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A genuine question for bassists...

#21
I'm a musician since I was 8. Drummer, DJ, Sound Engeneer, then bassist. Had a long musical hiatus of about 15 years and picked up a bass again 3 years ago.

Last October, after 20 years working as cabin crew and safety instructor for an international airline, I started my own business as safety consultant. More time for my wife, kids and music.

Now I'm playing drums and bass on a regular basis at my local church, and leading the Worship Team. Also catching up with fellow musicians, so giggin' a bit outside the church.

I've no problem with buying gear as long as it doesn't affect my family budget, so I'm trying to get things only if it's absolutely necessary. Sometimes I found myself buying gear that I won't use or need, in that case I try to sell them to get back some cash...
 
#22
philvanv said:
I work full time have one combo, one bass that is most excellent. I record, played live and anything else with this set up. Nothing else needed as far as im concerned. If I need a different sound the studio Joe puts it in. If its live the sound guy puts it in or it is not heard. I don't like pedals so I stay away from them. Just my passive pups and combo amp.
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you're my hero, man! serious:)

Cheers,
Wallace
 
#23
i think what i did was pretty smart..

when i was 16, i got a job at a supermarket. at that age i had no expenses other than food during the day at school. i saved (literally!) every dollar i made for years. in that time i bought EVERYTHING i thought i needed, knowing i planned to pursue music professionally.

i bought the best electric basses i knew existed, the best amps, a great set of pedals, ext. spared no expense.

i got it all then knowing that later in life i won't be able to pay off a $4,500 instrument quite as easily.

i was totally right, and i'm happy i did it. i rely on my gear every day and it always serves and inspires me just the way i need it to.

nowadays my gear purchases tend to be on student level instruments that i'd like to get better on to make myself more versatile as a music educator, since thats the direction i've ended up going in professionally. as i type this i'm looking at a trombone and a violin on the other side of the room wondering "how did this happen to me??"

so, my mountain of gear started out in a responsible way, and for years since has been growing piece by piece. at this point i've got a ton of stuff, and i do consider it all important for me to make a living with.

i still do browse at gear and wish i could pick up something new just for fun, but in reality the stuff i have is "better" (to me / for me) than anything else i could find, so other basses would just be for fun new toys.
 
#24
I'm 45. Gigged routinely growing up ( bars, nite clubs,etc ) for more than half my life.Some studio work and semi pro for along time. Times change.I find myself divorced, 2 kids ( one out on his own, teenage daughter lives with her mom ),
In Debt a$$ deep. Not currently pursuing playing but do have a hobby of buying gear......but not big money purchases but more project bass's, parts for mods, and smaller things like pedals, etc. I can totally understand the apprehension of buying things with a child on the way or with small kids. BUT
Having said that, make sure to take care of yourself. Nothing wrong with treating yourself after all the other things are taken care of. EBay is great for small purchases on an infinite number of things to keep your interest in gear going without a lot of guilt.
 
#25
jg919 said:
My gear (the same for the last 5 years or so) is '95 Musicman Sterling, Sansamp BDDI, '86 Gallien Krueger 800rb, English Ashdown ABM 410 (4ohm).

My question is this:
I love browsing new gear on ebay, gumtree, etc, etc. HOWEVER - despite my desire to branch out & experience new, exciting gear (basses, pedals, amps, all of it) - I simply cannot bring myself to spend any money.
I immediately think - car, petrol, mortgage, baby expenses, food, electricity, finishing the yard, sabing for babies' school...etc, etc.

I love browsing opinions & images of gear on Talkbass - especially from those who have a wide range (sometimes mountains worth) of basses, amps & pedals they can play with - my question to these people is what lifestyle situation are you in?

Now all things aside (I know my gear is reliable and of decent quality) - I am genuinely asking how these players are able to acquire this many goodies?
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Hi John! I'm 54. When I was your age, I was not as mature -- I was constantly swapping gear around. Not that I was rich, but my living expenses were low. Anyway: you have fine gear, and I commend you for sticking with it. Even the best gear traders lose money in the long run, if nothing else because of the time spent searching for the best deals.

