While I have not been fired from a band for using the wrong brand...I have been berated by a producer for showing up to a recording session with the wrong brand of bass...
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Fired/not recruited for playing the wrong brand.
- Thread starter Nek07
- Start date
Yeah, after Dicky left, he changed up to other basses. But if you look back early, he was playing some Fenders.
Interesting topic. I've been playing since the mid '70's, and have always seemed to have the right bass I guess.
I do have a Thunderbird that gives me some playability issues do to the onset of arthritis., fretting the low "F" can be a challenge.
Its hard to imagine that someone would want you to trade dexterity and clean playing just for looks.
I do have a Thunderbird that gives me some playability issues do to the onset of arthritis., fretting the low "F" can be a challenge.
Its hard to imagine that someone would want you to trade dexterity and clean playing just for looks.
Nope. Not falling for this! The average music listener has no idea about what instrument brand someone plays much less even cares. I just don't like this poser mentality. Why can't bands be unique? Have their OWN identity? Play what you want! Dress how you want! Be creative! NOT cookie cutter!
Edit: I forgot I had already replied to this post.
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They can. Just depends on who your audience is (or who you're trying to draw anyway) and how much $$$ you want to make, or not make. Like it or not, bands that look and dress the part and play music the audience can relate to (read - are familiar with) are the ones who get paid best, period. Check out the top bands in your locale and see how THEY do things. There IS leeway in material choice depending on genre and the bands skills, but with that route it takes time to establish that you're worth coming to see and to build a following, and the material still has to be attractive (familiar) to a paying audience. Been there, doing that.
Something a lot of players never seem to get - it's not about YOU, it's about providing entertainment that will actually attract a paying audience. Have their OWN identity? Play what you want? Dress how you want? Be creative NOT cookie cutter? No problem. Just don't expect to make to play out too often or make much money doing it. There's a reason the top bands in your area are the top bands in your area. Watch and learn. Or don't.
Never been fired from a band, but I was told 'never bring that thing again' when I showed up to a rehearsal once with a Kala Ubass.
I wonder what happened to those bands that fired you. I'd say you were done a favor.
People sure are funny. And by "funny", I don't mean "haha", I mean "touched in the head". I'm not a particular fan of Yamaha guitars and basses, but there is no denying that Yamaha is a pro quality brand in every category of instruments where they make instruments, not to mention pro audio gear. I can't even imagine another musician turning their nose up at a Yamaha. If you encounter such people, run away from them as fast as you can.
I think it's reasonable to suggest that at a certain level, a musician should invest in professional quality tools of the trade, but the bottom line for gear is whether or not the gear is mechanically reliable and whether or not it sounds good. Professional quality gear is intended to withstand the rigors of professional use.
But the bottom line for a player is also can you play the music demanded of you and are you reliable in terms of professionalism. I can see that there are circumstances where it's reasonable to ask for a certain look, but the situations in which it would be reasonable to reject a Yamaha would have to involve historicity for a period piece or historical re-enactment. Yamaha has been making basses since the 1960s.
Like, if you are a Beatles tribute/cover band, and you dress up as the Beatles did in the 1960s, it's reasonable to ask you to play a Hofner violin bass. But outside of a context like that? Run away, run away.
I think it's reasonable to suggest that at a certain level, a musician should invest in professional quality tools of the trade, but the bottom line for gear is whether or not the gear is mechanically reliable and whether or not it sounds good. Professional quality gear is intended to withstand the rigors of professional use.
But the bottom line for a player is also can you play the music demanded of you and are you reliable in terms of professionalism. I can see that there are circumstances where it's reasonable to ask for a certain look, but the situations in which it would be reasonable to reject a Yamaha would have to involve historicity for a period piece or historical re-enactment. Yamaha has been making basses since the 1960s.
Like, if you are a Beatles tribute/cover band, and you dress up as the Beatles did in the 1960s, it's reasonable to ask you to play a Hofner violin bass. But outside of a context like that? Run away, run away.
Something tells me you and I have very different ideas of what constitutes a "top band". My definition doesn't have anything to do with earnings. Or "providing entertainment". Or playing Gibsons for whatever weird reason.
Yeah, that part freaked me out, lol...
I've got TWO not-particularly-expensive Yamaha BBs, and they're two of my favorite players.
I take an interest in gear and my friends tend to know what they like and why. So whilst I'll engage in talking about gear, if it sounds great, I'm not second guessing their choices.
By the same... I don't expect them to know why I've brought along my stuff to the gig.
If image trumps everything..that's your deal and at a high enough level, probably significant.
By the same... I don't expect them to know why I've brought along my stuff to the gig.
If image trumps everything..that's your deal and at a high enough level, probably significant.
I worked in NYC for almost 20 years doing sub work and club dates, and it’s absolutely a thing when you show up with some crazy bass for a club date. I had a guy sub for me…pulled out a 7 string Conklin. Band leader said, if you ever send that guy again…you’re fired. I guess he didn’t wanna stay in the Money frets portion of that 7 string.
I was in one band for 16+ years and was not a FSO guy. I started with my Ric, and the drummer was like “ Dude….get a jazz bass…”..then I went thru Yamaha TRB-5p, Lakland 55-94, Stingray, Ken Smith Chuck Rainey ( Drummer REALLY hated that one) Drummer continued to say for 16 years…..”GET A JAZZ BASS!!!…”
Finally, around 2008(I’d been with the band since 91’) I got a Sadowsky Japan MODERN 5. Again….Not a jazz bass. But that brought me into the Sadowsky world, and Ive used their basses almost exclusively up until recently.
