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It's just a hammer...

#22
Just saw this Custom Shop Tribute. Five K they want!
Thor is good, but he's not that good, he just plays roots and fifths...
dlxthorhamr.jpg
 
#24
bassbenj said:
Well obviously it can be many things. It certainly can be a hammer, but it can also be amazing eye-pleasing art! it can be ear-pleasing art. it can be a status symbol. It can be your identity. It can be technology advancement or it can be a historical statement. And of course it can be a creative and philosophical statement by it's creator.

Leo just had too narrow a view of the things we was building.
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Narrow? I'd say he had a realistic view. Instruments were invented to make music. They weren't invented to sit on a wall, or in a glass case, or be sold for excessive amounts of cash to be added to some collection for prestige purposes. We didn't start beating sticks together in rhythms as a status symbol or for personal appeasement. They were for communication & expression. I think Leo had it spot on. It's our commercialized & coveting society that has it wrong.
 
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#26
M.R. Ogle said:
They ARE just tools.

I'd also bet that there's some hardcore handtool enthusiast/collectors who lgaze admiringly at the curvature of an early 40's craftsman hammer, which were much better before the Sears takeover.
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You have NO idea. Musicians are, quite frankly, laughable when compared to tool junkies. And any of the arguments here pale in comparison to the Normites vs. Neanderthals.

Rob
:bassist:10001110101:thumbsup:
 
#30
M.R. Ogle said:
They ARE just tools.

I'd also bet that there's some hardcore handtool enthusiast/collectors who lgaze admiringly at the curvature of an early 40's craftsman hammer, which were much better before the Sears takeover.
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You know it. I have a foot in both camps. But I'm Leo too. Form/function/utility. That doesn't mean it has to be beat to crap or ugly though.
My "utility grade" basses do the job.
I have a friend who I refer to as "Dewalt Carhartt I" . He sniffs at my well worn tools machines and clothing. Hey. I've made a living. Case closed.
 
#34
Of COURSE a bass or guitar is a tool - for creating music. And it's a tool that we as musicians need to depend on.

But - a real craftsman takes care of his tools. He treats them with respect, does not use them for purposes they are not designed for. Example: he doesn't use a Crescent wrench as a hammer, he gets a hammer of the correct weight for what he's doing. He doesn't use a screwdriver as a chisel, he gets a chisel.

And his tools are not left out in the rain, or put away covered with dirt or corrosive materials; they are cleaned before storage. They are maintained in the best possible condition. Screwdriver ends are ground to correct fit; chisels are kept sharp; wrenches are wiped clean and perhaps oiled lightly at times to keep them from rusting. There is good reason for this: when you depend on your tools performing as they were designed to, then you know you must keep them in good condition so they won't let you down.

In contrast, when I see tools that are beat up, covered with junk and obviously not cleaned or well maintained, I know the owner is careless and doesn't take care of the tools he depends on.

The same goes for basses and guitars. When I see one that has been well maintained and cared for, I make the assumption that the owner cares about the instrument and knows how to care for his/her instrument. It shows in the instrument's condition.

When I see one with scars, stickers, burns and other damage, I figure the owner either doesn't give a d**n about the instrument or is one of those careless people who never learned to take care of their things, and who probably never will.

And my opinion and impression of what instruments say about their owner is NOT going to change.

Treat your tools with respect, people.
 
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#35
Pilgrim said:
Of COURSE a bass or guitar is a tool - for creating music. And it's a tool that we as musicians need to depend on.

But - a real craftsman takes care of his tools. He treats them with respect, does not use them for purposes they are not designed for. Example: he doesn't use a Crescent wrench as a hammer, he gets a hammer of the correct weight for what he's doing. He doesn't use a screwdriver as a chisel, he gets a chisel.

And his tools are not left out in the rain, or put away covered with dirt or corrosive materials; they are cleaned before storage. They are maintained in the best possible condition. Screwdriver ends are ground to correct fit; chisels are kept sharp; wrenches are wiped clean and perhaps oiled lightly at times to keep them from rusting. There is good reason for this: when you depend on your tools performing as they were designed to, then you know you must keep them in good condition so they won't let you down.

In contrast, when I see tools that are beat up, covered with junk and obviously not cleaned or well maintained, I know the owner is careless and doesn't take care of the tools he depends on.

The same goes for basses and guitars. When I see one that has been well maintained and cared for, I make the assumption that the owner cares about the instrument and knows how to care for his/her instrument. It shows in the instrument's condition.

When I see one with scars, stickers, burns and other damage, I figure the owner either doesn't give a d**n about the instrument or is one of those careless people who never learned to take care of their things, and who probably never will.

And my opinion and impression of what instruments say about their owner is NOT going to change.

Treat your tools with respect, people.
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+10000 I couldn't agree with you more and I didn't understand Dan when he kept saying "it's going to get beat up" why? I don't care if you play seven days a week you're playing a guitar not doing construction work there is no reason your instrument that puts food on your table can't be taken care of? I know plenty of professional musicians who gig all year and you would swear they never played their instruments. I know some things just happen but things like buckle rash can be avoided and thanks OP for a great post.
 
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#36
Many interesting takes on the quote here, from the sublime to the... less sublime. Thanks all.

I tend toward the "take care of it, but don't be afraid to use it hard" school of tool use, personally.
I keep my basses clean, intonated, and ready for use always, and try to use them with care.
But they all have signs of honest usage, not scars of neglect.
And even decades of honest, careful use will leave some signs of wear.

It's just how things work.

Imo, of course...

Anyone else?
 
#38
awilkie84 said:
Narrow? I'd say he had a realistic view. Instruments were invented to make music. They weren't invented to sit on a wall, or in a glass case, or be sold for excessive amounts of cash to be added to some collection for prestige purposes. We didn't start beating sticks together in rhythms as a status symbol or for personal appeasement. They were for communication & expression. I think Leo had it spot on. It's our commercialized & coveting society that has it wrong.
Click to expand...

While I agree, it is clear that a musical instrument can also be a thing of beauty. What's wrong with that?
 

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