thebassclef said:
If I saw someone playing a high end bass, I would draw the conclusion they were willing to spend a lot of money on a bass. Nothing more.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Inferior Basses
- Thread starter thebassclef
- Start date
If I saw someone playing a high end bass, I would draw the conclusion they were willing to spend a lot of money on a bass. Nothing more.
thebassclef said:
I think most of us percieve some things as cool. I know I like certain brands. I don't judge others for what they play, but i know what i like.
I don't care what the bass is, as long as the guy with it can play it.
Unfortunately, the past too many bar gigs I've seen and talked to the bass player has told me that he was "just kind of thrown into the bass role because they didn't have one" "I used to be a guitarist but they needed a bass player" "I'm only doing this until we find a bass player"
... Makes me very motivated to practice more so I can get good enough to gig, I feel like bassists are needed.
Unfortunately, the past too many bar gigs I've seen and talked to the bass player has told me that he was "just kind of thrown into the bass role because they didn't have one" "I used to be a guitarist but they needed a bass player" "I'm only doing this until we find a bass player"
... Makes me very motivated to practice more so I can get good enough to gig, I feel like bassists are needed.
Dedicated bassist are a comodity. That is why it burns me up so much when I hear another bassist put down another's gear.Kickin'Fruit said:
I think there is a difference in liking a great instrument and being a gear snob. It really is about the sound and most of that comes from the player. I recently got a new guitar that has no markings on it at all. When I take it out, even though there is no indication of how much it cost, I always get comments on it's sound. So I think people can tell a quality instrument, not always, but sometimes, and I can't fault people for appreciating them. It isn't about brand or cost.
However, there is a kind of reverse snobbery that I don't get; I had a guy tell me not to spend over 100.00 on a bass. He sounded good on a garage sale bass, I will give him that, but I am not parting with my Rickenbackers for anything, even if I am not good enough to have them!
However, there is a kind of reverse snobbery that I don't get; I had a guy tell me not to spend over 100.00 on a bass. He sounded good on a garage sale bass, I will give him that, but I am not parting with my Rickenbackers for anything, even if I am not good enough to have them!
Fuzzbass said:I agree (more than any import brand, anyway).
My hunches: some of the anti-Fender snobbery is from players. But some of it is also driven (in some cases unintentionally) by dealers and manufacturers of high-end gear who proclaim that "hippie sandwiches rule all", or "this clone is the ultimate Fender-killer".
But I'm far from the only Sadowsky owner who appreciates both Sadowsky and Fender and will always own both. To Roger's credit, he says (and I agree) that Sadowsky basses have their own sound: even those that clone the Fender look do not clone the Fender sound. As for whether the Sadowsky sound is better or worse than Fender -- that will always be subjective.
FWIW, I've owned Fender, Lull, Sadowsky. IMO neither Lull nor Sadowsky capture the Fender sound (nor should they... vive la difference).
So... count me as another Fender defender.
Thanks Ken. I can always count on you as a voice of reason. There really isn't any purpose for bashing on anyone's part. Lots of basses are worthy of playing and there are good basses out there for every budget. (That was the serious part. Here comes my attempt at humor.)
I just look forward to a day when the inexpensive basses and the boutique basses of this world can live together as one.We should spearhead a campaign to forge new alliances between these disparate companies, so they can bring new products to the marketplace.
Imagine if you will the Squidowsky, the Wishenti and the Peascoe.
They could do bass packs during the holidays with Bergenger.
Ooh. I spent way too much time on this post. Just trying to be punny.
I'm another "old fart" who has been playing forever. I have had people make observations or ask questions: "Oh, I see you're playing an XXXXX" or "What is that you're playing?" but I have never had anybody dis my gear or me bacause I play it...and if they did, I couldn't care less. I favor Fender (currently 2...MIM & MIJ) and Fender-style basses (currently 3, 2 USA, 1 MI?) primarily because I really cut my teeth on Fenders and they're familiar to me. I have also played Peaveys, a Reverend, a Gibson and a Squier within the last 6 years. Respecting or disrespecting somebody because of what brand of instrument they play is outrageous, IMO. It's shallow and silly.
I agree with what all has been said here about dissing a player for what kind of gear they use. Thats not cool at all. Ive never owned anything botique in my life. Ive been pretty much a Fender and Ibanez player. I always seem to come back to Fender for some reason.
