Gear Bias

[mongo2]

My main gear for the small bar/restaurant shows I play with a jazzy duo has been a Hofner Ignition Club bass and a Phil Jones Double Four amp. I recently switched to a bass I cobbled together from a Glarry short scale neck and a self designed and built hollow body.

I use the Jones amp only because it weighs 8 pounds and I never have to use all 75 of it's watts since my previous amp was a 50 wat comb that was three times heavier.

The Hofner is only 4lbs 8 oz which is why I use it for the weight and ease of playability. While still in progress my choice of the Glarry neck was for it's 25.5" scale and the body makes the bass weigh only 3lbs 7oz and is even easier for me to play than the Hofner.

 

[BaltBass5]

No, they even get paid LOL

Not sure where you get your misconceptions about endorsement deals but there are very few people who are paid and/or given free gear. VERY FEW.

The artist is endorsing the company and not the other way around. This is the biggest misconception about how endorsement deals work.

 

[Heiwa]

Not sure where you get your misconceptions about endorsement deals but there are very few people who are paid and/or given free gear. VERY FEW.

The artist is endorsing the company and not the other way around. This is the biggest misconception about how endorsement deals work.

The problem here IMO, is that you said you had a bias against musicians you saw at a bar. Then you jump to these MEGA famous millonaire bassists who play in massive sold out stadiums, but you don’t need to sell arenas to be considered a “pro”..

 

[Bob_Ross]

Do you advertently or inadvertently have a gear bias?

Probably, but if I do it's the opposite of the one described in the OP (expecting pro musicians to use more expensive rather than cheaper gear)

If I see a musician onstage with a very expensive instrument, I expect that player to have better-than-average skills. I.e., it seems that one should be deserving of such a luxury via the work they've put into their instrument; a multi-thousand dollar bass should be one's reward for the hours of practice and real-world experience ...right?



But in reality, the number of times I've seen someone weilding a super-swanky luxury instrument who can barely hold down a simple groove is disappointingly high* so I think in truth my "advertant" gear bias may actually be that I expect folks with boutique instruments to suck... and then hope they prove me wrong.

I'm probably batting .500 on that.

==========

*I noticed a trend a while ago when I was half-seriously shopping for a second-hand Alembic Series I bass. Every video where the sellers were demonstrating the instrument they'd offered for sale confirmed two things: 1) Alembic Series I basses sound fantastic even when weilded by crap musicians; and 2) the only folks selling their Alembic Series I basses are apparently all crap musicians.

 

[BaltBass5]

The problem here IMO, is that you said you had a bias against musicians you saw at a bar. Then you jump to these MEGA famous millonaire bassists who play in massive sold out stadiums, but you don’t need to sell arenas to be considered a “pro”..

Fair enough. However, in the case of a few of those people (Duff Comes to mind) I saw Gn'R playing in small venues before their success and he was playing the exact same gear he is still using.

I guess my point was more that I felt my bias was based upon the fact that IMO if you have been playing long enough and are serious about playing you will invest money into tools that will help you better do your job. When I walk in and see people that are playing in a relatively successful band (even at a local level) and they are still playing on junk it tells me that they really don't care all that much and consider it to be a hobby.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

Lotsa guys I know had lower tier endorsements with Gibson or fender and would get free loaner instruments for tour. So taking a epiphone gold top lp out on a van tour instead of risking their real 50’s one.

 

[sheesh]

If a live band is playing in a club I always check out the bassist's gear and if the place is accessible enough I chat them up. Most bassists are great people and love to chat.
When I play out, if I think stuff might get stolen, I bring the cheaper stuff

 

[Slevage]

I have no gear bias, though my experience with a band mate using a piece of Beringer gear turned me off to that brand. It sounded like crap and broke down within the first month (purchased new).
I’ve owned Ric, MM, and several Modulus basses. Been at it for over 50 years. My Squier P5 sees as many gigs as my Elrick.

 

[Bag of Lazers]

I have no gear bias, though my experience with a band mate using a piece of Beringer gear turned me off to that brand. It sounded like crap and broke down within the first month (purchased new).
I’ve owned Ric, MM, and several Modulus basses. Been at it for over 50 years. My Squier P5 sees as many gigs as my Elrick.

I'm like that with Behringer too. I saw a young band playing a year or 2 ago and the bassist had a Behringer head & cab. I thought, "Oh no kid, you're going to learn something the hard way", thinking the rig wouldn't last him too long.

Sure enough, the head broke right there during the set. I felt so bad for him, because I know he had to be stoked about moving up to his first head+cab.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

I have no gear bias, though my experience with a band mate using a piece of Beringer gear turned me off to that brand. It sounded like crap and broke down within the first month (purchased new).
I’ve owned Ric, MM, and several Modulus basses. Been at it for over 50 years. My Squier P5 sees as many gigs as my Elrick.

Early Behringer was bad...Musicians Friend outlet in KC had stacks of them needing repairs.

Thats all changed, Behringer is a major player these days producing all kinds of product a major state of the art factory in China.

 

[frankie5string]

Early Behringer was bad...Musicians Friend outlet in KC had stacks of them needing repairs.

Thats all changed, Behringer is a major player these days producing all kinds of product a major state of the art factory in China.

Unfortunately, in some parts of the world, early Behringer stuff (like mixers and outboard gear) is still selling like new alongside the newer-designed stuff... The problems had nothing to do with Country of Origin, it was strictly the decisions they made on component and materials choices.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

Unfortunately, in some parts of the world, early Behringer stuff (like mixers and outboard gear) is still selling like new alongside the newer-designed stuff... The problems had nothing to do with Country of Origin, it was strictly the decisions they made on component and materials choices.

