Is it really your gear that's holding you back?

[jxj]

Flip it around: I have no illusions about being a pro someday, if only I practice on that Squier a bit more.

The journey is the point for me, and it's more enjoyable with a nicer instrument.

 

[MCS4]

I can tell you this much... I'm convinced that I am a much different player today because I spent a lot of my formative years playing a high-quality Carvin bass with low action and a very even, hi-fi sound. Had I instead been stuck with my first bass -- a dull-sounding, super-high-action P-bass copy -- for several more years, I believe my playing style and tone probably would have ended up much different, and there probably are any number of things that I take for granted now that I might never have even thought were possible on bass (or would be able to sound good and be played cleanly).

 

[Slade N]

gear can hold you back - if you cant hear yourself to know what you doing wrong or right, if the neck is warped/twisted, the ergonomics of the instrument are causing issue, the action is too high, wont stay in tune, intonation is off etc....does have to be expensive but does need to be quality and in good service

 

[SunByrne]

Not at all. It is my lack of talent and insufficient practice that holds me back... but I'm working on the practice part.

 

[Element Zero]

Within a few months after I bought my first boutique bass, my “proficiency” went through the roof. My desire to “get better” skyrocketed because I wanted to play more and BE more. So in essence, yes. The better gear made me a better player.

Will a Fodera or MTD or ZON make someone who just “kinda likes to mess around on bass” better simply because it’s good gear? Not a chance. But if they already have a good amount of talent spending 20 years on an old Ibanez and saving all they can for nearly a decade and FINALLY plopping down the cash for their dream (now sold) Pedulla Pentabuzz in doing so reinvigorating their love of playing music… chances are they’re gonna get better…

Wait… was this just theoretical?

 

[wazzel]

Only if you gear is in poor shape, set up incorrect or junk. Inexpensive gear will work just fine if set up properly and in good working shape. Not putting in the time is a bigger hold back than gear quality.

 

[juggahnaught]

Is it really your gear that's holding you back?

Nope.

• Are there any bad basses anymore?
• The bassist in this band is touring all over the world with a 0 Chinese SX bass
  
• Anyone earn money and save up for good equipment anymore?

After a certain basic level, there are simply diminishing returns. That basic level usually encompasses an instrument that has had a setup, and a method of sound reproduction that will fit the context you're in. While it's true that different instruments may sound different and have different voicings, that's not necessarily directly related to cost or being "better".

Different instruments may encourage or inspire you to play differently. But a "better" bass won't automatically make you a better player.

 

[swink]

Short answer, if he's killing it on budget gear, then it's probably not your gear that's holding you back.

As long as your back can hold your gear, I don't see a problem. Weight is the first problem you may dwell on. (With tort as a good second.)

 

[2112]

Gear can hold someone back if it's particularly bad, but that is by far more the exception and not the rule.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I sometimes see threads about the relationship between gear and a player's technical abilities. It's usually posed as a a GAS driven thought that goes something like "I think I be able to play better if I could replace my current, cheap gear by buying my more expensive dream gear." There are even threads where people will question whether a Squier is a good enough bass to gig with. Well, I have an unfortunate answer - the problem is not your gear, it's you. Please don't take offense - this applies to me too.

How do I know this?

Well, we're taking our first vacation since the pandemic and we found ourselves passing through Jackson, MS tonight. Luckily, we were able to find out about Hal and Mal's, where on Monday's, they have a special Blues night. It's sponsored by the Central Mississippi Blues Society and it's called Blue Monday.

CMBS Blue Monday (centralmississippibluessociety.com)

We were especially lucky because they only recently resumed this weekly event, and sadly, because Covid is spiking again, tonight was the last one that they'll have for a while. Still, I highly recommend checking this recurring event out when it starts up again if you are in Jackson.

Anyway, it's been a long time since I've seen live music, and this was a real treat. Wonderful musicians playing in a relaxed setting to an appreciative audience - really jazz caliber musicians working within the blues framework. Even better, their bass player was amazing. He was truly inventive and pushed the boundaries of what you'd normally call the blues. Best of all, he played a Squier (with a wonky output jack) through a small Hartke amp. He was more than twice the player that I am, and his gear costs about half what mine does.

Short answer, if he's killing it on budget gear, then it's probably not your gear that's holding you back.


In the end, if you can get acceptable art out of it, who cares what it came out of? Right?

In your example however, IMO having a “wonky” jack is not acceptable esspecially if I’m paying money to hear it.

View attachment 4364120

 

[tbz]

In some cases your gear can teach you bad habits.

I have a very heavy right hand most of the time. For the first 10 or so years I gigged, I used cheap amps and didn’t realize how helpful a good setup was.

I’ve developed a lighter touch since then. But I generally default to Geddy/Squire/Entwistle style clanging if I’m not wary of it.

That potentially did hold me back as it’s a bit harder to slot into gigs as a sideman, when your default bass sound is treble heavy and cuts through mixes.

But that all could have just been rectified with more practice. So. Kinda?

 

[LaklandBass]

Some people forget that gear can provide inspiration which translates to increased skill. My old bass player is no better than he was 20 years ago because he only picks up his instrument at band practice and never at home. I guess that 20 year old budget bass just doesnt move him anymore.
On the other end of things, I sometimes pick up my Lull while waiting 3 minutes for the microwave to finish my dinner. 2 hours later I throw the cold food out, have a bowl of cereal and go to bed.

Some things move and inspire us... some dont.

