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Does skill = your bass??
- Thread starter Grizzly700
- Start date
That is a refreshing comment about the Geddy Jazz and thanks for posting it!!! Though I suppose it would be best for that RUSH sound
I love my Geddy and I don't even listen to RUSH. You might even say I can't stand RUSH. It's a great bass though - definitely no mid-quality bass - more like mid to high I'd say.
He's jealous, simple as that
If you were completely new on bass and couldn't even play Brainstew by Green Day, but decided to go out and buy an Ampeg SVT-CL with 8x10's cab and a Fender Geddy Lee, THEN He would be justified saying that. But not only have you played long enough to at least get by in a band, but you worked and paid for the stuff yourself as well so its none of his business to begin with.
I might sound like everyone else, but for what it's worth, you should really look for another guitarist. Trust Me, arguments and issues like that don't disappear because He gets a decent amp and guitar.
If you were completely new on bass and couldn't even play Brainstew by Green Day, but decided to go out and buy an Ampeg SVT-CL with 8x10's cab and a Fender Geddy Lee, THEN He would be justified saying that. But not only have you played long enough to at least get by in a band, but you worked and paid for the stuff yourself as well so its none of his business to begin with.
I might sound like everyone else, but for what it's worth, you should really look for another guitarist. Trust Me, arguments and issues like that don't disappear because He gets a decent amp and guitar.
The "only" reason I would offer for not buying the most expensive gear when you are just starting out is what if discover you don't like playing after 6 months? Beyond that... hey it's your money.
#1! I grew up in a blue collar family with a dad who became an engineer on the G. I. bill, plus he was raised on a Nebraskan farm as a kid. I was pretty much taught that if I wanted something bad enough, then I needed to get a job and save for whatever it was. Your buddy is jealous plain and simple, and he needs to quit whining about what other people have. He needs to see his potential and get the dignity that comes with a job and hard work and the rewards that a job can bring, or he's destined to become either a bum or worse yet, a whiny adult socialist!
Ok, I have been playing bass for 2 years and have what I would call a mid-quality bass, a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz. My friend that plays guitar has been playing for nearly 5 years and only has a very cheap Dean Vendetta. He gets angry with me because I have better equipment like my Ampeg amp and says that I shouldn't have that because I haven't been playing long enough. I bought this stuff because I worked for it and can afford it, but he is from a lower middle-class family and probably can't afford it. We are still in high school and he says I am too young and haven't been playing long enough. Am I right for saying you should buy the best that you can afford? We actually have gotten in fights over this because he just won't leave it alone and he is extremely jealous I guess.....
PS- His lack of equipment has stopped us from doing gigs that we could have. Should I drop him and find a new guitarist? We are really good friendsuntil we get to practice.
Um, did he hit his head a lot as a kid?
Seriously, since when does equipment equal ability? One's age or length of time playing has nothing to do with one's gear. One's ability is everything, period.
You buy what you want (if you can afford it in the first place) or buy what you can afford. If a guy wants to start out on top end gear, so what. If a guy wants to start out on low end or entry level gear (or has to start out on it) again, so what?
Now as for amplification not being up to snuff, that is different story. If you are trying to get gigs, you should either have enough to get by or borrow or buy enough to get by.
There is no shame in being a broke kid, or no shame in the economic background of one's family. Many truly great musicians came from very meager economic situations. In short, they were great but they were broke.
If you friend really wants to upgrade equipment, there are lots of ways to get the "right" gear. Like a job, or two. Or borrowing etc...
Your friend has some issues about this it is clear, but if your friendship is strong enough the two of you should be able to find a way to work through this. However, if he cannot get over the gear issue you may have to move on...
he would have hated me then, i had a warick thumb 6 and conklin gt 7 when i was in highschool, lol.
but seriously he just jealous. i worked hard to buy all my gear and dont regret it. if gear makes you happy, buy away.
but seriously he just jealous. i worked hard to buy all my gear and dont regret it. if gear makes you happy, buy away.
