Kids with expensive basses...

[Troph]

Don't hate the lucky kid, just play the hell out of whatever gear you have.

Hatred? Envy? Ha. Not even close! It's more like amusement at the gross disparity between player and gear, followed by a vague sense of loss at the realization that someone wasted a lot of money for this to happen, even if it wasn't me.

It's fortunate for these folks that 98% of the audience doesn't have a clue whether they're playing a Fodera or a Squier. So most of them can only detect the suckage, not the accompanying waste of money too.

 

[armybass]

I can't imagine concerning myself enough to try and decide if someone else "deserves" what they own. I am thankful that that is a foreign concept to me. But envy based hate does seem to en vogue with the nouveau parti ;0).

 

[mazareth]

You've gotten some good advice on the thread. I did a little research on the OLP MM2. It seems to be a fairly well thought of entry level bass. One of the great things about modern technology is that entry level instruments are of much better quality than when I was in my teens.

I can understand having a little twinge of envy towards the kid with the Ric, but as others have noted, I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about what someone else has.

As long as you have a decent sounding, playable instrument, you'll do fine.

 

[EvanF1322]

There's a band where im from, which will remain nameless...All rich kids, parents buy them everything. A good band, pretty nice kids but their parents flew them over to cali to record with chris testa, and fly them to texas/new york/etc for shows they pay to play.. The bassist is 17 and has an arsenal of American Fender basses, some vintage some brand new. And ive seen countless times when they get done playing he will throw the bass on the ground and walk away. Plays the ampeg heritage SVT-CL head, threw the ampeg 8x10 brand new cabinet heh.. They're 17-20 years old and have "techs" to set up everything and sound check for them, thats all good for them i guess. They are a pretty good band, alright people. They're not to egotistical but im proud to work for everything i dont have ha

 

[Spleenface92]

I'm 20...I have a Rickenbacker 4003, an Alembic Epic, and a custom 5 string.
However, I also inherited a bunch of money upon turning 18...and had no rules about spending it.
(it also didn't help that I got kicked out of my parent's house).
But, I can actually play decently, and I treat my gear (fairly) well.

 

[darkstorm]

Allways get the best bass you can afford for yourself. Wether barte begginer or otherwise. Doing anything less is cheating oneself imo. No reason anyone should have a problem with a kid whose nbot very good yet, having expensive bass. Congrats instead are in order for them not having cheapo bass instead.

 

[REME7178]

WFW, This kid needs to wipe his gash and SHFF. When I made up my mind that I wanted to play bass and my folks knew that I was serious my Dad got the best bass guitar and gear that he could get for me at the time. This was before GC killed off the little man, before the internet so no CL, Ebay, and window shoping at online. I was very humble and picked out a inexpensive bass and a low quality bass combo because I knew we did not have much. Basically my Dad put it to me like this, you save money in the long run buying and investing in a good solid quality instrument and gear that would last from the start. As opposed to buying crap then going back to buy what you should of bought from the get go. Also my Dad put a little to the side ant then took me to pick out what I would need, it's call financial planning and saving to get what you want. He was right, I am glad I was able to have the same bass from the 8th grade till I went in to the Navy, instead of going through 4 or 5 bass guitars only to end up with the used Stingray that I wanted when I started. I found 7 used Rickanbacker 4003 basses from San Diego to Santa Clarita for $1100 to $1300 that's not cheap, but it's less than $2000 to $2500. Maybe that kids dad and mom found a good deal on that Rickenbacker and they believed in and supported their son enough to sacrifice and go without so they could get him the right tools to succeed. That's what parents do for their children, and fathers do for their families. Waster should mind his own buissness, stop the bitter discontent toward his fellow bassist, and be happy and thankful with what he was provided. I know they're plenty of kids who would be more that greatful with the gear that he is so dejected with.

 

[Brad Johnson]

It's just easier to assume the parents paid top dollar... feeds the resentment all the better.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I played a p bass and a cheap ibanez for like 6 years before I bought my first warwick. After almost 20 years of playing bass and owning 4 warwicks, and a custom shop musicman I will never spend more than a grand on a bass again. The reason is your bass will only sound as good as everything it goes through. A $4,000 Ritter or German made warwick won't sound any better through most local clubs PA systems then most 700-1000 dollar basses. I know a bunch of great players who have been playing for decades on modded made in Mexico fender basses with different pickups and bridges. I play a conklin gt7 I bought for 700 and plan on spending 150-200 on in mods.

 

[Root 5]

The OLP set up properly will play and sound just fine. So what's the problem?

Be happy you have an instrument to play.