Im really into cycling and its the same thing over there. New shiny parts and making some adjustments might not make you faster on their own but if your bike pulls on your heart strings and gets you out the door 5 times a week.... then yea.... its worth it.

 

[BarfanyShart]

I liked hearing Tom Morello relate his gear journey, where he was obsessive about buying a custom guitar, not being happy with it, and then continuing to customize it until it was almost garbage. Then he just stopped and said "this is the instrument I have, I should be focusing on making sounds with it as well as I can." Coming from the classical DB side, that is most player's attitude toward gear, because most players cannot reasonably imagine a future where they would be purchasing a better instrument than what they have.

 

[Altitude]

Pretty sure every single one of us could take the $1500 that's burning a hole in our pocket for a new bass, instead spend it on ten private lessons, and be better off.

 

[Altitude]

I liked hearing Tom Morello relate his gear journey, where he was obsessive about buying a custom guitar, not being happy with it, and then continuing to customize it until it was almost garbage. Then he just stopped and said "this is the instrument I have, I should be focusing on making sounds with it as well as I can." Coming from the classical DB side, that is most player's attitude toward gear, because most players cannot reasonably imagine a future where they would be purchasing a better instrument than what they have.

Right, when the basses are $40,000 you don't usually have twenty of them.

Morello is right.

 

[mrcbass]

I sometimes see threads about the relationship between gear and a player's technical abilities. It's usually posed as a a GAS driven thought that goes something like "I think I be able to play better if I could replace my current, cheap gear by buying my more expensive dream gear." There are even threads where people will question whether a Squier is a good enough bass to gig with. Well, I have an unfortunate answer - the problem is not your gear, it's you. Please don't take offense - this applies to me too.

How do I know this?

Well, we're taking our first vacation since the pandemic and we found ourselves passing through Jackson, MS tonight. Luckily, we were able to find out about Hal and Mal's, where on Monday's, they have a special Blues night. It's sponsored by the Central Mississippi Blues Society and it's called Blue Monday.

CMBS Blue Monday (centralmississippibluessociety.com)

We were especially lucky because they only recently resumed this weekly event, and sadly, because Covid is spiking again, tonight was the last one that they'll have for a while. Still, I highly recommend checking this recurring event out when it starts up again if you are in Jackson.

Anyway, it's been a long time since I've seen live music, and this was a real treat. Wonderful musicians playing in a relaxed setting to an appreciative audience - really jazz caliber musicians working within the blues framework. Even better, their bass player was amazing. He was truly inventive and pushed the boundaries of what you'd normally call the blues. Best of all, he played a Squier (with a wonky output jack) through a small Hartke amp. He was more than twice the player that I am, and his gear costs about half what mine does.

Short answer, if he's killing it on budget gear, then it's probably not your gear that's holding you back.

View attachment 4364120

There is a line where an instrument (or other gear) is so cheap that it doesn't function well and that can be an impedance to what you can accomplish. But, IMO, that line is pretty low - there are probably many more items above that line than below.

Above THAT functional line, your premise is correct. Sure other gear can make you sound different, but that doesn't mean better.

 

[Ggaa]

Actually used to be, but not in a long time....

 

[logdrum]

What is hindering progress is more time wasted on forums like this, and that is okay because no one is really checking my progress.

But I have said here before. I was struggling young person in the NYC area had 2 electric bass, but musically a lot more playing, learning, gigging.

Then I started a family and music became lower priority, but even then I knew that playing not buying was key. Now when me and my wife are past the paycheck to paycheck (I did actually save 10 - 15 % of my meagre income ) phase. I can afford more/better. I quickly realized that buying basses and guitars are a distraction and I bought sampled instruments and orchestra and production libraries and now doing scores and grooves as well. The libraries are not cheap but the bang for the buck and productivity it provides me is more than a bass even a squire. But I do know how to play keyboards and midi programming and all of that. You also have to be open to EDM, beat making , sound design and at time s forgoing playing the bass guitar. But I find it rewarding musically and creatively.

The most I spent for an electric bass is 1100. I did buy a vintage Les Paul for almost 5K. My upright is 2.2 K but it really is a 5K instrument.

 

[Relayer71]

Gear is the last percent (maybe 2). It can help you feel inspired to practice, which is the most important thing it can do. So long as the thing can be set up well, and is reasonably good ergonomically, the gear makes little difference.

I sort of agree with you, to some degree. You just need an instrument that feels comfortable to play, can be reasonably set up, and sounds decent.

However, having an instrument that looks, feels and sounds amazing TO YOU does bring some amount of inspiration.

There's a difference between a neck that feels ok and one that feels AMAZING to play. I'm not saying you need to spend a ton of money to get there. Just that we all have our preferences for a reason, and that's why different brands/models of basses exist.

Gear CAN hold you back if the sound you hear isn't inspiring. I started out on guitar and with a humbucker equipped one and the sound did nothing for me. Once I switched to a Tele, that crisp sparkly tone just made me want to play more and when I discovered chorus and delay it opened up new avenues of creativity.

Maybe gear won't make you any better than you already are, but it can inspire you to play more which will make you better. Or at the very least, just make you want to play more.

 

[Wesley R]

Who doesn’t like gear though!
But really? I’m 65, I feel like my playing abilities have regressed back to when I was 12 years old..
No the gear doesn’t matter…sigh…

At 67 I wish I had the capabilities of my 12 year old self. I get where you are coming from.