Official Crappy Bassist with Expensive Gear Club

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by SR Addict

Couldn't have been Long & McQuade, could it? They constantly call me about sales. It worked, though. I blew $1,300 in their store last weekend from one of their phone calls, hahaha...

Then again, I've never seen a Fodera in L&M.

They only call me when gear I order comes in generally, and I swear that I should win customer of the year.... every year! man, I buy a lot of crap from them.... But luckily they don't bug me about sales and other stuff.

Markham is the only store that can order a Fodera and they were great to deal with on mine.

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by Tactician

A £5000 top end rig is so cheap compared to what most pro musicians have to pay out.

Agreed, BUT most of us on TB are NOT pros. LOTS of weekend warriors on this board.

So, is it safe to say..... very few violinists, cellists, DB players, etc. that only play in their basements or do the odd $75-100 gig actually own $10,000+ instruments?

[pringlw]

That's true, and don't even get me started on Pianos. It's all relative.

Originally Posted by Davo-London

Listen I think you've got it all wrong.

If I am a violinist or an URB player, this is instrument pricing:

- $500-1000 beginner instrument
- $1,000 - $3,000 instrument - not embarrassed to bring it out at a rehearsal
- $10,000 - $30,000 instrument - something to talk about but there's always better
- $100,000 instrument - excellent but still not top flight

It's very difficult to spend more than $10,000 on a bass. So we are VERY LUCKY indeed. So my philosophy is that non of us are too crappy to play our instrument!

Davo : )

[havuk]

Originally Posted by ShowLow

Let me guess. Sweetwater. They drive me nuts, calling me at work. I will never buy from them again.

sweetwater sells fodera?

[DeMayunn]

I'd love a number but i dont have any expensive gear :P

[72LML]

Holy Smokes! This thread blew up yesterday. Sorry for the delay.

Here are some more numbers.

ThatBassBoy = #248
JamesGoodall = #249
steve f = #250
cfsporn = #251
moret = #252
backtobass = #253
Simononstyle = #254
Thom Walker = #255
samjazz = #256
Immigrant = #257
Eric 71 = #258
baddarryl = #259
Calexia13 = #260
Kingbreaker = #261
Greg S = #262
bampilot06 = #263

Let me know if I missed anybody and I'll add you to the list.

[Davo-London]

Originally Posted by DeMayunn

I'd love a number but i dont have any expensive gear :P

Excellent.

By my definition, my $2500 custom Cliff Bordwell isn't really expensive.

But I actually can play, so I really, really don't count.

Davo

[ShowLow]

Originally Posted by havuk

sweetwater sells fodera?

Um, probably not. But they sure do call!!

[Yango]

I've got a couple of Ritter Royal Flora Aurum's gathering dust in the basement...

[samjazz]

Originally Posted by loopee

(thats right I suck so bad I need to play short scale!

That's not nice......so if this is true then Paul McCartney is a bad bassist too?

Paul McCartney doesn't play short scale anymore

[loopee]

Really? Since when? Every time I see him on TV he's playing his Hofner.......

But I was just trying to say that just because some of us play short scale instruments it's not because we're bad.........

[Tactician]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

Agreed, BUT most of us on TB are NOT pros. LOTS of weekend warriors on this board.

So, is it safe to say..... very few violinists, cellists, DB players, etc. that only play in their basements or do the odd $75-100 gig actually own $10,000+ instruments?

Yes I agree - was just pointing out the difference between orchestral players expenses and top bassists. I am a full time teacher/ player and after so long - started in the mid 60s and now I AM mid 60s - I can tell you that for little dosh you can get on with the best. Did a course with Staurt Hamm a few years ago with five other guys - best basses in the room were his original Fender Hamm model ( the prototype?) a couple of Deluxe Fender Precisions and the rest of us. I took along a modified MIM Jazz, which I don't articularly like for its narrow neck, and a modified Ibanez RD600, a sort of Lakland clone.

At no stage did Stuart suggest we needed better basses or anything like that - just that someone had a cable that sucked - followed by an interesting demo of what better cables sound like (very convincing).

