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"Do you play a Fender?"

#141
MultiScaleMale said:
Why is everyone up in arms when a bandleader requests a certain brand / instrument? "You're better off not playing with them." is the common response. No you're not, you didn't get the gig because you didn't meet the bandleader's request. I've been pretty lucky with open mindedness with bands, but if someone makes a request, I'll meet the request and maybe bring along another bass that I'll suggest that we try at some point. I just don't see the point in shooting yourself in the foot at square one.
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It wasn't a request - it was a question - "do you play a Fender?" - if he asked "would you play a Fender?" and it was a good enough gig to warrant acquiring specific equipment than it would be totally valid and it would be the OP who would be wrong if he said "no."
I will state that I personally believe that any serious player should have something that can at least pass for a P, but to turn someone down without knowing who they are or how they play is stupid, period. Again, if the bandleader wanted a specific instrument after auditioning the player, then he could make that request and you are right in saying it's his right to desire something specific, but you need to know how the person plays, not what they play - there are lots of guys who own Fenders who suck and lost of guys who can only afford an off brand cheapy who absolutely rock - so ending an "interview" after that question is what iis stupid - not having specific wants and desires.
 
#142
gln1955 said:
I would say people have that reaction because the question raises two red flags

1. The BL may be a micromanaging control freak
2. The BL doesn't understand the bass and what can be done with any particular bass tonally.

If either of these are true, it can make for a frustrating band experience. Whether that is cause to avoid that band altoghether is an individual decision.
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You missed one - and this one we know for sure.
3. The bandleader doesn't know how good the player is/is not - and is making a decision based on that total lack of knowledge.
 
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#143
lfmn16 said:
+1

Everyone is reading some kind of nefarious intent on the part of the band. Maybe they just don't know any better and if someone shows up with a good bass and gets a good sound, they'll just say, cool.

The other thing is that as much as some people don't like it, the BL gets to set the parameters of the band. It doesn't mean he's a dick just because he like the sound of a Fender bass.

Maybe instead of being confrontational, you could just say, "I have a lot of different basses and try to work with the band to get a sound that fits the music."
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No one will be able to "show up with a good bass" because they're shutting every non-Fender player down.
If a player is inexperienced/unknowledgable enough to justify this kind of attitude, how are they a "band-leader?" In theory at least you get to be BL because you have enough experience/talent/clout to be the "boss" of the band.
 
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#144
Matthew_84 said:
I totally agree... I'm just surprised, and a little intrigued about why such a strong preference.
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Most likely the usual hipster band, the kind that go searching pawn shops looking for old Vox amps because they think it's how they are supposed to roll. I see you're from Toronto, you've probably heard of Sloan from down my way here in Nova Scotia, they would be the perfect example of this.
 
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#145
Agreed ...

If a band or band leader were to request say Ludwig drums, a Hammond B3 or a Telecaster I would assume there is the tacit understanding that this is a "professional" request for whatever reason, be it astetic or sonic. That said the professional response is to ask what the remuneration is if you are willing to fulfill said request ... Now if it's a bunch of hipsters that want to look cool in their garage in front of their friends that's one thing. If a professional rock-a-billy band requires an upright bass, would you get bent out of shape if they rejected you if you show up with a P bass?

As the line in the movie goes "show me the money"
 
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#147
Sputnik Monroe said:
Agreed ...

If a band or band leader were to request say Ludwig drums, a Hammond B3 or a Telecaster I would assume there is the tacit understanding that this is a "professional" request for whatever reason, be it astetic or sonic. That said the professional response is to ask what the remuneration is if you are willing to fulfill said request ... Now if it's a bunch of hipsters that want to look cool in their garage in front of their friends that's one thing. If a professional rock-a-billy band requires an upright bass, would you get bent out of shape if they rejected you if you show up with a P bass?

As the line in the movie goes "show me the money"
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That would have to be a pretty high level gig to specify which drums someone shows up with! I'm sure it happens, but I would think at that level it would be a more professional interaction like the one you suggest rather than:
"Do you play a Fender?"
"No"
<Click>.

P.S. That last line is the big hint that these guys are either hacks or not worth the drama - seriously unprofessional.
P.P.S. That was a metaphorical "click" since it was an email exchange, but still uncool.
 
#148
ninjaaron said:
There are paid opportunities that require a Fender, and there are artistically satisfying endeavors that require a Fender. The reasons may be stupid, but I'm not going to be stupid enough to let gear preferences stand in the way of either of them. As you say, "to have fun and enjoy making music," and I'd never let my own thoughts about gear stand in the way of either.