My situation: I have four expensive boutique basses plus two less expensive ones, and essentially three full amp rigs. I'm still middle class, but have been in a DINK household (Dual Income, No Kids) for many years which gives me some income to spare. I gross from $4k-8k a year from weekend gigging, and that also goes toward gear.

I've become less gear-shifty (so to speak) now that I'm older. Exception: in Y2K I switched from four string to five string bass, so in the early 00's I went through a number of fivers deciding which I liked best. FWIW, I prefer "wide" string spacing (i.e. not narrow), and while I have no trouble playing 35" scale, I prefer the tone of 34".

Sure, it's fun to window shop, but unless you have a genuine need, there's no reason for you to keep up with the "latest and greatest" gear. Your setup is just fine! So, BEWARE of TalkBass... it's far too easy to become tempted to buy gear that you don't really need. :ninja:
 
#26
jg919 said:
Hi!

(Please excuse if this first part sounds like a personal ad)

As a bassist of 27, I have recently found myself maturing musically and personally.
As I'm getting more and more diverse with musical work, meeting more musicians than ever (some of high profile), I find myself interested in the PEOPLE who make music, as much as the music itself.

My gig is this: work weekdays, gig any combination of fri/sat/sun (days or nights), back to work.
During the year, there may be a few times when i tour - Narooma Jazz festival, Broadbeach Blues, Western Australia, etc - off work for this time.

I have recently bought house & land & am awaiting our first child.

My gear (the same for the last 5 years or so) is '95 Musicman Sterling, Sansamp BDDI, '86 Gallien Krueger 800rb, English Ashdown ABM 410 (4ohm).

My question is this:
I love browsing new gear on ebay, gumtree, etc, etc. HOWEVER - despite my desire to branch out & experience new, exciting gear (basses, pedals, amps, all of it) - I simply cannot bring myself to spend any money.
I immediately think - car, petrol, mortgage, baby expenses, food, electricity, finishing the yard, sabing for babies' school...etc, etc.

I love browsing opinions & images of gear on Talkbass - especially from those who have a wide range (sometimes mountains worth) of basses, amps & pedals they can play with - my question to these people is what lifestyle situation are you in?

Now all things aside (I know my gear is reliable and of decent quality) - I am genuinely asking how these players are able to acquire this many goodies?
Are they regular session players and see these as mainly tools?
Are you spending a great deal of a disposeable income?
Are you post raising kids & enjoying the fruits of your labour?
Are you a touring player and have a great selection for different bands?
Are you a gear junkie who can't get enough of fun goodies?
Do you run a store and get cost-price deals?
Do brands throw their gear at you because you're a big, famous rock star?

I don't mean to pidgeonhole anyone or sound negative in any whay by asking this question - I am genuinely enquiring out of pure curiosity :)

Please don't be shy in answering - if you love to show your gear, or have a lot of it (or the complete opposite for that matter!) I'd love to hear what lifestyle/musical situation you are in.

Thanks guys and gals!
JOHN
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First of all congratulations on the baby! I have a lot in common with you I am 24 also have a baby on the way and have step kids I play in a band we do shows monthly so far were just getting out there.

I think I'm the only person here who's nots a gear junky I like to just have what I need I am not a collector and I believe creating tone and playing bass are two different arts so I don't need a different bass for every gig I strive to make the right tone.

I am just grateful to be able to play and even have some gigs and my family too. I only have a couple of basses and guitars both ibanez and fender and it covers all my ground. But wait til the kid enters the picture there will be change in a good way.
 
#28
philvanv said:
I work full time have one combo, one bass that is most excellent. I record, played live and anything else with this set up. Nothing else needed as far as im concerned. If I need a different sound the studio Joe puts it in. If its live the sound guy puts it in or it is not heard. I don't like pedals so I stay away from them. Just my passive pups and combo amp.
Click to expand...

