Kids with expensive basses...

[Brad Johnson]

I'm 14, I have a Carvin B40. Only $900, so not quite in the price range of a Ric, but I've been playing since I was 9 and bust my ass all day on the thing. It was completely funded by me, working every weekend for a summer painting decks and fences around my neighbourhood to earn enough to buy it. I do consider myself a good player, but I'm still just a kid with some (what I think is) pretty nice gear. If the kid is going around saying "look at my bass, I'm amazing", and trying to pass himself as a phenomenal player just because of his gear, then yes it would bother me, but if he just plays and keeps to himself then live and let live. Who knows, he may work just as hard as you and just not be gifted with music, and he got it to keep him playing so he didn't give up.

Funny how so many seem to miss this point. Just because he's "awful" now doesn't mean he always will be. Most people are awful when they first start playing an instrument.

There's so much I disagree with as far as the rest of these responses.


Waiting for him to fail as so many assume so you can have a shot at getting his bass is lame. And if the object is being better than him, that's lame too. The object should be being better than you were yesterday. Improving as a musician because you want to be "better" than another musician will likely drive you crazy. Particularly if that other musician is more driven or talented than you. Watch the movie "Amadeus".

Let's say this kid really couldn't care less about becoming a "better" musician and learns just enough to be dangerous. You OTOH break your back working just to prove how much better you are. Years pass, you've worked your way up to being able to play, you've even learned how to play "The Awakening" and are supporting yourself playing live music for scale in local bars/clubs. Your nemesis OTOH spent those years learning how to dance, sing and be a marginally passable bassplayer and through his parents' connections (because we can assume people with money all have special connections, right?) he gets a deal at a major label, pumps out a couple of four chord hits and is now dating one of the Olsen Twins' daughters.

Do you cut your wrist or smile at what life handed you?


I grew up in a rural area and there was one other person who already played bass whom I didn't know. Not long after I did my first gig I was told that he said I'd never be as good as him. I laughed because that was not even close to my goal.

If your goal is exceeding someone else or comparing what you have to what they have, go for it. Doesn't sound like a road to happiness to me. In the meantime, I like the fact that everything I ever got I worked for, be it gear or skills so now I don't suck and here's part of what I have...

Guess I showed that guy.


One last thing that always makes me chuckle... you see what the other person has but you have no idea of what the back story is... could be a reward for doing well scholasticly, could be hush money for abuse. How bad do you want it*?





*And yes, I know the pic sets me up for all sorts of abuse jokes so go for it. Do the obvious

 

[obimark]

He probably will quit in short order anyhow, and someone will get a deal on the Rick on EBAY, maybe even you.
I never was thrilled with my Rick at all, but it had been abused before I got it, and was a real POS.
Couldn't slap on it, I hated the big metal plate over the pickup, just didn't do much for me at all.
I bought it because I idolized Geddy, little did I realize I should have just bought a P-Bass or Jazz bass like Geddy would ultimately come back to and recorded much of the classic Rush albums on anyhow.

 

[1958Bassman]

For the record...you're envious, not jealous

Actually, envy involves acting in a way that could damage the item or take it from the one who possesses it. Jealousy is just the want of whatever it is, usually a person/

 

[wednesdayagain]

Actually, envy involves acting in a way that could damage the item or take it from the one who possesses it. Jealousy is just the want of whatever it is, usually a person/

I thought envy was wanting something that someone else owns, and jealousy was the anxiety from being afraid of losing something to someone else.

 

[Engine207]

I got my '80 Ric 4001 new, when I was 14.

I shoveled driveways for two winters and mowed lawns the summer between, to pay for it. I coveted that bass for years, and i still have it today (though it's not my go-to anymore). Other kids my age had Hondo gear that their parents did buy them.

I guess my point is that expensive gear in the hands of young players may not be what it appears...

 

[Engine207]

Actually, envy involves acting in a way that could damage the item or take it from the one who possesses it. Jealousy is just the want of whatever it is, usually a person/

Envy and jealousy are both emotions, not actions. Envy is wanting what another person has, while jealousy is the fear that somthing you have (usually a beloved person) will be taken from you by another.

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/envy/#1.2

 

[camello]

If my parents were to have given me a Rickenbaker ...
1- they know about basses
2- their is a support system
3- I'm being taught by someone that knows his shhhhh
4- I'll probably be better than you.

Sorry to be devils advocate but everyone here seems to be the nice guy. If you can't beat him then join 'em. bounce ideas off each other and grow. best thing to do is be the better man rather than a hater. so good luck

 

[mellowinman]

I don't care what anyone has, or anyone plays. I work hard, am in debt, and lucky to get by. I have a FrankenFender I bought on eBay for $250.00 and it plays and sounds fantastic.

I also have a Squier Affinity V that plays and sounds pretty decent, and probably could use better pickups.

I wish I had a Rick. What, $2,000 or less would get me what I want? 4001 or 4003?

Can't afford it right now, and I wish I could.

But I can't, and I can deal with that, because I have my Jazz, and as long as I have my Jazz, I can play bass.

Forget about what other people have. Mean, ugly, stupid guys have beautiful girlfriends or wives with hearts of gold. Ridiculous, contemptible idiots have sports cars, big houses, even planes.

So?

I'm not dead yet, so I'm happy.

 

[Thrill-House]

I used to be like you OP, envious of expensive instruments.. then i learned that there are plenty of great instruments that cost lest than $1000. And now days, i could probably afford to get some high end $2500+ bass, but you know what? I dont want one. I much prefer cheaper basses, they can often be easily replaced, repaired, and modified without any worry of its future value.