Skill has nothing to do with the bass that you play. Although if it enhances the experience and helps inspire you that's a different story, but the price is totally irrelevant.
I'm actually planning on trading an Ibanez SR500, Ibanez ATK300, Schecter C-4 XXX, & an acoustic guitar for a Geddy Lee Jazz. I tried it and instantly fell in love with it, it felt like it was an extension of myself which is rare to find in an instrument. I'm willing to part with three basses and a guitar because I feel that it's value is way more then for what they are even selling it for.
I have an Ibanez SR800 that I've had for sixteen years that isn't worth nearly as much as those other three basses I'm willing to trade and I will never part with it. It feels and sounds way better than any of my other basses with possibly the exception of my EB Stingray, but that is in my own opinion. I could never put a price on it. Unfortunately it's slowly starting to die now and I finally had to face that fact. Even so, if someone said that they'd give me $2000 dollars for it I would still say no. The Geddy Lee Jazz is the closest thing I've come to finding a replacement for it. I get the same "vibe" from it that I do from my SR800. I know that may be hard for some of you to believe but I'm sure there is some of you that know exactly what I'm talking about.
Now if I had picked up a $200 bass that made me feel the same way I'd be getting that instead.
As for your friend, he has a long way to go before he'll come to the realization that it isn't the instrument that makes the player. If that were the case I would save up and buy a $20,000 bass so I could tour the world, give bass clinics, and be in the top 10 bass players of all time.
I'm actually planning on trading an Ibanez SR500, Ibanez ATK300, Schecter C-4 XXX, & an acoustic guitar for a Geddy Lee Jazz. I tried it and instantly fell in love with it, it felt like it was an extension of myself which is rare to find in an instrument. I'm willing to part with three basses and a guitar because I feel that it's value is way more then for what they are even selling it for.
I have an Ibanez SR800 that I've had for sixteen years that isn't worth nearly as much as those other three basses I'm willing to trade and I will never part with it. It feels and sounds way better than any of my other basses with possibly the exception of my EB Stingray, but that is in my own opinion. I could never put a price on it. Unfortunately it's slowly starting to die now and I finally had to face that fact. Even so, if someone said that they'd give me $2000 dollars for it I would still say no. The Geddy Lee Jazz is the closest thing I've come to finding a replacement for it. I get the same "vibe" from it that I do from my SR800. I know that may be hard for some of you to believe but I'm sure there is some of you that know exactly what I'm talking about.
Now if I had picked up a $200 bass that made me feel the same way I'd be getting that instead.
As for your friend, he has a long way to go before he'll come to the realization that it isn't the instrument that makes the player. If that were the case I would save up and buy a $20,000 bass so I could tour the world, give bass clinics, and be in the top 10 bass players of all time.
in a similer boat. i work for my gear and will be getting my head and cab soon LMKII and a traveler 1x15 = a grand give or take then new bass with a top end of 1500 quid. people have said to me you shouldnt get this gear because you have only played blah blah blah.... it makes it sound like a crime to sound good :/ geddy mid quility? lovely jazz mate. plays like demon! if he relly wanted good gear he would get a job and start saving!
Lol, I am not ultra impressed with the Geddy, I'm either too picky with my tone or I really do suck. 
Lol, thanks for the advice guys but you won't believe what just happened. Our town has a fall festival every October and they have all the arts and craft and stuff. A lady that is working on the commission for it knew I played bass and asked if I had a band. /I said yes and she said that we could set up on Broadway in front of an old Record Shop and I said I would love to do it but, my guitarist doesn't have a big enough amp etc.
Long story short I have to buy tapewounds now because I'm playing bluegrass with a different band...........
Lol, thanks for the advice guys but you won't believe what just happened. Our town has a fall festival every October and they have all the arts and craft and stuff. A lady that is working on the commission for it knew I played bass and asked if I had a band. /I said yes and she said that we could set up on Broadway in front of an old Record Shop and I said I would love to do it but, my guitarist doesn't have a big enough amp etc.
