Well, I bought my two Fender Am Dlx J, because I didn't find any similar to these in a lower price range. Also I could afford them easily. A Hamer Chaparral Bass with nice quilted maple body I got used for the price of a MIM Fender. I also have two Gibsons, the Q-80 (used) I got dirt-cheap, the RD Artist is something special to me (it was the first bass I wanted and the last one I got), there is no similar in the lower price range. When I go to shops I see Squier and MIM Fender basses I like but there is no reason for me to sell my other basses to get some other basses that I could get for less. I am not one of those who constantly change their gear. And since I am satisfied with what I got I am not longing for any other basses.
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Are you a Bass Snob ?
- Thread starter Makatak
- Start date
if a low end bass felt as good, played as good and sounded as good as the basses I own now, then it would be pointless for me to own the basses I have.
And my answer is direcly relevant to the original post... I don't believe low end basses are reliable or comfortable. I leave them at home...
Thanks,
P@
I have lots of crazy, cheap, interesting instruments.
I also have breathtakingly, stupidly valuable vintage gear with infinite mojo.
I would not gig with any of those for different reasons.
The vintage stuff is simply too valuable to play, or at the very least, too valuable to gig with.
I would never set foot on stage with bargain or low-end gear. It's poor presentation, and your presentation is more important than your sound.
I would also never set foot on stage with gear I didn't think looked "right" for me -- in every sense. A real pro act doesn't, though "right" of course varies with what you're trying to do and convey.
Lots of people here will disagree -- which is not surprising considering how remarkably few of their performance photos we see in threads here show acts with the slightest clue about professional presentation in any form.
I have somewhere between fifteen and twenty basses at any given time and I was just thinking the other night that I only currently had maybe one with which I'd feel comfortable gigging.
I need to seek out more deals on giggable instruments instead of weird and cheap stuff or closeout gear in atrocious colors, etc.
This has nothing to do with "snobbery."
I also have breathtakingly, stupidly valuable vintage gear with infinite mojo.
I would not gig with any of those for different reasons.
The vintage stuff is simply too valuable to play, or at the very least, too valuable to gig with.
I would never set foot on stage with bargain or low-end gear. It's poor presentation, and your presentation is more important than your sound.
I would also never set foot on stage with gear I didn't think looked "right" for me -- in every sense. A real pro act doesn't, though "right" of course varies with what you're trying to do and convey.
Lots of people here will disagree -- which is not surprising considering how remarkably few of their performance photos we see in threads here show acts with the slightest clue about professional presentation in any form.
I have somewhere between fifteen and twenty basses at any given time and I was just thinking the other night that I only currently had maybe one with which I'd feel comfortable gigging.
I need to seek out more deals on giggable instruments instead of weird and cheap stuff or closeout gear in atrocious colors, etc.
This has nothing to do with "snobbery."
I agree with Bongolation... even though I though I don't mind Squiers and think some of them are good. I wouldn't play a Squier on stage mostly for dumb non musician snobs who would see me play a Squier and automatically think I'm horrible without hearing me play and not know enough about music to hear any different when I played.
Some of them I'm sure are great and may additionally just really feel good to you -- but that's beside the point.
Yes, and it goes farther than that.
I don't want people to pay attention to my gear at all. I want them -- to the extent they notice at all -- to just catch that I'm playing a conservative pro choice of gear and then move on to paying attention to the act.
"Oh, an old MIA Jazz. OK." And have that be the end of it.
I don't want to be upstaged by my gear.
I'm relieved (and glad) to find out that, as of now, more than 76% of the talkbass posters are not bass "snobs". I happen to have a Squier/Fender P body/J fretless neck "mutt" that I love to death.
On the other hand, I've played a friends vintage Fenders, and there are some awesome "mojo" in those basses. And one particular friend who put the "mutt" together for me really gives me a hard time about playing my "p.o.s." bass...and I CAN trade up for a "nice" bass, but there's just something about a "custom" bass that's best suited FOR ME!
On the other hand, I've played a friends vintage Fenders, and there are some awesome "mojo" in those basses. And one particular friend who put the "mutt" together for me really gives me a hard time about playing my "p.o.s." bass...and I CAN trade up for a "nice" bass, but there's just something about a "custom" bass that's best suited FOR ME!
Well I do use a Squier many nights ... never had anyone even think to ask what I was playing ( I find the whole premise kinda wierd )
Want to know what is even funnier try playing one of these ...
99.9% of anyone would know what it was and most would think it a cheap Squier knock-off
... I don't even try to explain it anymore
Want to know what is even funnier try playing one of these ...
99.9% of anyone would know what it was and most would think it a cheap Squier knock-off
... I don't even try to explain it anymoreI have an cheap Ibanez and Warwick double buck. The Ibanez sounds and plays like crap, and the Warwick is best sounding and playing bass I have ever played. Call me a snob if you want, but a Warwick sounds better that crappy Ibanez.
Yes, If someone isn't able to afford a squier then that means I am better than them. Squier is the epitome of bassdom. Squier rulz! Anything less is just junk and that's a fact IMHO
50% of the time I am right EVERY time
50% of the time I am right EVERY time
I think I'm the anti-snob. I prefer a certain aesthetic and would feel out of place playing really expensive gear.
Sorry to say, I am a bass snob. My cheapest bass is $700, and I usually play $1000+ basses live :-( When I read the poll and was honest with myself, I realize that I am a bad person. Or a snob, not sure if they are the same thing. 
99.9999999% of an audience wouldn't know an old MIA Fender from a Japanese, from a Mexican from an accordian!!! And anyone knowledgeable enough to know the difference should be able to look beyond it!!! Just my opinion.
I've never been at a show where I thought "Man that guy can lay it down. But he plays low end gear...can't see these guys again!"
Don't get me wrong...I'd love to have a US MTD, no question. But sound is what matters, not price.
Now if the lowend gear doesn't have the quality to get the job done...that's a different issue. If you buy a $200 bass and put $1000 in upgrades into it, is it still lowend?
I try not to be a gear snob, but every body is to some extent. I will gladly play an awesome squier, but I prefer the Fender logo for reasons of my own and I don't feel I need to apologize for that.
rockstarbassist
Inactive
Im a complete snob i guess, thanks for letting me know.
Im very picky about pickups and fretboards.
Im very picky about pickups and fretboards.
