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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
#61
pmkelly said:
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@
Click to expand...

+1

I play with people and unless all my basses crapped the bed on me I would never use a Squire unless I absolutely had to and even then I'd try and find something better to borrow first. I'm sorry but they do not sound or play as good as my Lakland or US Fenders did or even my Ibanez SR does. If I wanted a Squire I would've bought one and IMO/IME there is also no such thing as a phenomenal sounding Squire.
 
#63
FastFollow said:
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That's a nice looking picture...
 
#64
As much as I hate to admit it, I might be a snob (of sorts). I have a JV Squier '57 reissue, that sounds and plays as well as any American Fender ever made. I still feel odd playing it. I always have to explain what it is. Fellow players always say "You're playing a Squier??!"
 
#65
ronin614 said:
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?
Click to expand...

At that extreme point, it isn't even the same instrument any more...

Personally, I'm a fan of modding cheap basses, and it's not as expensive as most think. For $200ish in parts, you can take a SX P that costs less than $200, or a Squier P for a little bit more, and turn it into an instrument that plays like it costs at least twice what you put into it. That's what REALLY pisses off the bass snobs, when you pull off a cheap mod job that plays as well or better than the high-end bass they spent a mint for...
 
#67
I am not a snob (mostly), but I would not play a Squire.. Just like I would not play a First Act. Don't get me wrong, I think that there are people who play them because they love them and people who play them because that is what they could afford. It doesn't bother me when I go to see a band and the bassist is using a Squire, but personally, I would not.
 
#69
Gear snob, or realist? Have you seen the pics of either of my high-end Fender Jazzes? You think a Squire could look like that? Feel like that? Sound like that? Turn heads and catch ears like that? Sorry, no, they can't, and you're dreaming if you think they're any where close.

Yeah, I cruise the music stores here and when I travel. I pick up Squires (if they're somewhat pretty) and, really, I can tell a world of difference. I've never seen/held a Squire that I wanted to play more than a minute or two.

And, hey, some Huyandi's look like Jag's from the back. You know the difference when you get in and hit the gas. They both have four wheels and an engine, but they're worlds apart. And no one would ever try to say the Huyandi is just as good, even though they will both take you to the store--which one do you want to pick up your date in?

I wouldn't tell a starter to NOT get one. But don't kid yourself that they're anything like a good, high-end bass.
 
#70
I don't really concern myself too much about what others would say if they saw me playing a cheap bass. But I find it funny how people are saying that their $300 dollar bass sounds as good and an $1000 bass. I'm not a Fender guy, in fact I am anti-fender( one way for me to stick out of the crowd). I am a MusicMan guy. And no, I would never play one of the OLP knock offs. Because I can tell the difference. And it goes beyond the name on the headstock.

On the other hand I bought an Alembic Elan 89' that I look forward to playing out with. It sounds expensive, looks expensive and when people see me playing it, who know what it is, they will appreciate the fact I care about my sound/gear and it will be a conversation piece. It would never go on the road with me. But its great to have for the studio.
 
#72
My two favorite basses are both Squiers (Vintage Modified Jazz with Dimarzio J bass pickups and a Gotoh bridge, Classic Vibe 60's P-Bass), but when I did briefly own a Fender Jaguar bass, I admit I felt a little more "legit" and above reproach by onlookers. I guess there are some subliminal tendencies that even plain logic and good sense cannot totally diminish.
 
#73
What "plain logic and good common sense" was telling you is that you were playing a better bass, and you felt it.

Don't feel like you're missing-out just because you can't delude yourself into thinking a cheap bass is a good--on any level--as a high-end, quality bass.
 
#74
Even though I look for value in a bass, I buy the best thing I can afford like most people. And let's face it, everyone would rather have an MIA Fender than a Squier if they could have either for free. Thats not saying squiers are total crap, but its just like everyone would prefer a 64 jazz to a re issue, or Jaco's actual bass to one of his Fender sigs. It aint snobbery, its preference.
 
#76
Well Ive played alot of basses, working at a store that does 2nd hand music items, I get alot of opprotunity too. I have yet to find a bass that plays as well as my GnL ASAT.
But before I got that, I played a fretless no name bass. Was really beat up and had 1 shot pickup when I got it but after some work, It sounds fantastic.
Ill play anything as long as it sounds good, even a first act.... but i have yet to find one that does sound good
 
#77
DeluxeRed said:
Gear snob, or realist? Have you seen the pics of either of my high-end Fender Jazzes? You think a Squire could look like that? Feel like that? Sound like that? Turn heads and catch ears like that? Sorry, no, they can't, and you're dreaming if you think they're any where close.

Yeah, I cruise the music stores here and when I travel. I pick up Squires (if they're somewhat pretty) and, really, I can tell a world of difference. I've never seen/held a Squire that I wanted to play more than a minute or two.

And, hey, some Huyandi's look like Jag's from the back. You know the difference when you get in and hit the gas. They both have four wheels and an engine, but they're worlds apart. And no one would ever try to say the Huyandi is just as good, even though they will both take you to the store--which one do you want to pick up your date in?

I wouldn't tell a starter to NOT get one. But don't kid yourself that they're anything like a good, high-end bass.
Click to expand...


Some of us have picked up plenty of dates in a rusty old Pinto, won races on lesser machinery and can make $100 basses sound and play supreme for little or no cost. It's all a matter of the individual's abilities. My advice is to never judge another person according to one's own shortcomings. ;) Thanks for stimulating the economy with your expensive purchases.
 
#78
Nope. Women might get into Pintos...ladies don't. And, yeah, a good bass player can make a cheap bass sound better, and a good bass can make any player sound better, but a good bass can make a good player sound great, and that's not something an entry-level or old rat bass can do. If you think so, then you haven't played a really good bass.

(btw, Penske and Hendrick win the races, not the wannabes.)
 
#79
Yes. There's a certain point in your life when if you can't play the best that's out there, then play nothing at all - Squier's are one I wouldn't play. So I guess that makes me a snob, so beit - I no longer drink Miller lite or Buttweiser either.
 
#80
Where is that video where ED compares the Squire CV series to the MIA Fenders?
Found it
Invalid Link Removed
I own 3 basses all bought for less than $200 and still by this thread definition I am a snob. I looked past every Squire because a lot of people know they are cheap. Even non guitarists. Most don't know my SX is cheaper.:D
If I had huge chops I might feel secure enough to rock a Squire but I am currently trying to hide being a 30 something musical noob.
On the flip side, I sold my first bass because it was red and I never felt worthy to play a red bass. Stu Hamm is worthy, not me:o
 

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