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Gear Snobs

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#61
JohnMCA72 said:
Not necessarily. I've seen bands of 17-year-olds with nothing but high-dollar instruments, amps, PA, lights, etc. that gets hauled around in new, high-end cars. Chances are, they didn't earn the cash for their stuff by delivering papers or collecting soda bottles.
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True that. No end of times have I seen the likes of teenagers, sometimes even younger than 17 with gear that I'll perhaps never own in my life. It sometimes makes me sick. I'm currently trying to save enough just for a cab. £100 down, so far. My only income is EMA that I get for going to school. So where does their money for stuff come from?

It's not fair. But I'll have the satisfaction of knowing that in the end.. I earned it.

Anthony.
 
#62
naruki said:
I've got an expensive rig and the only chord I know is the G chord. I don't even know if what I know is the G minor or major.

Having an expensive rig doesn't mean one can play well. If one has the cash for a better rig, then he has the rights to buy it if he wants to. Nothing wrong with that.

It's only wrong if he goes around showing off his rig and saying he's better than everyone just because his rig costs 5 times as much as everyone else's.
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You can afford expensive gear, but not deserving.

Blue
 
#63
JohnMCA72 said:
Not necessarily. I've seen bands of 17-year-olds with nothing but high-dollar instruments, amps, PA, lights, etc. that gets hauled around in new, high-end cars. Chances are, they didn't earn the cash for their stuff by delivering papers or collecting soda bottles.
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Yeah, I remember kids in high school who's parents could and did buy them anything they wanted.

Last time I checked, none of them amounted to much.
 
#65
My favourite experience with a gear snob who was showing off his swanky new Warwick fretless to me (which he couldn't play in tune, naturally) was when he asked if he could try my ESP out. "Nice action", he commented. No my friend, no it wasn't, it was preposterously high (since lowered, of course). I think it was just a stock phrase he'd heard.

Another person was checking out my bass (as is the gear snob's wont) and commented on how I'd tied the strings on. Apparently it was the wrong way and could affect the tuning. I have never had tuning issues with my bass, even with ancient strings. This person also mentioned they'd rejected a car as a birthday present for a 2 grand (GBP) bass guitar. They were unspectacular at playing.

I agree with Gene, pretty much :D
 
#67
Work with what you've got, and make the best of it. I have some nice stuff, but I look at it as a way to make me pay closer attention to what I'm doing. Sure there are lots of players out there with nicer gear than me, and that's fine. At the end of the day, I'm happy with my tone.

Doing a little research and emulating Dr. Frankenstein goes a long way too. I built one of my basses out of spare parts, and it looks terrible, but it's still my go-to axe for just about anything requiring frets. Value - maybe $200 in parts.
 
#71
i'd have to say i kind of enjoy finding that ugly/cheap no-name stuff and rocking its screws loose. but really i've never had even my ridiculously hideous homegrown stuff trashed to my face. and its not like im very good. i feel its all spartan, really. the smallest rig i need at the moment. tone to me is second to appropriate mix level. a $500 amp rated at 50 watts will never be mine. that 500 watt amp for $50 might be.
 
#73
i think it's more about an neophyte attitude, rather than the gear itself..

people trying to purchase credibility through the gear they buy..

its pretty easy to pick up on gear snobbery.. i just play it off, let them talk their talk, etc.. it really doesn't affect me.. i am secure in my ability to play and the equipment that i have decided to play through..

so.. is it really about the gear snob's attitude, or is it really a well disguised envy for the nice equipment that they buy and are incapable of utilizing?? i.e. is it really them, or is it you??

i just don't care.. i'm just the bass player..
 
#76
:cool:

Gear has nothing to do with ability to play.

They just have more money than us.

If someone can't play but has nice gear I simply say nice bass.

If they hand it to me, I'll show then how to play it.
 
#77
I think looking down on someone because they have cheap gear is pretty silly. But I also think looking down on someone because they have great gear is equally silly.

As far as ability goes, some folks want to be really great players and some are happy as they are, just playing their more strightforward stuff and entertaining a crowd. What gear either sort of player chooses is just that - their choice. I love using nice gear and talking about what folks have and how it works, but I'd never make judgements about anyone based on that. I think most folks here think the same way.
 
#78
bassybill said:
I think looking down on someone because they have cheap gear is pretty silly. But I also think looking down on someone because they have great gear is equally silly.

As far as ability goes, some folks want to be really great players and some are happy as they are, just playing their more strightforward stuff and entertaining a crowd. What gear either sort of player chooses is just that - their choice. I love using nice gear and talking about what folks have and how it works, but I'd never make judgements about anyone based on that. I think most folks here think the same way.
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I agree, totally.
 
#79
Ok, I agree with everyone but I have to say that just bc someone has nice gear he is an a$$ or a snob. I am only 23 years old but I was born into a music family and I started playing bass at about 5. For most of my birthdays I got a little bit of money which I put towards bass equipment so by now I have a pretty awesome rig I'm not going to lie. But I of course would never look down on something cheaper. I bought a used 80's jazz bass for $140 when I was 8 (which was all of my birthday money) believing my dad that that bass was the best deal at the store and it is still one of my favorite basses today. I have since bought a few Spectors and a Warwick but just last month I helped a friend pick out a bass on a $200 budget and the bass he got plays great. I think I might not be as ******** as some of the fine people you guys are referring too though ;)
 
#80
S6I6X said:
Ok, I agree with everyone but I have to say that just bc someone has nice gear he is an a$$ or a snob. I am only 23 years old but I was born into a music family and I started playing bass at about 5. For most of my birthdays I got a little bit of money which I put towards bass equipment so by now I have a pretty awesome rig I'm not going to lie. But I of course would never look down on something cheaper. I bought a used 80's jazz bass for $140 when I was 8 (which was all of my birthday money) believing my dad that that bass was the best deal at the store and it is still one of my favorite basses today. I have since bought a few Spectors and a Warwick but just last month I helped a friend pick out a bass on a $200 budget and the bass he got plays great. I think I might not be as ******** as some of the fine people you guys are referring too though ;)
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You are not the type referred to, yes. Having nice or expensive gear does not make you a snob.
 
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