When I do tend to be a bit judgemental is when Im holding auditions or going to an audtion. I have fairly decent gear, so I expect those I jam with to have fairly nice gear also.
If I find out they have a squire or anything "cheap" like that, I am a bit skeptical. Ive heard Squires and cheap Ibanez's on gigs, It has always sounded sub par compared to basses of even slightly better quality, (ex like the MIM Deluxe active jazz bass or even an SR400)
In the long run, they arent that much more expensive than the Squires, Standards, and SR305s. So yeah, maybe I do let it bias me a bit, cause if somone is serious, then I believe theyd save the extra $100 or $200 for something a bit better.
Some of these players have had great skills on their instruments, but because the tone was sub par, I had to turn them away or decline. To me, its not being anal about the brand name, its just good business sense. I am trying to make money at this stuff. I want professional tone and you dont get that from the Squires, Fender Standard series, and the less expensive Ibanez, Carlo Robellis, etc, that are out there.
Not trying to sound like a prude, but you wanted honesty, so Im being honest.
When I do tend to be a bit judgemental is when Im holding auditions or going to an audtion. I have fairly decent gear, so I expect those I jam with to have fairly nice gear also.
If I find out they have a squire or anything "cheap" like that, I am a bit skeptical. Ive heard Squires and cheap Ibanez's on gigs, It has always sounded sub par compared to basses of even slightly better quality, (ex like the MIM Deluxe active jazz bass or even an SR400)
In the long run, they arent that much more expensive than the Squires, Standards, and SR305s. So yeah, maybe I do let it bias me a bit, cause if somone is serious, then I believe theyd save the extra $100 or $200 for something a bit better.
Some of these players have had great skills on their instruments, but because the tone was sub par, I had to turn them away or decline. To me, its not being anal about the brand name, its just good business sense. I am trying to make money at this stuff. I want professional tone and you dont get that from the Squires, Fender Standard series, and the less expensive Ibanez, Carlo Robellis, etc, that are out there.
Not trying to sound like a prude, but you wanted honesty, so Im being honest.
I'm sorry to hear thatthebassclef said:
Quick story .... last summer (August '05) I was on vacation in the general VA/NC area and was fortunate enough to be able to stop by the Roscoe shop and meet everyone. While chatting with Gard, I mentioned that I had a Brice Z6NT in my car (that I was using as a traveling bass at the time). Without hesitation, Gard asked if he could check it out, played it for a few minutes, and generally complimented the bass.
Now, here is a cat that handles some of the most beautiful basses in the world, yet he was able to realize that, for the value, Brice had put out a very acceptable axe. No 'tude, no better-than-thou airs, just a professional guy checking out a piece of gear.
Professionals are just that ... professional. I make it a point to avoid being in the company of non-professional people, and that would include the weekend teenage crowd at GC ....
I can agree with Suggesting an alternative bass to someone that has the chops, but the bass is giving sub-par tone. That is just an observation made on tone and not the brand in general.
I really like the idea of Proffesionals being Proffesional. It is a great way to be. And, if I was at GC at the time, I probably would not have given this a second thought. But, I was at one of the mom and pops around here that alot of local Pros use because of service, general attitude, and friendly atmosphere.
I know this was a random thing for this shop, and I am not faulting the shop. It just disturbed me that another bass player could make that kind of comment to another without even blinking an eye.
As far as getting the Boutique and lower end together (I know it was said in fun, but) TB is a great place to do that. We have a couple of Boutique Builders here, and several people just starting out on bass. It's a great community for them to get together and talk about features of basses instead of brands that make one better than the other.
I really like the idea of Proffesionals being Proffesional. It is a great way to be. And, if I was at GC at the time, I probably would not have given this a second thought. But, I was at one of the mom and pops around here that alot of local Pros use because of service, general attitude, and friendly atmosphere.
I know this was a random thing for this shop, and I am not faulting the shop. It just disturbed me that another bass player could make that kind of comment to another without even blinking an eye.
As far as getting the Boutique and lower end together (I know it was said in fun, but) TB is a great place to do that. We have a couple of Boutique Builders here, and several people just starting out on bass. It's a great community for them to get together and talk about features of basses instead of brands that make one better than the other.
