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Does skill = your bass??
- Thread starter Grizzly700
- Start date
im twelve years old and i have a jaguar every bassist and guitarist in the school is jealous except the bass teacher who has a modded five string american jazz a year 11 kid as an american presicion but stills prefers my jag for looks. The school bass is an olp so that doesnt match it. I get the same comments since about how its a waste of money and i am too young since im in year 7 but it took me six months of getting up early and delivering papers two afford my jag and since im in australia itl probably take just as long to get enough for a good amp.
My friend and fellow bass player always gives me crap because i play a mexi-jazz with some mods. At a party that both of our bands were playing he told me to borrow his bass, and that i'd love it. Well after the first song i handed the 2008 Standard Jazz (most of which, i loved, hated his though, didn't like the neck, and too bright) back to him and told him i wanted to use my bass, and that i couldn't stand this thing. I guess i like my bass better because i bought it, i modded it, i've played it for a couple years, and his bass was a brand new $1200 bass bought by his parents haha
That seems like quite a lot to give up for a Geddy... I could see two of the basses, or the acoustic and a bass, but all four?
Back to topic
All you have to do is pick up your bass and play better than they could..you never need to say a word.....
I am glad you have a bass you really like and are chasing what you really want to do.
It's not that big an advantage if the person playing the nice gear isn't very good. You should hear some of these great musicians from poor countries who have $200 guitars and amps. Give me one of them any day.
Yeah I've been taking some thought into this and I've decided to not even pay any attention to him when he pulls this cra on me and I'll just tell him if I played with stuff that I think I'm good enough for then it would be very hard to get any better. Always need room for impovements because if you are excessing the abilities of your equipment, you won't even have a chance to excess your own ability.
AMEN!!! I remember going to a jazz club in Johannesburg, and being completely blown away by a bassist on a budget five string that probably cost a fifth of the Modulus Q5 I owned at the time. I also remember Baghiti Khumalo totally crushing people with that budget, fretless Washburn when he recorded on the Graceland CD.
Yeah, I know. It does seem like a lot.That seems like quite a lot to give up for a Geddy... I could see two of the basses, or the acoustic and a bass, but all four?
Back to topic
But the fact is that I hardly ever play them anymore and they don't hold a very high resale value, Unfortuantely spending cash is out of the question for a while so it's my only option. Plus, I came to the realization, do I really need ten basses? I sold through craigslist before and that turned out to be a headache.
I understand what the guitarist is saying....although he needs to keep his insecurities, opinions, and thoughts to himself. I have always used and still employ sub-standard equipment, yet I consistantly receive raving compliments on my skills and sound! It's been said over and over, it's not what you've got...it's how you use it.
This is how and why some musicians obtain endorsement deals...because when you can make the cheap stuff sound good...just imagine what you can accomplish with 'the good stuff.'
Play what you got!
This is how and why some musicians obtain endorsement deals...because when you can make the cheap stuff sound good...just imagine what you can accomplish with 'the good stuff.'
Play what you got!
I think you're doing it right! I started out with pretty cheap gear (it was all I could afford) and have spent thousands upgrading gear over the years. I wish someone had said to me, buy the best gear you can afford starting out, instead of buy cheap gear, you may not even stick with it.
If you were buying your VERY 1st bass and looking at a Ken Smith or MTD American or something..... ya, I would say try something "lighter". But I think once you start playing, I don't think a player can "deserve" a bass. Every player looks for a bass that fits him/her. Heck, if you can ONLY play $4000+ bass for some reason, then go for it. I say your friend sees too much of equipment.
I'm sure there are lots of loop-holes to what I've said, but just my 2 cents
I'm sure there are lots of loop-holes to what I've said, but just my 2 cents
Lots of wisdom in this thread. I'm another of those barely average players who is lucky ennough to be able to afford some nice equipment. "All the gear, no idea" I guess 
Also, the bands I play in don't demand much jazz-prog-metal fretboard fireworks, but rather solid, room-shaking bass playing with plenty of menacing growl in the tone to compliment/cut through the guitar. I shelled out on a Warmoth custom bass, which was an indulgence, but it turned out to have pretty much exactly the right sound. So, I guess sometimes you need to spend the money to get something to fit the music. As others have said, if it fits, and inspires you to play, then you deserve it if you can afford it.
Also, the bands I play in don't demand much jazz-prog-metal fretboard fireworks, but rather solid, room-shaking bass playing with plenty of menacing growl in the tone to compliment/cut through the guitar. I shelled out on a Warmoth custom bass, which was an indulgence, but it turned out to have pretty much exactly the right sound. So, I guess sometimes you need to spend the money to get something to fit the music. As others have said, if it fits, and inspires you to play, then you deserve it if you can afford it.
That's a very immature way to look at things. If one can afford to have good equipment, then so be it! When I was a kid (early 70's), a guitarist I knew had some really top line gear. I'm talking Gibson SG's, Fender Strats, Fender Tele's, Fender Amps, etc. but he sucked 'butt' on guitar! I mean he really SUCKED! But his family had money (plus he was a thief but that's another story) so as a spoiled brat, he got whatever he wanted! I didn't hate on his gear. His skills didn't warrant it though!
I, on the other hand, played a cheap used Univox bass into a used Traynor 50 watt tube head into a used Traynor 2x15 cab. I'm the one who got all the offers to join other bands! Nobody wanted him!
I guess what I'm saying is it doesn't matter what kinda gear you have. Good gear or cheap gear. If you can play, what does it matter.
I, on the other hand, played a cheap used Univox bass into a used Traynor 50 watt tube head into a used Traynor 2x15 cab. I'm the one who got all the offers to join other bands! Nobody wanted him!
I guess what I'm saying is it doesn't matter what kinda gear you have. Good gear or cheap gear. If you can play, what does it matter.
Whereas one might understand envy in that situation, it's still not right; it's still petty jealousy and it should be discussed/confronted and hopefully diffused.
I'm with you. BUT - I also think that all it takes to gig is an adequate instrument that is well set up. You don't need an expensive guitar or amp to perform - just equipment that is set up to do what is needed. If a $150 bass or guitar works well, you can use it. If that weren't the case, few of the famous blues artists would have ever performed - they didn't have money for anything fancy or high end.
Your friend needs to pull his head out, stop being jealous of the gear you use, and get HIS gear working as it should. he might be playing an SX guitar through a Behringer amp, but if both are set up right and adjusted well, he can sound good. It doesn't matter whether you're playing a more expensive instrument.
Then he needs to play more and shut up.
he needs to just accept that he doesnt have the better equipment
i have ony been playing for a year and have an extremely good bass and cab but its just what you can afford
if you can afford it, buy it
i have ony been playing for a year and have an extremely good bass and cab but its just what you can afford
if you can afford it, buy it