So I'm happy to earn a living with my $750 basses (happy to play a better one, but I don't really NEED it) and a couple af amps - an Ashdown MAG250 that I've chopped into a head and a pair of 3015 cabs - and a Laney 120 watt amp that I've also chopped into a head which I use with a single cab and/or as my backup or foldback.

Total cost of my rig certainly no more than $1800. If I upgraded, it might play a little better in my hands - but the way I see it, that's a bit like opting for the Merc Van instead of the Ford - nice but not part of the P&L. I'd rather save the money and spend it on another vacation in Italy or the music course I'm doing in Italy in May. It's about prioritising. It's about the difference between a hobby and a business.

[BassGen]

Originally Posted by Tactician

Yes I agree - was just pointing out the difference between orchestral players expenses and top bassists. I am a full time teacher/ player and after so long - started in the mid 60s and now I AM mid 60s - I can tell you that for little dosh you can get on with the best. Did a course with Staurt Hamm a few years ago with five other guys - best basses in the room were his original Fender Hamm model ( the prototype?) a couple of Deluxe Fender Precisions and the rest of us. I took along a modified MIM Jazz, which I don't articularly like for its narrow neck, and a modified Ibanez RD600, a sort of Lakland clone.

At no stage did Stuart suggest we needed better basses or anything like that - just that someone had a cable that sucked - followed by an interesting demo of what better cables sound like (very convincing).

So I'm happy to earn a living with my $750 basses (happy to play a better one, but I don't really NEED it) and a couple af amps - an Ashdown MAG250 that I've chopped into a head and a pair of 3015 cabs - and a Laney 120 watt amp that I've also chopped into a head which I use with a single cab and/or as my backup or foldback.

Total cost of my rig certainly no more than $1800. If I upgraded, it might play a little better in my hands - but the way I see it, that's a bit like opting for the Merc Van instead of the Ford - nice but not part of the P&L. I'd rather save the money and spend it on another vacation in Italy or the music course I'm doing in Italy in May. It's about prioritising. It's about the difference between a hobby and a business.

My rig is an Ampeg SVT6-Pro with 2 Mesa 410 powerhouse cabs. I only have slightly more than $1800 into it. Just a mix of smart shopping and good luck. Is it more than I need? He'll yes. Does it sound great when I get to let 'er rip? Oh yeah!

[Thom Walker]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

Nice!

I have only done 2 paying gigs this year and made a grand total of $175+beer.

The last gig I did, I made $75.... My rig?

2013 Fodera Emperor Standard 5er
2009 MTD 535
Jule Monique preamp
2000w Crest poweramp
2x Bergantino AE210 cabs

At his pace, just the above gear (I have lots more) will be paid off by my gigging pay in just less than 18 years. Not a spectacular ROI to say the least.

Oh, when you buy a Fodera and don't want the wife to know it is insanely expensive, make sure the retailer you bought it from doesn't call you 3 times in the week after delivery to check in to see if you are still loving the Fodera. Mine did and the wife knew something was up. Hell, Chanel didn't even call her when she bought a purse that cost as much as a Sadowsky NYC!

The Monique is on my short list. I miss tubes. I had one of the old Aggies awhile back. Just to heavy to lug around. When I had it I was gigging a lot and making money. Just not enough to have someone else carry my gear.

[thedudebrah]

I gotta ask for a number. I've been playing for 12 years and though I get compliments on my playing very often, I think I'm mediocre at best. I don't have the best technique, and I've only ever been in original punk and hardcore bands. I feel I should be a lot better after playing for 12 years.

My equipment list includes 5 Ps, a J, and a classic Stingray. Amps include an SVT-VR rig with an 810 and acoustic half stack. I even have some guitar equipment and I'm even worse at that. An old Peavey T60 and an old Carvin tube head.

[cfsporn]

Just got this a couple days ago.

[chuck norriss]

Rad. What is it?

[cfsporn]

Originally Posted by chuck norriss

Rad. What is it?

Fender P Bass Elite.

[bostonasphalt2]

I have 11 Warwicks, all German, and plenty of Eden and Warwick amps an cabs, and I honestly suck.

[2meterbassman]

Sorry, can't join the club - I have only cheap equipment, and I'm an awesome bassplayer.

Greetz