Playing a boutique bass doesn't get you labeled as a snob. Saying playing "something on a stand at guitar center is like going from driving a ferrari to a honda accord" gets you labeled as a snob.
Sometimes its not what you say, its how you say it.
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attn: custom bass owners
- Thread starter beebassdude
- Start date
Playing a boutique bass doesn't get you labeled as a snob. Saying playing "something on a stand at guitar center is like going from driving a ferrari to a honda accord" gets you labeled as a snob.
Sometimes its not what you say, its how you say it.
Having only read the OP, I'll say that I have a custom 6, a beatup Ibanez P-clone & several in between these two extremes. I love them all & have no trouble going from one to another. I doubt any non-bassplayers in the crowd notice what we play, visually or tonally.
Question- why not play metal w/the Bee?
Question- why not play metal w/the Bee?
That Bee bass of you is gorgious. I can imagine you don't want anything else once you got the taste of this beauty.
I can relate to that.
Luckily most of the time I don't have to play anything else than my own Malinek 6 fretless. Lately I was with a friend, he started playing his guitar and sang. There was a cheapo fretted bass (worth something like $ 50,- I guess) in the corner and I was surprised that a lot of 'my sound' came out of this crappy piece of wood.
So on one hand I think top notch basses are overrated because most of the sound comes out of your fingers. On the other hand I think I would have never come this far if I hadn't had this boutique bass......
I can relate to that.
Luckily most of the time I don't have to play anything else than my own Malinek 6 fretless. Lately I was with a friend, he started playing his guitar and sang. There was a cheapo fretted bass (worth something like $ 50,- I guess) in the corner and I was surprised that a lot of 'my sound' came out of this crappy piece of wood.
So on one hand I think top notch basses are overrated because most of the sound comes out of your fingers. On the other hand I think I would have never come this far if I hadn't had this boutique bass......
I'll play whatever. I'll also guarantee you that it will sound like me. Whether that's good or bad is obviously subjective. Right now I only have a MIM Jazz. Times are tough and the rest of the flock had to go. I've found great sounding and playing basses from $100 - $3k.
People get too worked up about silly things. Honestly, if you like a Fodera and nothing else, that's cool - if you like a Squier and nothing else, that's cool too. Fact is that people prefer different things.
Sometimes people on forums get all worked up about nothing. Somehow I don't think I'd let anyone else's opinion about my rig "bother me". They're more than welcome to think it's crap - I like it, and it's served me well.
Opinions are like _________ - everybody has one. More importantly, everybody is entitled to their opinion.
Sometimes people on forums get all worked up about nothing. Somehow I don't think I'd let anyone else's opinion about my rig "bother me". They're more than welcome to think it's crap - I like it, and it's served me well.
Opinions are like _________ - everybody has one. More importantly, everybody is entitled to their opinion.
All my basses have been under 700 bucks in the 15ish years I've played. I've never had a custom, and though I'd like to get one.... it's not because it'll be "better" than my "clones" (heh, right. The design and color may be the same, but some basses are lemons and some are awesome. Just like cars. Might come out of the same factory but hardly means they are clones) it'll actually be for -looks-. That's right. I've a specific design and wood set in mind and it'll be my "show off and look cool for the crowd" bass, not the bass I record with and quite honestly probably not my main.
I like the "clone" basses because they can take a hell of a beating and you don't have to cry when they get a nick put in them. And most of them sound just fine.
I like the "clone" basses because they can take a hell of a beating and you don't have to cry when they get a nick put in them. And most of them sound just fine.
theres actually two more tiny strips of purpleheart in there that look pretty cool. i wish they;d been a tad bigger but its not a big deal. it plays like a dream though, which again is why i could never go back to being serious on a stock bass. they just dont feel right.
im a bass snob, fully admit it. i think most gear is garbage.
now that being said, my analogy is pretty dead on. when somebody builds you a hand crafted instrument to your specs and puts a year of dedication and time into making it perfect, thats a ferrari. going to guitar center and picking up a schecter 5 string and trying to compare the two is a pretty big leap.
now obviously everyones got preference, im sure theres some that would hate my custom, and some who would love it. im just saying that for me, its very difficult to appreciate anything less than custom after what ive been exposed to. again, spending 3 full days at namm in 07 and seeing just how many brilliant luthiers there are out there makes it tough to wander into a music shop and get excited.
LOL, perhaps the GC comment isn't as much of a dig against production instruments as it is towards a store that is usually notorious about not setting their stuff up or maintaining it.
Whilest being more informative than opinionated, I can say my Conklin, CB, Stambaugh, and Peavey USA models play with amazing low and clear action that makes everything else feel like a workout. If you're not a big fan of ultra low action, it's easy to find basses that are what most would consider playable.
Luthiers also tend to specialize in improved ergonomics and lighter weight, which your body will often thank you for after some long sessions. In the low B and contra register, it's hard to match the consistency and clarity.
you can. i was in a band called psyopus on metal blade records, i did the last album with that bass, and it sounds awesome. but for the band im in now, i need a much more disgusting "brutal" tone that i cant get out of that bass. its too pretty sounding, and way too clean. im using a modded mexi jazz with an ampeg svt vr/810e for my metal band now, and its just enormous sounding.
that bee bass wasnt meant to be detuned to low G and played with a fuzz pedal.
I don't know - I've been to NAMM so many times I'm sick of it. Most of the custom builders basses just "blend together" for me. Once I've seen 1000 highly figured, neck through body "uber-basses" they just all blend together.
I'm sure the opposite is true for most people though. I'm sure they see 100 models of "P Bass" from different companies and lose all enthusiasm for those.
Hate to differ but IMHO not a great analogy. I would not take my Ferrari to the mall, grocery store, etc. It is not a good everyday driver, like a Honda.
it gets a little tasking after the 3rd day, but theres so much beautiful stuff. im also a big fan of just what a bass looks like, and a P bass will never look good to me. seeing all the intricate woodwork, headstock designs, dual cuts, single cuts, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 , 10, 11 string basses all in different shapes and configurations is awesome to me. again, to each his own, some people hate that stuff and just want a jazz bass and thats it.
p and j basses get ripped off all the time, 100s of companies make their version of it. all the custom stuff is one of a kind (to a degree). i highly doubt ill ever see someone with my bass in my life. i see a jazz bass at every gig i play.
I dunno, I can quite happily play my Keith Roscoe one day, and my Squier or SX the next.
Granted, my Roscoe wasn't custom made for me, but its on that level, and, for me, perfect.
Granted, my Roscoe wasn't custom made for me, but its on that level, and, for me, perfect.
of course you wouldnt, because those arent special occasions. i wouldnt take my fiance out to a classy restaurant in a honda if i owned a ferrari.
and most guys that own ferraris would probably just make their wife drive the honda to the grocery store anyways! lol
I have a custom bass that is my main stayer bass, but I also use a Fender Precision bass from 77. That bass is actually my favourite.
Put it this way; If I get a bass setup my way, I can play anything. Sound is realy just luxuary.
Put it this way; If I get a bass setup my way, I can play anything. Sound is realy just luxuary.
