Do I need a "good" bass for auditions?

[Paulabass]

I admit I have not read all 11 pages of this thread, so pardon me if it's been said many times.
First impressions are important. Most musicians are gear heads. They ARE watching when you open your case, and that will be the part of the audition.

 

[Orpheus55]

Nobody is saying that a $10k Fodera is necessary, but when a Fender P bass can be had for under $800 - go ahead, don’t show up with one. It’s like not dressing up for a job interview. Sure, you may have skills but your first impression is that you’re a contrarian. Why make it difficult for yourself? If you’re going for the audition, you’re interested in the position.

Yes. You need good gear. It doesn’t have to be super high end, but it needs to look the part, sound good and be reliable. Stack the deck in your favor.

I wear Brooks Brothers suits and play MIJ Precisions. Never been criticized for either.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I wear Brooks Brothers suits and play MIJ Precisions. Never been criticized for either.

Not necessarily saying that it *has* to be an American P bass, but rather the gold standard is rather low compared to other instruments.

 

[spade2you]

Wow, in this day and age you would think that there would be a rule that you can’t post an add like that as it’s discriminatory. You can’t in the UK for business but obviously bands aren’t regulated. How about just saying that you are a young band or have a young and energetic fan bass? Surely that gets the message across and they’d ultimately still have the final say in hiring someone. Both parties could be missing a match made in heaven by being so narrow minded.

Why not? It's not like local bands need to abide by corporate policies. No real way to enforce it, either.

Besides, asking for these requirements is no guarantee they'll get it. The youngsters typically want to avoid "old" people like me because they have grand visions of record contracts and a world tour. Nothing destroys that like a job, mortgage, and a family. Despite these dreams and ambitions, 99% won't achieve these goals.

 

[Bass Viking]

It struck me that the majority of respondents said something like “those guys aren’t worth your time.” It’s like a test, part of your audition of them.

I agree, and it’s a red flag whether or not the Squier was the real reason the band rejected him. They could have made it known upfront or told him to come back with another instrument.

 

[Yonni]

Why not?

Because I don’t like to admit that I’m closer to retirement than I am to being a young gunslinger!

 

[Orpheus55]

Not necessarily saying that it *has* to be an American P bass, but rather the gold standard is rather low compared to other instruments.

I respectfully agree, but my particular mid-eighties MIJ basses will more than equal their MIA counterparts; I've had all types of Fenders over 50 years of professional playing, and the brief interlude when Fender was making great basses overseas was a special period--as many on this forum can attest.

 

[spade2you]

Because I don’t like to admit that I’m closer to retirement than I am to being a young gunslinger!

Same here. I missed the bus. I pursued a doctorate and spent a little extra time in college when local bands could still tour. After graduating, my employer told me that my free time was worth a lot more than local bands were paying and a "little" less ego and drama.

Now I'm about 40 with kids and the local scene is basically dead. The sad part is that my skills are still good. I'm limited to cover bands or original bands that just aren't very good. I work a good amount of weekends until I can get it together and become management. There aren't many original bands that aren't modern metal. I can't seem to find non metal musicians who aren't beginners.

 

[ninefingerbass]

IMO: Not worth my time. Yes, busting out a 100 dollar crap bass and a 10w amp may not get you the gig but then bringing a but load of high end gear just to "show off" may not get you the gig either. Be sensible and ask questions. If you go to an audition with crap gear and these guys are semi-pro or at least gigging constantly then it's a different story, bring reasonable gear. If they are just a group of inexperienced garage band types and living the pipe dream of making it big, then you'll know.

Too many times I see bands on CL, looking for bassist with pro gear and pro this, saying we want to eventually make an EP, play gigs, make money, be a family, and start touring by next year. I stay away from those ads!