I didnt intend to imply the issues were country of origin, i pointed out Behringer has grown in leaps and bounds...it is a shame if the early crap is still out there, no doubt it was produced in big numbers.

Like anything buyer beware....know what model you are buying...lots of brands had poor quality stuff at times with 'issues' ...its hard to believe how well Behringer has done starting off with a crappy reputation!

 

[Slevage]

Early Behringer was bad...Musicians Friend outlet in KC had stacks of them needing repairs.

Thats all changed, Behringer is a major player these days producing all kinds of product a major state of the art factory in China.

I’d have to open one up to make an accurate comment.

 

[IPA]

My biggest bias is seeing indie bands where the bass player is playing a musicmaster or mustang or something else fendery short scale. Bands I enjoy, but I'm just like... why? Seems a popularity thing. They aren't playing enough notes to warrant the "my fingers are too short" argument. They frequently have a bass tone that is just sort of dull background noise. I see another musicmaster and I judge.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

I’d have to open one up to make an accurate comment.

Its my understanding they make parts used by major pedal companies etc...thats what ive heard?

 

[shadven]

My biggest bias is seeing indie bands where the bass player is playing a musicmaster or mustang or something else fendery short scale. Bands I enjoy, but I'm just like... why? Seems a popularity thing. They aren't playing enough notes to warrant the "my fingers are too short" argument. They frequently have a bass tone that is just sort of dull background noise. I see another musicmaster and I judge.

So, I’m a P-bass player (1954, 1963) and I gig a few times a month. On a lark I bought a new Mustang Bass (with the competition racing stripe!). I started on a Mustang bass when I was in 6th grade many, many years ago and I haven’t played one in 40 years. I was curious and it just looked like a fun bass. I was surprised that it sounds so good with flatwounds, it’s light and records really well. So, I still mostly show up to my gigs with a P-bass, but the Mustang gets played a lot and sounds as good and thumpy as anything. I’ve played a bunch of entire shows with it. My band mates love it. Maybe it’s a little trendy, but it’s the real deal

 

[Guitalia]

Age/wear is different from poor care. Recognizing there is some overlap in that it may be hard to tell as an audience member which is which. I am happy to forgive anything that appears to just be age/normal use driven.

 

[Nunovsky]

So, I’m a P-bass player (1954, 1963) and I gig a few times a month. On a lark I bought a new Mustang Bass (with the competition racing stripe!). I started on a Mustang bass when I was in 6th grade many, many years ago and I haven’t played one in 40 years. I was curious and it just looked like a fun bass. I was surprised that it sounds so good with flatwounds, it’s light and records really well. So, I still mostly show up to my gigs with a P-bass, but the Mustang gets played a lot and sounds as good and thumpy as anything. I’ve played a bunch of entire shows with it. My band mates love it. Maybe it’s a little trendy, but it’s the real deal

I have a JMJ Mustang and I love how it sounds and play. I brought it to my last gig with a blues band and got a lot of compliments on the bass tone. So it all comes down to how you play and use the bass.

 

[Nunovsky]

This thread is really interesting and thought provocative.

I'd like to say that I'm not gear biased but I have to admit so, and I believe most guys do as well. We tend to infer certain things about the player according to what gear he brings or uses. But not all are bad.
As for myself, I love gear so if I go to see live music and some guy has some higher end gear that he's playing with, I tend to be more excited compared to if he brought cheaper gear. But that's because that gear that is less common or less available and more rare to see, compared to other cheaper models.
But one thing I've learned through all these years playing music is that you shouldn't judge the ability of the player by the gear he brings. Many have stated this above, and a bad player with a Fodera will only suck harder and a killer player can make a Squier shine.
I myself was victim of gear bias or gear snobing by other fellow musicians. I'm the oldest of 3 brothers and my family, although not poor, was not wealthy. We didn't lack food or clothes, but I had a pair of shoes and a pair of tennis and I would only get a new pair if one of those would stop fitting or when they were trashed. So, my first real good bass was an Aria Pro II 5 strings active that my parents had to get a loan to pay. I still have that bass and it was my only bass for many years but when I showed up for certain gigs, some people gave me that look like "Oh! He's not bringing a Fender or a Warwick (which was hype in the 90's)".
That made me aware that you have to really be up with your playing skills and it's not the instrument that will make it up for you.
Nowadays, I have a lot of basses but most of them don't reach 1000 euros. In fact, I can say that around 70% of my collection fall into the cheap category but I love them all. Last year's summer season, my most played bass was and Harley Benton 25th Anniversary Jazz Bass and I loved how many guys were floored by how good that bass sounded.
A friend of mine that is one of the guitarists that I've always associated with great tone, always had great gear but is playing more recently with an Harley Benton Telecaster and he sounds amazing with it. Also, he has had a lot of Stratocasters throughout the years, American and even Custom Shop but the only one he still has with him is a MiM strat that he says has that unicorn tone he could never get with all the more expensive ones.
So, even though one may suffer from gear bias that can always be surpassed when you start listening with your ears and not with your eyes. And in the end, nowadays you can get really good instruments at really cheap prices and most of us guys have the skills to maintain and upgrade those if we like, making the diference between cheap and expensive more balanced.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Not sure where you get your misconceptions about endorsement deals but there are very few people who are paid and/or given free gear. VERY FEW.

The artist is endorsing the company and not the other way around. This is the biggest misconception about how endorsement deals work.

So if they are not being paid a stipend and not receiving any free gear, what is exactly the incentive for a musician to endorse a company and their products? Sorry I’m not sure I understand