evr had trouble??

[pierreganseman]

all this was just cuz, my bro(who's bassist,fender freak), keeps telling me, how i will never get anything session/gig or nothing.. if i don't have a fender...
wich i find really stupid.. he says it comes to the look and not the way u play.. (if i understood ok), wich is find even MORE studid...

cheers

 

[wallybill]

I played in a band that did a lot of Skynyrd covers. I brought my BC Rich, and the guitar player told me that he didn't like the sound of a neck through bass. He said I should get a Fender or a Rickenbacher. When I told him that Rics are neck through, he told me I was wrong and I should learn more about "good" basses.
I bought a Jazz just to shut him up. It wasn't really a problem for me, since I've always liked Jazz basses.

 

[spade2you]

all this was just cuz, my bro(who's bassist,fender freak), keeps telling me, how i will never get anything session/gig or nothing.. if i don't have a fender...
wich i find really stupid.. he says it comes to the look and not the way u play.. (if i understood ok), wich is find even MORE studid...

cheers

Does your brother have a successful recording or stage carreer? (I'm gonna guess no.) Provided you're not in a town that's super saturated w/bassists, simply having a bass will get you gigs. Having a bass and good chops will get you a good gig 9 times out of 10.

 

[pierreganseman]

Does your brother have a successful recording or stage carreer? (I'm gonna guess no.) Provided you're not in a town that's super saturated w/bassists, simply having a bass will get you gigs. Having a bass and good chops will get you a good gig 9 times out of 10.

we're both still studying at a music college, in london..;(wich i guess is super mega saturated with bassist)

 

[Jim Carr]

You should be asleep, lol.

 

[pierreganseman]

You should be asleep, lol.

night is young...

 

[spade2you]

we're both still studying at a music college, in london..;(wich i guess is super mega saturated with bassist)

When you're in demand, you make the rules. If competition is stiff, you play by the rules. If you're THAT good, you can still probably play by your own rules.

 

[Bass Viking]

but the demand for an old or old-looking Fender when you show up on the session, or especially on the gig, is stronger than ever.

You mean it not only has to be a Fender but it has to be vintage/vintage looking?

I played a nice 2008 Fender Jazz (the ones that are getting praise on TB) in a store recently. Guess I'd have to relic it to make it acceptable.

 

[Bass Viking]

If competition is stiff, you play by the rules.

Off topic but I hear the competition can get quite stiff in the adult movie industry.

 

[landry.bass]

Use what you want when you want and don't take any crap!
Just make sure you sound good.

+1000

Anyone I've ever played with definately wasn't because of my gear, but because they liked what I brought to the music.
That being said, one of my basses is a Fender though.

 

[carlos840]

When you're in demand, you make the rules. If competition is stiff, you play by the rules. If you're THAT good, you can still probably play by your own rules.

Im the brother in question and thats exactly what i keep telling him!
maybe you guys in america can get away with playing any instrument you want but i really feel that in england if your not some kind of musical genius who can show up with any kind of strange looking bass you wont get anywhere if you dont have a fender or a bass thats rated as "a classic".
I know its stupid but from what i heard and experienced what you look like and what you sound like are both as important as each other!
I thought i could change the world, i tried showing up to auditions with a Human base class X and let me tell you it didnt go well!
Now i have a Fender jazz and i love it!

Cheers

Ps: i dont mean that a sadowsky a Rick a stingray or anything like that wouldnt be good enough and that you need "fender" on the headstock! All im saying is that turning up to an audition for a rock/pop/fonction gig with a big fancy Class X or sei bass and those kind of boutique bass isnt such a great idea in my opinion!

 

[spade2you]

Im the brother in question and thats exactly what i keep telling him!
maybe you guys in america can get away with playing any instrument you want but i really feel that in england if your not some kind of musical genius who can show up with any kind of strange looking bass you wont get anywhere if you dont have a fender or a bass thats rated as "a classic".
I know its stupid but from what i heard and experienced what you look like and what you sound like are both as important as each other!
I thought i could change the world, i tried showing up to auditions with a Human base class X and let me tell you it didnt go well!
Now i have a Fender jazz and i love it!

Cheers

Ps: i dont mean that a sadowsky a Rick a stingray or anything like that wouldnt be good enough and that you need "fender" on the headstock! All im saying is that turning up to an audition for a rock/pop/fonction gig with a big fancy Class X or sei bass and those kind of boutique bass isnt such a great idea in my opinion!

So you can honestly say without any bias that the band told you, "dude, you're the perfect bassist in every single way and you would have gotten this gig had you brought a Fender."? I don't mean to sound harsh, but I don't buy it. Also, if the bassist market is so saturated, why on earth would you go to school for it? I don't mean to sound rude, but I just don't think it's a great idea to rely on jobs in an oversaturated market. My area is still at a slight bassist shorage, albeit there really aren't any great bands, but above that, I live in an area that does not support musicians very well. Thus, I don't rely on bass for my paycheck.

As for Americans having more bass freedom, depends on the area and if there's a shortage. I'm probably gonna audition for a classic R&B band and the dude putting the band together really dug the tones I'm getting from my Conklin, CB, and Rob Allens. He thinks they look classy. I simply enjoy the playability and ergonomics.

 

[Bass Viking]

I thought i could change the world, i tried showing up to auditions with a Human base class X and let me tell you it didnt go well!

You mean you went to multiple auditions and they didn't like you because of your bass? I find that hard to believe. Just who were you auditioning for?

