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Kids with expensive basses...
- Thread starter Waster
- Start date
You sound like you have a passion for playing the Bass. While you excel, he may eventually be adequate at best. I started with a cheap MIJ semi-hollow body Imperial Bass that was a hand me down from my older brother (around 1971). Then my Dad bought me a used Fender Musicmaster for my 12th birthday (1972). I now own a 1980 Rick 4003 I bought new, and a 1974/75 Fender Jazz I bought used in 1988. You will (and may already be) the guy everyone will want to play with, using whatever bass. Save all the money from all the gigs those guys will want you to play, and you WILL have the P-Bass or any other bass you desire!
Nothing makes me happier to see the look on peoples faces when they come and check the logo on my instrument because they liked the tone and they can't believe that it says Stagg or Vintage. Even funnier when they then scuttle off muttering disapproval like a cat turning it's back and faking a wash cause they got caught out.
There are endless posts on this forum from people who have Ricks as investments but don't play them because something cheaper works better for them. As cool as Ricks look you will impress the opposite sex more with great playing so concentrate on that.
There are some great playing and sounding low cost basses around nowdays so long as you don't get hung up on mojo mythology, marketing bull and logo worship. Oh yeah and asia phobia.
As Sheryl Crow sang......
It's not having what you 'want' , it's wanting what you got.
By the way before the flamers start on me.. I have owned several boutique basses and a few Fenders too and sold them all except my Japanese precision.
If you want a good lower cost bass with badge credibility check out the Music Man sub. My mate just bought one and it's in no way inferior to the £12,000 'real' Stingray that he bought second hand a few weeks ago. The Sub cost less than £300 brand new with a case! He's selling the Ray already. His asia phobia is well and truly cured.
There are endless posts on this forum from people who have Ricks as investments but don't play them because something cheaper works better for them. As cool as Ricks look you will impress the opposite sex more with great playing so concentrate on that.
There are some great playing and sounding low cost basses around nowdays so long as you don't get hung up on mojo mythology, marketing bull and logo worship. Oh yeah and asia phobia.
As Sheryl Crow sang......
It's not having what you 'want' , it's wanting what you got.
By the way before the flamers start on me.. I have owned several boutique basses and a few Fenders too and sold them all except my Japanese precision.
If you want a good lower cost bass with badge credibility check out the Music Man sub. My mate just bought one and it's in no way inferior to the £12,000 'real' Stingray that he bought second hand a few weeks ago. The Sub cost less than £300 brand new with a case! He's selling the Ray already. His asia phobia is well and truly cured.
I thought that I needed a 'pro' level bass when I started out so I got myself into a loan agreement for a Jaydee Mark King bass. My mum went nut's. I ended up stuck in a job that was like a prison sentence to pay for the damn thing and to top it all I still have a back injury from playing it years later. Did it improve my playing? No. Did I learn my lesson? No. I went through the whole process again with building a studio. I spent 2 years building a sample library whilst my mate went on to make several albums with some really cheesy keyboards and sound modules.
Just because the Rickenbacker is perceived as being 'better' for whatever reason it doesn't mean it's better for you or him either. The best bass is the one that fits you and is like an extension of you. It doesn't matter how much it cost. I wish that I had learned this twenty years ago. All those hours worked and all the things that I could have done instead of wasting time chasing rainbows and blowing money on stuff I didn't need. All you need is talent and ideas and it sounds like you have plenty of that all ready.
Just because the Rickenbacker is perceived as being 'better' for whatever reason it doesn't mean it's better for you or him either. The best bass is the one that fits you and is like an extension of you. It doesn't matter how much it cost. I wish that I had learned this twenty years ago. All those hours worked and all the things that I could have done instead of wasting time chasing rainbows and blowing money on stuff I didn't need. All you need is talent and ideas and it sounds like you have plenty of that all ready.
I had a '63 Precision, a '64 Jazz, two Hofner 500/1's back in the day. I didn't like the neck of the Precision, and I felt like I would crush the Hofners. They all went away. I kept the Jazz for about 10 years and sold it cheap to a highschool kid who was twice as good as I am, in about '82. That's the one I really miss. I started playing bass again in about '95. Picked up a Rogue VB100 which was good and recently, in '12 bought a new one which is really good, totally hollow. I've never felt like I would damage these as with the German Hofners. In '06 I bought a Rogue 405 Pro, it plays and sounds great. Just recently I've discovered and bought an SX Ursa II Jazz and I no longer miss my '64. Incredible quality/price. I only wish that these were available when I was learning in the '60's. I don't play out much and I couldn't justify or afford the more expensive basses, but I have all the tones I want, to play whatever I want, and I'm not working two jobs to afford them.
