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I love High End Gear!!!!!
- Thread starter Tony G
- Start date
A small point/derail, but--yes, that is the very definition of bragging! I don't know who popularized this fallacy, but man, it bugs me. If you can't back it up, you're just lying.
"This is the strangest place I've ever been to for talking about bass. There is so much judgement. Those who play less expensive gear think that those that play more expensive gear must be snobs or show offs."
Personally I think this is the best place to talk about bass. Whether you accept it or not, there will always be people out there who think that some players with high end gear are posers trying to make up for their lack of musical skills by showering themselves with the best gear. Just accept it because I am sure people who share this opinion make up a small minority. You aren't going to change everyone's opinion no matter how worked up you get.
Personally I think this is the best place to talk about bass. Whether you accept it or not, there will always be people out there who think that some players with high end gear are posers trying to make up for their lack of musical skills by showering themselves with the best gear. Just accept it because I am sure people who share this opinion make up a small minority. You aren't going to change everyone's opinion no matter how worked up you get.
Judging from many of the basses for sale here, not being able to afford it does little to deter people from buying it and struggling to make payments, at least for a while. Hey, the current crisis in mortgage lending (see the problems with Citibank and Merril Lynch) was caused by their willingness to loan money to people who couldn't afford the houses they bought.
I'm certainly not recommending people get in over their heads to buy a snob-appeal bass. But there's no sin in *liking* what you can't afford. Or even wanting it. Just so long as this doesn't cause you to be dissatisfied with what you CAN afford.
At the risk of starting WWIII on TB, the notion of "elitist boutique snobs" is more of a myth to me. I've only met a boutique snob, but he was your basic spoiled 'lil rich kid who got one for going to college. He was not on TB.
There are many kinds of boutique players and reasons why they prefer boutiques to stock basses. In my case, I tend to order boutique basses because they don't exist in the stock form. I'm unaware of any companies that make a stock version of the Mouse 30. I'm also a big fan of the additional comfort of boutique basses. I have a bunch of Peavey Cirrus basses that are comfortable and have amazing action, but somehow my Rob Allen basses simply feel better in my hands. When practicing, gigging, or recording for hours on end comfort becomes critical.
Perhaps my favorite part of ordering custom basses is taking part in the design process. Without a doubt, I'd build 'em myself if I weren't all thumbs. With all of the boutique slagging I've heard lately, you're not just insulting boutique basses but basses that some of us helped design!
As a whole, boutique bassists are "why not" guys who aren't afraid to try new things. A lot of guys who slag on boutique basses are without a doubt "why" guys who generally accept the traditionally defined role of a bassist. On the flipside, nimrods like me thrive on defining my role as a bassist. The notion that Leo got it right in the 50's might work for you, but not necessarily for me. If that's the standard, I don't mind building my basses wrong!
Without a doubt, I tend to see more anti-boutique elitists. I call it as I see it. The P bass worshipers seem to come to mind because we are instructed too believe that a P bass offers the best sound that works best for everything. While it's a great sound and most boutique players will have a P bass or two in the arsenal, we tend to shoot for the best possible sound for a given song context.
There are many kinds of boutique players and reasons why they prefer boutiques to stock basses. In my case, I tend to order boutique basses because they don't exist in the stock form. I'm unaware of any companies that make a stock version of the Mouse 30. I'm also a big fan of the additional comfort of boutique basses. I have a bunch of Peavey Cirrus basses that are comfortable and have amazing action, but somehow my Rob Allen basses simply feel better in my hands. When practicing, gigging, or recording for hours on end comfort becomes critical.
Perhaps my favorite part of ordering custom basses is taking part in the design process. Without a doubt, I'd build 'em myself if I weren't all thumbs. With all of the boutique slagging I've heard lately, you're not just insulting boutique basses but basses that some of us helped design!
As a whole, boutique bassists are "why not" guys who aren't afraid to try new things. A lot of guys who slag on boutique basses are without a doubt "why" guys who generally accept the traditionally defined role of a bassist. On the flipside, nimrods like me thrive on defining my role as a bassist. The notion that Leo got it right in the 50's might work for you, but not necessarily for me. If that's the standard, I don't mind building my basses wrong!
Without a doubt, I tend to see more anti-boutique elitists. I call it as I see it. The P bass worshipers seem to come to mind because we are instructed too believe that a P bass offers the best sound that works best for everything. While it's a great sound and most boutique players will have a P bass or two in the arsenal, we tend to shoot for the best possible sound for a given song context.
I agree!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think this shows the diverse group of people here on TB. You have the very wealthy, upper middle class, mixed in with the regular joe, mixed in with struggling musicians. Unfortunately probably some who can barely afford gear or even a computer to access TB.
With that being said a 15 year old may be discussing a large purchase of $400, the bass of his dreams, it can be viewed in the same breath as a 55 year old attorney who spent 1 days pay on a Fodera that he may use on occassion.
I am not sure why some are trying to equate this to skill level and that is where the problem is. I know plenty of people who have expensive kitchens who don't cook well and expensive cars who can't drive.
I like this post alot. A downside of TB is that it is easy to see what other people have and lose perspective or become disillusioned with what you actually own. I am a big believer in keeping perspective and being thankful for what I already own because there always something over the horizon that looks a touch better.
The funny thing is that now that I have owned more basses than I can literally remember, it often seems that the one I let go is the perfect one even though it seemed I had a good reason to let it go. A good example is a Peavey Foundation V I let go because I was a bit unhappy with the B string. The funny thing is that when I played it at service, I got several compliments on its sound. Even yesterday, my wife tells me that she can't understand why I let it go because it sounded so good.
