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Anyone else becoming a bass snob?
- Thread starter GodPlayedBass
- Start date
Right there with you. I know what I like. I'm glad they make zillions of basses other people like.
I wouldn't say snob. But I know what I like amd what works for me.
For years all I played was a Pbass .
Now I’ve got a pile of other basses and it seems I play anything but . I also used to have a solid thing for rosewood fretboards until I realized my two favourite players had maple boards . Then realized it really didn’t make a whole lot of difference to me .
Current favourites have rosewood , but they’re not Fenders .
Now I’ve got a pile of other basses and it seems I play anything but . I also used to have a solid thing for rosewood fretboards until I realized my two favourite players had maple boards . Then realized it really didn’t make a whole lot of difference to me .
Current favourites have rosewood , but they’re not Fenders .
Knowing what you want is a strength. Having the focus to concentrate on that is not a bad thing.
People should own as many basses as they like, but there are no medals awarded for variety or the most toys, only good playing, so use the gear that inspires you to play well.
People should own as many basses as they like, but there are no medals awarded for variety or the most toys, only good playing, so use the gear that inspires you to play well.
In some ways yes, some ways no.
Im picky about weight, ergonomics, neck specs; I’ve been on my main bass 2.5 years now and nothing else seems to feel “right” (at least for longer sessions). I do have a strong preference for P pickups.
But I’m not so picky about nuances in tone. I like nickel rounds, but most brands are find with me. Same with aftermarket pickups. And amps? I’ve tried so many amps in the past few years, and I have a hard time finding one I can’t get a useable tone from. (As long as the specs are right, of course).
It all adds up to me not spending time browsing, and spending my time playing.
Im picky about weight, ergonomics, neck specs; I’ve been on my main bass 2.5 years now and nothing else seems to feel “right” (at least for longer sessions). I do have a strong preference for P pickups.
But I’m not so picky about nuances in tone. I like nickel rounds, but most brands are find with me. Same with aftermarket pickups. And amps? I’ve tried so many amps in the past few years, and I have a hard time finding one I can’t get a useable tone from. (As long as the specs are right, of course).
It all adds up to me not spending time browsing, and spending my time playing.
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JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
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- I suck, but nobody really notices
Lesser basses need not apply........................
Well, I got a much better deal than that! I met Roger at the beach where he sells his basses out of the back of his van. I had no idea he was only about 20 years old!
whatever floats your boat. Some folks very much like and stick to a very specific sound, other people like to have a variety. It’s like that with everything; basses, amps, and pedals. I can respect both points of view. I like a variety of basses but I’m a one amp kind of guy and as far as pedals I’m kind of in between. I use a small little pedaltrain mini board. So I’m not really in the no pedals camp or the huge pedalboard camp. All my basses have different style pickups for example. P, J, and Piezo. And I was checking out another bass this week that I liked that has a musicman H pickup. Have used basses with Delano and EMG humbuckers in the past also
- Jan 26, 2014
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- I teach lessons and perform live music in and around San Diego CA. Sometimes I even make money doing it!
As I get older (wiser? Lol), I’m getting WAY less snobby re instruments, and embracing their differences rather than looking for “the one.” While I certainly respect premium brands and builders who put out excellent, quality controlled products, and have no intention of relinquishing my few high end instruments, I have discovered the joy of finding a MIM Jaguar bass on Craigslist for $350, Ohana bass ukuleles that don’t suck for $500, nearly unused Genz Benz amps for cheap, etc.
This is probably due to the change in my focus from live playing to recording. Recording is a different animal, and it seems that the one little band of sound we’re allotted in a mix, doesn’t care one bit about how much the bass cost. Having a useful palette of sounds to work with is more important and practical, and there’s no reason to believe that if I had Roger Sadowsky build me premium versions of “every kind of bass (short, long, P, J, H, frets, none, etc)” that I’d have any better results than my current mixed bag of sonic tools.
long story short: I used to be with you, I used to care about fretboards and such to the point of exclusivity, and I had one perfect bass to rule them all for years (still have it, still love it), but now, I see the bigger picture, and the folly in assuming a mix cares about the instrument, rather than the performance and sonic output.
I think it's helpful to understand what works for you and what doesn't. You don't become a snob until you start putting down others for their choices about what works for them.
I have my preferences, but won't outright shun any bass just because it it doesn't meet them.
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D
Your not a snob if you know what YOU like.
You are a snob if you turn your nose up at what OTHERS like.
You are a snob if you turn your nose up at what OTHERS like.
Get ready for your opinion to evolve about a million times over. At one time I was really only interested in jazz basses. Had a ton. They were the sound for me. No I cant stand them. Hated active electronics. Now I love them. Its unending.
If you know what you like and what works for you and stick with those preferences, then you're perfectly normal. Nothing wrong with that.
If you look down on and put down people with different preferences because their preferences are different from yours then, yeah, you're a snob.
If you look down on and put down people with different preferences because their preferences are different from yours then, yeah, you're a snob.