I think that there has been some great advice on here. Especially where people suggested not worrying about it and not to be envious. Maybe you could get to know the dude with the Rickenbacker? You may end up really good mates and be able to play each others gear.
I had problems with feeling inferior in my youth and felt that I had to struggle whilst some of my school mates seemed to get things handed to them. It took a long time for me to get my head around it and now I know that nothing comes without a price. The Ricky dude may have problems of his own because he feels that people are prejudiced against him. It's not his fault that his folks are well off. Even if he comes accross as a show off or whatever it may be a cover for his true feelings.
At the end of the day you have a mutual interest which means that you have something in common on which to build a friendship. Who knows where it may lead. Success in music has a lot to do with networking skills and having an an open mind not to mention seeing potential opportunities and taking them.
As other posters have pointed out, he may be lagging behind you now but there's more to this music thing than grades and he may surprise you in the future. You may even get to play his Rickenbacker and decide that it wasn't all you imagined it to be. I was quite disappointed when I played one and from that day on decided that I liked listening to other people playing them but they weren't for me. It's quite normal to have these anxieties it's all about how you deal with them in the end.
Enjoy the bass that you have now because that's the only bass that really matters at the moment. Make the best of what you have and the rest will fall into place.
Good luck.
I had problems with feeling inferior in my youth and felt that I had to struggle whilst some of my school mates seemed to get things handed to them. It took a long time for me to get my head around it and now I know that nothing comes without a price. The Ricky dude may have problems of his own because he feels that people are prejudiced against him. It's not his fault that his folks are well off. Even if he comes accross as a show off or whatever it may be a cover for his true feelings.
At the end of the day you have a mutual interest which means that you have something in common on which to build a friendship. Who knows where it may lead. Success in music has a lot to do with networking skills and having an an open mind not to mention seeing potential opportunities and taking them.
As other posters have pointed out, he may be lagging behind you now but there's more to this music thing than grades and he may surprise you in the future. You may even get to play his Rickenbacker and decide that it wasn't all you imagined it to be. I was quite disappointed when I played one and from that day on decided that I liked listening to other people playing them but they weren't for me. It's quite normal to have these anxieties it's all about how you deal with them in the end.
Enjoy the bass that you have now because that's the only bass that really matters at the moment. Make the best of what you have and the rest will fall into place.
Good luck.
Should starving children hate you because you throw away your pizza crust? Everyone has something that others may not be entitled to, we just focus on what we don't have or want, this kid is just fortunate. Don't waste your time getting jealous of other musicians and masking it by saying "this kid stinks bla bla bla." Focus on your own skills and if this kid genuinely stinks, he'll probably quit, and you can buy his Rick at a fraction of the price.
So are you closer to being the next Jaco because you play budget basses?
I never said I played budget basses. I clearly stated Jaco played a standard production model jazz bass. Which if compared to say an "Alembic" (which I was corrected about) went into production in the early 70s were around, would make Jacos bass a budget bass.
I dont play budget basses per se, but I have, and I think that any player with real talent can make anything work as long as its functional.
I've seen guys kill on 200 dollar Squiers. Typical TB replys in here. Guys defending their expensive purchases.
If the cost is worth it to the player then that's all that matters imo. If you paid 10k for your bass and you love it good for you. Its a "tool" though, and depending on the person using it, it can be as good or as bad as the next "tool"
I say music should be about fun. Too many folks on here reassuring their egos. Time to climb down guys. /smh
I feel like I might be one of those "kids" (though I am 20 now) considered to have excessive/pricey gear, but you know, I don't really care if people poo-poo my gear. My parents bought me my first acoustic, electric, and then a number of years later, my first bass, but all that totalled up to probably less than $800. Since then, I've bought everything I own through saving. Christmas money, birthday money, working my ass off doing construction and farm labor, and earnings from my playing. Once or twice my parents helped me out with a purchase, but I've always made sure to pay them back completely. I'm proud of my gear, and even more proud that I can say I've pretty much acquired all of it through my own work. People can play whatever they want, I've played great budget basses, there's no reason for owners of them to feel inferior when standing next to a guy with a custom shop Fender. If you can play, that's what matters. But at the same time, don't begrudge the kid of having nice gear, because maybe they'll eventually become really good. Don't just judge a book by it's cover, you know?
