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I find my less expensive basses get played more.

hopsbb

hopsbb

Nov 8, 2014
864
818
#1
Title says it all.I find myself playing and getting more use out of my less expensive basses than I do my expensive ones.

When I'm just sitting around the house I keep everything in a case with the exception of my Epi Goth.It always sits out on a stand in case I just wanna play around some.I do most of my practicing on it.Unless I just get the urge to get out one of my others.

At gigs it really depends on the situation as to which basses I bring.If I'm gonna be on a stage or somewhere with a defined and marked off area.I'll bring my more expensive stuff to play.

If its just at a bar where I'm out basically on the floor with the masses I take my less expensive.That way I don't really worry as much about random drunk guy/gal dropping beer on it or falling into it and what not.

Which is really making me think that if I don't get as much use out of my expensive basses,why do I have expensive basses in the first place?
 
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#2
I used to have that problem-- I kept my nice guitars in their cases and the beater guitar on a stand in the living room.

Then, I said "screw it," and I put my beater guitar in its case, while one nice guitar is out in the living room at all times.

Now, the only time my beater guitar gets used is when I have to go to my friend's filthy moldy basement to help him record drums.

Just play the damn things :)
 
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#3
It's weird, I was just thinking along similar lines the other day.

Anymore, I like the oddball stuff, cheap or not, I don't really care. If it plays in tune, and doesn't have action that makes my fingers bleed, I'll play it. There's a useful sound to be found in just about every instrument, if you let it "speak" in it's natural range.

I give informal guitar/bass lessons, and am constantly switching between guitar and bass during the sessions, so I bought two Squiers ( strat and a P-bass) to mate into a doubleneck.

I'll probably wind up playing THAT more than anything else in the stable.
 
#4
I tend to have whatever is interesting me at the moment on the stand. (turns around and looks) Currently it's my SX unlined fretless 5er which is there because I just changed the strings and was working on it. So I'm getting a feel for how it is with ground wounds instead of pressure wounds. Often it's a USA G&L which are my main axes at present. Gig-wise I also tend toward cheap basses in dive bars (SX , Tribby etc.) because of the worry factor, but on the home stand it's more random and interest-driven.

Sometimes I'll pull out the Alembic or the Modulus (even though I'm not in a 6 string mode at present) and put them on the stand just for practice. I have to admit I'm often amazed by these basses as I shake my head and say how I forgot just how GOOD these basses are! But then after the fun of the reminder I'll go back to whatever is a current interest. So there isn't exactly a rule here.
 
#5
All my basses are out on stands, and I rotate through them every day, though typically if I'm working on specific things I'll tend to grab the instrument that "fits" that the best. But all 5 instruments get played every day. 2 basses go to every gig, which one depends on the band/etc. But I don't make that choice based on price tag. If the gig is safe for me, it is safe for my bass.
 
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#7
I hear ya! Used to have the same issue so I sold my Epiphone and gave my Squier to a buddy of mine and now I just play my other instruments. It was painful at first. Aint nothin' wrong with playing a "cheap bass". Especially when it sounds and plays damn near as well as an expensive one.
 
#8
hopsbb said:
At gigs it really depends on the situation as to which basses I bring.If I'm gonna be on a stage or somewhere with a defined and marked off area.I'll bring my more expensive stuff to play.

If its just at a bar where I'm out basically on the floor with the masses I take my less expensive.That way I don't really worry as much about random drunk guy/gal dropping beer on it or falling into it and what not.
Click to expand...
At a gig, if the bass isn't in my hands, it's in the case. In 40+ years, nobody has ever dropped beer on it, fell on it, or hurt it in any way.

Actually it's the same thing at home. It takes about 2 seconds to open the case and pull it out.
 
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#10
For the most part, I bought my basses, cheap or not, to play. My Sadowsky has been the go-to bass, for the last year. I am a working musician, gig every week, and it is usually the Sadowsky that gets the call. I didn't buy it to leave it at home.
Now, my vintage basses are another matter. As they are rare (hard to replace) I usually only play them on occasion.
 
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#16
nostatic said:
All my basses are out on stands, and I rotate through them every day, though typically if I'm working on specific things I'll tend to grab the instrument that "fits" that the best. But all 5 instruments get played every day. 2 basses go to every gig, which one depends on the band/etc. But I don't make that choice based on price tag. If the gig is safe for me, it is safe for my bass.
Click to expand...
I'm with you! I have a lot of instruments, but they get rotated constantly. They all get played and if they're not getting played they get moved on. They're all out and easy to grab for a gig, a rehearsal or just practicing at home. No bass left behind....
 
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#17
My Ric got semi-retired when I got my FrankenHoppus up and running. Now the FrankenHoppus has taken a back seat to my Nordy. I guess I don't much care about price or value so much as I like to play the newest addition to the stable.
 

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