+1. I've become something of a minimalist myself recently, although in my past I've had up to 10 guitars and 5 basses at a time. Since any bigger gigs I have offer PA support, the only bass amp I currently own is a GK 112 combo. If I ever need more I'd probably get a 212, love the GK stuff. Really all I need for what I do is a P-bass. Anything else is overkill. I also have a MM sub ray 5, which could easily be my only bass as well realistically. Guitar I'm the same way these days. MIM strat with a humbucker in the bridge and a fender deluxe 1x12 combo. Since I love low end, been contemplating a 7 string guitar, but it's by no means a need. I'm not rich, but I'm in a financial position where I could afford much more/better gear than I have. Heck I might have to save for a couple months, but even a Fodera etc would be well within reach if I had the desire.
 
#29
There is a common thing on TalkBass called Gear Acquirement Syndrome, or GAS (verb gassing). We all get it, its a little like a shopping addiction that is fed by the desire for a perfect, mythological tone in your head. I'm usually pretty good at resisting it, but the fact that the stuff I get a wild hair for is hard to find and way too expensive to purchase sight-unseen, keeps me from getting in trouble.

I myself was very heavy into playing in my late teens and twenties. At one point I was juggling three bands (one regular, one semi-regular, the other just for fun) along with a job. But I realized I was burning out physically (always tired), emotionally (with rocking comes drinking and other things), socially (no time to date or hang out) and economically because I was working a low paying job with flexible hours. So I decided to try the "adult" thing out by cutting back on my bands, de-prioritizing music, get a better job and get a wife. A couple years later I was more broke, divorced and remarried and went through a couple jobs because it turns out the job market is highly unstable for my generation. Before I knew it 10 years had gone by without playing on stage. Yuck. I talked to my wife and together we thought it would be good for me to play in a band again. To make things easy I don't write music (beyond my lines) or lyrics for this band, and have zero expectations of "making it." I like the music, I love playing, and my wife thinks its hot to see me on a stage rocking out. Win-Win. I don't get to express myself fully in the music, but I've learned that I like to write isn't what people want to hear in a bar on a Friday night, so I don't bother.

So for me, as an adult, finding a way to be responsible and have some fun is an important balance. As a musician, wanting to do more in-depth or intricate music appeals to me as I grow, but I also have come to realize that the average listener is a musical dunce that hates anything they can't hum. So the riffs we play are pretty simple, but I weave around them like a skater in between orange cones to keep myself interested.
 
#30
Im 25 work full time, school part time, have a girlfriend, live on my own and play in a local punk band.

I'm always LOOKING for gear but I'll probably make one or two big purchases a year. Like last year I bought a mark bass little mark 3 head. I'll trade a lot or fix something that someone gave me. But for straight out of pocket its tough for me to go yes if its over $100. And I'm sure not saving a lot of money.
 
#31
I obsess about gear and have lots of it! Used to gig two point five times per week now im down to once or twice a month- i have enough basses and amps to replace Chris Wood in MMW tomorrow on permanent tour (but not claiming to have his chops nooo nooo Im not lol!).
I keep my gear addiction in check by shopping CONSTANTLY on my handheld on TB and eBay but usually when i buy something its just strings or a tuner.
 
#32
I'm 53 and have been playing for a long time, but with a long gap in the middle when our son was a kid. When he got close to graduating from high school, I picked up where I left off, only with a huge amount of rust on my brain and fingers. No rust on the gear I had and still have, since it was properly stored. I'm a day job type, so I spend disposable income. The bands I play with have made a little money over the years, but certainly not enough to cover the gear I have bought over those same years. I don't buy that much, since I never seem to sell anything. Trades sometimes happen, but selling never does even if I sometimes want it to. I generally use vintage amps or amps that are like vintage amps, since I don't see the need for the latest and greatest. No bass pedals or effects. The upright and the guitars all go through the same amplifier, no matter the venue. It works, I know what it does, and that's pretty much all I need. So, I have GAS just like everyone else, but it is an odd form of GAS driven more by curiosity than anything else. I really like finding cast-off mongrel instruments and wasting time and money making them playable again.
 
