Stick_Player
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- Nov 13, 2009
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Sir, you are correct!
Except for the scrutinizing expert gear-tools standing around cuz they don't have a gig.
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Can I go pro with a Squier Affinity P Bass?
- Thread starter Jhclark
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Sir, you are correct!
Except for the scrutinizing expert gear-tools standing around cuz they don't have a gig.
I think this is what it comes down to, basically. Regardless of your opinion of inexpensive instruments, much of the music performance business is about the impressions you make upon people.
There's a basic level of musical ability required of any professional musician. After that, it's the seemingly little things that set you apart - who you know, your attitude, and your image.
'Versatility' is not always what in demand for 'doing sessions and high level gigs'.
Most of the time, 'Speciality' of a player (and his gear(s)) is what make him/her the bassist wanted for his/her jobs.
So,..no, I don't think that any bassists have to be and have all kind of different bassist types and sounds and basses, stomp boxes etc.
It's OK if somebody like to be like that -jack of all trades- kind of bassist (and like to have as many type of basses & gears she/he likes and thinks he/she needs), nice, but it's not a must.
And "a one p-bass with flatwounds" does a lot more than what you probably think of. I literally experience it.
And then there are legendary people like James Jamerson (P-Bass + flatwounds + 1 finger), Joe Osborn (J-Bass + flatwounds + pick) etc who only use 1 bass for all of their millions 'sessions and high level gigs'.
If you are happy with the Squire then why not look at the new Squires. You will read a lot of good comments on the new Squire Vintage Modified Jazz and Precision basses and they are very reasonably priced. Keep the old one as a backup.
If I saw the gig, Id think it was cool to see someone completely rip it on a cheap bass, you know, provided the tone of the instrument blended in and was inoffensive. Like seeing seeing a modified Honda smoke a Lamborghini
I have a Squire Classic Vibe strat and it's very nice. It's well built, looks great, sounds great, has smooth low action and perfect intonation. If you can "honestly" say this about your bass I think you could "start" your career with it. You will eventually have to upgrade.
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Yeah, both of those guys got on fine with just one bass, but they played motown and country and those kind of genres where a p-bass with flats is exactly the thing you need, but what if OP ends up playing something completely different like hip hop of even something crazy like djent, good luck playing djent on a p-bass with flatwounds.
At the same time I think about that not every bass can play every type of music, I also think flatwound strung P-Bass can play almost anything not only motown and country (?) music like you said.
But the underlined points from my comment above are:
1. Not everybody has to be a Versatile bassists. Although it's ok too if somebody would like to be.
2. Not everybody has to buy/have any kind of different gears & basses, strings, fret/fretless etc. Although it's ok if somebody would like it too.
3. To do what you call as "Sessions and High Level Gigs", a bassist doesn't always have to be a versatile kind of player nor have many kind of different basses & gears. Infact, most of the time, people (producers, MDs, etc) call a bassist not because his/her versatility, but because of his/her SPECIALITY instead. Although of course there are also 'places' for versatile (type of) bassists.
4. Again, P-Bass with flat wounds clearly can do much more than what I think You think it can, looking at how you write your comment above. Although for some people, it is impossible to do anything.
I play, record, produce, MD for hip-hop music too. With my flatwound strung P-Bass. It's sweet.
Of course anybody can choose what is good for them, and can do anything with anything they like, e.g. playing hip-hop with Fodera, etc..but as I said,..anybody should be able to play anything with anything he have. The result might be different, but not necessary bad.
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Hate to say it, but your wife is 100% wrong. Sure, better basses will have pluses, but a better amp will make you sound so much better, even with a cheap bass. A good amp will unlock the tone of your bass and the sound of your playing. You made the right choice with the amp upgrade. Plus, if you like the bass, there's no need to swap out yet.
It all depends on what genre the OP is playing, a precision bass will manage most genres, and that's cool if that's all he's playing, but good luck playing something like this on it.
Without trying to being snob or something, I honestly say that that kind of music you give in the youtube link (Make Total Destroy), is not impossible and even can be good to be play on a P-Bass.
Ok I'd give you example too.. hope it can open your mind...
This was done on P-Bass:
It's in the player's imagination and creativity more than the P-Bass or not P-Bass.
If you'd like to show/see something that is impossible to play on a P-Bass (or any 4 strings only basses), at least without major adaptation or greatly different result, perhaps this video below is more appropriate,..(although that kind of play would likely not make him to be hired to 'session nor high level gigs' too).
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I'm not saying you can't do it, but it's much easier to play that kind of music on a Warwick or a Dingwall, which already has perhaps a longer scale length and more strings, I'd prefer to save the money and buy one of those basses than to tune Squier down to low F# which is what that song was in (I think so anyway, most of Peripherys' songs and most of djent is tuned down extremely low, and I know from Nollys rig rundown that more than one of his basses go that low), while it would be possible to use a Squier, it would sound so much better through something different, so use the Squier if you're playing rock, or motown, or jazz or any other genres that don't require any special gear,and it'll sound fine, but I wouldn't recommend tuning it down nearly an entire octave and trying to play progressive metal on it, it just won't sound good, Dingwall and Darkglass are the way to go there.
Not agree with almost all of your statement, especially the attitude or basic point of view of the matter(s), ..but...
OK,
It's your opinion, You have the right for it, and I respect your right.
I think I've made clear of my points at my comments above. I don't like to do debate/long argument on something.
GBU
You should probably just stop now. A bassist can sound great on any bass, in any genre.
okcrum
in your chest
It does if they won't hire you. Even though that's their problem, it's still a missed pay day if you're a pro, so it's also your problem. Like it or not, people listen with their eyes. Comparing someone starting out to famous folks using Squier is misleading.
For live work, with a pup upgrade, (DiMarzio works well) a good Squier example with good setup can turn heads. Forget most higher level studio work unless you're already a first call player, and you also bring a Fender JIC.
I am still looking for a retailer who sells Squire brand. They seem kind of like unicorns.
I've had gigs ask me to bring one of my Fenders, even though my Carvin sounds and plays better.
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I have nearly 20 basses, some I paid a LOT of money for. One of them is a 2013 Squier Affinity Jazz with stock guts and I swear it sounds just as good and is as gig worthy as any of my Fenders, Gibsons, Rickenbackers, etc.
Just sayin'.
Just sayin'.
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