Kids with expensive basses...

[NOT]

I am a kid with exspensive basses. I'm 18 and own 10 bass guitars. Most of which are great instruments. Gibson Rippers, Thunderbirds, Grabber, Warmoth Fenderbird, USA BC Rich Eagle, etc.

I teach bass guitar at my highschool and usually come in with a different bass each week. A lot of my peers think I'm rich or spoiled. But that's not the case. I work my a** off to acquire my instruments and buy used. My mother and grandparents have been nothing but supportive when it comes to me and my music and they have purchased some of my gear. But if I were to rely on them for everything, I'd feel awful.

From personal experience, when someone has great gear but no talent or push to become a better musician, they let go of their gear after awhile. And a lot cheaper than what was originally paid.

[lfmn16]

Originally Posted by Kmonk

Don't worry about what other people have and you will be much happier.

+1

People who spend more time worrying about what they don't have than being thankful for what they do have are generally not happy people. If you depend on "things" to be happy, you'll never be happy because you can never have enough "things." Someone will always have more stuff or better stuff than you.

[willop]

Some people have money. I never did. Over the past few years my business has done well and I (at times) dont' feel the pressures of living paycheck to paycheck.

It doesn't matter- the richer you are the richer someone else always is. I live in an area that is 'rich' compared to anywhere else around here. It wasn't always that way but good schools attracted 'professionals' and then one thing led to another. My kids are not the poorest in the school but are not nearly the richest either.
My son has classmates that go to europe every year. Others go to disney each year. A couple of kids on his baseball team (talking age 9 at the time) were sent to week long baseball camps - that cost $2700 for the week. My son got his first cell phone (now age 12) a pay as you go one - he has a number of friends with iPhones - whatever the latest is they get it the week it comes out.

Sorry, I can't and never will be able to compete with that. He has a folk acoustic from grandpa, for christmas/birthday I got him a washburn elec / vypyr 15w amp figured if he outgrows the guiar it's a good one ($600 list, black friday $300) that he can sell/trade and not lose our shirts on it. I know he'll outgrow the amp. He wanted a better acoustic so found him a washburn for $189 used.

I've spent more on his lessons than on my gear.

For me I got a used bass (gsr200) for $99, buought a $90 amp that I've outgrown and is for sale, picked up an RBX375 used for $160 and over the weekend a new fender amp (rumble 75) for $219. So in ALL my gear I have about $500.

I'm thrifty (tight with a buck you might say). When he played cello instead of renting an instrument for $40 something a month or buying a new one for $1000 I found a used 1/2 size german student model for $100.

[blue4]

He's only 13. Maybe he'll improve in the next 70 yrs. He's got some time still.

[thebass905]

Originally Posted by NOT

I am a kid with exspensive basses. I'm 18 and own 10 bass guitars. Most of which are great instruments. Gibson Rippers, Thunderbirds, Grabber, Warmoth Fenderbird, USA BC Rich Eagle, etc.

I teach bass guitar at my highschool and usually come in with a different bass each week. A lot of my peers think I'm rich or spoiled. But that's not the case. I work my a** off to acquire my instruments and buy used. My mother and grandparents have been nothing but supportive when it comes to me and my music and they have purchased some of my gear. But if I were to rely on them for everything, I'd feel awful.

From personal experience, when someone has great gear but no talent or push to become a better musician, they let go of their gear after awhile. And a lot cheaper than what was originally paid.

My thoughts exactly! As a 17 year old paid teacher and expensive bass owner (granted I only own 4 to your 10- but nice ones nonetheless) people just roll their eyes sometimes! But luckily, my friends and students know the only way I can afford any of it, is working two jobs, buying used (how I've bought every inst) and budgeting well. My parents can't pay for college, so while they are thankfully supportive like yours, they don't usually contribute financially. I've never considered myself the best player, but if nothing else I work to justify the gear I own. Without trying to sound cocky or egotistical I think my playing and dedication to the instrument justifies what I spend. Music is my first love and passion- why wouldn't I want to get the most of it?

[Jools4001]

Originally Posted by Waster

One of the few other bassists at my high school just got a new bass; a Rickenbacker 4003.
This kid is thirteen, and is genuinely awful- doesn't know what notes he's playing, can't play eighth notes etc.
Now, obviously I wish I had been able to get equipment like that when I was his age, and I'm a touch jealous, but does it irk anyone else that it always seems to be the sub par musicians that can afford the nice gear? I'm not the best bassist in the world, but I've worked hard and am doing grade 8 next year on an OLP MM2. My parents would love to get me a P-bass, but can't afford it; all of my gear, bar my starter bass and my starter guitar (£100 each) I have had to work and save for. And I know better musicians in crappier positions than me.
This was really just a rant, but feel free to comment or whatever.

