That's something that professional instruction and practice can turn around.
Everytime I see Rocco and TOP I first want to throw my gear out the window, then I want to woodshed.
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I'm a bass snob, but I suck...
- Thread starter khui
- Start date
That's something that professional instruction and practice can turn around.
Everytime I see Rocco and TOP I first want to throw my gear out the window, then I want to woodshed.
^this^
There's an old saying that if you compare yourself to others, you make yourself a child of circumstance.
Totally agree with this. To add my 2c, I feel the same way and have since started taking lessons. For half hour sessions I've gained so much of the little but most important things. i.e. TECHNIQUE.
when I spent $1300 on my amp and cab, i knew damn well I didn't deserve it, but it was a nice (EXPENSIVE!) gift to myself. I loved (and still love) it so much I started playing and practicing a lot more, and I've gotten a lot better than before. if I hadn't gotten that rig, I might never have gotten into the groove I'm in now.
gear ... cheap , reasonable or expensive ... has absolutely nothing to do with ... talent , feel ...
two totally seperate issues ....
been down most roads from basic Ibanez to Alembic , Peavey to Pedulla ... Kramer to Warrior ... etc ...
now i have 2 Warmoths and an old ESP LTD that all have the guts & parts I prefer ,...they sound and feel great ... sold off my last Sadowsky and bought these ... then upgraded the parts ... gives me more pleasure customizing average gear to make it much better than it does to just buy expensive stuff because i can afford it ... and i don't suck .
just have fun and enjoy yourself .. !!
two totally seperate issues ....
been down most roads from basic Ibanez to Alembic , Peavey to Pedulla ... Kramer to Warrior ... etc ...
now i have 2 Warmoths and an old ESP LTD that all have the guts & parts I prefer ,...they sound and feel great ... sold off my last Sadowsky and bought these ... then upgraded the parts ... gives me more pleasure customizing average gear to make it much better than it does to just buy expensive stuff because i can afford it ... and i don't suck .
just have fun and enjoy yourself .. !!
I have a guitar player friend who owns a successful international company and, as a hobby, collects high end guitars. Along with acquiring vintage pieces, he likes to chase down luthiers who make custom guitars for A list rock stars and have them build those same guitars for him. I'd say he easily has enough in his collection to more than cover the value of a nice home with a couple of nice cars in the garage. Sadly he can't play very well and he sings even worse. I think he's actually a bit tone deaf. But he's the greatest guy in the world and will let any of his friends pick on the fantastic guitars in his collection when at his house.
Then there's my boss at work...also the owner of the company. One day he decided he wanted to learn to play guitar so he went to Guitar Center and bought $15 thousand dollars worth of Martins and Taylors and brought them all to work to display them around his office and then asked me to teach him to play. I've been "teaching" him for three years now and he is still trying to learn to play the changes between the E, A and D chords. To quote Wayne & Garth..."he's not worthy".
Then there's my boss at work...also the owner of the company. One day he decided he wanted to learn to play guitar so he went to Guitar Center and bought $15 thousand dollars worth of Martins and Taylors and brought them all to work to display them around his office and then asked me to teach him to play. I've been "teaching" him for three years now and he is still trying to learn to play the changes between the E, A and D chords. To quote Wayne & Garth..."he's not worthy".
Become a better player then. Work at it. You can start by learning to sound a note at every fret on every string. Develope a lighter touch with fretting. Play with the instrument, dont be all serious. Become a better player. Decide to, aim to, make it happen.
imo its foolish to buy cheap gear as a begginer. But playing bass or any other music isntrument requires practice. Doing it. Making a note sound easilly on each string on every fret. Up and down the fretboard. Then repeat but this time going string to string for every fret up and down the fretboard. This developes fretting hand ability. Better developed such ability helps one improve playing a lot.
imo its foolish to buy cheap gear as a begginer. But playing bass or any other music isntrument requires practice. Doing it. Making a note sound easilly on each string on every fret. Up and down the fretboard. Then repeat but this time going string to string for every fret up and down the fretboard. This developes fretting hand ability. Better developed such ability helps one improve playing a lot.
Well let's give credit where its due: at least you can admit it. Many others can't.
The first step is to part with some of that nice gear and give it to someone who wants to share in your burden out of the kindness of his heart. Oh, wait, I know someone like that!!!! PM me, I will save you, son!
But seriously, you know, I see many sides to different hobbies. There are those who take part in a hobby for the social aspect. Some for what they're directly getting out of it, and others more for the feelings they get out of the hobby or for the residual effects. And others will take up a hobby but in fact that hobby will spawn yet another related hobby, relegating the first hobby to second.
Stay with me, it will make sense... Take playing an instrument.
Social aspect: TBass and other forums, playing with other musicians, hanging out at the local music store, etc.
Direct Effect: playing the damn instrument, getting better at it, evolving as a musician/songwriter.