Basses are things.
You buy things with money.
Do sellers ask if you're a pro driver to sell you a Ferrari? If you got the money you don't even need to know drive to buy an expensive car.
I bet the "kids with expensive basses" are having a lot of fun playing those beauties, even if they don't know how to properly play bass.
You buy things with money.
Do sellers ask if you're a pro driver to sell you a Ferrari? If you got the money you don't even need to know drive to buy an expensive car.
I bet the "kids with expensive basses" are having a lot of fun playing those beauties, even if they don't know how to properly play bass.
Waster, if there's anything to learn from this it's that you are not alone. Look at at all the adults falling out over wether their expensive bass is better than someone elses cheap one or vice versa.
Expensive items are sometimes expensive and desirable by people because it gives them a sense of superiority or status. Some people will pay a lot of money for this. Sometimes people just like the extra percieved quality or the fancy wood or whatever. They pay their money and make their choice.
You are not in a position to blow a fortune on a posh bass so don't worry about it. If other people have chosen or been forced to use good inexpensive gear and have been happy with the results then that should tell you something. A decent bass has to be comfortable to play, play and stay in tune and have good enough electronics to not break down half way through a performance. That doesn't have to cost very much these days.look at all the people who are amazed by their sx basses for example.
Some of the adults 'advising' you here are simply proving that they are still hung up over this status issue.
Like some one said .. its not what you have its how you use it.
Expensive basses may be nice to look at, good investments, good for showing people that you are well paid (or just went without everything else to to look like you are. They may even be better instruments. If they are it will be by a smaller margin than the price differential. As I said, but no one seems to have noticed, the best bass is the one that feels comfortable to play and sounds appropriate for YOUR music. There must be thousands of players out there compromising their technique because they bought a bass with their eyes and not their hands. If an alembic (or whatever) is the bass for them thats cool. It may be totally wrong for you. And so may the Rickenbacker.
The only real status in this business comes from the fans and they don't care unless they are bass players with something to prove.
Capitalism wants you to spend as much money as possible wether you can afford it or not. The more you spend the more you have to sign up to the treadmill to pay for it. If you are making money from music thats great if not you will be working more and playing music less. If that's what you want then fine but a lot of people get caught up in that and don't realise until it's too late. Those that regret it will still try and get you to do it because they will envy your freedom. They will try to make you feel inadequate about your posessions.
Put everything you have into your music now and you will have something you can't buy. Something that's priceless.
Expensive items are sometimes expensive and desirable by people because it gives them a sense of superiority or status. Some people will pay a lot of money for this. Sometimes people just like the extra percieved quality or the fancy wood or whatever. They pay their money and make their choice.
You are not in a position to blow a fortune on a posh bass so don't worry about it. If other people have chosen or been forced to use good inexpensive gear and have been happy with the results then that should tell you something. A decent bass has to be comfortable to play, play and stay in tune and have good enough electronics to not break down half way through a performance. That doesn't have to cost very much these days.look at all the people who are amazed by their sx basses for example.
Some of the adults 'advising' you here are simply proving that they are still hung up over this status issue.
Like some one said .. its not what you have its how you use it.
Expensive basses may be nice to look at, good investments, good for showing people that you are well paid (or just went without everything else to to look like you are. They may even be better instruments. If they are it will be by a smaller margin than the price differential. As I said, but no one seems to have noticed, the best bass is the one that feels comfortable to play and sounds appropriate for YOUR music. There must be thousands of players out there compromising their technique because they bought a bass with their eyes and not their hands. If an alembic (or whatever) is the bass for them thats cool. It may be totally wrong for you. And so may the Rickenbacker.
The only real status in this business comes from the fans and they don't care unless they are bass players with something to prove.
Capitalism wants you to spend as much money as possible wether you can afford it or not. The more you spend the more you have to sign up to the treadmill to pay for it. If you are making money from music thats great if not you will be working more and playing music less. If that's what you want then fine but a lot of people get caught up in that and don't realise until it's too late. Those that regret it will still try and get you to do it because they will envy your freedom. They will try to make you feel inadequate about your posessions.
Put everything you have into your music now and you will have something you can't buy. Something that's priceless.
I know I am having fun. Also, in my defense, each and every one of my basses was bought and paid for by yours truly.
