Being embarrassed by basses you love?

[Samatza]

I once found a no name bass buried in the dirt in my friends garden shed. Cleaned it up and played it for years.

My point is if you’re happy listen to no one, the brand doesn’t matter, if you’re happy with the feel and sound that’s all that’s required.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

There's of course also the matter of certain instruments fitting certain genres. Most people wouldn't turn up with the same instrument in a traditional country band and a black metal band. Visual aesthetics DO matter in many genres.

 

[Erik Asma]

I had that. With my first DIY bass. I made it from the top of a coffee table. Using most parts from my old bass. Money was non existent in those days.
The guys were poking fun and only tolerated it.

Until we bought it into the studio. Played my stuff and then ran that signal through a original Trace Elliott and mixed both signals up.
We had the best soundguy there.

It sounded insanely good. They applauded that thing ever since.

Thing is. You can bring a broom with strings, if you play it well and it sounds good?

Thing is, most engineers and soundguys don't know their stuff. They prefer P basses cos they know how to dial those in.
But any reasonable bass played well can be made amazing. And a schecter will do just fine.

Next time just tell em, I could have brought my signature fender, but I'd rather bring that to areal shop.

 

[Swerve]

There's of course also the matter of certain instruments fitting certain genres. Most people wouldn't turn up with the same instrument in a traditional country band and a black metal band. Visual aesthetics DO matter in many genres.

I've played a P bass in both. Well, it was more Death Metal than Black Metal, but still.

I'm amazed at the amount of gear snobbery people encounter here in real life. I haven't run into that since I was first starting as a teenager, and the snobbery was coming from other teenagers who didn't know anything.

Most bands I've played in have just been grateful for me being there and being a functioning adult. They care whether I can play, not what I play.

And Schecter's are great instruments. So unless someone is going to pay you to use a different brand, play whatever inspires you.

 

[klejst]

Play and use what you want! End of story.

 

[shaggy45]

When I’m not playing my rickenbacker, I’m playing a status streamline. It’s not even made of wood! OMG!! It’s not the 80’s! Is that a paddle?

 

[mcnach]

When I was 18, I bought my first bass an Ibanez Acoustic. I loved it because I didn't need an amp to play it, had very flat action, and had a tuner built in. But from day 1, I had to defend myself from folks who argue, "acoustic bass is useless." I'm still defending myself. A couple years later, I bought a used 5-string Schecter. I really loved this bass, because it felt like I was getting so much for the price. But Schecter as a brand hasn't really held up. So many folks think of them as the old numetal sponsor or the new djent sponsor. The last time I mentioned that I had a Schecter at a guitar shop, folks laughed and joked about how it must be covered in abalone inlays.

I've thought about replacing both of these basses with more premium basses, but I won't replace them unless the replacements are better quality. It seems, however, like I'd have to pay a great deal of money to get instruments that feel better to me. The Schecter, in particular, came from the Cort factory and was finished in Schecter's shop. It's still feels quite nice in my hands, and I genuinely find it more comfortable than the higher-end Fender, G&Ls, and Gibsons I tried in shops. The instruments that tempt me are things from Wal, Modulus, Mike Lull, etc. Even still, I can't shake the competing feelings that (1) I can do better than my basses, and (2) these are my trusty companions that I shouldn't replace.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has this problem. Tell me your stories, and tell me what you do/did in situations like these.

I don't think I'd ever consider changing what I play based on what random passers-by (anyone I'm not actually playing with) think, especially if it's garbage like generalisations about a brand or whatever.

I have a Schecter Model T. If folks laughed at a guitar shop because of it, I honestly think I would laugh harder, because it just sounds so bizarre, at best, if not completely asinine

PLay what you like!

 

[mcnach]

"You are more than your gear"
Repeat ad nausium.

The most annoying gear snobs are the fanatical name branders.

I've told this story before but it's been a few years so I'll repeat it here again

Back in... 2009-10 I was playing in a RHCP tribute band. I had a couple of OLP Stingray copies, and one of them was particularly nice. It's one of those instruments that from the minute you hold it, it just feels right. Great neck, balance... I had replaced the pickup and put a 3-band preamp, and was set up to perfection. I loved that thing. I bought a real Stingray, which became my #1, and still is, but I was still using the OLP often (and I regret selling it).

So, here I was, during a break, talking to some people, and this guy I'd never met comes over to me to say he loved the band and loved the sound of the bass in particular. That's always nice to hear, and I was happy that the mix sounded good and my bass was good etc. Then, out of the blue, he starts on a mini rant about Stingray copies. Well, no, he started first talking about how Stingrays are fantastic basses etc and he let me know he knew about basses etc. Cool. Then, the rant. How people play inferior copies that sound nothing like the real thing and they're all poopie etc etc. I just listened, not knowing where he was going, as I assumed he had noticed I was playing an OLP. It's pretty obvious, especially if you know anything about basses and the Stingray is your favourite bass, right?
BUt no. He had not noticed, from where he was. So I listened. When he was done, I pointed at my bass on stage: "I love my Stingray too, but tonight I'm using an OLP, they're amazing basses... well, you've heard it, it sounded pretty good eh?". And I just grinned.
He said nothing, and walked away. I never saw him again.

So, this guy, will probably be found some random weekend at a music shop badmouthing this or that brand and might laugh at you for having a Schecter, or worst, an OLP! But he, very thoroughly and obviously, is full of poopie.

Don't let idiots tell you that what you *know* is right and works, doesn't. Some of them own really expensive instruments and are happy to tell everybody all about them. It doesn't mean a thing.

