Someone above mentioned that he does gigs that involve sharing his instrument with others, strangers.
That would be an example of a place that might be potentially dangerous for his bass, but not personally dangerous.
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Gotta take the snob shot!
- Thread starter bigdaddybass12
- Start date
That would be an example of a place that might be potentially dangerous for his bass, but not personally dangerous.
People have different reasons for doing what they do, and what makes them happy.
If what someone else does does not cause harm to anyone, why worry about their motives or actions?
I haven't gigged since the late 1970s. I enjoy owning some very nice basses, and amps. I also own some very nice low cost gear. I take great care of the vintage, and new stuff I own. I don't make a dime with any of it. Who cares?
I loaned my 1961 Fender P bass to someone a long time ago. While it was in his care, the building he left it in burned to the ground. He said, "sorry man", and that was all I got from him. He was much more talented than me and was gigging regularly. I was not gigging because I had more important responsibilities to attend to at the time. I think that that particular instrument might be worth nearly $10k right now if I still owned it. I had taken very good care of it, and it looked almost brand new at the time.
Maybe I'm a "poser", but I also learned a lesson when that happened.
I recall some years ago when I bought a brand new Fender bass that cost me almost $1500, and that while I was bringing it home in a car that I had paid $300 for that it was somewhat ironic in that I was using a $300 car every day to get to my job, and I was hauling home a bass that cost almost five times more than the car I was driving. I am a no talent hack bass player with equipment that I can't justify based on my talent, but I get a lot of enjoyment from it anyway.
You do you, and I'll do me.
My opinion is that there are a lot more important things to worry about than what someone does or does not do with a bass or an amp that they own.
Call me a poser if you will. I will own that moniker as a badge of my ability to be who I choose to be, regardless of what anyone else thinks
If what someone else does does not cause harm to anyone, why worry about their motives or actions?
I haven't gigged since the late 1970s. I enjoy owning some very nice basses, and amps. I also own some very nice low cost gear. I take great care of the vintage, and new stuff I own. I don't make a dime with any of it. Who cares?
I loaned my 1961 Fender P bass to someone a long time ago. While it was in his care, the building he left it in burned to the ground. He said, "sorry man", and that was all I got from him. He was much more talented than me and was gigging regularly. I was not gigging because I had more important responsibilities to attend to at the time. I think that that particular instrument might be worth nearly $10k right now if I still owned it. I had taken very good care of it, and it looked almost brand new at the time.
Maybe I'm a "poser", but I also learned a lesson when that happened.
I recall some years ago when I bought a brand new Fender bass that cost me almost $1500, and that while I was bringing it home in a car that I had paid $300 for that it was somewhat ironic in that I was using a $300 car every day to get to my job, and I was hauling home a bass that cost almost five times more than the car I was driving. I am a no talent hack bass player with equipment that I can't justify based on my talent, but I get a lot of enjoyment from it anyway.
You do you, and I'll do me.
My opinion is that there are a lot more important things to worry about than what someone does or does not do with a bass or an amp that they own.
Call me a poser if you will. I will own that moniker as a badge of my ability to be who I choose to be, regardless of what anyone else thinks
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It makes perfect sense to have a "beater" for certain scenarios. I played a grassroots festival last year out in a field. No secured storage for instruments, stuff was left in your car or hotel or by the side of the stage. I considered buying a Glarry for the gig for security but also, the last time the event was on, it was a total washout and mudfest. Ended up playing my main and everything was fine, but it was still a bit stressful having to keep popping back stage to check on my gear.
Certainly on tour there were a few places that seemed iffy and that my bass may have been safer in the van or at the hotel (albeit everything turned out fine).
Certainly on tour there were a few places that seemed iffy and that my bass may have been safer in the van or at the hotel (albeit everything turned out fine).
Carvin is/was a good value for the $. My primary cabinet is a Carvin Micro 15". It covers a lot of real estate.
When someone at a gig comes up to chat about gear, I always try to be polite and accommodating. If they have a question about the bass I'm playing, I give them my history with it and ask what they play. I quickly access their level of inebriation, age, background and general level of cleanliness. If they pass muster, I might let them play my bass unplugged. They've always been polite and grateful.
I think it's an easy way to help promote the band.
I used to attend a monthly blues jam and there was always a bunch of guys showing up with really high dollar Les Paul customs, Fender Custom Shop strats, etc. most could play but none could testify. There was always a kid who looked like he might have been fifteen who came with a beat old American made Peavey strat clone who could melt paint off the walls.
Yes, I was playing at our small no FOH gig. The organizer commented on how well my bass sounded. It sounded good.
I did not tell him that my SWR 12” cabinet cost me $75. I also was using a TC electronic head, and a LTD D4 bass. In snob-land it should have sounded bad!
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Even though, I'm probably in the "snob" category I totally agree. My best and main bass is a stock 2011 American Standard J Bass that's thrashed, got stickers, and frequently no pickguard. It doesn't live in the case anymore because the case is busted and I put all the beating on it that it's endured. It's my love. On the flip side of things though I bought a "not closet queen" gigged Ric 4003 so I didn't have to bring my '77 4001 to basement punk shows. I record with that bass when the tone is called for. The 4003 is the "beater".