Connor

If I wind back 40 years I was in the same position as you. I was 17 and doing all sorts of Saturday and holiday jobs while I was an A level student because I'd had a dream of owning a Ric 4001 ever since I started playing bass aged 14.

Saving for a Ric when you can only earn minimum wage type money is like climbing Everest, and I had been saving for 3 years and was still only halfway to reaching the summit when the rich kid (who had only told his parents that he wanted to play bass a couple of weeks beforehand) waltzed into college with a brand new Fireglo 4001 (4003's didn't exist in 1972).

Was I jealous? Of course, it's hard not to be. Was I dispirited? Yes, it emphasised what a huge mountain I still had to climb before I could even think about buying a Ric. All I could do was continue walking the mile from college every day to the only shop for miles around that had a Ric in stock. It was a Montezuma Brown one but I couldn't play it, or even touch it, it was securely locked into a glass display case and was only ever going to come out of there for people who had the money to buy it...all I could do was press my snotty nose against the glass every day to keep the dream alive.

But think of it as earning your stripes. It took me another 4 years of hard work (until 1976) to finally get enough scratch together for a Ric, and even then I couldn't afford a new one, I settled for a 1973 JetGlo that somebody had already 'customised' with a black pickguard (which I loved at the time and still do).

For 20 years it was my only bass and still a regular player even when I got a bit wealthier in later life and could afford other basses. Two years ago I joined a covers band playing heavy-ish rock covers and guess what, the Ric became my main player again.

Knowing that this bass, more than any other I own, is only mine because I had the grit and determination to stick to my goals still fills me with a sense of pride and satisfaction 40 years later...I think the other kid got fed up with bass as quickly as the whim started

Stick with it....you'll get there too!

[KF2B]

Well...

Originally Posted by 3234718

I think if you can avoid caring about what other people have, you'll be better off. Just keep practicing. It's better to be better than him than to have a better bass.

I guess that pretty much sums it up IMHO

Personally I am of the opinion that one should start up with "lesser" equipment and work ones way up, earning better gear as one has "earned" it first... This if we are talking about kids.

If one starts at a later time I feel that going for good, rock solid stuff on the secondary market is IMHO justified as grabbing a bass that you know will deliver what ever you can throw at it in years to come and more, allows you to concentrate on your playing instead of your instrument...

I am probably using my age (42) as an excuse herein as I´ve just barely started and have already gotten myself three nice basses but hey... even though I´ve not yet earned them by advancing on my playing I have surely earned them by working my a**e off in the highly competitive work life of nowadays whilst getting greyer year after year...

[LanEvo]

I grew up as a relatively poor kid in an extremely wealthy neighborhood. When I started playing guitar and bass in the mid-'80s all I had was a $90 Cort copy of a Steinberger and a no-name guitar (literally had NO brand!) that my dad bought for $40. I practiced my butt off on those pieces of crap. Played both the guitar and the bass through a Peavey TKO-65. You can imagine how the guitar sounded! Never got great, but I got pretty good.

We would have Battle of the Bands and things at school and kids would show up with PRS Custom 24's, Jackson Soloists with airbrushed paint jobs, Steinberger Trans-Trems, and the like. Forget about Les Pauls and Strats; I'm talking $2-3k boutique guitars. They couldn't play Smoke on the Water to save their lives, but they had better gear than the bands headlining Madison Square Garden.

Us broke kids who were "serious" about guitar would just sit back and laugh. But I must admit, I did feel some jealousy. I would have loved to have something like that in my hands! Hell, I would have been happy with a Squier Strat.

[Smit_Dogg]

Since my last post on this topic, I've actually bought myself a cheap, 2nd hand Vintage PJ fretless that is a pleasure to play. For saying it cost me under £200 (around $310) its more than a bargain. It goes to show you can find half decent budget price instruments if you look hard enough. I've chucked a set of flatwound Thomastik strings on it and it feels great. Maybe a future electronics overhaul (Wizard pickups and a John East 2band pre) is on the cards but for now, I'm happy with it.

[DudeLeap]

It's always refreshing seeing the kid with all the nice gear go play and make himself look like an idiot because he doesn't know what he's doing and then seeing someone go rip it up with a set up that costs $200 including the amp.

I always had nicer gear in high school but I was working everyday and everything I had came out of my pocket. MIM fender standard and deluxe basses aren't considered super nice but I liked them, they weren't beat and did the job.

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by DudeLeap

It's always refreshing seeing the kid with all the nice gear go play and make himself look like an idiot because he doesn't know what he's doing and then seeing someone go rip it up with a set up that costs $200 including the amp.

Why is this refreshing?

[Toptube]

Originally Posted by Waster

One of the few other bassists at my high school... is thirteen...

What the hell thirteen year old is in highschool? If he is actually thirteen, maybe he's got some special learning abilities that put him in Highschool two years early. Maybe his parents are buying him cool/nice stuff, to keep him interested in further expanding the possibilities of his mind.

