Well, if there are any bassists seeing this video that find it offensive, DON'T watch this...
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How important is expensive gear? (from SMG)
- Thread starter M.R. Ogle
- Start date
Apologies ahead of time, I just think he's funny.
I completely agree with this statement.
And will add that while there is a tiny bit of truth to what is being said in the video, I believe that, to an extent, there is a correlation between cost and quality although there is a point of diminishing return.
Seems to me that better quality gear that sounds better inspires the user to play more which in turn makes them a better player.
As far as the video statement that "while walking around during a break didn't hear anyone talking about the difference in sound quality between band A and band B", I doubt very much that the person making that statement had the ability to hear everything that everyone in the place was saying at every given moment.
Also, I don't remember ever being in a bar where most or even many of the audience spent the break time talking about the band as though they were the primary focus of the situation.
The video did, however, demonstrate and define the true definition of ass____.
I've owned a Sadowsky NYC and Fodera Monarch. Nice basses, but I don't think they were worth the price I paid, frankly. I keep coming back to my old Fender P. Go figure...
I suppose it's only important if the gear that makes you happiest also happens to be expensive. I'm at a place where I am very happy with my two used Ampeg cabinets that I picked up for a song.
This guy is hilarious, and he usually makes a good point most of the time, hell, I even subscribed to his YouTube channel....
That being said, people need to lighten up(maybe not so much here, but in the comments section of YouTube), those comments just fuels him more to make more "viewer comments" clips..
I also like having the best gear I can afford, and I don't care if the audience can tell or not(most non musicians probably can't)if it makes me play better or hear myself easier, but he does make a valid point
That being said, people need to lighten up(maybe not so much here, but in the comments section of YouTube), those comments just fuels him more to make more "viewer comments" clips..
I also like having the best gear I can afford, and I don't care if the audience can tell or not(most non musicians probably can't)if it makes me play better or hear myself easier, but he does make a valid point
How to not completely suck at life: study this man very intensely. Do the opposite.
Having good sounding gear means I play more. Playing more makes me a better player.
Every time I see SanDiegoHarry's replies they cover just about anything I would say. So, what he says.
You need to have gear that will deliver the tone you want, at the volume you need.
My goal has always been to do that as IN-expensively as possible...
What other people thought about how much I'd spent was the farthest thing from my mind.
My goal has always been to do that as IN-expensively as possible...
What other people thought about how much I'd spent was the farthest thing from my mind.
No. Reliable, working gear is most important. 'Good sounding' gear is a close second.
Of course, but there's no harm in that. I think even the people that have those rigs would readily acknowledge that it's not mandatory for playing bar gigs...or even any gigs. There are plenty of famous musicians that could afford/be given anything they want that have pretty basic rigs. There's room for everyone though. Personally I like simplicity and seeing what I can do with basic gear. My main gigging bass is a Kramer Focus 7000 that I got for $250 and it included a brand new $154 skb hard case. Most of the time I run it direct through a $20 DI box. I love when people compliment my sound with a rig that, not counting the skb case, I have barely over $100 into. A bass player I cross paths with a lot and we sometimes cover for each other has a collection of Zon basses worth more than my car. He seems to enjoy himself immensely so why should he do anything different? Who am I to tell him he doesn't need 9 Zon basses, as well as P's and J's?
Absolutely, if it works for them why not!
I haven't seen this noted yet, but he's guilty of a pretty significant error in assuming that because he doesn't immediately overhear folks in a bar/club/other small venue talking about tone quality that they are totally oblivious to it. Some probably are, but many others are noticing, even if they couldn't express themselves in technical terms, and would just say that one band "sounds better".
Nothing I currently own cost me over $500 individually! I have owned 3 $1k basses which I sold or traded. I was happier with my cheaper basses.
No one cares about gear but other snobby musicians. I've known and played with plenty of killer musicians playing crappy gear. One guitarist had an Ibanez guitar that the jack kept falling out. He worked on that thing before every gig and made it work.
No one cares about gear but other snobby musicians. I've known and played with plenty of killer musicians playing crappy gear. One guitarist had an Ibanez guitar that the jack kept falling out. He worked on that thing before every gig and made it work.
The VAST majority of people here can play circles around me but probably anyone here would say that, overall, I have good gear. So I guess that fact, along with the admission I've used as the tagline under my avatar for many years, would put me on that guy's poop-list. 
Oh well. I have what I have because I could afford it, I enjoy playing it, and it's of a sufficient quality level that it will never hold me back. In fact, if anything, *I'm* the one holding my gear back. BFD! 
While I agree he makes some good points, I also suspect his ranting and profanely obnoxious delivery is simply a way to get noticed, get hits, attempt to make his points in a humorous manner, etc. and ultimately make him more widely known (IOW, the "there's no such thing as bad publicity" philosophy). Taken in that context, I don't really take him too seriously and some of the things he says in this and other videos do make me laugh. It shouldn't be too hard for anyone to "get" what he's doing. Whether you like it or not is a different question.
Oh well. I have what I have because I could afford it, I enjoy playing it, and it's of a sufficient quality level that it will never hold me back. In fact, if anything, *I'm* the one holding my gear back. BFD! While I agree he makes some good points, I also suspect his ranting and profanely obnoxious delivery is simply a way to get noticed, get hits, attempt to make his points in a humorous manner, etc. and ultimately make him more widely known (IOW, the "there's no such thing as bad publicity" philosophy). Taken in that context, I don't really take him too seriously and some of the things he says in this and other videos do make me laugh. It shouldn't be too hard for anyone to "get" what he's doing. Whether you like it or not is a different question.
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There's even a TB club for us - "The Crappy Bassists with Expensive Gear Club"
I am proud to be member #319
I am proud to be member #319
I neglected to mention that in my post above, thanks for reminding me. Proud #353 here!
