Do you ever feel self-conscious about your gear?

[madbass6]

You are embarrassed to bring an MIA Fender because it is TOO expensive?

The PO clearly stated he's self conscious
"not" embarased.
Hopefully we'll agree its NOT the same thing.
If in doubt google it.

 

[organworthyplayer337]

I'm only insecure about my amp. It sucks. And I hate it.

I'm hoping to fix that soon.

 

[Fingerpickingood]

I'm only insecure about my amp. It sucks. And I hate it.

I'm hoping to fix that soon.

You've piqued my curiosity... Whatcha got?

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

I'm too self conscious about my playing to have energy left over to worry about my gear.

But, I'm a gear head, so everything I play or play through has a lot of thought behind it. I do my worrying up front, before laying out $, and then I either love it or sell it because life is too @#$%ing short. I play a fancy expensive amp because someone let me try it and I had to have it. But my basses all hail from Indonesia or China, cost no more than $400, and do everything I want them to do. My gear tells my story and I'm comfortable with it, but ultimately it's a very small part of the picture.

When it comes to music, Lance Armstrong had it right: "It's not about the bike."

(It's about the drugs.)

 

[Liam Wald]

I am always self conscious about my gear so I either cover it with a tarp or play in a dark room.

 

[corinpills]

I often feel a little uncomfortable about other people's gear.

 

[mcnach]

I've got band rehearsal today with a new band that I've pulled together. The drummer is also a bassist, and in fact he's a better/more experienced bassist than I am. However, he's not gear obsessed like I am. I'm feeling a little embarrassed about bringing my MIA Fender, because it probably cost more than all of his bass gear combined, and it'd probably be better in his hands lol.
To make things worse, the rehearsal is at his uncle's house, and his uncle is the very very frugal father (musician) of my SO. I'm not really trying to make an ostentatious display, but I feel like I would be if I'm bringing a $1k instrument.

I haven't decided what to do yet (feel free to give input lol). But either way, I wanted to ask TB, do you ever feel self-conscious about your gear? (whether too cheap or too expensive) Post your story!

I don't see a MIA Fender as ostentacious at all. It just shows you like to have a decent instrument and Fender is probably the 'industry standard' as far as electric basses go (whether there are better instruments for th eprice, I'm not going to get into, Fender-haters ). It's not like showing up with a coffee-table exotic wood $10k bass... and even then, if you can afford it, good for you! If somebody thinks it's ostentacious, that's their problem. Enjoy what you have and play it, whether it cost $1000 or $100.

 

[Mike SS]

It's not what you have play, but what you can do with it. I don't think that an "off the rack" MIA P-bass is showing off. It's a good quality, dependable instrument. A serious musicians instrument.

 

[Dug2]

wat? you only spent 1000 for your bass? just remember.....its only money

 

[organworthyplayer337]

You've piqued my curiosity... Whatcha got?

In fear of offending any fans of the amp I left out the name but it's all IMHO, YMMV etc;

The Fender Rumble 200W v3 head.

 

[capnsandwich]

I used to be self-conscious about my gear when I played a $150 Ibanez beginner bass but quickly I moved up the ladder. I actually look forward to showing off my gear when I have the chance, especially to other bassists. I usually get the thumbs up from people except from this one guy who called my Valenti a wannabe Sadowsky. That was before he heard me play it. He never called it that again after he heard me though.

 

[Deleted member 264575]

Yes.

Ask me again this time next year and you'll hopefully get a new answer.

Chris Squire signature Rickenbacker. To restore, or not to restore? thread.

 

[GIBrat51]

To answer your question - No, I don't. Most people think most of my stuff is pretty cool, and since I'm a lefty, I have some things you don't see every day. However, I can certainly understand - and sympathize - with your situation vis a vis the "very frugal musician father of your SO". I guess that boils down to how well you two know each other; how well you get along with him; and whether his frugality extends into his instruments. And, only you can answer those questions. But, I certainly don't think a MIA Fender qualifies as "ostentatious", or something you need to be self conscious about...

 

[rtslinger]

Yeah this is going the way of you can't play basketball unless you $300 sneakers it's bull there and here. I have played 5000.00 basses and I have played 200.00 basses and at the end of the day same amp settings it all sounds like me playing. For the newbies reading this post. Play what you can afford, play it to the best of your ability. Have fun and and don't get caught up in the drama of oh I need a expensive bass or amp because I can't sound good without it. I have heard bass player's with monster amps and way unaffordable basses who couldn't lay down a groove to save their life's.

 

[PWRL]

No, I only get self-conscious about my playing.

 

[CGremlin]

But, I certainly don't think a MIA Fender qualifies as "ostentatious" or something you need to be self conscious about...

Yeah, if you want "ostentatious", let's talk about Bootsy or Stig Pedersen!

 

[s0c9]

No, not any more!