Fired/not recruited for playing the wrong brand.

[fhm555]

The only time I ever got asked to do a particular thing on stage, they wanted me to wear overalls. I told the BL I'd be happy to if he would supply me a bass because the bib would mess up the paint on the back of my bass. I was not making enough to want to ruin a perfectly good paint job. Other than that I was once wore a pair of homemade hound dog ears and a fake dog snout held on like a red ball clown nose, but it was a fundraiser for a county animal shelter so I was happy to do it.
As for gear, I've used a few different brands of amps and cabinets over the years and started with Peavey basses. After about a year with a five string Dyna Bass, I started playing a four string Jazz, and it's been some kind of J since.
So far everyone I've played with has been happy with me and my gear. If anyone had any complaints, I never heard them.

 

[60bass]

I was twice.
The first time, the band I was playing was on an upward trajectory, I was in that band for two years, playing the band owned Squier Mickey Way Mustang Bass when at some point the band leader wanted me to change that bass for a more serious model as we were getting traction. So I brought my Yamaha BB614 just to be laught at, the band leader wanted a Rickenbacker (as the previous bass player used to own...well a cheap copy really). As I said that at that time I could not afford a bass that was two month salary for me, he showed me the door.

Second time, I show up to give a try to a band, nothing too serious, weekend warrior type with a few paying gig a year. I showed up with my Yamaha BB434M and was immediatly told "you do not have a real bass?". That band was loosing gigs because they cant find a bass player and they didnt wanted me to play with them because only Gibson is good enought for them (actual quote).

So I was thinking about that these days (the tread about the guitarist requesting the bass player to change his gear comes to mind, standing your ground) and I wondered if that happened to other peoples. I have noted Bass Brand, but it can be anything really, like people wanting you to play a certain rig.

Bassist since 1969 and never once (and I mean never) has someone told me what bass I needed to play. Nor have I ever been fired due to my brand of bass bass or lack thereof. If they tried to tell me what I had to play, I'd instantly walk. Period end of story. Try and tell a guitarist what type of axe he should use and see how that flys. The Yamaha BroadBass series ARE quality basses. Just ask Michael Anthony who's used them off and on for decades. The band leader is an idiot and knows zero about basses. As far as the weekend warrior who says only only a Gibby is good enough. My guess is he means a T-Bird or an SG bass. IMO having owned and played both. One is a disastrous neck diving ergonomic challenge to play and the other sounds like a bucket of mud.

Play what you like and be happy.

 

[VicDiesel]

Of course, try not playing a mandolin with f-holes in a bluegrass band….

Do they call you Captain Corelli if you show up with a round hole / arched back instrument?

 

[Thegreatzambini]

I was twice.
The first time, the band I was playing was on an upward trajectory, I was in that band for two years, playing the band owned Squier Mickey Way Mustang Bass when at some point the band leader wanted me to change that bass for a more serious model as we were getting traction. So I brought my Yamaha BB614 just to be laught at, the band leader wanted a Rickenbacker (as the previous bass player used to own...well a cheap copy really). As I said that at that time I could not afford a bass that was two month salary for me, he showed me the door.

Second time, I show up to give a try to a band, nothing too serious, weekend warrior type with a few paying gig a year. I showed up with my Yamaha BB434M and was immediatly told "you do not have a real bass?". That band was loosing gigs because they cant find a bass player and they didnt wanted me to play with them because only Gibson is good enought for them (actual quote).

So I was thinking about that these days (the tread about the guitarist requesting the bass player to change his gear comes to mind, standing your ground) and I wondered if that happened to other peoples. I have noted Bass Brand, but it can be anything really, like people wanting you to play a certain rig.

Y’all are hanging around with the wrong bands

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Not fired but I once offered to help a friend who needed a sub after he had emergency surgery.

I called the band, we talked, scheduled a practice, and I went. They were "all black" equipment-wise. I had my avatar bass, didn't fit their "vibe" of all black guitars and black drums.

After we played for an hour they were happy with my playing but kept coming back to my colorful bass. Could I put tape or something on it for one night?

