I gig/rehearse with my best gear with a few exceptions - I have a couple of vintage pedals that I only use for recording. I'd rather they don't have drinks spilled on them. I'd rather the Boss & MXR pedals take that kind of abuse instead.
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Afraid to use your nice gear?
- Thread starter Paulabass
- Start date
I feel like much of this discussion is resting on the assumption that the audience can tell the difference between the 3,000 dollar Pedulla and the 500 dollar Yamaha. Both are completely gig-able instruments, but perhaps a person owns the Pedulla for themselves as a prized possession, and doesn't feel like the audience, the band, or him/herself is being short changed by not bringing it?
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One thing I meant to cover in my previous post was that I’ve owned and played the heck out of a few basses over the years with no thought of treating them gently- basses I bonded with and assumed I’d keep forever.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt that way about an instrument, and I’ve been overly careful these past few years in keeping that showroom shine on basses I’ve bought and sold.
However, that’s all about to change- my next bass is a dream bass and it’s gonna be punished.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt that way about an instrument, and I’ve been overly careful these past few years in keeping that showroom shine on basses I’ve bought and sold.
However, that’s all about to change- my next bass is a dream bass and it’s gonna be punished.
I have always brought whatever basses were necessary for the music at hand, at any gig, no exception. I have always had decent gear, no cheap stuff (well, beside all those Fenders I used to own). I used to own one definitely collectible bass, that one got used for everything from big festivals to sleazy college dive bars. One time, at a winery gig, a horn player from another band on the bill asked why I was playing my definitely collectible bass, all the while holding a very expensive instrument, himself. 
These days I am not gigging in a band so I just sit and stare at my instruments.
These days I am not gigging in a band so I just sit and stare at my instruments.
These days I am not gigging in a band so I just sit and stare at my instruments.
Amateur. I just sit on the couch looking at photos of my basses on my phone instead of getting up and walking 5 steps to actually look at them in reality.
I always get lost on the hammer analogy. I've been a carpenter and my hammer and my bass are two different things. But this thread just convinced me to sell a cheaper P bass I put together. Luthier took 10 months to do some routing and by the time it came back j had no real use for it. But it's pretty so I kept it around. But I'm never gunna use it at a gig or even practices. And I'd rather use one of my main stays around the house anyhow. So thanks!
1. I don't own gear I wouldn't take to any gig, with the exception of my 150 year old upright. I won't take that to an outdoor gig where I know it will be exposed to the elements. Especially rain or sun.
2. I don't play gigs I wouldn't take my gear to. If I don't want my gear going into a dive bar, I sure as heck don't want to be there, either.
I'm more apt to take something other than my #1 simply because my #1 has new strings that I'm saving for a session and I don't want to ruin them with a sweaty gig. I do that quite a bit when I've got session work lined up for a few weeks.
2. I don't play gigs I wouldn't take my gear to. If I don't want my gear going into a dive bar, I sure as heck don't want to be there, either.
I'm more apt to take something other than my #1 simply because my #1 has new strings that I'm saving for a session and I don't want to ruin them with a sweaty gig. I do that quite a bit when I've got session work lined up for a few weeks.
I always bring my "good" stuff unless something else is provided, or it's going to be an outdoor venue with the potential for dirt, rain, fog, you name it. If the set up is an old trailer etc. I'll skip bring the old combo as well. I have an old Fender 1x15 250 watt combo that I can bring and thrash for that.
I wonder if orchestral musicians have 'beaters' they take to the gig. "I just use my $20,000, 10 year old bass and leave the $100,000, 100 year old bass for the important gigs. Good thing I make at least $35,000 per year as a professional classical musician!"
I agree, if you gig and have something too nice to gig with, I don't quite get that. But I do not rehearse with my gigging amp or bass. Not because they're "too good" but mainly because I don't want to lug the stuff around. And I don't really need to craft my tone at rehearsal. My gigging amp is a combo with 9 knobs. If I can't dial that in, I need to just sell it all and play the triangle. So, isosceles or scalene?
- Jun 6, 2012
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- 6,859
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- I don't wait 30 minutes after eating, to go swimming.
My beater bass and amp is an ebmm stingray and ampeg v4b... the svt stays at home because im lazy
I play whatever bass has the new strings on it this quarter.
I may be unable to resist buying new gear constantly but somehow I'm also too cheap to install two sets of strings at once.
I may be unable to resist buying new gear constantly but somehow I'm also too cheap to install two sets of strings at once.
If it were the other way around it would be lots of gigs and one bass. ... Like the old days.
What nice gear? Seriously, I don’t have nice, I have tools. Tools get used, and there may be a life expectancy with them. The best part of this outlook is I don’t have to pay a premium to get new old looking gear.
I doubt my group is leaving enough impression on the crowd to make anyone notice lol
