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cheap bass=no respect
- Thread starter WickdMOnkey
- Start date
My Aria Jazz got dissed the other day from a teenaged assistant in a local music store, who was pushing the usual mid-range Ibanez and Washburn stuff like you wouldn't believe ('Aria, no good' were his exact words). Usually I let it go, but he really annoyed me and so I had to let him have it: 'Are you new to retail? Because this is not the way to talk to potential customers. First, I chose that bass because I like it, and it plays well; second, you're saying I can't be trusted to make my own judgment after more than 15 years of playing; and third, I bought it from here!'
I find that my Turkish really improves when I'm having a go at someone.
I find that my Turkish really improves when I'm having a go at someone.
Wait a minute, crap players with expensive equipment, great players with cheap equipment.....
Wheres the category for crap players with crap equipment? (ie me)
Wheres the category for crap players with crap equipment? (ie me)
Hey, Gardner...
I'm just the opposite - my Japanese deteriorates when I get rattled (but improves with alcohol, heh heh).
Good for you for standing your ground....nothing wrong with Aria. The set-up is the main thing, right? And if you've got the action where you like it, then great.
I took my cheap Chinese-made Jazz copy in for a free bass lesson sponsored by the local music store. The teacher took one look at it, and when I told him one of the pots didn't work, he ran off to find a screwdriver so that he could take it apart!
I declined, and have since replaced all of the electronics and wiring. Didn't take on the monthly lesson plan, however.
I'm just the opposite - my Japanese deteriorates when I get rattled (but improves with alcohol, heh heh).
Good for you for standing your ground....nothing wrong with Aria. The set-up is the main thing, right? And if you've got the action where you like it, then great.
I took my cheap Chinese-made Jazz copy in for a free bass lesson sponsored by the local music store. The teacher took one look at it, and when I told him one of the pots didn't work, he ran off to find a screwdriver so that he could take it apart!
I declined, and have since replaced all of the electronics and wiring. Didn't take on the monthly lesson plan, however.
Yeah, alcohol: the great language tool.
Seriously though, I really like my bass. I spent about a week fiddling with the setup, put on a set of .45's and then went nuts with a roll of shielding tape. Lets face it, Uncle Leo made his first production guitars to be cheap and easy to fix.
Seriously though, I really like my bass. I spent about a week fiddling with the setup, put on a set of .45's and then went nuts with a roll of shielding tape. Lets face it, Uncle Leo made his first production guitars to be cheap and easy to fix.
I knew someone who when they toured around would use the house bass at the venue they were playing at. Was always a crappy peice of junk bass, but he could always make it groove. Used to tell me the bassplayer makes the bass, not the other way around.
I play a used steinberger spirit xt2 through a crate bt50...i have a MIA deluxe fender jazz, but i only keep that for sentimental reasons(first bass).
guitard passed it off as a "travel instrument" for the bourgeoisie i guess...says the man with 2 $2400 taylors...
not really about cheap instruments, just ignorance...
guitard passed it off as a "travel instrument" for the bourgeoisie i guess...says the man with 2 $2400 taylors...
not really about cheap instruments, just ignorance...
This thread is 6 years old! 
Anyway, I have 2 cheap basses. And I'm hoping to find a cheap semi-hollow bass...I thought Rondo music sells one (SX or Douglas).
I don't mind playing cheap basses. A "friend" always gives me a hard time about it because he loves his '60s Fenders, and he would ALWAYS recommend that I buy one, (preferably one of his).
I'm sorry but, first of all, I can't afford one. And secondly, I believe it's not about the instrument, it's the musician behind it.
Anyway, I have 2 cheap basses. And I'm hoping to find a cheap semi-hollow bass...I thought Rondo music sells one (SX or Douglas).
I don't mind playing cheap basses. A "friend" always gives me a hard time about it because he loves his '60s Fenders, and he would ALWAYS recommend that I buy one, (preferably one of his).
I'm sorry but, first of all, I can't afford one. And secondly, I believe it's not about the instrument, it's the musician behind it.
