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

#101
I live in a small seaside village that has a periodic collection of waste items that won't go in the weekly garbage collection (known colloquially as the council chuck-out). Stuff like furniture and appliances, old bicycles etc. You'd be amazed at how many exercise bikes and gym equipment get thrown out every time. People think that this new gadget will get them sorted out and then they discover that it won't because the gadget doesn't give you the motivation to get fit. You have to supply that yourself. It's the same with musical instruments. That nice new bass or amp will sound better and feel good but in the meantime you're still you. What you play will sound better but you won't play better unless you're motivated to work at what it takes to get better.
 
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#104
Been playing for 50+ yrs, played on all kinds of gear from great to held together with baling wire. The only time I've ever seen it really matter is if the bass is physically dysfunctional and prevents you from playing, eg an upright bass with a warped bridge and/or the strings an inch above the neck, or an electric bass with non-functional pickups. Some of the best players I've ever heard - guitar, bass, saxophone, whatever - are on somewhat beat to crap instruments. Playable, but beat to crap.
 
#107
Back in 69 when I first started playing, I played a used Tiesco ($50) bass through a Challenger PA amp that had a turntable on top of it. My uncle made me a 2x15 cab that I loaded with Utah speakers I bought at Lafayette radio. Neither me nor my uncle had any idea about how to build a cabinet and it sure sounded like it. So, yeah that equipment did hold me back. But, once I got some descent stuff I was fine. No matter what equipment I play I still sound like me.
 
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#108
The obvious answer would appear to be no but in my opinion that's not necessarily true.

Here's one example.
An early band I was in had a guitarist who refused to use any effects, he wanted to keep it all raw (which I can certainly appreciate). However, when listening back to recordings of us jamming I pointed out spots where he could add reverb, use delay to create a new picking pattern, and where he could plug in distortion to kick the song up a notch. He agreed and got some pedals and transformed the entire sound of the band and for the better.

For a long time I didn't understand how watts/cabs and EQ worked. Eventually I discovered the only way to get the tone I wanted at the level needed was to have a lot of headroom available (because I love to crank the low end).

You don't need to have the best/most expensive gear or anything even remotely unique to sound great, but you should have the right gear for the gig.

a fretted bass will never sound like a fretless, an electric upright will never replicate an acoustic upright.

Furthermore, I can play any bass handed to me and sound decent but when I'm playing on my bass that I'm comfortable on I play cleaner, more creatively, and because the bass sounds the way it does in my head ideas translate much quicker than they would if I was using someone else's instrument.
 
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#109
Ketbass said:
Wait. All those years yearning for a Pedulla. Get one and sell it? For? ?? And does the new bass inspire more quality playing?
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Yeah :( After about a year of trying to convince myself that I loved it, I caved and was honest with myself. I didn't love it. I didn't like the way it played, how it sat, or the tone. I sold it and bought a Fodera. MUCH happier all around. Fits better, plays better, and is tonally more "me".
 
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#114
getBAK said:
Sometimes it's the gear, but it's rare
I toured with a crappy Peavey TNT combo in my early 20's. Never sounded right and I was too cheap to replace it. I think we probably would have done better if I was putting out better sound.
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I think amps are the one big exception to the whole "gear doesn't matter" trope. No amount of practice is going to make a Rumble 15 work on a gig. Granted, you don't need a $3000 Ampeg SVT stack, but you do have to have a good amount of wattage and quality speakers. Otherwise, all of the practice you did because gear didn't matter won't be heard by anyone.
 
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#115
Element Zero said:
Yeah :( After about a year of trying to convince myself that I loved it, I caved and was honest with myself. I didn't love it. I didn't like the way it played, how it sat, or the tone. I sold it and bought a Fodera. MUCH happier all around. Fits better, plays better, and is tonally more "me".
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There is a lot to be said about being "happy" with your instrument. If you like it, and like playing it, you will pick it up and practice. This is what usually leads us to more expensive instruments. Going from an Aria Pro ii to a Stingray in the 90s was an eye opener in terms of tone, feel, and function. I practiced a lot and got much better. It was easier to play and, to my ears, sounded much better. Nothing wrong with the Aria, and I did not outpace the guitar, it was just better for me to play the 'ray.
 
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#120
Gear doesn't hold you back play what you have and enjoy it.....But there is a difference in gear. I enjoy stepping on stage with a American Standard Jazz or P-Bass, a Mesa WD-800 and a 215 Mesa Subway Cab. The only thing that could hold me back is me. But I work real hard not to let that happen (But it Does Happen. LOL). I'm never going to judge anyone by their gear. Mine hasn't always been the best.
 
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