But yea…..Thats a thing. IME…in NYC, when you show up to sub a gig….they wanna see a pressed clean tux, you’re on time and ready to play and a Fender Shaped Object come outta that case. Not a Chapman stick, not an 8 string Alembic, and not a Conklin 7 string…”Dude….just get a jazz Bass!”
I was in one band for 16+ years and was not a FSO guy. I started with my Ric, and the drummer was like “ Dude….get a jazz bass…”..then I went thru Yamaha TRB-5p, Lakland 55-94, Stingray, Ken Smith Chuck Rainey ( Drummer REALLY hated that one) Drummer continued to say for 16 years…..”GET A JAZZ BASS!!!…”
Finally, around 2008(I’d been with the band since 91’) I got a Sadowsky Japan MODERN 5. Again….Not a jazz bass. But that brought me into the Sadowsky world, and Ive used their basses almost exclusively up until recently.
But yea…..Thats a thing. IME…in NYC, when you show up to sub a gig….they wanna see a pressed clean tux, you’re on time and ready to play and a Fender Shaped Object come outta that case. Not a Chapman stick, not an 8 string Alembic, and not a Conklin 7 string…”Dude….just get a jazz Bass!”
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Very few will be "successful" in a band, as defined by "successful" throughout decades of great bands. May as well play your way, dress your way, and use whatever bass inspires you to create/perform the music you enjoy. If someone requires a total do-over-including choice of bass/brand of bass-and that irks you, just do not fit to fit, and find some other group that will accept you. Being mere faces of a band's brand requires a specific, conformist personality type, which *IS* fine, but certainly shouldn't be the expected norm for many if not most musicians.
So in short, I do not mind the idea that one has to "fit" the band, but dislike this notion that such a thing should be a "requirement" to be "successful." Let others attain their own music goals, and not be so preachy about "fitting in", just because that is what many do-"successfully" or otherwise.
In short, agree to staying "true", and to modify one's "vibe" only for specific, intentionally emulatory projects. Your bass is your bass, you are you, and you do you, for better or worse. Individuality matters to me, even if just little aspects here and there. Many won't jive with that because it's not the common societal norm for "success." That is fine for many of you, but let us be misfits, if that is what we were always meant to be.
(Ironically, I love P basses-just do not believe it is "the one bass to play." People should use whatever inspires them to play and be more creative, whether it is a lovely boutique bass, or a humble, factory cheapo.)
Agree to disagree, no need for an unwanted online argument. We are all different. Have a great day with your bass.
So in short, I do not mind the idea that one has to "fit" the band, but dislike this notion that such a thing should be a "requirement" to be "successful." Let others attain their own music goals, and not be so preachy about "fitting in", just because that is what many do-"successfully" or otherwise.
In short, agree to staying "true", and to modify one's "vibe" only for specific, intentionally emulatory projects. Your bass is your bass, you are you, and you do you, for better or worse. Individuality matters to me, even if just little aspects here and there. Many won't jive with that because it's not the common societal norm for "success." That is fine for many of you, but let us be misfits, if that is what we were always meant to be.
(Ironically, I love P basses-just do not believe it is "the one bass to play." People should use whatever inspires them to play and be more creative, whether it is a lovely boutique bass, or a humble, factory cheapo.)
Agree to disagree, no need for an unwanted online argument. We are all different. Have a great day with your bass.
Nope. Still not going for it. Maybe it's certain areas but where I live, there are a ton of bands who's bass players DON'T play a Fender bass. I was actually shocked at the amount of non Fenders being played. A few of the bands play basses built by a local builder. NONE of the R&B bands, that I'm aware of, play a Fender bass. One guy plays a cigar box bass. Entertainment, to me, is putting on a good show. Play good and look good doing it. But no need to be cookie cutter. Do you though!! I ain't mad at ya!
Having said that, I have owned a Fender Jazz, a Lakland JO5, a Lakland 44-64 custom and I still own a Bacchus P style bass. I owned/own them because I liked them. NOT because any BL requested that I play them. My Lakland 55-01 is my current workhorse. I play what I want and always have. My current band is pretty successful (I feel) as we just obtained the house band position at our local Casino.
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That drummer, of all people, would be told to tongue punch my fart box. Drummers, I’ve found, are the pickiest folks about the brand of shells they play, the heads, the cymbals, even the sticks. If my drummer ever told me to play a different brand of bass, I’d look at his Pearl kit with his Zildjian cymbals and tell him to get a real kit like a DW or Tama or Ludwig and better cymbals like Paiste or Sabian - anything to trip his trigger and show him how dumb he’s being.
I think there was some disconnect here, probably my fault. My response was to bands being cookie cutter as opposed to what instruments they play, which was I realize a bit off topic. As @amper stated above, and I quote...
Agreed, I don't allow anyone to tell me what to play and wouldn't. The 80's band I'm in I use a steadily rotating cast of Thunderbirds, Mockingbird, Steinberger (recently sold off), Stingray, and more recently a Sadowski Metro Express. No Fenders per se. A couple of them I suppose could be considered FSO's by body shape. But I refuse to use my Fenders and Squiers with this band as a matter of personal preferrence.
Now... the tribute band I'm also in requires that I play a Precision bass due to the nature of the group being tributed and to being historically and period correct. No one told me to. No one had to. I understand why it should be done that way and I have no issue with it, I get it.
I think we're basically in agreement as to our views of the subject at hand and my bad for any misunderstandings for taking things a bit tangent.
I keep hearing about band leaders. Unless you are playing some old timer dixieland, there is no such thing around here. There are bands with members.
Tell him, "Dude, get some Ludwigs!" Or if he's playing on Ludwigs, "Dude, get some Slingerlands!"