- Mar 9, 2005
- 1,946
- 11
- Disclosures
- Avatar Club#12 Eden Club Lucky# 13--USA Peavey Club#37 Carvin Club#5
I'd like to put in my 2 cents here too. I have been playing for 36 years now. I like the basses I have now because the necks just feel right to me, but I think any bass with a good straight neck, and a good set-up will play well. I run sound for alot of national blues acts, that run the circuit. A good example happened to me a few months ago. A long time band on the circuit came in, they were The Kinsey Report. Donald Kinsey on guitar and his brother Ralph on drums, and I can't remember the bass players name. Nice Guys! I watched Donald Kinsey set-up his guitar rig, and I couldn't belive it. An old Peavey solid state amp, and a Jay Turser 335 copy. Needless to say I was scepticle about how he would sound, because, I had never heard them before. MAN, I and all the other musicians in the crowd there were absolutely blown away. The great tube amp sound that came from that old solid state Peavey, with a duct taped up switching set-up, for his pedal board, and that Jay Turser cheap guitar absolutely sang like you wouldn't belive. Donald Kinsey is one HELL of a guitar player. His blues licks are some of the top licks, I have ever heard, and I've done sound for alot of blues acts. Just goes to show, it's not the guitar or the amp, it's the man with the fingers, and his ability to get the sound he wants out of his equipment at hand that makes the player. Granted bass amps are a little harder to get good sound out of when you have a real cheap amp, but I have seen guys with a 1-15 combo come in and really sound damn good too. Alot has to do with knowing what you can ring out of what you have, and lots of hours at the fretboard, is what really counts.
The poll results say it all!
I would have a bit of a hard time playing a Squier just because the name says cheap to me. I know that there are Squier basses out there that sound better than MIM or even MIJ Fenders, but it still says cheap to me.
I would have a bit of a hard time playing a Squier just because the name says cheap to me. I know that there are Squier basses out there that sound better than MIM or even MIJ Fenders, but it still says cheap to me.
The poll results show that at least nine of us care about then name on the headstock. But, IIRC, we have only heard from 3 of them.fourstringbliss said:
The only reason I would care about the brand is if that brand name means quality. Everybody knows the name Fender, but I'd play a Korean made KSD Jazz over most MIA Fender Jazzes anyday.thebassclef said:
If some arrogant no mind complained about my gear I would point out that I was gigging that night and he wasn't.
Pick your tool my friend. No matter if you prefer a quality instrument or a cheapo beater. Do what u can with what is within your budget and enjoy the experience. A good technique is worth more than the bass.
I know my gear isnt considered the best but i love it and i love the tone that i hear coming out of it. I also have noticed that i sound mighty similar on almost every bass i have played. as such i stick with my Ibanez sr350 and dont care what any one else thinks.
Ive also never been in a situation where someone has said something to me but if they did i would always tell them to come back and talk to me after the gig, and if they still had some critism that could be constructive i would take in every word they said.
In my part of town fancy basses are very scarce, i was privilaged enough to play a very high end bass and i still sounded like me, a little different but me.
I'd rather by lessons and cds and music than upgrade my bass because to me its about the music not the gear
You can make music on a squire too!
Ive also never been in a situation where someone has said something to me but if they did i would always tell them to come back and talk to me after the gig, and if they still had some critism that could be constructive i would take in every word they said.
In my part of town fancy basses are very scarce, i was privilaged enough to play a very high end bass and i still sounded like me, a little different but me.
I'd rather by lessons and cds and music than upgrade my bass because to me its about the music not the gear
You can make music on a squire too!
bmc said:
I wouldnt do that. Ya never know, the person doggin your gear might just have the night off from giggin that weekend. So for me to say something like that someone would be arrogence on my part. YMMV and thats cool too. My logic behind this is its a small world and the music scene is even smaller. So I wouldnt want to take a chance on burning any bridges. You never know who they know.
What I would do though, is take in all that they're saying, and then just probe a bit to see if they are even remotely credible on the subject. If they dont seem credible, then I'll just blow them off and leave it at that, if they do seem knowlegable on the subject, then I will listen to what they have to say and ask more questions to get their opinions. Never know, might help me out down the road somehow.
