Those who can, play; those who can't, fuss over equipment.

[joelb79]

Originally Posted by KJung

'a good player makes the worst gear sound great, a 'bad' player makes the best gear sound like dog'.

This is so true. There is a cat who comes to one of my jams with a bass that has strings so far off the fretboard; his pickups are lower than should be from the strings by a large portion; and his pickups do not hum cancel when using both on his Jazz; but when he plays it sounds so good. I can't help but think that this cat would sound so much better with a Sadowsky in his hands or something. It's so his style. But I don't think it would make him sound different; he would still sound like him.

Focus on technique. Never quit practicing. Some day, everything you pick up will sound like a million bucks too, from Alembic to Zon (and everything in between).

[osuok88]

False. I am bad in playing and have no money, lol

[georgiagoodie]

Look at professional string and wind players.

Do you have ANY IDEA how much money their instruments cost?

The finest violins (used by the finest violinists) are valued over $1 million (and much higher!). Of course these are the best of the best. However there are tens of thousands of fiddles valued from $30,000 to $500,000.

Typical values for fine vintage saxes are around $10K to $15K.

Drummers spend their entire lives trying to find the perfect ride cymbal.

Musicians who care about the sounds they make care about the instruments that make these sounds, and the finest musicians will continuously seek the finest available.

[Templar]

As mentioned, it's a false dichotomy, no correlation involved. Over time, you'll meet all sorts of musicians. Some play great and fuss over gear to the point of insanity. Others don't seem to have cared about their gear at all....Jamerson, Carol Kaye, McCartney.

Kinda reminds me of the false dichotomy between "players and collectors". They are not mutually exclusive. Many of your fave players own vast guitar collections. They have the desire and the financial wherewithal.

For example, Stephen Stills is known to have hoarded one of the biggest collections of pre-war Martin guitars, as well as Gibson Firebirds. No one would question his playing ability.

[sludgelord3000]

Billy Gibbons is one of the biggest gear whores there is, yet if he plays a Kramer hockey stick plugged into a Rockman he still sound like Billy Gibbons.

G.A.s. requires discretionary income. Starving musicians don't have it. Dayjobbers, trust fund kids and rock stars do. I never cared about gear until I had the money to spend on it. Now it's a constant, nagging obsession.

My beef is more with the dudes who buy $8000 29-string basses made from endangered rainforest wood and all they use them for is YouTube wank videos. I guess there's the ego rush of getting a bunch of views -- 15 minutes of fame and whatnot. But try that slappity-tappity crap in anything but a technical death metal band and the drummer's gonna jam a stick through your earhole.

Anyway, electric players have it easy. Your top of the line axe costs what an upright player's middle-of-the-road shop bass goes for.

[phillybass101]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Not sure how serious this thread is supposed to be but it presents a pretty blatant false dichotomy.

I can play. I also like to fuss about gear. There also also plenty of members who post more than I do and could also play circles around me.

+1 on this. And you better not mess with my Tone or my gear. I've been playing for over 41 years so I have a good idea about what I need and want. Nothing beats good gear no matter what playing level you are at.

[Mulebagger]

Originally Posted by phillybass101

+1 on this. And you better not mess with my Tone or my gear. I've been playing for over 41 years so I have a good idea about what I need and want. Nothing beats good gear no matter what playing level you are at.

Agreed!
If I had a ferrari, I'd drive that sucker to the store for milk and drift it all the way there. I've never found the need to judge other players or their choices. I'm mostly concerned with what works for me and what I like musically. Tossing and turning over what someone else deserves to play is a waste of time and karma in my book.

[fullcircle]

A lot of very good points being made in the thread.
I sort of see gear the way I see other relationships- I can go through a lot of them trying to find "the one" or I can try to make what I have work- and a big part of making it work is me putting the work in.

[kozmikyak]

Originally Posted by AudioDwebe

True or false?

I find this to be so damn true (for me personally). Unfortunately, I fall into the latter.

Working on moving closer to the former.

I know lots of players that _can_ play, and _do_ play, who fuss over their equipment almost constantly.

I do agree with the gist of this, that fussing with equipment all the time can distract from playing, but it's not an automatic sign that someone doesn't know what he's doing.

[bassplayer8953]

I don't think I'm good, other people tell me I'm good (kiss-@%^&es... ...)

Discussing...and acquiring gear...are a fun distraction, & GAS keeps the fire burning...

[Muttleybass]

Originally Posted by Orangeclawhamme

WHO???

Yes.

No wait! That was Squier!

[Muttleybass]

Okay.... Although I don't REALLY agree with the OP statement, I do know a disturbingly high number of people who can't play that have expensive gear WAY beyond their ability. I also know true, pro, full time players that play with trashy gear that works for them!

...maybe it IS the end of the world as we know it... But I feel fine.

[Clef_de_fa]

I think someone who will realy be good doesn't buy a lot of instrument like a collector.

But I think people in cover band are more prone to buy a lot of instrument just to chase that elusive tone on the recording ... while solo artist and bass player in original band are seen with one bass or very few variation because they understand that the instrument isn't as important. Your knowledge of music and how to make thing work on your instrument is and I don't think you can get there with 50 basses for every situation possible.

[1SHOT1HIT]

This is not directed at anyone particularly.
more of a general thought that seems to cross my mind often online.


What's even funnier than a guy that can't play bass, who also owns lots of basses and gear. Or a guy who can't play and still enjoys talking gear.

Is a guy who is so incredibly small minded that he thinks, just because he doesn't get something, or can't see/understand/do something the same way someone else does, that he is automatically somehow superior to the other guy, & can then mount his soapbox just before purging his opinionated vile about how great he has everyone else figured out so well.

Here's a fact, --you can share you're opinions, you can even believe you know a few things about someone else that doesn't adhere to your way of thinking or doing things.
But truth be told, it's not possible for you to KNOW because you are NOT that person, therefor you really must admit.
At the end if the day, you don't have a clue what you're talking about.

Honestly, I'd MUCH rather know the nice guy with a bunch of basses, & cool gear, than the guy with one that always claims he knows EVERYTHING about anything.