...but I only just found out why.
Several months ago, I joined a cover band working towards gigging. Early on, there was some minor drama around the drummer calling out the vocalist for not being prepared, which could have been resolved with no drama at all. Anyway, just before the drama, the drummer went on for a week or so about the sound of my bass, an Epiphone Thunderbird. He was having trouble hearing it, he said, and would call me with suggestions to improve things. Most of which involved a new bass. He would call me from the local guitar store and tell me about better basses that they had in stock, trying to get me to come out and check out these basses, and wanting me to trade mine in and upgrade. The next week, I brought my Fender Jazz. The drummer was much happier.
Last week, more drama. Drummer calls guitarist, complaining about the vocalist again. Drummer doesn't think vocalist is practicing. Doesn't think vocalist is serious. Wants guitar to get rid of vocalist. Guitar declines. First thing in the morning, drummer calls me, tells me his wife lost her job and he can't continue with the band. Okay.
Guitar, vocals and I get together over a beer for a band meeting. We find out about his conversation with guitarist. Good riddance, we figure. But at this meeting, I also find out from guitarist that the drummer's big problem with my bass was actually that it was....Made In Indonesia! Apparently he told guitarist..."How dare he show up in a band setting with an instrument made in Indonesia!"
(Joke's on him. Mine was Handcrafted In China!!)
Apparently, he figured that I didn't take this project seriously enough to show up with quality equipment - just some cheaply-made junk. Guitarist pointed out that the Epi SG that he practiced with was Korean. Now that I think about it, drummer often told the guitarist, "Hey, you should bring your (Gibson) Les Paul out to practice."
I guess the Fender logo on the headstock was enough to satisfy the drummer. He never did ask if it was MIM or MIA.
Look, if the sound of the Thunderbird wasn't cutting through the mix or pleasing to bandmates - I have no problem bringing something else. But I'd known it was the (economical) name on the headstock or the country of manufacture, I'd have told him to stuff it. Or brought my Squier Affinity.
Several months ago, I joined a cover band working towards gigging. Early on, there was some minor drama around the drummer calling out the vocalist for not being prepared, which could have been resolved with no drama at all. Anyway, just before the drama, the drummer went on for a week or so about the sound of my bass, an Epiphone Thunderbird. He was having trouble hearing it, he said, and would call me with suggestions to improve things. Most of which involved a new bass. He would call me from the local guitar store and tell me about better basses that they had in stock, trying to get me to come out and check out these basses, and wanting me to trade mine in and upgrade. The next week, I brought my Fender Jazz. The drummer was much happier.
Last week, more drama. Drummer calls guitarist, complaining about the vocalist again. Drummer doesn't think vocalist is practicing. Doesn't think vocalist is serious. Wants guitar to get rid of vocalist. Guitar declines. First thing in the morning, drummer calls me, tells me his wife lost her job and he can't continue with the band. Okay.
Guitar, vocals and I get together over a beer for a band meeting. We find out about his conversation with guitarist. Good riddance, we figure. But at this meeting, I also find out from guitarist that the drummer's big problem with my bass was actually that it was....Made In Indonesia! Apparently he told guitarist..."How dare he show up in a band setting with an instrument made in Indonesia!"
(Joke's on him. Mine was Handcrafted In China!!)
Apparently, he figured that I didn't take this project seriously enough to show up with quality equipment - just some cheaply-made junk. Guitarist pointed out that the Epi SG that he practiced with was Korean. Now that I think about it, drummer often told the guitarist, "Hey, you should bring your (Gibson) Les Paul out to practice."
I guess the Fender logo on the headstock was enough to satisfy the drummer. He never did ask if it was MIM or MIA.
Look, if the sound of the Thunderbird wasn't cutting through the mix or pleasing to bandmates - I have no problem bringing something else. But I'd known it was the (economical) name on the headstock or the country of manufacture, I'd have told him to stuff it. Or brought my Squier Affinity.
