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Gigging the good stuff?

#61
'm not an art collector, I'm a bass player. I don't have the budget to buy basses that I can't play out.

me either, but basses I purchased for $600 in the mid-80s are now worth 10X that amount. I could never justify spending the money it would cost to replace these basses, so I am finally considering the purchase of a cheap bass. Prior to *right now* I have not played a single show without my '64 P, but its time to be more careful about where i drag it.
 
#62
I agree with what some have said. You bought great gear to use it, so use it. I always use my best stuff to gig with. Just be extra cautious. I always lock my gear in the green room or if it's a smaller venue I make sure I lock it in my car as soon as I get off stage and before I start drinking. I've never had any issues with my gear being stolen or damaged, but I am a cautious person, I have heard horror stories too.

Here's what I'm always packing at gigs:

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#63
Sounds like milkman-27 has already gotten a lot of great feedback and has decided accordingly. I'm gonna pile on anyway. The picture below, as well as the one in my avatar were taken in a place called "Kick-Ass Bar". Need I say more? The bass is an Alembic Series II 5-string. Street price used is high 4 digits. List price new is 5 digits.

KickAssBarJune82011-b.jpg


lowfreq33 said:
I sort of only own good stuff, so it's relative... so that's unlikely......
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Like lowfreq33, I only own really good stuff. Years of buying selling, trading. But everything...EVERYTHING gets played. My "least special" bass(es) right now? Pre-EB Stingray and Sabres. Not saying this to brag. Gear is gear. You have what you have, you play what you play. I've played enough Squier and SX basses to know that they are perfectly fine for most of what I do. I simply choose to own nice basses. And since I own 'em, I play 'em.
 
#64
malthumb said:
Sounds like milkman-27 has already gotten a lot of great feedback and has decided accordingly. I'm gonna pile on anyway. The picture below, as well as the one in my avatar were taken in a place called "Kick-Ass Bar". Need I say more? The bass is an Alembic Series II 5-string. Street price used is high 4 digits. List price new is 5 digits.

KickAssBarJune82011-b.jpg




Like lowfreq33, I only own really good stuff. Years of buying selling, trading. But everything...EVERYTHING gets played. My "least special" bass(es) right now? Pre-EB Stingray and Sabres. Not saying this to brag. Gear is gear. You have what you have, you play what you play. I've played enough Squier and SX basses to know that they are perfectly fine for most of what I do. I simply choose to own nice basses. And since I own 'em, I play 'em.
Click to expand...

C'mon man! Nobody puts baby in the corner. Why is baby in the corner. :mad:
 
#66
malthumb said:
Sounds like milkman-27 has already gotten a lot of great feedback and has decided accordingly. I'm gonna pile on anyway. The picture below, as well as the one in my avatar were taken in a place called "Kick-Ass Bar". Need I say more? The bass is an Alembic Series II 5-string. Street price used is high 4 digits. List price new is 5 digits.

KickAssBarJune82011-b.jpg




Like lowfreq33, I only own really good stuff. Years of buying selling, trading. But everything...EVERYTHING gets played. My "least special" bass(es) right now? Pre-EB Stingray and Sabres. Not saying this to brag. Gear is gear. You have what you have, you play what you play. I've played enough Squier and SX basses to know that they are perfectly fine for most of what I do. I simply choose to own nice basses. And since I own 'em, I play 'em.
Click to expand...

Excellent posts. Now get this pic to the hot babe singer thread!
 
#68
I'll pile on too.

I gig a Dingwall Super J5 and a Fender NAV 63 P full time. The Fender is being replaced by Dingwall Super P5 which will arrive November 8th.

I love the comment above. If its safe enough for me, it's safe enough for my basses.

They just sound too good to leave at home.

With the exception of some 15 - 30,000 vintage instrument that is literally irreplaceable, gig it !
 
#70
Gig with your Bass your proud of otherwise every musician you speak with at the gig you,ll be talkin about how you wish you would of brought your good Bass cause it sounds so much better.i would rather hear how great i sound then discuss how great i would have sounded.....peace
 
#71
stonewall said:
Gig with your Bass your proud of otherwise every musician you speak with at the gig you,ll be talkin about how you wish you would of brought your good Bass cause it sounds so much better.i would rather hear how great i sound then discuss how great i would have sounded.....peace
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Nice one. :D

You will also sound like you are full of crap to anyone you try to explain this to....

"I am playing my Walmart Rocker bass tonight only because this is a tough bar and I don't want to scratch my Ritter, Carl Thompson or Sadowsky"..... Sure, big fella!:p
 
#72
Not sure if someone brought it up yet, but just get it insured. Its SUUUPER cheap to get all your equipment insured for damage. I got $12K worth of coverage against damage for all my gear for $250/year. That is for ALL my equipment. If it gets wrecked in the bar, spilled on, wrecked outside of the bar, stolen from my house or car (only if said areas are locked).

Great piece of mind. Get a good stand, keep it away from the edge of the stage, make friends with the bouncers and politely ask them to keep the patrons off the stage.

You'll be fine. I gig my 4003 twice a week at busy football season bars, and used to gig my '68 starfire II which is a fairly tough instrument to replace...which is also why i sold it!!!

The only damage that has happened to my basses is from the lead singers headstock. He tends to swing about at times.
 
#75
I called my auto/renters insurance company (USAA) and they set me up with a company called Great American Insurance. Took about 30 mins after i had all my serial numbers etc for the equipment.

I forget the technical name for the type of policy it is, but they essentially let me insure everything for what i wanted to.
 
#76
I gig all my basses... period. I do have an insurance rider because I'm cautious, and I'm attentive on breaks and especially on load-out and in. Last out - First in.

One of the cool things is that I often bring my Fiesta Red '59, and it attracts almost no attention... only rarely does someone suspect that it's vintage.

Here's a pic at a recent outdoor gig - parking lot before a baseball game (St. Paul Saints) along with my Fendowsky (over $1500 invested in that one too)

59ampFendowsky_zpsdaa3bfa0.jpg
 
#77
Here is a picture of the Fender that I am talking about. I am very proud of this because it may well be the nicest bass that I will ever own. It is the best playing bass that I have ever layed my hands on. It's Blizzaard Pearl although you may not be able to tell too well by the pic.
 

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#80
milkman-27 said:
Here is a picture of the Fender that I am talking about. I am very proud of this because it may well be the nicest bass that I will ever own. It is the best playing bass that I have ever layed my hands on. It's Blizzaard Pearl although you may not be able to tell too well by the pic.
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Sweet bass... now just get out there and play the heck out of it! It's like a young child: keep your eyes on it so it won't get in trouble, but let it play and have fun - while you have fun too!
 

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