If they've got the money for it, great!


I'm not really sure where this post is going anymore and I really don't want to sound like I'm being a jerk.

But if that kid sucks, or is a jerk about the cool stuff he has, well fine. But maybe his parents are doing these things for him because they want him to stay interested in things that they think will benefit him. At thirteen, he may not understand the subtleties of a thing, only how rad it looks or whatever.

Or you know, they may just want him to be happy. Again, if they have the money, a lot of parents do buy their kids cool stuff. Especially if its stuff the parents think is cool.

[DudeLeap]

Originally Posted by spade2you

Why is this refreshing?

It's the point that nice gear doesn't make you a good bassist, it's the time you put into it and desire you have to be good. Maybe "refreshing" wasn't the right word choice.

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by spade2you

Why is this refreshing?

Because it would be doubly depressing if they not only had better gear and were also better musicians. Being nice people would make it the hater trifecta.


Letting the wares and accomplishments of others be a personal yardstick is a sad way to go through life. As an adult, do I get jealous when I see someone with "better" or more expensive gear than mine? Nope. Do I hope they can't play? Of course not. And fortunately I didn't think that way as a child either. It completely misses the point of being a musician.

[CarvinFreak]

Remember this - A great player always sounds better on a crappy bass than a crappy player on a great bass. The hands and ears are the critical part of the musician, not the instrument.

[Strat Hater]

Funny thing is that I see people here gasing for those sx basses here all the time...hmm!

Stick with your love of playing and your heart and determination will get you your prize

[willop]

Our "HS" is mid and HS combined - 7th thru 12th.
There is a group of 13 years olds (7th graders) that are releasing a CD this spring, play in alternative rock fests, have had members of The Clarks play on stage with them.

I'm not impressed by them..but they're 13. I guarantee all their gear was bought by their parents.

My experience as taught me that low end anything is usually not a great deal - the low cost comes at a price and you never get your money back out of it - be that a guitar, car, camera, whatever.
The 'best' is usually overpriced. Does $1900 gibson les paul sound any better than a $600 epi les paul? I bet few if any could the the difference blindfolded.

A mid-grade name brand is often the best choice - it will play/sound/last better than the lowest end and you'll still have some money in your pocket compared to the best of the best.

My son played cello for 18 months and moved to guitar. If we'd have rented or bought a good/new instrument we'd be out hundreds of dollars. Would a new/better instrument have kept him interested? Hard to say.

We have to actually ask him to NOT practice / play his guitar - so spending more on an elec (than say, a $129 something) made sense to me.

Originally Posted by Toptube

What the hell thirteen year old is in highschool? If he is actually thirteen, maybe he's got some special learning abilities that put him in Highschool two years early. Maybe his parents are buying him cool/nice stuff, to keep him interested in further expanding the possibilities of his mind.

If they've got the money for it, great!


I'm not really sure where this post is going anymore and I really don't want to sound like I'm being a jerk.

But if that kid sucks, or is a jerk about the cool stuff he has, well fine. But maybe his parents are doing these things for him because they want him to stay interested in things that they think will benefit him. At thirteen, he may not understand the subtleties of a thing, only how rad it looks or whatever.

Or you know, they may just want him to be happy. Again, if they have the money, a lot of parents do buy their kids cool stuff. Especially if its stuff the parents think is cool.

[willop]

Ever consider that perhaps these kids with high end instruments don't know what they have?

If you 'have money' you often buy 'the best'. So richy rich's dad walks into GC and says "Junior wants to play the bass - what's the best you have?" If dad has the money it's a done deal.

I used to scrimp and save to get something -now I don't have to. I have the ability, the luxury, to go get what I want. I can pay for it. Now it's not a matter of drooling over it but a matter of 'what do I want? and what do I want to spend?'

I'm still thrifty - when my son's ipod died I didn't get him a 64bit gen, but a 16 bit gen 4.

Around here that borders on child abuse though. LOL

[DWLANG]

Originally Posted by cableguy

you'll have plenty of years to buy nice gear. Learn your theory & fundamentals. Most bands would rather have a good bassist with average gear than a lousy bassist with great gear. As long as your bass stays in tune, work with it until you can afford to upgrade. Besides that kid will probably quit in a year or two and you can buy his bass cheap..........

Great advise!

[DanGouge]

One of the most liberating things is to be content with your gear, and maybe you won't be content with an OLP (but maybe you will be, and if so, awesome), but maybe you will be with, say, a used Fender Jazz, or used Lakland Skyline series or one of hundreds of different basses that can be had for less than half of what a new Ricky costs. I've played 4003s and they are amazing, but I can't justify $2000 on one, but then I do really love the sounds that I get from my Fenders, none of which cost more than $1000 (all bought used, granted). I'll still go to music stores all the time and try lots of gear and I can be impressed by it, but I don't worry about having to have it.