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Kids with expensive basses...

#241
Jazz Ad said:
Life isn't fair and it doesn't get any better. Get used to it or you're in for a life of sour disappointment.
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On point. I always wanted nice things when I was young...but I grew up without the fancy toys. My parents gave me a private school education, and taught me valuable lessons. Now I have nice toys, and a good job and am very grateful to this day for the things I had not. It has made me who I am today...I appreciate things. Don't worry about that kid's Rickenbacker.
 
#243
RaginRog said:
On point. I always wanted nice things when I was young...but I grew up without the fancy toys. My parents gave me a private school education, and taught me valuable lessons. Now I have nice toys, and a good job and am very grateful to this day for the things I had not. It has made me who I am today...I appreciate things. Don't worry about that kid's Rickenbacker.
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+1

The bass that the other guy is playing doesn't make me any better or worse.
 
#245
My first summer job at age 15 (I lied about my age, 1979), I saved up all my money for a Black Rickenbacker 4001, because they looked different, and the guy from "Yes" sounded pretty good. So $475 later, and the purchase of a Peavey TNT 1-15 Combo ($175) to go with it, I was finally a rock star. As I recall, I was able to play "Runnin With The Devil", "Hey Hey My My" and "Doctor Doctor" that first night.
 
#246
I had a very cheap first bass that my mom got me - a white Dean with soapbar pu's. I played the hell out of that bass for two years. As soon as my parents knew I was serious about music again (I played classical instruments and stopped a few times in grade school) they told me they would split the cost of a Fender with me. My first one, a late 90's/early 00's midnight blue Jazz.

There were kids that had "better" instruments than mine, and there were kids that didn't have anything. You know what fueled me though...this was MINE, and I could play whatever I wanted on it. And I did. To this day, I don't get equipment envy, and very infrequently get GAS attacks. I know what my ears and my hands like, and I stick to it.

If/when I have kids, they will be given every possible opportunity for success in whatever avenue they have interest in, but I won't buy them the moon just because they think it looks pretty....
 
#251
I'm 17 years old, started bass when I was 9... I have a fender modern player jazz, Spector legend custom, and an Ibanez ARTB100, run through an Ampeg 610 and markbass TTE 500 and sometimes a 70s fender bassman. I know I have better gear than any other bass player I know my age. But it's not given to me and my family is not rich by any means. No, I work my butt off working with cattle for both my dad and grandparents, save every penny I get, and have been lucky enough to have a very supportive musician uncle who has passed down some gear and extra $$ when he knew I was saving for my rig. Also avoiding buying new has been key to my affording anything at all...
 
#252
Don't remember which page I joined in..

M ydad was sole bread winner; worked a job &1/2 to keep mom, my brother and me. This was decades past.

No way would I have knowingly brought te price of an American Fender to his attention and very grateful for thje $25 KAY and subsequent $125 EPI...when I knew too little, other than BASS had chosen ME.

Again when I had my own job AND $$...and some knowledge.. I bought a Rick..like rolls-royce bass at the time. A few years later..Alembic was king @ 4 times the $$ of a Rick.

If you can reasonably afford it and have your priorities straight...buy what you want..WITH YOUR $$.
 
#253
I own a shop and ill sell to anyone waving money at me. Ive had young kids who saved every dime pay me in rolled coins for a Musicman. I had a kid buy a newer 4003 and paid his dad 10.00 a week. I had a kid buy a 5k refin 62J and the old man plunked down an amex. The kid couldnt even fret the note.. Bottom line, some work hard some dont but hey, If my old man had the bread, he woulda bought me one too. BTW - The kid who's old man bought the refin is a monster player 3 years later. A fellow TBer (who actually posted in here) - his Dad bought him a KILLER 4001MG as a graduation gift - How cool is that. To each his own and bless their lot..
 
#254
Waster said:
One of the few other bassists at my high school just got a new bass; a Rickenbacker 4003.
This kid is thirteen, and is genuinely awful- doesn't know what notes he's playing, can't play eighth notes etc.
Now, obviously I wish I had been able to get equipment like that when I was his age, and I'm a touch jealous, but does it irk anyone else that it always seems to be the sub par musicians that can afford the nice gear? I'm not the best bassist in the world, but I've worked hard and am doing grade 8 next year on an OLP MM2. My parents would love to get me a P-bass, but can't afford it; all of my gear, bar my starter bass and my starter guitar (£100 each) I have had to work and save for. And I know better musicians in crappier positions than me.
This was really just a rant, but feel free to comment or whatever.

Connor
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Who cares, it's just a Ric.
Now, if it was a Sadowsky.......:hiding:
JUST KIDDING.
I didn't have squat when I was your age either.
When you get older, you'll be able to buy whatever you want.
Hang in there. I did.:)
 
#256
The quality of the instrument doesn't improve the quality of the talent (or lack thereof) he has. I had a ****** Squier Pbass (the one that comes in the "beginner's package," with the Rumble 15 amp) from age nine (when I started learning bass) up until sixteen. Sure, I felt like a dork playing a Squier, but I worked my butt off to overcome the shame. Now I have a job, decent gear, and a good amount of bass skill.

A kid without talent with a Ric is still a kid without talent.
 
#260
Most well-known musicians in Poland started with the Made in Poland gear, and later changed it to MIJ/MIA guitars. There were also kids with rich parents, that got their hands on Fenders as their first guitars, and mostly their career stopped quickly (or hasnt even started).

Can say its pretty same with me. I started with Fernandes Gravity 4X, and it was pretty expensive (bout 260$). And yes, I learned how to play, but my playing was very robotic - like those musicians, who plays covers, and wants to fit note in note, same speed etc. Then I got my hands on my Defil Luna22, and it was much cheaper (bout 40$). Still playing the original strings (yes, those from 88'). Its maybe less comfortable than Fernandes, but that bass helped me to create my own style. Aint talkin about inspirations, that every bass player has, but on the style that is unique for me. And when I play it, I finally feel that I'M PLAYING BASS !!! When I grab Fernandes I often get crazy, and play some solos, because its easy, but when I want to play some oldschool rock, I pick up Luna, and I just play - like I learned to.

Not an expensive gear makes a bass player, but - to me - the feeling of what do you want to play, and how you play it. Excercises is everything - without them you wont learn how to play. An original, very expensive P or JB is a good bass, but it wont play itself - and thats what mostly is "the thing". If you start with cheaper bass (or like in Poland 30 years ago - with the bass you hate, because is not american, or at least doesnt look like Fender) you always feel, that you play it temporarily, waiting for a "target bass". Thats why I felt a bit dissapointed when I first grabbed original Rick last year - I expected something completly different !

Nowadays in Poland mostly everyone can affor an expensive bass and play. Results - for the last 10 years I managed to hear one or two good live shows by some young bands. Rest of them I find just pretty lame
 

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