 

[AMJBASS]

I think this matters more when you are younger(not everyone is guilty, but you learn over time the person is more important than what they own). If you take the attitude that it doesn't matter what people have, but how well you use what you have been given, ultimately you will be a lot more happy.

I was at one time that guy who had a bunch of expensive gear when I was in my early 20's. Granted, I did buy it all on my own dime from working full time. However, now as a full time I player its far more important to me to have reliable equipment that I know will sound great on the gig.

 

[phillybass101]

Money Talks. B.S. Walks. GAS is about money. If you have or can get ahold of the funds, you can have whatever instrument and musical gear you want. Gear has nothing to do with playing ability.

 

[willop]

My son (6th grade) and a buddy that has been playing acoustic want to get together and jam and 'start a band'.
But the buddy has no elec guitar or amp. His dad and uncle play.

So after less than 10 days of 'pestering' the uncle gave him a gibson SG (no, not an epi, a true gibson) and a 70w amp (don't have info on this item yet).

 

[qervo]

Just be thankful for what you got. When I was 13 I had to build my first bass out of spare parts from friends and wash cars and cut grass all summer just to purchase a used neck . Put it all together myself and loved it. Having a OLP would have been a dream.

 

[Baird6869]

Money Talks. B.S. Walks. GAS is about money. If you have or can get ahold of the funds, you can have whatever instrument and musical gear you want. Gear has nothing to do with playing ability.

Well said.

I play a Fodera and a USA MTD in a cover band that pays me an average of $100 a gig. Why? Because I want to.....and I can.

When I was 18-19, I gigged a Gibson G3, a '70's Musicman and a MIA Fender P.... Thru a Hiwatt head and Ampeg Fridge. That was a lot of $3.15/hr work at a movie theatre and gas station, but I saved my ass off.

If a kid has rich parents, who cares? Is a kid playing a $4000 bass any different than a kid receiving a new car as a gift on a 16th Bday?

 

[spade2you]

I'm one of those kids, I've been incredibly fortunate to have great parents who are incredibly supportive of my musical activities, although I certainly don't think I'm that great of a bassist.

I hope I'm not judged by my equipment, just as I don't judge anyone else for theirs.

You eventually get used to it. Your gear may illicit a response that shows you what kind of people you're dealing with. It's better to get that over ASAP than when you have time, effort, and song material invested.

Hatred? Envy? Ha. Not even close! It's more like amusement at the gross disparity between player and gear, followed by a vague sense of loss at the realization that someone wasted a lot of money for this to happen, even if it wasn't me.

...but you are still taking pleasure in it. Call me crazy, but I don't take pleasure in someone not being a good musician, top of the line or bottom of the barrel gear.

 

[NickyBass]

One of the few other bassists at my high school just got a new bass; a Rickenbacker 4003.
... does it irk anyone else that it always seems to be the sub par musicians that can afford the nice gear?

A good question to ask yourself is: "How would my life be any different if this young man didn't play a nice bass?" It is more important to work on being the best 'you' that you can be.

 

[SteveC]

Lots of good advice. You are young. Save yourself a lot of money and hassle by learning these lessons now. I wish I learned when I was younger, before I got all hung up on gear.

Speaking if, my new Roscoe should be delivered on Friday. I'm 47, there's no hope for me. Save yourself.

 

[ggvicviper]

If I were you, I would just continue to practice/play and save to get a piece of gear that I really dream of.

I started learning on my dad's '76 Fender Jazz Bass, which he got cheap ($200 in 1980, which would be just under $600 today) and was modified poorly. I played on that for two years. Noting other HS kids that had basses that worked better, I asked my dad for my own 5-string for Christmas when I was in my senior year of HS. He bought me a Carlo Robelli, a Sam Ash branded cheap bass. Although my dad could easily afford it, he would never spend a lot of money on anything, much less music gear. I just played tons on that bass, and when I got a little money, I bought a new Fender Jazz with 5 strings.

Moral: Appreciate whatcha got now, save, and you will get what you want down the road!

 

[phillybass101]

Well said.

I play a Fodera and a USA MTD in a cover band that pays me an average of $100 a gig. Why? Because I want to.....and I can.

When I was 18-19, I gigged a Gibson G3, a '70's Musicman and a MIA Fender P.... Thru a Hiwatt head and Ampeg Fridge. That was a lot of $3.15/hr work at a movie theatre and gas station, but I saved my ass off.

If a kid has rich parents, who cares? Is a kid playing a $4000 bass any different than a kid receiving a new car as a gift on a 16th Bday?

+1. Exactly. I could care less about what some other guy has for gear or even his/her playing level and style. If you keep looking around you for what others have and are doing or saying, you miss out on yourself. The whole world is a stage and we all have a part to play. And I could care less if someone else doesn't like the way I play my part.