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Are you a Bass Snob ?

Are you a Bass snob

  • Would never play live with a Squier

    Votes: 78 14.2%

  • Would worry me either way

    Votes: 43 7.8%

  • Wouldnt think twice if it sounded great

    Votes: 430 78.0%
  • Total voters
    551
#21
I don't think it matters, and I believe I am going to buy a squire sometime in the future. On the other hand, I have a warmoth jazz that has a fender neck on it. Everyone always thinks it is a MIA fender (except ones that can actually tell) and I always feel the need to make sure they know it is not. I have thought about taking the logo off of it just for that reason. Don't know why.
 
#23
I will preface any answer along these lines with the statement that I am shallow, materialistic and self-centered... I would not play live with a Squire... I own a Squire, but I would not play live with it. IMHO, when you get to a certain level of quality in most builders instruments, you will find a certain level of comfort and reliability in those pieces. Some less expensive brands (sorry to pick on Squire, but I will) are not as reliable or do not provide a level of comfort to me to play them live. When I play live I use my Laklands or MIA Fenders. I have a Warwick Corvette that I would play live with. I have a Squire fretless that stays at the house.

To answer the original question, yes I am a bass snob... But I am also in my late 30's and do not play out a great deal anymore. On the increasingly rare ocasions that I even play with other people, I am not going to play a piece of gear that is not exactly what I want...

Thanks,


P@
 
#24
^^
"I am not going to play a piece of gear that is not exactly what I want... "
Thats awesome, but irrelevant to the OPs intent. Of course your going to go for the bass that feels the best, but what if that bass is a low end bass? Would you still reach for it when the time came to play out?
 
#25
I have NEVER had a patron at a gig ask me a gear question unless they played bass as well. I play what sounds good and is appropriate for the song – sometimes that IS a Squire. I am not a gear snob because I can’t afford to be, I also get a thrill out of finding a good bass at a price I can afford.
 
#27
lol!
jdieh1 said:
I'm an idiot and if I see anyone playing a Squier I automatically think that they are a beginner or they just plain suck. I can't help it and because of this I will never be caught playing a Squier that I own
Click to expand...



;)

I carry a Silvertone "P" style (50 bux) as a backup - It's this red beast with a baseball bat of a neck - but I like it - It is different from my Geddy and does the RAWK thing !
 
#28
If the Squier sounded and played great I would have no problem playing it live. I play in party type bands, not virtuoso bands.

Looks do matter. I wouldn't use a pointy "metal style" bass, but the Squiers I have seen are all nice conservatively styles basses that would fit into rock/blues/country gigs just fine.
 
#29
I would love to play basses that are 3g's + all night but I cant afford it and also I hink I am way too hard on my gear to ever do so . And on the other hand I have played some essexx basses at jam sessions that I would have traded up my US Washburn for and the last time I was at GC I tried some laguna basses and they went for around $250 and they sounded really good a lil on the light side for my taste in feel but I would rock em
 
#31
On any given gig nights you could see me playing a Pre-CBS Fender Precision, a new American Standard Precision , or and SX SPB 62 (p bass copy).

I've gigged Squiers and MIM Fenders before as well, although I don't personaly own either.

All I care is that the bass gets the job done the way I want it to, and any of the three P basses listed above do that just fine.

Most nights you'll see the SX getting the no.1 slot with the American Standard as it's backup.

No gear snobbery here. If it gets the job done well, it matters not what it says on the headstock.

With COUNTLESS shows under my belt playing an SX, I can say I've NEVER heard anyone say a negative word about it. ;) and more compliments than I can count. I can't imagine anything different if I was playing a Squier.
 
#32
Jojabeau said:
I have NEVER had a patron at a gig ask me a gear question unless they played bass as well. I play what sounds good and is appropriate for the song – sometimes that IS a Squire. I am not a gear snob because I can’t afford to be, I also get a thrill out of finding a good bass at a price I can afford.
Click to expand...

Unless they're a musician, nobody knows if your playing a cheap bass or a boutique. As long as you're comfortable playing it and the instrument sounds good well play it.

