You bring up a good point.
I have to be honest that I really do love these basses (which is evident), especially because people that fall closer to the "gear snob" spectrum
seem to have a hard time swallowing the fact that they are good, sound good, play well, feel good, etc. They just can't swallow that pill.
Sure, they're not for everybody, but neither is any other bass ever made.
They are not, however, the sh#t box that some people assume they are in an off-hand sort of way.
Call me naive, but I was never in an environment where what brand you played actually mattered, till a recent experience a couple
of years ago at a local big name music store. It baffled me, and my venting about it was one of my first posts on TB.
The other place that I have encountered a bunch of brand snobbery is on this forum. With so many people on this forum I guess
it's unavoidable, although brand snobbery is not generally something I ever feel, be it basses, cars, motorcycles, etc.
What I found as a CLASSIC example TB snobbery was right after my initial post creating this thread. After clearly stating that if someone
is not into the CR's there's no need to post a snide or nasty comment or something to that effect, the VERY FIRST response was this - :\
I mean, really, could the guy have been any bigger of a douche? Probably, but still, it just was uncalled for. The fact, though, that
he felt a need to respond that way was such a clear indicator of how (some) people are so brand conscious.
As an example, when I lived and gigged in Greece, Carlo Robelli was unknown as a brand. I'd set up at my gigs or in the studio, people
(seasoned musicians) would Ooh and Aaah at my Carlo Robelli bass, they'd play it, really like the feel, like the sound etc etc, all the while not knowing its pedigree.
They had no preconceived notion about it, so they could just enjoy it for what it was. If it really sucked, you'd see the expression on their
faces and, knowing them, I know they would have commented on it. That NEVER happened.
That being said, I DO have a positive attitude about the Carlo Robelli because I have real life experience with them and all I can do
is laugh when someone wants to be a douche or a snob about them, off-handedly assuming that they are crap.
Just ask Joe Dart of Vulfpeck:
Actually, that's not true. My initial reaction is to want throat punch them or kick them in the gut because their douchebaggery deserves that response,
and THEN laugh at them (that's a typical response you have as to how to handle jerks when growing up in NY). As I've gotten a bit older and wiser, though,
I find that doing my best to ignore them, to continue laughing and to just keep enjoying the awesomeness of my Carlo Robelli is enough.
I hope I haven't tarnished my "happy go lucky, Carlo Robelli love" image, but I did feel the need to explain.
Now, let's continue with our CR love. That is all.