I don't like the envy that can sometimes come along with playing expensive basses. It means you really have to live up to it. Right now I have a Spector Rebop 5 and a Legend 4, and for my current band, I usually use the Legend as I think it perfectly shows that I'm an adequete bass player who tries to do what he can to contribute to what the band is doing. However, the Rebop I think suggests I'm way better than I really am, at least to me anyway, I get complimented on my playing but I never take them on board that much, flattering as it is. Hence why i don't play the 5 string too often live. The only reason I have it is because of a super sweet deal I got on it when I was looking for a 5 string.
While it is true that nobody needs a $5000 boutique or CS guitar, there is a difference between a $150 beater and $1000 MIA, no matter how awesome you are.
Just my .02
Just my .02
If you can play with a great groove and a good time feel thats what gets respect. Jimi Hendrix wasn't playing any custom made guitars.
I don't think many bassists would judge another bassist on their gear alone. I know loads of guys who play on basses half the price of what I own but can play circles around me, lol. I have on one occasion been told I deserve a better bass but that was a while back, lol.
I'm going to need a pic to back that up --- no pic = no large-breasted ladies dancing on stage. 
Excellent point. The guitarist in my band plays two $3500 PRS guitars, fine instruments, but he's always stressing about them whacked, scratched, or god knows what else at gigs. Me, I've left my high-end basses years ago, and just play used Stingray 5's. If the singer's guitar headstock whacks mine during a show, no worries. If he gets within 5 feet of the guitarist, you can see the stress overwhelm him.
And when large-breasted ladies dance on stage, he stresses they might bump one off the stand. Me, I just stare happily at them . . .
I've got a cheap bass and i agree, with time you do develop a grove that cant be macthed by the most expensive bass.
My bass is a 4-string peavey millenium, and i love it. The other day i played a £600 Music man sterling and i honestly thought mine felt nicer.
PEAVEY FTW!
My bass is a 4-string peavey millenium, and i love it. The other day i played a £600 Music man sterling and i honestly thought mine felt nicer.
PEAVEY FTW!
Nobody likes the guy who cant do something but has all the expensive gear as if he could. People just marvel at my defretting job on my one and only( until wednesday) starter bass ($250 for an Ibanez gsr100 with , amp, tuners, case etc.) Its cooler when you can make something cheap sound really good
i saw James Brown at the SF Civic Center around 1993. the bass player grooved
so freakin hard! he was playing a cheapo 80's fender jp-90 bass...
outstanding show---everyone was up out of their seats by song# 2, nobody
sat down the rest of the night!
so freakin hard! he was playing a cheapo 80's fender jp-90 bass...
outstanding show---everyone was up out of their seats by song# 2, nobody
sat down the rest of the night!
I think your gear may very well influence "first impressions" of respect or ability from another player. If you walk into a room where two women are standing, one is beautiful and the other butt ugly, what would your first impression be. Now, what happens when you find the beautiful woman has the personality of dog doo and the ugly one is absolutely perfect. Which would you prefer? Okay, maybe the pretty one for one night
Assume that a boutique bass is perfect in every way and a cheap bass is playable, meaning it has no mechanical or electrical problems. Which would sound better...a poor bassist playing the boutique or a great bassist playing the cheap-o. I believe the best made bass in the world won't sound good if the player has no ability. I think a great player can make a cheap bass sound very good.
So I would say try to put off "first impressions" of respect until you have heard what the player sounds like as hard as that may be to do.
Assume that a boutique bass is perfect in every way and a cheap bass is playable, meaning it has no mechanical or electrical problems. Which would sound better...a poor bassist playing the boutique or a great bassist playing the cheap-o. I believe the best made bass in the world won't sound good if the player has no ability. I think a great player can make a cheap bass sound very good.
So I would say try to put off "first impressions" of respect until you have heard what the player sounds like as hard as that may be to do.
lol, i'm new to tb and i was just browsing threads...didn't look at the dates at all before responding XDThis thread is 6 years old!
Anyway, I have 2 cheap basses. And I'm hoping to find a cheap semi-hollow bass...I thought Rondo music sells one (SX or Douglas).
I don't mind playing cheap basses. A "friend" always gives me a hard time about it because he loves his '60s Fenders, and he would ALWAYS recommend that I buy one, (preferably one of his).
I'm sorry but, first of all, I can't afford one. And secondly, I believe it's not about the instrument, it's the musician behind it.
