Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Crappy bassists with expensive gears?
- Thread starter BrandonBass
- Start date
I think the responsibility is on the player to know how to set up his or her instrument, at least in terms of the electric bass. The electric bass has many features that make it easy to adjust and fine-tune your instrument with a minimum of tools and skills - a truss-rod, a bridge that has adjustable saddle height and length, and pickups whose height can also be manually adjusted. the only tools you really need are a 6"/15 cm precision ruler, that goes to the hundredth of an inch, or to the millimeter, a philips head screwdriver, and two allen wrenches.
M.R. Ogle said:
Lol!
Crappy bass player here with a 2500.00 MM and a 300 dollar solid state amp. I've spent more on pedals in the last month than my amp value too.
I don't see what the problem is with having expensive gear?
Some people have more money than others, and some people are willing to spend more money than others. If someone who can't play worth a damn wants to buy expensive gear, they should be able to do that. Expensive gear is not a privilege for those with talent. Anyone can buy any gear they want if they have the money, and it's their right to do so if they want to. You should be concerned solely with their skills as a player, not any kind of correlation between those skills and the price of their gear. If someone can't play, they can't play. It makes no difference whether they can't play on a $20 no-name bass or a $10K (insert high end instrument), other than your envy of the fact that they have more money than you.
Some people have more money than others, and some people are willing to spend more money than others. If someone who can't play worth a damn wants to buy expensive gear, they should be able to do that. Expensive gear is not a privilege for those with talent. Anyone can buy any gear they want if they have the money, and it's their right to do so if they want to. You should be concerned solely with their skills as a player, not any kind of correlation between those skills and the price of their gear. If someone can't play, they can't play. It makes no difference whether they can't play on a $20 no-name bass or a $10K (insert high end instrument), other than your envy of the fact that they have more money than you.
My gear is WAY better than I am. Who cares? I like to think that I'm keeping the good people at Ernie Ball and Genz Benz employed, not to mention the many small custom effects pedal makers, the good TB'ers looking to raise cash by selling nifty pedals, the hard workers at Guitar Center, the folks at Hal Leonard...let's not forget Amazon.com!
I already have a number in the Mediocre Bassists Club, but I forgot it.
I already have a number in the Mediocre Bassists Club, but I forgot it.
Meh..I see this all the time. Band setting up, and the bassist has a sweet expensive rig and a really nice bass. I think "oh cool, can't wait to hear this guy/gal."
Nine times out of ten, the bassist fails to be "great" but I don't let that bother me. As long as they're solid and hold down the bottom end, I'm ok with it. I never call anyone a "crappy bassist" (except maybe myself!) though. It's just not how I am....
Nine times out of ten, the bassist fails to be "great" but I don't let that bother me. As long as they're solid and hold down the bottom end, I'm ok with it. I never call anyone a "crappy bassist" (except maybe myself!) though. It's just not how I am....
i think a good example is you could have 2 people go round a race track
one person in a porcshe 911 gt3rs and the other in a mk2 vw golf gti that they found used for £1000
one MAY have more money to spend on a fancy car but it doesnt meen they can drive it as well as the person in the golf
my point is its just the way the world is. some people can afford more and some people can make do with what they have
one person in a porcshe 911 gt3rs and the other in a mk2 vw golf gti that they found used for £1000
one MAY have more money to spend on a fancy car but it doesnt meen they can drive it as well as the person in the golf
my point is its just the way the world is. some people can afford more and some people can make do with what they have
I also think its nice to have good gear, it gives one a sense of pride just to hold your `special` bass, sometimes things are not only about pure function, I get a lot of pleasure cleaning and polishing my instruments, I had a gorgeous quilted maple top on a guitar I owned some years ago and I could often just `look` at it and get a sense of pride knowing it was all mine 
Obviously better quality is better to play and helps improve skills quicker than a cheap bass, funnily enough, I bought an Ibanez BTB 770 yesterday which was £300 less than the Fender USA Jazz I tried but the action on the IB was to die for straight out of the box whereas the Jazz was not so good, a lot depends on the set up as has been said .
Obviously better quality is better to play and helps improve skills quicker than a cheap bass, funnily enough, I bought an Ibanez BTB 770 yesterday which was £300 less than the Fender USA Jazz I tried but the action on the IB was to die for straight out of the box whereas the Jazz was not so good, a lot depends on the set up as has been said .
What was wrong with the setup? Almost every musician i know does their own. Was the intonation off?
when i first read this thread, this came to mind (its not me)
But after giving it some thought i think ive got gear thats way beyond my playing ability, i dont yet play as good as i would like to play so i consider myself a crappy player with good gear
But after giving it some thought i think ive got gear thats way beyond my playing ability, i dont yet play as good as i would like to play so i consider myself a crappy player with good gear
Buy what you want, play what you like, and have fun. Forget about the other guy. What he has and how he does it (or how he doesn't do it ) should make no difference to you.
) should make no difference to you.Number, please.
I suck so bad I won't "test play" a bass or guitar in a store because I'm embarrassed... I just buy 'em.
I'll get better as I get time to practice but I have a Warwick and two Spectors, MIA Strat, and soon adding another guitar- probably a Les Paul. Looking to get drums and a board to make the basement a rehearsal space for when I get my stuff together. I *used* to be good enough to hire out but haven't played in 20 years and can't remember squat.
I had a friend in college who dropped about $8,000 in a full Marshall stack, vintage Les Paul, microphone and stand, and some other gear to have in his apartment so chicks would think he's cool. He couldn't have worked out 'twinkle twinkle' on it if his life depended on it.
I suck so bad I won't "test play" a bass or guitar in a store because I'm embarrassed... I just buy 'em.
I'll get better as I get time to practice but I have a Warwick and two Spectors, MIA Strat, and soon adding another guitar- probably a Les Paul. Looking to get drums and a board to make the basement a rehearsal space for when I get my stuff together. I *used* to be good enough to hire out but haven't played in 20 years and can't remember squat.
I had a friend in college who dropped about $8,000 in a full Marshall stack, vintage Les Paul, microphone and stand, and some other gear to have in his apartment so chicks would think he's cool. He couldn't have worked out 'twinkle twinkle' on it if his life depended on it.
Exactly. Why do musicians feel the need to appoint themselves as judge of who should be playing what?
I do consider a tuner a must, and a proper set-up on a bass is essential, but the cost of our gear depends on our finances. I have lots of nice gear, though nothing real pricey, and I think it makes me enjoy playing more. Maybe the players you heard are still in the learning mode, or had the money to get the bass they wanted and couldn't afford anything else. I guess I'd give them a break, and give them congrats for nice Warwick basses.