 

[vinxbass]

Anytime I recorded in a studio and the producer sees I'm playing a Fender, they've always welcomed that sound. Maybe it's the way I happen to eq my bass, but Fender's have always given me a great tone in the studio. Whether I'm playing with pick on a Precision Bass or my fingers on a Jazz Bass, the best tones I've ever gotten for my bass have been from Fenders, and I've recorded many, many hours in the studio.

BTW, I've also recorded with Ric, MM, Steinberger, Ibanez, Lakland, Carvin, Yamaha just to name a few.

 

[Bass Viking]

Anytime I recorded in a studio and the producer sees I'm playing a Fender, they've always welcomed that sound. Maybe it's the way I happen to eq my bass, but Fender's have always given me a great tone in the studio. Whether I'm playing with pick on a Precision Bass or my fingers on a Jazz Bass, the best tones I've ever gotten for my bass have been from Fenders, and I've recorded many, many hours in the studio.

BTW, I've also recorded with Ric, MM, Steinberger, Ibanez, Lakland, Carvin, Yamaha just to name a few.

I saw a video of you slapping away on a Jazz (I think). Sounded great!

 

[Basseroni]

Off topic but I hear the competition can get quite stiff in the adult movie industry.

 

[vinxbass]

I saw a video of you slapping away on a Jazz (I think). Sounded great!

Yeah, that was me fart'n around with it. I wanted to hear how the Jazz sounded recorded on a crappy camera mic, it actually had decent tone.

 

[NickyBass]

Here's the thing....all the antidotal arguments don't amount to a hill of beans if it doesn't pertain to the style of music that I (or anyone else) play(s). If I'm not aspiring to be a 'rock player' or a 'studio guy' or a 'hired gun,' then the arguments about what THEY need aren't relavent to me. I have very specific goals in mind. I'm not going to quit my day job unless I get a gig with Chick Corea or Herbie, etc....or if I get a gig with a huge production show...Cirque du Soleil, etc. I highly highly (x1000) doubt that Herbie is going to be calling me anytime soon, but in the mean time, the guys that are hiring me, are looking for the tone that I'm getting out of my basses. If I don't get a gig, based soley on my bass choice, then I'm not sure if I wanted to play with them anyway. Not because of tonal preference--or because I'm an 'artist' and I demand satisfaction---But, because I evaluate those on the bandstand based on talent, and I'd expect the same.

I think we all need to analyze our goals and determine whether we want to fight for these new fangled instruments---or if we want to carry on the tradition. There is no right or wrong answer. We can't project our goals and needs on others. I'm not saying anything negative about Fenders--hey, maybe you're brother is 100% correct---but everything is a growing expierience.

 

[Bass Viking]

Here's the thing....all the antidotal arguments don't amount to a hill of beans if it doesn't pertain to the style of music that I (or anyone else) play(s). If I'm not aspiring to be a 'rock player' or a 'studio guy' or a 'hired gun,' then the arguments about what THEY need aren't relavent to me. I have very specific goals in mind. I'm not going to quit my day job unless I get a gig with Chick Corea or Herbie, etc....or if I get a gig with a huge production show...Cirque du Soleil, etc. I highly highly (x1000) doubt that Herbie is going to be calling me anytime soon, but in the mean time, the guys that are hiring me, are looking for the tone that I'm getting out of my basses. If I don't get a gig, based soley on my bass choice, then I'm not sure if I wanted to play with them anyway. Not because of tonal preference--or because I'm an 'artist' and I demand satisfaction---But, because I evaluate those on the bandstand based on talent, and I'd expect the same.

I think we all need to analyze our goals and determine whether we want to fight for these new fangled instruments---or if we want to carry on the tradition. There is no right or wrong answer. We can't project our goals and needs on others. I'm not saying anything negative about Fenders--hey, maybe you're brother is 100% correct---but everything is a growing expierience.

+1. Great post!

 

[spade2you]

Here's the thing....all the antidotal arguments don't amount to a hill of beans if it doesn't pertain to the style of music that I (or anyone else) play(s). If I'm not aspiring to be a 'rock player' or a 'studio guy' or a 'hired gun,' then the arguments about what THEY need aren't relavent to me. I have very specific goals in mind. I'm not going to quit my day job unless I get a gig with Chick Corea or Herbie, etc....or if I get a gig with a huge production show...Cirque du Soleil, etc. I highly highly (x1000) doubt that Herbie is going to be calling me anytime soon, but in the mean time, the guys that are hiring me, are looking for the tone that I'm getting out of my basses. If I don't get a gig, based soley on my bass choice, then I'm not sure if I wanted to play with them anyway. Not because of tonal preference--or because I'm an 'artist' and I demand satisfaction---But, because I evaluate those on the bandstand based on talent, and I'd expect the same.

I think we all need to analyze our goals and determine whether we want to fight for these new fangled instruments---or if we want to carry on the tradition. There is no right or wrong answer. We can't project our goals and needs on others. I'm not saying anything negative about Fenders--hey, maybe you're brother is 100% correct---but everything is a growing expierience.

You know the funny thing is that cats like Chick or Herbie would seem to encourage their musicians to be unique and allow for lots of artistic creativity!

FWIW, I'd never buy a bass based on what a band wants me to play unless they pay for it, even then, it must play the way I need it to play. Around here, I don't know of many bands that stick together without personnel rotation. The band that didn't even let me plug in my Peavey may have made tens of dollars, but they never really got off the ground, which wouldn't have paid for anything.