I don't own a Fender bass at the moment because I think there are better ways to spend my money where basses are concerned, but I would get one in a second if it were to open a door that my current basses cannot. I'm interested in music, money, and having fun. My interest in gear and liking or disliking certain brands are hardly relevant to that. Any bass (that can be properly set up) will get the job done... especially when all the stock parts can be replaced.

But if someone wants to throw the baby out with the bathwater because they don't like Fender, they are welcome to it, just as I'm welcome to voice my opinion of their value system on the Internet.
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If you need a bass to open doors, this might work better than a Fender.
imagesCAB8KJV0.jpg
 
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#149
danosix said:
No one will be able to "show up with a good bass" because they're shutting every non-Fender player down.
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That's a lot of conjecture. The only thing I saw was that the OP got an email asking if he uses a fender and hasn't gotten a response to his email yet. We don't know if he waited a day, a week, or a month before opening this thread.
danosix said:
If a player is inexperienced/unknowledgable enough to justify this kind of attitude, how are they a "band-leader?" In theory at least you get to be BL because you have enough experience/talent/clout to be the "boss" of the band.
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Theories are nice, but not always the case. Maybe he liked his last bass player but doesn't know how to articulate that he wanted a warm, round sound that sits well in the mix, or whatever else he thinks a fender sounds like.

We don't know anything about the band, the band leader, or even the type of music they play. Maybe it's a Motown tribute band. I'm just saying that you should try to keep your options open. Maybe the BL is a dick and the OP dodged a bullet.
 
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#150
lfmn16 said:
That's a lot of conjecture. The only thing I saw was that the OP got an email asking if he uses a fender and hasn't gotten a response to his email yet. We don't know if he waited a day, a week, or a month before opening this thread.

Theories are nice, but not always the case. Maybe he liked his last bass player but doesn't know how to articulate that he wanted a warm, round sound that sits well in the mix, or whatever else he thinks a fender sounds like.

We don't know anything about the band, the band leader, or even the type of music they play. Maybe it's a Motown tribute band. I'm just saying that you should try to keep your options open. Maybe the BL is a dick and the OP dodged a bullet.
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I'm pretty certain the BL is a dick (or at least an idiot) and the OP did dodge a bullet.
You are right I am taking the OP at his word that this was actually the exchange and that it didn't happen last night at 10:00 pm. But assuming those are not the case, you can't say anything for the BL. I totally agree there are legitimate reasons for requesting a Fender bass, but you explain and ask the person if they are willing to show up with one to get the gig.
Simply put - turning someone down without knowing anything about them (presumably not even what s/he looks like since it was an email exchange) is not logical/professional band-leading. It's totally possible that the OP was a dink in his email or the BL found out that he's terrible, but even under these circumstances a polite "sorry, we're going another way" email is in order - that is the mark of a professional.
 
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#151
drummer5359 said:
This thread does bring up an interesting point in my mind.

I've been gigging a long time and most of the players over the years in electric bands (I play in acoustic trios as well...) have played Stratocasters, Telecasters and /or Gibsons. Right now the guitarist in one band plays a few different Carvins, they sound good and I don't care. But, now that I think about it, this is the first guitarist I've played with that has not played a Fender or Gibson. Ever.

Maybe part of the reason that guitarists expect Fenders is that they play Fenders.
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+1 I have played with 2 guitarists that played Ibenez. They both have similar personalities. I think Ibenez is like a cult or something.
 
#159
Jah Wobble Fan said:
Paul Weller once quipped that he spent more time in the 80's reading synth instruction booklets than he did playing music.
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Yep.
Main reason so many bass/guitar players hate digital effects - not because they're not capable of good, useful sounds (many are), but because most of us are LAZY and don't want to learn how to edit patches effectively. I know that, once I learned how to edit (and the limitations of) even my cheapo Zoom 506IIB, that I could get very usable tones out of it and was able to edit it usefully pretty quickly once the logic to it "clicked".
Of course, that just meant the next time I tried something like that (the B3) my brain refused to re-learn a new programming method and I very quickly gave up on it.
We're used to "plug and play" - same reason so many players can't get along with high end compressors too - they can be VERY complicated and have the capability of getting to some very non-usable settings and they get frustrated.
 
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#160
Dizzy Gillespie used to carry cymbols to his gigs and make the drummer use them.

As long as whoever's paying me treats me with respect and is upfront about requests I'll work with them, but they will be paying well.

If the gig doesn't pay well or is collaborative, then I play what I want. (which is sometimes fender and sometimes not)
 
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