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"Basses are only tools"
- Thread starter vvvmmm
- Start date
To the people who say that? Sure.
But if they insist that’s the only way to look at them, I’m reminded of this:
But if they insist that’s the only way to look at them, I’m reminded of this:
Basses are, indeed, useful tools. Some are also works of art.
Yes, they are tools. But I own lots of tools I really like.
The part where it gets strange (to me) is worrying about doing mods. Lots of threads around here express concern over modding a bass. "This bass is perfect except for XYZ. But I'm worried about doing the mod because of ABC."
SILLY! If you love most aspects of your bass, but adding a pickup or changing the color would make it perfect, quit whining and go for it. It's an inanimate object.
My "take with me to the grave" bass is important to me. It literally sent me down the path of becoming a bass player, which made me a pro bass player for two decades. It my wife at a show and we now have two amazing kids. It's an 84-87 MIJ E series P bass.
I like to color. I like the chunky neck. I like most everything about it. But the tone was "meh". So I swapped the wiring and pots for a new Emerson harness and slapped an G Geezer in there. Now? Perfect. I couldn't tell you where the original electronics are and, frankly, don't care. I may have thrown them away. They aren't holy relics. They're electronic components and outdated ones at that.
They're just tools. Sure, I want everyone to like their tools. But they're just tools. I derive emotion from the music itself and the people I play with. Hand me whatever bass and I'll make it work. I love my main player. But if it broke in two tomorrow I would simply get another and keep on thumping.
The part where it gets strange (to me) is worrying about doing mods. Lots of threads around here express concern over modding a bass. "This bass is perfect except for XYZ. But I'm worried about doing the mod because of ABC."
SILLY! If you love most aspects of your bass, but adding a pickup or changing the color would make it perfect, quit whining and go for it. It's an inanimate object.
My "take with me to the grave" bass is important to me. It literally sent me down the path of becoming a bass player, which made me a pro bass player for two decades. It my wife at a show and we now have two amazing kids. It's an 84-87 MIJ E series P bass.
I like to color. I like the chunky neck. I like most everything about it. But the tone was "meh". So I swapped the wiring and pots for a new Emerson harness and slapped an G Geezer in there. Now? Perfect. I couldn't tell you where the original electronics are and, frankly, don't care. I may have thrown them away. They aren't holy relics. They're electronic components and outdated ones at that.
They're just tools. Sure, I want everyone to like their tools. But they're just tools. I derive emotion from the music itself and the people I play with. Hand me whatever bass and I'll make it work. I love my main player. But if it broke in two tomorrow I would simply get another and keep on thumping.
fine precision engineering instrument that allows me to create ART
(ie tone generator),
..not aestheticaly qualified visually
* of course the concept 'art' is purely subjective
**ie i may be creating some other entity than art
***ie
im voting for carrots on this i need some vitC
(ie tone generator),
..not aestheticaly qualified visually
* of course the concept 'art' is purely subjective
**ie i may be creating some other entity than art
***ie
im voting for carrots on this i need some vitC
I have plenty of tools....none are on stands in my living room!
They are a mixture of tools and art.
My wife would never let me hang my collection of wrenches in the den.
n!
They are a mixture of tools and art.
My wife would never let me hang my collection of wrenches in the den.
Fundamentally, yes, they are tools to get a job done. Depending on who made them and who owns them, they can also be works of art, expensive toys, and probably several other things. All of this is life-enhancing. We project a lot of stuff onto our possessions.
My friend has 15 strats. All different ages, pu winds and neck profiles. When I mentioned that's like different brushes to an artist he said. "Yes!" Now he can say that to his wife. LOL
The answer? What I think hardly matters to any but me, my fans, my tech, the IRS, engineers live and studio, musician mates and producers.
Okay. Tool for your art.
[No pollsters or responders were injured or killed in the making of this survey.]
The answer? What I think hardly matters to any but me, my fans, my tech, the IRS, engineers live and studio, musician mates and producers.
Okay. Tool for your art.
[No pollsters or responders were injured or killed in the making of this survey.]
If they were only tools, nobody would care about the color, wood grain, body shape as long as it was comfortable and sounded good.
Last edited by a moderator:
i voted "yes, they are only tools."
i like most of my tools in black. that said: i have a red tool, a sunburst tool, some 'natural' tools....so a few of my tools look pretty cool = cool tools!
i think they're a lot like the artist's palettes, brushes, and pigments: you might have some favorites.
Basses are both tools and works of art.
I’d rather have a Snap-On wrench over a Craftsman in my hands anyday.
Same goes for instruments.
I’d rather have a Snap-On wrench over a Craftsman in my hands anyday.
Same goes for instruments.
I sacrifice live chickens on a stone altar to mine.
Wouldn't want them to get angry, after all...
Wouldn't want them to get angry, after all...
I feel basses are tools in that they are meant to be used. I would never buy a bass that I’m uncomfortable to bring to a gig.
I love a pretty bass, but I don’t want a pretty bass that cannot help me do what I want musically. A bass has to work for me as a musical instrument above all else.
Hummergeist
Commercial User
- Jul 21, 2020
- 1,269
- 3,084
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- Tutorials, reviews, and interviews for Future Publishing.
A well designed and well made tool is like a work of art anyway. Form follows function, or whatever that saying is.
I think they are tools. Some are much more decorative, better designed, or built to a much higher level of quality than others.
Every once in a great while, you can find one that is possesed by Satan and it becomes your clear #1.
Sometimes that changes too.
Every once in a great while, you can find one that is possesed by Satan and it becomes your clear #1.
Sometimes that changes too.
Basses are first and foremost tools. These tools can often be artistic in design, but are still tools for making music at their core.
Snap-On makes basses?
No.
That's why every single bass doesn't look exactly like this.
All function and no form.
That's why every single bass doesn't look exactly like this.
All function and no form.
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