I'm a bass snob, but I suck...

[khui]

My vice is expensive bass gear. Have an appreciation for high end items. appreciate the craftsmenship, quality of materials, designs, and overall fucntion/sound the "toys" produce. At the same time, i suck as a musician and as a bass player.

I'm totally blown away, by some really awesome youngsters (teens, sometimes kids) on youtube that plays phenominally. And you see them with "entry level" gear. WAY TO GO! i'm so jealous of their skills and knowledge...would trade all my expensive gear in a heartbeat to play well.

So i hide my head in shame, privately pick up my instruments in my house and play quietly in the corner...don't even wanna plug in an instrument at the store to try...

k.

 

[Disco Batman]

Don't feel bad, it's a benefit of having a good job and being able to afford nice stuff.

 

[Mister_argentum]

I can only quote chess Grandmaster Chernev:

"Every chess master was once a beginner".

The same concept applies to music. Just keep on practising.

Cheers,

M.

 

[Slammin]

Stay off youtube!

 

[brianrost]

Take some lessons or join a band that's not picky. I really learned how to play on stage.

 

[bzmnt]

Don't feel bad for your basses.

You have the right to play whatever you want to Gather some similar-minded players around you and start to jam

 

[Musical_musings]

I feel a bit like that too but hey - it's a hobby, I enjoy it, I work hard to enjoy my equipment and I don't give a toss what people in music stores or on youtube think. To this end I don't play bass/guitar just to make music, I play bass/guitar because I enjoy the whole package and it's a much better hobby than just drinking (although a damn site more expensive).

 

[Handreas]

I play loud rock'n'roll and noisy, doomy stuff. I'm by no means a highly technical or exceptionally talented bassist. Doesn't mean I can't appreciate good instruments though.

My last purchase was a EBMM Reflex 5 HSS which cost me about $3400 including shipping and VAT. Could I make due on a $800 P-bass? Probably. Does it mean I won't appreciate or don't "deserve" playing a 3K+ bass? Heck no!

I'm a total gearslut and I love feeling, and seeing, all the details that go into high-end instruments. Like you said: the craftsmanship, the materials, the electronics... Basses with laminated contrasting wood-types like my Spector. Love it...
If you can afford it and you want it, then buy it, love it and play it! Nothing to be ashamed of.

 

[jbossolo]

Know the feeling bro. I've been taking lessons for about 8-10 months now, making slow, but steady progress. I already own 7 bass guitars, with three more on the way! (one of them a fantastic custom build from Birdsong). I picked up the hobby late, but I figure I have another 20-25 years to play. For me it's a lifetime deal. I'm in love with this instrument, playing it really takes me somewhere else. Music is incredible, enjoy it!

 

[Thumper]

I've been down the same road. I sucked in the late 60's. I sucked in the 70's. Got better in the 80's. By the 90's I was considered good. In the 2000's I was in some very good bands and had my pick of who I wanted to play with. Now I'm actually doin lead vocals, although I consider myself a mediocre vocalist. Keep at it, you'll get there too.

Having a nice bass is nothing to be ashamed of - I'm sure those young talents would love to have one.

I've scaled back though, and am trying to play a select few nitro finished basses so I can wear some mojo into them during the twilight of my playing days (finally, after 5 years of playing my CS NOS '59 is beginning to show useage

 

[Wesley R]

I have never been as good as other people thought I was.

 

[lomo]

No need to be ashamed. You didn't take that bass from someone else, and the fact that you bought it didn't make basses less available to anyone else (in fact the opposite is true). Contrary to what (mainly jealous) people may say, there is no moral imperative to matching your musical ability with the price of your gear. I'm a mediocre cover band bassist with great gear and I love it. You wanna put a Fodera on your wall and play a blues scale once a month just for the fun of it-go ahead. Don't worry, be happy.

 

[cloverkeys]

If you want to get better.. practice a lot daily. If you want better gear.. work a lot daily.

 

[Flabass]

I have never been as good as other people thought I was.

+1

 

[BassDoc51]

I wish I sucked while playing a Spector or Pedulla instead of an Epiphone Thunderbird.

 

[Dark Horse]

I'm not Mario Andretti, but I do enjoy it when I get to drive nice cars. In fact, I even take them out on the street or highway to drive them, instead of just sitting in them in my garage.

 

[Mazatleco17]

I'm on the same boat as the OP, with one tiny difference... I don't own any nice expensive gear

 

[jim777]

Take lessons. Time passes anyway, why not have it pass with you gaining skills? When I found out 7 years ago it took 5 years to get a black belt in karate, I thought to myself, "they'll pass anyway!" and now I've got that belt.

Take lessons - it is the fastest, surest way to improvement, and you can decide just how far you want to take that improvement.

Also, avoid the trap of picking up the instrument for an hour and playing the stuff you already know and thinking you practiced. That is 'playing', not 'practicing', and the improvement you get from the two is vastly different.

 

[Baird6869]

People own paintings worth millions but can't paint themselves.

Same thing? Nope. But keep telling yourself it is and you will likely feel better!

Nothing wrong with owning good gear if you can afford it. I own a $2500 Les Paul and I barely play guitar. Staring at my beautiful goldtop hanging on the wall doesnt make me feel bad in the least.....

 

[Quackhead]

You have plenty of company. It's kind of like the average duffer who plays golf at an expensive country club and buys a $300-400 driver. He'll never make the tour, but at least he's got nice clubs.