Two vintages basses....crying in pain

beebassdude · #1 04-17-2011, 08:30 PM

So my band played this gig last night, little place in NJ, not a ton of people showed up but thats what happens sometimes. so we play 3rd, this band goes on after us. all little highschool kids, not a clue what they're doing, pretty terrible music even considering their age. guitarist amp kept turning off, drummer had no clue how to play in time, singer trying hard to look cool, and then theres the bassist.....

harmless looking kid, goes into his soft shell case, pulls out a vintage rick with a "police line crossing" strap. i assume its a musicians friend new one that dad paid for, so i asked him "is that a newer rick?" he tells me its from the mid 70s and its his dads. this thing was in PRISTINE shape, probably worth 2k easy considering how nice it was. and hes hacking through these terrible songs, poorly, with a ridiculous bass. so im feeling so sorry for this bass, not only did it have this strap on it that cried "im lame" but its being used by someone who has 0 clue how to play.

after their set, i comment on how nice the tone was (cause it did sound good despite the poor playing) to which his singer says "you should check out his backup bass". im thinking to myself, what could it be? he calmly says "some 70s P bass". LOL. this kid had what looked to be a 74-75 P bass sitting in the back of the club (in a soft crappy case without anyone even watching it) in PRISTINE shape. flats on it, neck was perfect, body was unchecked unnicked, you name it. easily worth 2k as well.

so in short, i was just shocked that some dad out there is letting his son go to gigs with gorgeous pieces of pristine history to play terrible highschool rock. and if that dad posts here and reads this, maybe start junior off with something a little less expensive and more his speed?

James Hart · #2 04-17-2011, 08:54 PM

kinda like the 1961 Fender Jazzmaster my grandfather gave me when I wanted to learn how to play guitar at 15 years old...

If I had a kid who seriously wanted to play, he'd have access to my gear for gigs. It's just stuff

bolophonic · #3 04-17-2011, 09:05 PM

Dude, worry about your own gear.

SMILEYSIXX · #4 04-17-2011, 09:06 PM

Access to gear for SERIOUS gigs is one thing, but it doesn't sound like the kid was serious.

Reminds me of this kid at my school. Family friend gives him a bass, so he brings it to school in a soft gig bag. He said it was some crappy fender. The kid pulls out a 70's jazz bass, all original parts, beat up but in working condition. The kid had no idea what he was playing on and no idea how to play at all. A part of me still dies every time I think about it.

RevNigel · #5 04-17-2011, 09:11 PM

I can vouch for that feeling. Instrument collectors don't like to see the classics molested.

When you're a punk kid, you don't know what you've got sometimes. I got a 79 LP some years ago... and took good care of it... Now I really appreciate it. Then, it was just a cool looking guitar.

lefty1979 · #6 04-17-2011, 09:14 PM

Kind of reminds me of a guy I worked with who had a 60's SG. He'd had it since he was in high school (in his 50's now). Used it to jam with his kids every now and then. About pooped himself when I showed him what they were going for at a few reputable vintage stores. Remember, unless that kid's dad is a gearhead and pays attention to things like the vintage market he still thinks of those basses' values in terms of the 200 bucks or so he spent on them in the 70's.

beebassdude · #7 04-17-2011, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolophonic

Dude, worry about your own gear.

trust me, my gear is fine. like someone said below me, its just sad seeing nice stuff get molested.

its like seeing a kid using his learners permit on his dads 71 corvette stingray. some things just aint right!

beebassdude · #8 04-17-2011, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

Access to gear for SERIOUS gigs is one thing, but it doesn't sound like the kid was serious.

Reminds me of this kid at my school. Family friend gives him a bass, so he brings it to school in a soft gig bag. He said it was some crappy fender. The kid pulls out a 70's jazz bass, all original parts, beat up but in working condition. The kid had no idea what he was playing on and no idea how to play at all. A part of me still dies every time I think about it.

LOL, 100% feel you on this dude. he talked about the P bass like it was some backup. what 16 year olds "backup" bass is a 74 P bass??

stepswork4me · #9 04-17-2011, 10:32 PM

Jealous?

Cirk · #10 04-17-2011, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stepswork4me

Jealous?

Yes. Pun fully intended.

pocketgroove · #11 04-17-2011, 10:39 PM

I am! I'm only a year older than that kid and I would give almost anything to be playing on a 1970s Fender or Ric. I like what I am playing on, but I've never even seen one of those in person!

**pacojas** · #12 04-17-2011, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stepswork4me

Jealous?

i am!

stepswork4me · #13 04-17-2011, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pacojas

i am!

Well, at least we're getting honest.

Exploiter8 · #14 04-17-2011, 10:53 PM

It's better the kid gets some use out of it, otherwise it's just going to end up at some garage sale. My only problem is using a gig-bag as anything other than a dust-cover.

X8

stepswork4me · #15 04-17-2011, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exploiter8

...... otherwise it's just going to end up at some garage sale.

Or on someones wall, glass case, or stand; never getting played.

sbassface · #16 04-17-2011, 11:00 PM

makes me think of my "74 P bass" ie. 70/80's parts bass that still rocked, I poured my soul into it and didn't care what anyone said, treated it like it was worth 2K because it was bestowed unto me.

beebassdude · #17 04-17-2011, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stepswork4me

Jealous?

not really, i have some really nice basses and im not a P or ric guy. i was more bothered that a complete novice is walking around to gigs with gorgeous pieces of history that he has no business playing. lol

the only bass i think ive ever been jealous of a guy having was a dude who showed up to another church gig with me and busted out this 5 string GORGEOUS single cut fodera emperor. sweetest fodera ive ever seen in person. that was something to be jealous about!

Muzoid · #18 04-17-2011, 11:20 PM

I don't get it.

They belong to the kid's Dad...so he has every right to play them...just like my daughter can use my gear should she ever need to (at any playing ability level)

Seems kinda like sour grapes to me.

Maybe you should talk to your Dad, and get him to buy some nice basses to lend you.

Now...what ability exactly do you have to be at to "earn the right" to play an old P or Ric?....you seem to be right person here to ask - hahaha

mglabrie · #19 04-17-2011, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hart

If I had a kid who seriously wanted to play, he'd have access to my gear for gigs. It's just stuff

+1000

You won't get it until you have a kid who wants to play... I did give my son my beloved 70's P bass to get started on....which he completely thrashed and gave back because he preferred a POS Ibanez somebody else gave him... Turns out I didn't care at all. What I got in return was to see him posing and playing crappy death metal to sold out shows for two or three years... I'd throw my Roscoe, my Zon and my Warrior under a truck right now to see him strut and smile like that again.

farbeyondwillie · #20 04-17-2011, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muzoid

I don't get it.

They belong to the kid's Dad...so he has every right to play them...just like my daughter can use my gear should she ever need to (at any playing ability level)

Seems kinda like sour grapes to me.

Maybe you should talk to your Dad, and get him to buy some nice basses to lend you.

Now...what ability exactly do you have to be at to "earn the right" to play an old P or Ric?....you seem to be right person here to ask - hahaha

+1