My point, is that those of us who are experienced players bought the gear we bought for a reason. We should use and enjoy what we spent our money on whether the amount was $150 or $3,500. If you have cheaper gear, whenever you see something you like that you can't afford, go plug in your bass, click on your amp and make music.
Actually playing music is the real cure for GAS.
I didn't come across those hate threads, but I've seen similar ones in the past.
I'm with you on this one...I don't play bass for a living, I earn a living for a living. One of my hobbies is playing bass guitar. Playing is part of living, which I choose (and have the good fortune of earning) outside of bass guitar. So, how I choose to spend my hard earned money on expensive gear that I enjoy playing and listening to is something that gives me enjoyment.
Anybody else's opinions are just that...
I understand those who really love high-end gear. There is always something appealing about a device that's made with more care and craftsmanship, has finer detailing, and otherwise reflects a higher level of attention to detail and materials. I feel the same way about fine automotive machinery and machining equipment.
OTOH, I fall into the group that isn't especially interested in acquiring high end gear because (at least so far with more than 20 years active playing), I get the sound I want from less expensive (under $300 new or used) equipment. I play what I like, and I have LOTS of higher priority things to put my money into.
OTOH, I fall into the group that isn't especially interested in acquiring high end gear because (at least so far with more than 20 years active playing), I get the sound I want from less expensive (under $300 new or used) equipment. I play what I like, and I have LOTS of higher priority things to put my money into.
i don´t know if a ´73 Jazz and a Spector Euro are considered "High End" but now that i have them, and i´m used to play and make music with them, i wouldn´t settle for less......and the last thing i am is a SNOB. So...if you have music to give as your gift to people and have nice gear to do so, there is nothing wrong with that. But let´s make something perfectly clear, there is positively something wrong with a guy who can barely play, using a 3.000 Bucks Bass and a 4.000 Bucks Amplification Rig, just because he can "afford" it, i think that is what upsets most people (IMHO).
Why? I would rather see someone blow money on gear than, say, drugs or liquor. At least the person can recoup it if the interest in music dies.
Maybe I'm biased because my favorite bass is a P, but I think you're referring to an extremely tiny minority. I would certainly never make that kind of claim. And neither, I thought, did the "what can't a P bass do?" thread. People said the P sounds good in many situations--some may have said all--but I never saw a post claiming it's the best for everything.
In any case, everyone, please, play what you want.
T
TylerlovesAva
Guest
I totally agree, I just hope you really feel this way now. I remember someone posting that 'Don't get too hung up on high end gear' thread, with the bassist of an african band playing a Samick. Sorry if it's too presumtuous, but I kinda got the impression that you were affected by it. The only justification you need is that you can really afford these things, and you only need to justify it to yourself. How you play almost doesn't even matter (I bet you rock though
), and people's opinions on what you should play should even matter less. The last thing you need to feel is guilty that other people can't afford what you play and get by. Ultimately it's about BEING HAPPY. Heck, if I could afford it now, I'd be owning a Sadowsky or a Valenti with everythingon it (one of these days, man). I'm quite happy with what I own though, a Fender RB5 isn't really living 'cowboy' style.
Sorry for the rant. Just a fellow bassplayer who's happy that you're happy.
You just don't get it.....
Why would anyone judge someone who can afford the finer things in life or vice versa...(well I think I know the answer).
I've scene people spend millions of dollars on a fishing boat and they don't know how to fish. I am sure if you looked at the weekend golfer (which I am not) you'll find plenty of guys who get out twice a year and have very expensive clubs.
I can only speak from my perspective as an American we are all born with the opportunity to be whoever we want to be.
If Donald Trump decides to buy a Fodera good for him. If someone else decides to spend 16 hours in a practice room being the best musician they can be but maybe cannot afford an expensive instrument then that's great too.....
Sounds to me like the much too common "resentment of people who can afford to have more expensive toys than I can". Why in the US do we resent people that have a lot more money than we do?
There's nothing wrong with people having incomes that allow them to be lightweights or dilettantes (def: a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, esp. in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler) with expensive basses.
I see plenty of people who can't drive their way out of a paper bag cruising around in $60,000 Cadillac Escalades while wonderful drivers pot around in old beaters. Same thing, different kind of device...it's just money.
Maybe I'm the only one ... but the only person I worry about justifying my gear purchases to is my wife... 
Spend it and enjoy it if you got it.
Spend it and enjoy it if you got it.
like your stuff, and don't worry about anyone else's. how's that?
kudos to all the posters who are actually starting discussion on this board, 'cause
honestly, i don't get why everything has to be a competition...or even worse, an argument that someone always has to win.
that's why i don't post in OT anymore.
kudos to all the posters who are actually starting discussion on this board, 'cause
honestly, i don't get why everything has to be a competition...or even worse, an argument that someone always has to win.
that's why i don't post in OT anymore.
Maybe I'm the only one ... but the only person I worry about justifying my gear purchases to is my wife...
Spend it and enjoy it if you got it.
+9999 best quote today!
Maybe I'm biased because my favorite bass is a P, but I think you're referring to an extremely tiny minority. I would certainly never make that kind of claim. And neither, I thought, did the "what can't a P bass do?" thread. People said the P sounds good in many situations--some may have said all--but I never saw a post claiming it's the best for everything.
In any case, everyone, please, play what you want.
Obviously you're not a P bass worshiper if you don't think it works best for everything.
I'm not sure if it was in the las P bass thread or the one before that (both?), but there were some who implied that it's the best sound for everything and the only bass that records well, while others skipped implying this and stated this opinion directly. Minority? Maybe. Very vocal? Definitely.
