none when bands post requirements. for whatever reasons they have they know what they're looking for. I feel they lose out, not me. They actually save me from their stupidy by letting me know before auditioning where they're at.

marcopalla · #9 01-16-2009, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlembicPlayer

I don't apply to jobs that require piss tests,haircuts, or religious qualifications that's just my own prerequisite for the right jobs for me.

precius words... I was driven only by money

more peace and respect

Stinsok · #10 01-16-2009, 09:12 AM

That guy probably wouldn't know vintage if it hit him in the head.

Christopher · #11 01-16-2009, 12:07 PM

You should have told him the bass was so vintage that the neck had to be replaced.

DudeistMonk · #12 01-16-2009, 01:20 PM

I just don't get it...sure they sound great but so do a great deal many basses...people are so effected by branding that it sickens me.

IanStephenson · #13 01-16-2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher

You should have told him the bass was so vintage that the neck had to be replaced.

And then it got so bad, that the bdy needed replaced, and of course the pickups and electronics, but it's still a real vintage fender...

You got of light. They're obviously jerks/control freaks. Better you found out at the audition than spend the next six months trying to live up to their crazy ideas.

Intune · #14 01-17-2009, 07:57 AM

"This? This is a Sadowsky. The bass right there is a '65p. What year is your Strat?"... "A '78? Sheesh. Well, thanks anyway but I gotta go. I don't play with anyone with instruments that new. You poser..."

thumpbass1 · #15 01-17-2009, 12:58 PM

I wonder if the OP was auditioning for a band of musicians or vintage guitar collectors?

hbarcat · #16 01-18-2009, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

You got of light. They're obviously jerks/control freaks. Better you found out at the audition than spend the next six months trying to live up to their crazy ideas.

This is so true. I once auditioned for an 80's metal band and got the job and then they started laying the controlling crap on me.

I had to DI through the board (my Ampeg SVT-3 pro with the 2x12 wasn't metal enough) I had to get a different bass that was more metal (neither of my two custom built basses that I spent a lot of money on were okay to use). I had to start wearing different clothes and wear a hat (they'd pick stuff out for me).

**** you guys . . . I'm going home.

marcopalla · #17 01-20-2009, 09:38 AM

...so this is a trend... OMG!
thanx for solidarity

thisSNsucks · #18 01-21-2009, 08:54 AM

My guitar player was like that in the beginning. I didn't have my Sadowsky yet so I was using a cheapo SX for a while. He agree'd that it actually did sound good but kept saying "you should get a Fender P bass, or a old Rickenbacker."

My Sadowsky showed up and we had practice. By the end of the first song he said. "Dude, only play that one from now on, Ok?"

denhou1974 · #19 01-22-2009, 10:33 AM

"vintage fender required"

^ Stupid. I wouldn't have answered the ad.

RobertPaulson · #20 01-23-2009, 09:20 AM

Yeah I always see stupid ads like that "Must have at LEAST 100 watt half stack" hahaha. So your solid state 200watt crate beats my 50watt tube sovtek? But I'll echo the sentiment that I'm glad these people put their stupidity out the open from the get go so I don't have to waste any time on them.