I said I was just trying to help my buddy so they were welcome to find someone else, no problem. I ended up playing, it was a good gig. And the drummer's wife told me she liked the colors.

And using my buddy's full size 5 strings because they were black was not an option either.

 

[The Owl]

Never been canned over gear, but did get some upraised eyebrows at the sight of a five string.

After one jazz/r&b gig, I was packing up my gear and some blowhard audience member starts giving me grief about not playing an upright (which I still have ZERO interest in). He also insisted that electric bass is not a real instrument. Inwardly I really wanted to say to him, "If I were to hit you over the head several times with this five string, would that convince you of the reality of it's existence?'"

 

[Marc DLarosa]

I'd bet that the singer didn't own his own P.A...

These boots were made for, well... not what is so very nice...

 

[basslust]

No, but some of the responses here tell me that some of you haven't been in bands. There ARE times when certain instruments are what are needed for that band. Tribute bands need to look fairly close to the original... brand doesn't matter as much as aesthetic. Also, wedding bands can be strict about colors... if the band dresses in tuxes and plays black/white instruments.. they aren't going to keep you around playing a colorful ANYTHING (guitar, bass, drums).

Does sunburst count as a color for wedding gigs? I have two basses at the moment, one is Fiesta Red and the other is 3-Tone Sunburst (both Fender Mustangs).

 

[pcake]

i was once not selected for a band i auditioned for because i wasn't playing a fender. they did offer me the gig, but told me i'd have to get a fender. they didn't really impress me, didn't seem very pleasant, their music was all original and i wasn't enjoying it much, so i joined bands who were perfectly happy with whatever i was playing.

 

[basslust]

I was twice.
The first time, the band I was playing was on an upward trajectory, I was in that band for two years, playing the band owned Squier Mickey Way Mustang Bass when at some point the band leader wanted me to change that bass for a more serious model as we were getting traction. So I brought my Yamaha BB614 just to be laught at, the band leader wanted a Rickenbacker (as the previous bass player used to own...well a cheap copy really). As I said that at that time I could not afford a bass that was two month salary for me, he showed me the door.

Second time, I show up to give a try to a band, nothing too serious, weekend warrior type with a few paying gig a year. I showed up with my Yamaha BB434M and was immediatly told "you do not have a real bass?". That band was loosing gigs because they cant find a bass player and they didnt wanted me to play with them because only Gibson is good enought for them (actual quote).

So I was thinking about that these days (the tread about the guitarist requesting the bass player to change his gear comes to mind, standing your ground) and I wondered if that happened to other peoples. I have noted Bass Brand, but it can be anything really, like people wanting you to play a certain rig.

Funny enough, a Yamaha BB614 was my first bass. I ended up selling it after a few years and I had more than one person come up to me and say, "Yeah, I never really liked that Yamaha you had..." My theory is that it was mostly because of the way that it looked. You have to admit, the more recent BBs are a definite step down from the older ones in the looks department.

 

[Nek07]

I have never had this happen to me. I think it's important to have the right bass for the music, but to sack you on the spot because you don't is very strange. I'm thinking they may have used it as an excuse to get rid of you for whatever reason.

I think the guy with the fake ric, who was a friend of the singer, wanted his spot back as the band was about to get a good tour, but he was also already having a pro career elsewhere and probably did not followed up on that. But I dont know for sure.

 

[Nek07]

Funny enough, a Yamaha BB614 was my first bass. I ended up selling it after a few years and I had more than one person come up to me and say, "Yeah, I never really liked that Yamaha you had..." My theory is that it was mostly because of the way that it looked. You have to admit, the more recent BBs are a definite step down from the older ones in the looks department.

I actualy prefer the new ones, I just let go of that BB614 yesterday in exchange for a guitar and kept the BB434M as it is my favorite one.

 

[Formula73]

My guitarist has ASKED me not to ever show up with the stienberger spirit at any gig.

My guitarist generally plays the cheapest of the cheap Tagima TW-61 Jazzmaster clone things and they're fine.

