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Am I a 'Brand name' snob?

#21
hrodbert696 said:
You're not a snob for liking what you like.

You would be a snob if you judged others for playing what they play, just because of the name on the headstock. I met a bassist playing a jazz bass at Kingston Mines in Chicago. His tone was delicious and he was grooving beautifully. Afterwards I asked him what he was playing - it was a VM Squier. He kind of laughed and quasi-apologized when he told me. Now, if I'd thought less of him for playing a Squier, THEN I'd be a gear snob. But the proof is in the pudding - he sounded great. No more discussion necessary.
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Agreed....

Also I saw the you're in New Hampshire....I was born in 'Old' Hampshire.
 
#22
TheDepths said:
Hello esteemed fellows of TalkBass!

Apologies if this is a much flogged dead horse...

I have noticed that many of you own and speak highly of instruments made by the 'cheaper' brands of major manufacturers (eg. Squier, Epiphone, Stirling) Whilst I have lots of respect for the instruments these makers are putting out these days (in particular Squier) I always wanted the 'real thing'.

When I was looking for a Jazz bass (I've wanted one since I started playing in school) I saved up and bought my MIM 70's Jazz (which they'll have to pry from my cold dead hands....) Now, I've played Squiers in the past which were pretty good, but I gave a CV Jazz a serious play and it is pretty darn close...not quite....but close. So I tried a Stirling.....again, pretty close to my Musicman Stingray.

So I guess you can see what I'm getting at here, Is the extra money for the 'Name' worth it? Would I be happier with cheaper basses but more of them?

Either way, I stand behind my choices.....as a young bassist starting out I never thought I'd own either of these...but I'm glad I do.

Any thoughts or opinions?

Cheers,

Tom
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IMHO a snob is not someone that wants to or owns a particular type of gear but, someone that owns a particular type of gear and looks down on anyone that doesn't have the same taste
 
#23
I've owned high-end basses A few Alembics) some vintage pieces and low-end basses (a few Squiers) and a LOT of parts basses. Never really gave it much thought. Guess I'm not a snob.

When I'm PLAYING my basses, I don't give one tiny passing thought to whatever brand name is on it. In fact, my go-to for the past year or so is a Mexi-mutt Jazz bass.

I think MUCH more about making that next key change flow a little more smoothly.
 
#24
Many years ago, after starting on acoustic guitar and moving to bass, I finally reached a point where I wanted (and could afford) to buy an electric guitar. I got a Squier. Loved it. Two weeks later I took it back and paid $50 more for a MIM Strat. Same exact guitar in every way, even colour. The only difference was the label on the headstock. But it made me feel a lot better to have a "real" Fender Strat.

Now I've got a pretty good collection of guitars and basses, every one a name brand. To me they're iconic, and achieved that status for a reason. I've got no problem with people who get an Epiphone instead of a Gibson, or a Squier instead of a Fender. A good player will make anything sound great. But for me, I'm able to afford iconic brands, so that's what I get.
 
#26
darrenmt said:
Interesting viewpoints although IMO not entirely true. The MIA Fender isn't necessarily better in build quality nor tone than the Fender Road Worn series which is MIM. Also, a Lakland Skyline is the 'budget' Lakland and even though it isn't as finely crafted as it's US counterpart, it is still on par with other US built basses.

I don't think everyone is brand conscious only because of snob factor, brand name association plays a major role, that being a means to achieve a particularly favored tone or feel.
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I agree with this statement. I'm very high on MIA stuff, but I do own a MIM Road Worn, a Lakland Skyline Duck Dunn and a German Hofner. All nice basses. But those also are product lines with well-deserved reputations for quality.
People derisively talk about paying for a name on a headstock, but the reason for that is, that brand has built a reputation for quality, value, etc., that's important to us. Conversely, some of us remember when Squiers and MIM Fenders were really awful, and are reluctant to go there. I purchased an MIM P-Bass new two years ago as a rehearsal bass and it was much better than one I briefly owned in the late. '90s, but it still left me cold. Got rid of it at a loss and got a great, mint, used 2013 MIA for $800, about $250 more than the MIM and worth every penny. YMMV, but that's been my experience.
 
#27
I have two basses: a Fender MIM Standard Jazz Bass (Sunburst, brown tort pick guard, Bad Ass II bridge) that I bought brand new last year, and a Yamaha BB300 (Red, possibly a 1998 model). While I don't consider myself a "brand snob", I do prefer to play a Fender over a Squier. Why? I guess it's because my Jazz is a "Fender." I don't look down at those that play or prefer a Squier, or any other inexpensive brand name bass guitar, for that matter, but I have to admit it's a psychological thing, I guess, with me that I have the word "Fender" on my Jazz's headstock.