 

[mcnach]

I like it. I'd probably put screws in though, just to prevent moisture getting in. You could paint the screw heads wood colour.

I've had basses like that for years and moisture has not been a problem. Admittedly, I don't live in a terribly humid place.

 

[4sight]

I've had basses like that for years and moisture has not been a problem. Admittedly, I don't live in a terribly humid place.

I imagine it would be fine, but I'd play it safe anyway (sweat, stray beer etc).

 

[mcnach]

I know a person like this & it became the thing that drove me to discontinue our relationship.
My gear was crap, because it wasn't all Fender.

I'm not ashamed of what I play!

You just reminded me of another Stingray story.

Again, during a break, I'm at the bar trying to get a drink. A guy starts talking to me and wastes no time telling me that he used to play bass too. "Oh cool" I say. He tells me, with pride, that he used to own a Fender. It's the way he said it, you know he is expecting you to be impressed, because... it's a F E N D E R. He actually said something like my bass sounded fine, but he used to play a Fender... in a tone implying that maybe, one day, if I played my cards right, I could upgrade from my little thing and buy a proper bass, you know what I mean?

So, I decided to be a little evil, and I told him that was cool, that I like Fenders but I do prefer the MusicMan Stingray, which is what I was playing (he didn't know). So I told him "yeah, when Leo sold the Fender company, he started another one that he called "Music Man" and created this bass, among other models... basically, these are what Leo Fender started to make once he learnt how to really make good basses".

Sometimes you need to go down to their level a bit and have a laugh

 

[mcnach]

I imagine it would be fine, but I'd play it safe anyway (sweat, stray beer etc).

For sure, it's safer to cover any unfinished holes, but it'll probably won't make a difference for most of us.

I don't play war zones, so no stray beer in my area

 

[dmt]

If you’re playing principally for fun (free or low pay), or if you have an artistic vision you’re pursuing, be yourself.

If you want or need to fit into other people’s expectations, meet those expectations. I wouldn’t normally wear a suit and tie, but if I wanted a job that required or strongly favored a suit and tie, I’d wear a suit and tie. Now, I’ve never had a suit ‘n tie job, lol, but I’ve certainly put on my suit and tie for interviews, and I do dress better at work than I typically do in my free time.

I guess even if you’re playing just for fun but you’re feeling a bit weird because of your gear when you go to hang out with the guys and so it’s actually not so fun, well, if the feeling weird part is worse than the joy your equipment gives you, get some equipment that you could also enjoy but that would make you feel less weird around others. Buying used can help with the prices.

But don’t sweat it too much - you could buy an MIM Fender and some people would look down on it as just an MIM, so then you could upgrade to MIA and some people would look down on it because it’s just the base model MIA, not Custom Shop, and others would look down on it because it’s not boutique. And then when you finally get all that expensive boutique gear (don’t forget the amp, cab, pedals and cables), other people will look down on you for having all that expensive gear and basically being an effete gear snob or perhaps having "more money than talent" or whatever. Pleasing other people, if taken too far, can be a losing game. Gotta find your own balance of fitting in while being yourself I guess - just like in the rest of life

 

[4dog]

imagine being an ibby fanatic in the late 70's early 80's...when fender and gibson ruled the wor.....oh wait a tic.

 

[Skillet]

I was talking to a guitarist once and pointing out all the details of some upgrades and changes I had made to a bass. He listened as I extolled the virtues of the tuners, bridge, and pickups, then replied, "yeah but it's still just a f*in bass".
Most people don't give a hoot.

 

[lbbc]

I always loved and played Carvin basses. Gear snobs would often remark "you play great but just imagine how much better you'd sound on a Fender". Being young and dumb, I traded my first Carvin in on a Fender Pbass. I went from that to a Ric, to an Alembic (awesome bass), to a Stingray, to a G&L and many

others. I'm back to the sound and feel of what I think a bass should be...yup, a Carvin and there's no way any gear snobs will sway me now that I'm older and wiser!

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I've played a P bass in both. Well, it was more Death Metal than Black Metal, but still.

I'm amazed at the amount of gear snobbery people encounter here in real life. I haven't run into that since I was first starting as a teenager, and the snobbery was coming from other teenagers who didn't know anything.

Most bands I've played in have just been grateful for me being there and being a functioning adult. They care whether I can play, not what I play.

And Schecter's are great instruments. So unless someone is going to pay you to use a different brand, play whatever inspires you.

Yeah but P-basses work for pretty much everything. I was thinking more like showing up with a Pink Paisley Telecaster in a black metal band or a BC Rich Beast in a country band. Most people wouldn't do that.

 

[Steadfast]

I love my fender cheap a$$ Cort made 24v. BUT, I really love my Washburn neck through Taurus 24. I traded out my pure fender and ebmm bongo for cheap crap and couldn’t be happier.

I prefer my dog’s opinion over people anyhow. My dog approves so screw the snobs. Stick with your Schecter. You will regret replacing her.

 

[Stewie]

I've only had Fenders since 1975. Recently aquired a sweet Squier 54 P copy. If it was fretless, it would be the only electric I'd carry. I'm thinking of buying a neck for it. What decal should I put on the headstock? Can you even buy a Squier decal?

 

[Wanker_Joe]

When I’m not playing my rickenbacker, I’m playing a status streamline. It’s not even made of wood! OMG!! It’s not the 80’s! Is that a paddle?

Streamlines are such beautiful instruments. The amount of comments I get when I play my NS-designs headless could fill a pool. People just don't "get" headless basses. I've even had bass players in other bands joke about how odd it looks and it must be "weird" to play. Then I let them play it. That always shuts them up.