We tend to give audiences too much credit.

Andy
 
#33
I wouldn't even think about buying a recent Squire. There is just way too much green wood going into low end basses. I've seen some necks that have just gone off in wacky directions... the other thing I've noticed is that the frets seem to wear rapidly. Real soft metal there. Personally I wouldn't bother - Unless, it's what you can afford, and not playing a Squire means not playing - then for sure sign me up. I'd be more inclined to an SX at that end of hte market though ...
 
#34
Dude, I've been playing a $100 (at least it was for me) bass for 5 years, simply because I think it sounds great (Ibanez Ergodyne). I also have played a Mexican made Squire for 7 years. I didn't look to upgrade anything until this year.
 
#35
I’m not disagreeing with anyone here, except for the use of the term “snob”.

I play with some guys who’ve made good money working hard for a long time, and play extremely well.

There’s no reason they should play with a Squier/SX on-stage or otherwise, and they’re not overcompensating for anything.

I’m sure they’re old-school and aren’t familiar with what decent instruments cheapos are today, but still, why should they if they can afford better?

Until someone can convince me (btw, don’t waste your time) that Squier/SX can do something a higher-end brand name can’t do, then there’s no “snobbery” in someone preferring a higher-end brand name if they’ve got the money.

Btw, I just play MIM Fender Basses (that you “non-snobs” rag on constantly) because that’s all I’m willing to invest in at this time, so I’m not a snob. :p

They don’t seem to have a problem with it. :)
 
#36
Funny, before I got the P and J, I was playing with a Fender Mustang.

The Lead Guitarist brought over a nice Warwick and kinda encouraged me to check it out. He said he’d be happy to let me play it when we played out (or first gig as a group is coming up soon).

When I got the MIM Fenders, he seemed to be very happy, and mentioned how much he prefers “regular” length Basses.

Hey, whatever makes him happy. I don’t mind conforming to buddies with whom I’m playing. For whatever reason, right or wrong, I don’t mind. :)
 
#37
Marko5657 said:
I’m not disagreeing with anyone here, except for the use of the term “snob”.

I play with some guys who’ve made good money working hard for a long time, and play extremely well.

There’s no reason they should play with a Squier/SX on-stage or otherwise, and they’re not overcompensating for anything.

I’m sure they’re old-school and aren’t familiar with what decent instruments cheapos are today, but still, why should they if they can afford better?

Until someone can convince me (btw, don’t waste your time) that Squier/SX can do something a higher-end brand name can’t do, then there’s no “snobbery” in someone preferring a higher-end brand name if they’ve got the money.

Btw, I just play MIM Fender Basses (that you “non-snobs” rag on constantly) because that’s all I’m willing to invest in at this time, so I’m not a snob. :p

They don’t seem to have a problem with it. :)
Click to expand...

I would disagree with your definition of snob. I consider somebody a snob if they look down on somebody who owns a cheaper instrument based only on the fact that the instrument is cheap, not on playability or sound.

I would also consider somebody a snob who won't play a lower end instrument at say an open mic (assuming there is nothing physically wrong with the instrument of course!).

But there is *nothing* wrong with preferring a high end instrument, that is not snobbishness.
 
#38
Hiya,

I picked up a Chinese made Squire P for 35 bucks at a yard sale. Sharpie drawings all over it, no truss rod tension, 2 round wound, 2 flat strings, cracked pick guard. took it home put about an hours time into it, put new strings and a set of p pups I had hanging around. Thing plays and sounds better than 1/2 the basses I've played. I would gig it with pride if my daughter would let me borrow it back, she adopted it and drew new designs on the pic guard. :hmm:

Tom
 
#40
Picky with certain features and have odd preferences that are seldom available in stock instruments? Yes. Snob? Hell no.

$5 or $5,000, doesn't matter as long as the bassist is happy. There are entirely too many stereotypes and over opinionated musicians out there. A Squier player is too cheap, a beginner. A Squier player is keeping it real. Boutique players are overcompensating. Boutique players are cruel individuals....etc. Screw all that.
 

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