As far as my BB300, I consider it the Squier of the Yamaha BB series, though some may disagree with me.

I've played MIA Fender Jazz Basses at Guitar Center, and they did feel "different", though maybe it was psychological. I think the feeling is bred into all of us that just because something is more expensive then it has to better. A lot of times it does make a difference. Sometimes not.

I agree with a few others' statements here, as far as the bottom line is concerned: Play a bass that you enjoy playing with, no matter what brand it is or how cheap or expensive it was when you bought it. It's all about having fun and the enjoyment and fulfillment of playing.
 
#28
No one can speak for what makes so done else happy. If a certain name on the headstock gives you a sense of satisfaction that another name cannot give you regardless of quality, then spend the extra dough. As long as the bass is actually well made and sounds good, everything should be fine.
 
#29
One last thing from me: There are loads of instruments out there that are intentionally very cheap, beginner-grade items. They serve a purpose in the market, but that's probably not where most of us dwell as players. Conversely, I think you can get to a place of diminishing returns with super high end basses, but more power to you if that's what you want. I'm glad there are so many choices available to fit people's needs and budget. But I don't think the OP is snobbish at all to set a standard that he wants to see in a bass he buys, and it seems most of us agree.
 
#30
While I do prefer high end instruments as I find they play and sound better, part of the reason I avoid the cheap stuff, like Squier, is who builds them. I sleep a lot better at night knowing all my basses were built by people who have a job I wouldn't mind having myself. I don't have to worry about anybody getting exploited by working for Cortek (or something similar) with any of my basses. I am not about to judge those that do, but I think about where my products come from. I don't use Apple products anymore because they use child labour.
 
#31
I am. I have tried to go "budget" and as nice as they are (for the price) they just don't feel and sound like the basses I currently use. Maybe they work for others, that's great. They don't for me - at least as long as I can have the Roscoe's I choose to play at this time.

If the day comes where I have no choice, I'l play them, and I'll sound good. Bu until then. I am going to play my Roscoe's.
 
#32
Templar said:
Never thought I'd see the day when wanting an actual Fender bass might be considered being a "gear snob".

It's just a Fender, for God's sake. Could it get more common than that?

Just goes to show how wack Talkbass has gotten. Some sort of weird political correctness?

:eyebrow:
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You touch on a core problem: a "Fender" is not just a "Fender" and has not been since they started outsourcing manufacturing to cut costs years ago. I could put to brand new fender badged basses in front of you - and they will look very similar - but be radically different instruments - one playable and nice, one a piece of near-firewood. That's what Fender has done for its brand value. They should have stayed with calling their off-shore product "squier" rather than dillute their name. In this one area, I *am* a snob: I hate companies trying to get-over on unsuspecting customers by selling an inferior product with the name of a superior brand. So no, I'll not own a MIM fender or a MIK G&L. I'd rather buy a used USA G&L than a new MIK one.
 
#33
DiabolusInMusic said:
While I do prefer high end instruments as I find they play and sound better, part of the reason I avoid the cheap stuff, like Squier, is who builds them. I sleep a lot better at night knowing all my basses were built by people who have a job I wouldn't mind having myself. I don't have to worry about anybody getting exploited by working for Cortek (or something similar) with any of my basses. I am not about to judge those that do, but I think about where my products come from. I don't use Apple products anymore because they use child labour.
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+ 1!
 
#34
I'm thinking about selling one of my Fenders (a MIJ Geddy Lee) to fund a new Carvin PB. Don't care that it says Carvin on the headstock and not Fender. Go with what you prefer. If wanting a MIA Fender makes you a gear snob then so be it. But play what makes you happy and to hell with what anybody else thinks.
 
#36
DiabolusInMusic said:
While I do prefer high end instruments as I find they play and sound better, part of the reason I avoid the cheap stuff, like Squier, is who builds them. I sleep a lot better at night knowing all my basses were built by people who have a job I wouldn't mind having myself. I don't have to worry about anybody getting exploited by working for Cortek (or something similar) with any of my basses. I am not about to judge those that do, but I think about where my products come from. I don't use Apple products anymore because they use child labour.
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I think this is a valid point as long as there's actual evidence that workers are being exploited by any given company. But I don't think it's valid to assume that workers are being exploited simply because the product is affordable or made abroad. You can wind up crossing a fine line between "I don't want to support exploiting workers" and "I don't want to support jobs for poor people abroad."
 
#37
SteveHeissner said:
I'm thinking about selling one of my Fenders (a MIJ Geddy Lee) to fund a new Carvin PB. Don't care that it says Carvin on the headstock and not Fender. Go with what you prefer. If wanting a MIA Fender makes you a gear snob then so be it. But play what makes you happy and to hell with what anybody else thinks.
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You can't read the headstock while you are playing. I can't anyway.
 

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