That said, he also has a Schecter C1 with the tribal vine inlay thing and I told him if he ever shows up with that on stage, I'm going home. Idga F what anybody thinks of it. I hate that fn guitar SO much.

 

[badinage]

I once almost got into a kerfuffle with a soundhumibian who had the unmitigated audacity to suggest that my on-stage cab wasn't working well with the room. Turns out he was right so brouhaha was averted.

 

[Nek07]

The worst thing about gear snobbery is that it’s often perpetuated by those least knowledgeable about instruments, or about music in general.

As I said, the BL was playing a lite ash telecaster with the seymour duncan, the weird mother of pearl fretboard dots and made in korea written behind the headstock and kept on saying that it was a legit 70's vintage guitar because he was said so by the man who sold it to him (with the vintage price attached).
When I pointed that out when he asked me to get a rickenbacker he got mad...

 

[MDBass]

I was twice.
The first time, the band I was playing was on an upward trajectory, I was in that band for two years, playing the band owned Squier Mickey Way Mustang Bass when at some point the band leader wanted me to change that bass for a more serious model as we were getting traction. So I brought my Yamaha BB614 just to be laught at, the band leader wanted a Rickenbacker (as the previous bass player used to own...well a cheap copy really). As I said that at that time I could not afford a bass that was two month salary for me, he showed me the door.

Second time, I show up to give a try to a band, nothing too serious, weekend warrior type with a few paying gig a year. I showed up with my Yamaha BB434M and was immediatly told "you do not have a real bass?". That band was loosing gigs because they cant find a bass player and they didnt wanted me to play with them because only Gibson is good enought for them (actual quote).

So I was thinking about that these days (the tread about the guitarist requesting the bass player to change his gear comes to mind, standing your ground) and I wondered if that happened to other peoples. I have noted Bass Brand, but it can be anything really, like people wanting you to play a certain rig.

Those bands actually did you a solid favor by not wasting any more of your time.

Any band whose primary concern is what brand of gear they’re playing isn’t doing anything noteworthy: either artistically or commercially.

 

[Britsie]

My git*rist told me on several occasions that it would be cool if I played an upright bass.
My answer was always the same: "My birthday is on November 15th!"
I never got to play an upright bass.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Does sunburst count as a color for wedding gigs? I have two basses at the moment, one is Fiesta Red and the other is 3-Tone Sunburst (both Fender Mustangs).

In my opinion yes, a fine color if you like it.

I think if you have graphics like a bleeding skull then maybe there's some accuracy that it isn't right for a wedding. And there should be much more latitude to what you play at the wedding party than during the ceremony.

 

[MtManiac]

I was twice.
The first time, the band I was playing was on an upward trajectory, I was in that band for two years, playing the band owned Squier Mickey Way Mustang Bass when at some point the band leader wanted me to change that bass for a more serious model as we were getting traction. So I brought my Yamaha BB614 just to be laught at, the band leader wanted a Rickenbacker (as the previous bass player used to own...well a cheap copy really). As I said that at that time I could not afford a bass that was two month salary for me, he showed me the door.

Second time, I show up to give a try to a band, nothing too serious, weekend warrior type with a few paying gig a year. I showed up with my Yamaha BB434M and was immediatly told "you do not have a real bass?". That band was loosing gigs because they cant find a bass player and they didnt wanted me to play with them because only Gibson is good enought for them (actual quote).

So I was thinking about that these days (the tread about the guitarist requesting the bass player to change his gear comes to mind, standing your ground) and I wondered if that happened to other peoples. I have noted Bass Brand, but it can be anything really, like people wanting you to play a certain rig.

…Gibson…??

I mean, Gibson has definitely made some good basses, but it’s not even in the top 10 of what most bass players would answer on Family Feud.

 

[Levent]

Duuude, all of those basses are gig/record worthy.. only thing Yamaha BB434M lack from a boutique is exotic woods.. and is probably is as good , engineered better and more modern than them. You dodged a bullet to be honest.