Long story short I have to buy tapewounds now because I'm playing bluegrass with a different band...........
Ok, I have been playing bass for 2 years and have what I would call a mid-quality bass, a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz. My friend that plays guitar has been playing for nearly 5 years and only has a very cheap Dean Vendetta. He gets angry with me because I have better equipment like my Ampeg amp and says that I shouldn't have that because I haven't been playing long enough. I bought this stuff because I worked for it and can afford it, but he is from a lower middle-class family and probably can't afford it. We are still in high school and he says I am too young and haven't been playing long enough. Am I right for saying you should buy the best that you can afford? We actually have gotten in fights over this because he just won't leave it alone and he is extremely jealous I guess.....
PS- His lack of equipment has stopped us from doing gigs that we could have. Should I drop him and find a new guitarist? We are really good friendsuntil we get to practice.
O.K. I'm going to take a different approach here. How about encoraging the kid to play and enjoy himself, and tell him that it doesn't matter how expensive or inexpensive his equipment is, just so long as it's getting the job done?
If his amp isn't cutting it, help him find something with more power that he might be able to afford. You'd be surprised what you can come up with on a very small budget. A couple of days work doing odd jobs could easily pay for a used Peavey Guitar amp with enough power to play any venue you can think of.
I've been playing for 25 + years, and played in front of thousands of people with a $109 SX P bass copy. Shared the stage with people you may have heard of playing that same inexpensive bass.
There's no reason he should feel badly about playing a Dean.
It's about having fun.
When I was in high school, the drummer I played with couldn't afford a fancy drum kit. None of his drums matched, and he couldn't afford a thrown to sit on. He painted his drums white with a brush (didn't look bad from 20 feet away) and used a green 5 gallon pail with a pillow on it for a drum thrown.
A few years later he was playing with some hot shots out in L.A. during those big hair metal years. He managed to do just fine for himself.
Tell your friend that story, and assure him that his gear is fine. Most importantly just play, and assure him that he doesn't need to be hung up on gear.
- Oct 17, 2006
- 731
- 21
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Dunlop/MXR
Ok, I have been playing bass for 2 years and have what I would call a mid-quality bass, a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz. My friend that plays guitar has been playing for nearly 5 years and only has a very cheap Dean Vendetta. He gets angry with me because I have better equipment like my Ampeg amp and says that I shouldn't have that because I haven't been playing long enough. I bought this stuff because I worked for it and can afford it, but he is from a lower middle-class family and probably can't afford it. We are still in high school and he says I am too young and haven't been playing long enough. Am I right for saying you should buy the best that you can afford? We actually have gotten in fights over this because he just won't leave it alone and he is extremely jealous I guess.....
PS- His lack of equipment has stopped us from doing gigs that we could have. Should I drop him and find a new guitarist? We are really good friendsuntil we get to practice.
You're right. He is "extremely jealous." It doesn't matter how long you've been playing. You obviously knew what kind of sound you wanted so you went for it. Good and DURABLE equipment is "very" important if you are planning on doing any type of gigging. You have a workhorse set up with the Geddy and the Ampeg so you're ready. As time goes on, however, you will most likely go through more basses and amps but as long as you are always taking care of your sound you'll be fine.
As far as your friend, try encouraging him to upgrade his gear as well. That way he won't feel so bad about you're equipment but most importantly he may end up realizing that is what he needed all along.
Good Luck
yeah man thats a load of crap. i would scorn him upon meeting him. that kind of stuff DOES NOT matter. you know what really matters? weither your equipment is good enough for YOU.not weither you are good enough for your equipment. because guess what? if it fails your level of need makes it not good enough for you. not your not good enough for it.cause it has a higher chance of failing out than you.MUCH higher. so screw him. and tell him if he wants so much better stuff than you then tell him to get a job.
What do you mean you've lost gigs because of his equipment? Listen, if I had a gig offer and all my guitarist had was a Squier starter pack, then he'd show up to the gig with a Squier starter pack. Don't turn down gigs because of equipment.
