Didn't get the job because I didn't...(VINDICATION CONTENT)

NKUSigEp · #1 07-23-2009, 11:42 PM

I didn't have an Ampeg bass amp...

Two months ago I tried out for (and believe that I nailed) a classic rock cover band. Seems like I'm the only 26 year old who even listens to the stuff, much less plays it. The guys were older - late 40's to mid 50's. What the hell, I've jammed with people twice my age before. So I show up with my Aguilar AG500SC/Agro rig and sit it on top of my Avatar B212 Neo cab (all besides the Agro have since been sold to pay bills) and set it up. I pull out my Spector and plug it in.

I get weird looks all around the room. I know what they are thinking and I have a mental list of answers prepared for them, or so I thought. The so-called leader speaks up first and says, "I thought you said you had 'professional' gear". Slightly annoyed I reply "yeah, this IS professional gear". Then he comes back, "well I dunno about you but everything we're playing was played through Ampegs".

I'm highly annoyed by this - I get out the list and the first 3 bands are Zeppelin, the Who, and Sabbath. I asked him if he knew the bassists for the first 3 bands played Acoustic, Sunn, Laney guitar amps (early Sabbath), and pretty much anything BUT an Ampeg. So we're already off to a really bad start but we proceed and get through a dozen songs and then take a break. We chat it up for a while about the direction of the band and then call it a night. I get an email a day later saying "thanks for coming out but...you sounded good, had great tone and knew what you were doing but you didn't seem like the right fit". Ok, I can handle that.

So fast-forward to the present. Yesterday I got an email from the same guy asking me if I'd join the band. He said he was on the internet and saw that Aguilar was "expensive stuff and that they get good reviews" and that he had heard of Spector but never heard/seen one. Now I know there are certain die-hard vintage purists out there but I think these guys win the prize!

I'd understand if they were looking for a certain sound, but I HAVE that old-school round Fender sound (yes, it can be coaxed from a Spector with old strings, proper EQ'ing, and a little fur). He just wanted a name on a box. So anyways, I turned them down. I don't put up with people who are rude, especially on the first meeting.

Joe.shaffer · #2 07-23-2009, 11:51 PM

Normally I'd say never pass up on a chance to jam. In this case I don't blame you at all.

totallybacan · #3 07-23-2009, 11:53 PM

Good choice! No regrets!

Armbruster · #4 07-23-2009, 11:57 PM

Ampeg is horrible.

edbass · #5 07-24-2009, 12:09 AM

What equipment were these "professional" gear snobs playing? All Marshall amplification?
They might have just been ignorant, not rude. It might be worthwhile to play with them, maybe make a little gig money...

20db pad · #6 07-24-2009, 12:26 AM

Any group that makes hiring decisions solely on the reputations of the brands of gear you play is not an outfit you'd want to get involved with. Their priorities are maybe, kinda just POSSIBLY a little off track. This isn't the first time I've heard of something like this, but it still remains among the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.

The guys in the band that held the audition should ask a bar owner or a bunch of girls who are dancing at a club where live music is performed if the label on the corner of an amp cabinet or at the end of a headstock matters to them.

kesslari · #7 07-24-2009, 12:40 AM

Quote:

They might have just been ignorant, not rude.

Dude, they were listening with their eyes. Always a bad sign in bandmates.

Good call to pass on this one.

T-Bird · #8 07-24-2009, 01:04 AM

Hi.

Good call IMHO.

While I agree that the "old farts" could have handled the situation better, I kinda see where they were coming from.

Quite a lot of people in their (nearly mine

) age group started with crappy gear of an unknown brand, or had to cope with that bad gear used by the other "musicians" in their early steps while they had invested in quality. Having unknown gear was seen as a lack of commitment, cheaping out on the hobby/future profession = bad sign.

God forbid if You had DIY stuff, then you were ignored almost without exeption. Someone who had to make their stuff was seen too poor for anything.

Too bad some people got stuck in that way of thinking and praise Ampeg, Fender, Marshall etc. over anything else. A reality check might be in order.

Regards
Sam

nothumb · #9 07-24-2009, 01:11 AM

"I'm highly annoyed by this - I get out the list and the first 3 bands are Zeppelin, the Who, and Sabbath. I asked him if he knew the bassists for the first 3 bands played Acoustic, Sunn, Laney guitar amps (early Sabbath), and pretty much anything BUT an Ampeg."

hahaha this is great

Demonator · #10 07-24-2009, 01:27 AM

Good decision man. Do whats best for you.

electracoyote · #11 07-24-2009, 01:31 AM

Gear snobs spoil the mood and the fun every time. These old farts should have kept their mouths shut until they had a chance to catch up and get educated. Not everyone plays a Fender Jazz bass or Ric through an SVT anymore (as if they ever did). And I'm 50 years old myself.

**jmattbassplaya** · #12 07-24-2009, 04:41 AM

I`m curious as to what they were playing.

In any case, I don`t blame you one bit. Pro gear comes down to two things in my book: Is it reliable, and does it get the job done for the gig at hand(be it tone, power, etc). Everything else past that is purely cosmetic. Their loss for only viewing worth by the amount of money something costs you.

hellfleet · #13 07-24-2009, 06:30 AM

You do right, no point getting involved in that lot. I hate gear snobs , especially if they're snobbing over something that could be argued to be better than what they're wanting

HogieWan · #14 07-24-2009, 06:38 AM

Did you tell them why you were passing on the gig?

Absentia · #15 07-24-2009, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armbruster

Ampeg is horrible.

+1

I hate when people judge by the name of the gear.

lomo · #16 07-24-2009, 06:49 AM

Fools. Life is too short. You dodged a bullet.

lomo · #17 07-24-2009, 06:51 AM

I'm 46 and usually play my classic rock on an Elrick through Markbass and Epifani......guess I wouldn't have made their grade either.

basswave · #18 07-24-2009, 06:53 AM

High Level of Ignorance going on there.

Honestly do Him a favor in life and let him know why you turned down the gig.

Because He decided to look up your gear and then took an internet opinion on it.

I'm gone into the studio and see some guitar players playing some no-name Class-A 25 watt tube amps that scream and rip your head off with super fat tone. I'm not going to say I'm not going to work with this guy especially if He can play just because His amp does not say 'Boogie' on it.

I would tell him/them.

woffle · #19 07-24-2009, 07:11 AM

I can still remember Melody Maker(UK) wanted adds from the70's as a bass player without a fender and marshall,you just did not get the gig.
Snobery is still there and some players are blown away when they go watch a band with some nice name equipment. Sometimes just for fun I'll turn up with my 25 year old peavey mk.4 with 2 peavey 1x15's and a jap copy and show the ignorant what a great sound I can get.On the other hand the svt+8x10 allso is fun.
Woffle

dmusic148 · #20 07-24-2009, 07:19 AM

No, BAD call. You should have accepted- they liked your sound and then figured out your gear was good after all. You were all set. Turned them down anyway? Why? Spite?