Residual effects: Maybe you don't have aspirations to sell out concert halls or even play the local bar, or even in front of others but when you play it's relaxing, soothing. You could be playing the same song everyday, if it makes you happy, why not? If it gives you joy, comfort, pleasure, stop worrying about what the other hot shot musicians can do.
Hobby within a hobby: You like playing bass, it's fun. You're not great, maybe you're not even improving a whole lot but you still like to do it. But maybe what you don't want to admit to yourself is that collecting cool bass gear, drooling over bass porn, caressing a nicely figured neck, chatting about basses all day, maybe all that stuff is what gives you the real enjoyment. So what the hell, keep being a gear snob even if you suck. It's YOUR money, and YOUR happiness at stake.
It could be all or some or none of these. It could be that I haven't slept in a few days, am feeling a little loopy, and can't stop typing right this minute and this could go on for ever.
If you still would like to be better than you currently are, practice goddammit. PRACTICE!!! Take some lessons. Listen to music in a whole new genre. Pick the hardest song you can think of and dedicate yourself to not playing anything else until you can learn it. And if you're still shamed, PM me for my address and you can send me those cursed basses that mock you because you can't play them well. I'll teach them a lesson. I'm not drunk.
The first step is to part with some of that nice gear and give it to someone who wants to share in your burden out of the kindness of his heart. Oh, wait, I know someone like that!!!! PM me, I will save you, son!
But seriously, you know, I see many sides to different hobbies. There are those who take part in a hobby for the social aspect. Some for what they're directly getting out of it, and others more for the feelings they get out of the hobby or for the residual effects. And others will take up a hobby but in fact that hobby will spawn yet another related hobby, relegating the first hobby to second.
Stay with me, it will make sense... Take playing an instrument.
Social aspect: TBass and other forums, playing with other musicians, hanging out at the local music store, etc.
Direct Effect: playing the damn instrument, getting better at it, evolving as a musician/songwriter.
Residual effects: Maybe you don't have aspirations to sell out concert halls or even play the local bar, or even in front of others but when you play it's relaxing, soothing. You could be playing the same song everyday, if it makes you happy, why not? If it gives you joy, comfort, pleasure, stop worrying about what the other hot shot musicians can do.
Hobby within a hobby: You like playing bass, it's fun. You're not great, maybe you're not even improving a whole lot but you still like to do it. But maybe what you don't want to admit to yourself is that collecting cool bass gear, drooling over bass porn, caressing a nicely figured neck, chatting about basses all day, maybe all that stuff is what gives you the real enjoyment. So what the hell, keep being a gear snob even if you suck. It's YOUR money, and YOUR happiness at stake.
It could be all or some or none of these. It could be that I haven't slept in a few days, am feeling a little loopy, and can't stop typing right this minute and this could go on for ever.
If you still would like to be better than you currently are, practice goddammit. PRACTICE!!! Take some lessons. Listen to music in a whole new genre. Pick the hardest song you can think of and dedicate yourself to not playing anything else until you can learn it. And if you're still shamed, PM me for my address and you can send me those cursed basses that mock you because you can't play them well. I'll teach them a lesson. I'm not drunk.
It's easier to play a really well made instrument than it is to play a poorly made one. I have been playing for almost 23 years and I always believed in trading in/up my gear when I could afford it. I always felt like a better player when stepping up to a quality bass or amp but my proficiency was likely due more to my commitment to my craft (aka time on the instrument). Time and commitment can take you there but great gear doesn't hurt.
Use some of that money for lessons...I farted around on guitar for probably 10 years before I took lessons...they helped tremendously...that & jamming with friends since you kind of push each other to learn/get better.
If high-end builders depended solely on professional level musicians to buy their basses they'd all be out of business. The only reason companies such as Fodera and Sadowsky are as successful as they are is that enough folks with decent paycheques (read: NOT professional musicians) want to own/play on really nice equipment. You're doing the bass world a favour by helping to allow some wonderful luthiers to continue doing what they do! 
Furthermore, I see no point in playing a cheap instrument when you can afford something better. And don't forget, a lot of pleasure can be derived from simply looking at a beautifully crafted bass. Now thank yourself for doing your part and go and enjoy your instrument with a clear conscience.
Furthermore, I see no point in playing a cheap instrument when you can afford something better. And don't forget, a lot of pleasure can be derived from simply looking at a beautifully crafted bass. Now thank yourself for doing your part and go and enjoy your instrument with a clear conscience.
NateSkate said:Mhmm.
I'm one of the strongest bassists in the Seattle area, and I only have one playable bass.
I thought I was a good bassist until I started learning to read music. Now I realize, I don't know squat.
Mhmm.
I'm one of the strongest bassists in the Seattle area, and I only have one playable bass.
One of the most humble as well.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Other people have never thought I was as good as I am. Or something like that.
I'm one of the strongest bass players in the Seattle area, just so long as you mean hauling heavy equipment up steps. Playing? Well...
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