#33
I'm 63. I bought a '66 Precision in 1970 and played it for every gig until the middle 90's. That's when I decided to build basses from various parts. I've built several (5) and enjoyed it, learning what and why, but I truly believe one good instrument can last a lifetime. I'll never get my money back and that '66 is as good as any I've built. And I've done the same thing with speaker cabinets, having built maybe twelve that I've done serious gigging with. You can save some money there. I've got seven amps (two don't work), but could be served by just one (GK 700RB). In short, enjoy your life; buy only the tools you need. Anything else is unnecessary icing on the cake. I've made more money with my gear than it has cost me, but in the end, could have done without most of the stuff I acquired. Too much stuff!
 
#35
I am a hobbyist, not a pro. No maxed out credit for me. From age 16 (start of bass playing) to my mid 40's, very little disposable income = 1 bass, 1 amp. Age 45-53, plenty of disposable income = dozens of basses, pedals, and a few different amps. About a year ago, I had disposed of all my disposable income and have settled in to not buying much anymore but get to enjoy and explore all the cool gear I have acquired.

OP, at 27 you don't know what awaits you.
 
#36
I suck at bass and I have had a ton of gear. I consider it an illness, certainly nothing to strive for. Usually after I order something, I have buyer's remorse or have picked out its replacement before it even arrives. Some stuff I have only played with for 10 minutes before flipping it. And buying a new piece of gear always seems to trigger buying even more somehow.. either accessories to go with it, or it opens me up to a whole new world I never dabbled in before (Buy a new octaver -> Wow octavers are cool, but is this this best? Maybe I should buy every octaver ever made -> Hmm come to think, I don't really like octavers).

The more time I mess with gear, and the more gear I have, the less I practice. I'm not really practicing when I am stringing up my 12th set of flats to see which one is "best" (answer is always none of them, they all have some flaw).

If you've got a set of equipment and you enjoy it, and don't care to buy anything else, then be proud.. the nice thing with bass gear is it doesn't become obsolete.
 
#37
I drool over stuff all the time, same with my work kit as I'm a freelance photographer, but I don't drop on things for two reasons unless I really need something.

First, is the money could be needed elsewhere as was proved this year as I needed to buy a new car, and then with 600miles on it, some toad without insurance piled in to the back of it.

The other is, I'm married to an accountant and the earache alone from that is usually enough to stop me battering the credit card on a regular basis.
 
#39
I have also always felt like an "outsider looking in" on the acquisition of gear mentality. While I see many things I would like to try or have, I can never really make the justification on pulling the trigger. Some of the reasons are the same as yours, jg919. I have no immediate family (on purpose) that I have to take care of, but I still feel like what little money I make is allotted for the drudgery of every day life. I have always tried to live a "minimalist" life style...not having much; always ready to be "on the go" if I need to; avoiding crass consumerism etc (thank you punk rock upbringing!)

Also, when it comes down to it, I have always been satisfied with the gear I have, which is also very "minimalist". I have owned the same guitar/amp set up for 20+ years cause it does exactly what I need in all the situations.

I think that in the long run, some of us find comfort in sameness, and some of us find the thrill of change to be a driving force. In practice, the guitarist in our band will change guitars every song sometimes just cause she feels that "this one ain't doing it for me today"...probably has 20 to choose from...I could never do that! While on the onset, when I see the pics of some of these guys stables I get the "man I wish I had all of those" bug...but then the "what the heck would I do with all of those" logistics take over and it seems less appealing to me.
 
#40
I've been divorced for eleven years now. One of my ex-wife's problems was spending more money than I could make. This was not the reason for the divorce. I now have a much more sane and peaceful life with absolutely no desire to remarry. I am helping with my one son's college expenses, but have no rent or mortgage to pay. I was not able to play music for the seventeen years I was married. Didn't stop me from playing bass 'in my head'. I have been enjoying trying different basses and rigs since the divorce. Disposable income - what a concept. ;) The highlights of my week now are practice on Tuesdays and helping 'raise the praise' on Sunday. I have settled on four of the most perfect (for me) basses I could imagine, the best rig I've ever played through (stays in the sanctuary) and a 'living room amp'. I can't completely regret the marriage because my son would not be here had it not taken place. I would rather have my wife be 'normal', healthy, our family intact, and be broke, but it didn't work out that way...
 

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