Also remember, that a $2000 bass is almost never twice as "good" (playability wise, sound wise, etc) as a $1000 bass. There is usually a case of diminishing returns involved. So its not like he automatically has a better bass than you.

 

[FunkHead]

Put all your Jealous energy into your playing. Learn every song you can. Learn music theory too if that's your thing. Learn Setup. If you can set your bass up the way you want it, it will play like a million Quid. Also be the bigger man and try to help the little rich kid play his Ric better. There was a kid in my Highschool that had a Ric. Back then there were only a few bass players in My H.S. Me & him could both play Rush and Yes tunes but He could only play them while reading the sheet music. I just learned them by ear on My cheap Little Music master bass. But I slapped a Dimarzio pickup in it and it smoked. The funny thing is He played Yes songs with flat wounds and a felt pick. He played through a Sunn Tube amp and a Folded Horn 2 X 15 cabinet.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

..Most bands would rather have a good bassist with average gear than a lousy bassist with great gear. As long as your bass stays in tune, work with it until you can afford to upgrade. Besides that kid will probably quit in a year or two and you can buy his bass cheap..........

Soooo much truth in this statement


Lets put it this way, OP...if you have the skills, people will facilitate better gear for you. I know of plenty of gigs where drummers, guitarists, and other bassists get to borrow or own nice gear from the philanthropy of other musicians. If a bandmate or friend had a crap guitar, but was a great player, I would GLADLY loan him one of my guitars. Be studious, be humble, and the right people will help you out eventually.

 

[petrus61]

Give up cable and internet for a a while and stop publicly complaining about other peoples stuff and start mowing some lawns or something. You'll have a nice bass in no time.

 

[scarab]

i'm 15, i do have 2 nice basses (not a rick sadly) but i use my own money and i think i have the skills to back it up

 

[jazzyitalian]

Let me just throw out a quote from someone who you might appreciate:

"It's not what you play so much as how you play it." Jaco Pastorius Sept. 1981


and let me also add that I am 100% in agreement with Brad Johnson's take on your feelings and advice. Jealousy gets you no where.

 

[hdracer]

Seeing that so many people are throwing out quotes here is one for you.

"Envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own."
Harold Coffin

 

[evilt70]

Make the best of the equipment you have. I had to do that for years, wanting to play in a band, being a single dad. I ran for 2 years using a old SUNDA bass head I got at a swap meet for 15 bucks. The important thing is to learn your stuff, put in your work, and not lose sleep over what he has. I understand the rant though, when I started playing (my neighbor got me into it), his aprents gave him like 200 a week allowance, bought him kick ass guitars and amps, I started with a model out of the Sears catalog, was working all summer in high school while he had 8 hours a day to play. As a teenager I was jealous. Looking abck though, I'm still jamming (better than ever), and finally ahve some nice gear. The key is working on your fundamentals, and heck, cheap basses now can sound pretty good if they are set up right. Good Luck to you!

 

[syndroam]

I started playing with a $250 Cort bass.
After 4 years I bought a $2200 Warwick Infinity.
I had to work for a year to pay the money back to my brother.
After playing 4 years I was not yet skilled to deserve such an instrument.
But I was absolutely sure that I love bass playing (I'm not a pro musician).
I decided that I want a quality instrument that I will care for and have for the rest of my life.
I still have it and it still plays like a dream. Never let me down in a gig or rehearsal.

Also, when I first bought it something else changed: There were no more excuses, if something sounded wrong it was only my fingers and not my cheap bass. So I practiced and learned to do things the right way, corrected my techniques.
I am still not a top player but I saw that purchase as part of my love and commitment and never regret spending that money.

One more thing:
Each instrument is different than the others. You need lots of time to trully understand it, learn what it can or cannot do and make it work for you.
Don't envy guys that buy new gear all the time, because the won't ever achieve that thing. They don't spend enough time with their instruments and they will never achieve what you have with your "old" gear.
Talent has nothing to do with money and if you are talented enough you will GET PAID for it in the future.

Sorry for my english.
Best Regards,
Nick

 

[mcnach]

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

It makes you come across as a little envious.
Which is ok, in moderation. I'd also be jealous if I wanted certain bass which I cannot afford... but that would be regardless of ability. Ranting about how someone who is a bad player has a better bass than you... just sounds off.

I prefer to focus on what I play, and try to become better with what I have.
I personally like OLP basses by the way. With a little attention they can be really good. Nothing to be ashamed of at all. So, don't worry about what others have, and make your bass sing.
I have gigged with an OLP as my main bass a while ago, and it was great. Got great feedback about the sound too. I tend to modify them a bit though. A Basslines SMB4A sounds great, huge, on those basses. A cheap way to make your bass punch way above its weight.

 

[awesomesawyer]

This was almost me. im a kid, and My parents were getting ready to buy me a secnd bass about 8 months ago. I desperately wanted a gibson USA bass, and i kept pleading and asking, even though it was over 1000 dollars. My parents were getting close to buying this for me, and they said that i could look at a new bass after the summer, whne i was going to music camp. Anyway, the bass teacher at the music camp was using a gibson USA bass, and he was an adult! I later decided not to get it ( mostly because in my opinion those gibson basses actually suck, after i tried this guys one). but anyway, i bought a 15 year old mim jazz bass off ebay with my own money. And it is a million times better than any gibson bass that i wanted. now, that i am progressing on a cheap instrument and playing nearly an hour a day, I have been promised a boutique bass in a 3 or so years, and I would not have that opportunity if i had bought the expensive gibson bass.

 

[xxx666]

I decided I wanted to play bass at 13 - for 2 years I played my high schools bass during lunchtimes at school, and practiced bass lines on a nylon string guitar every night at home.
After this 2 years my olds decided I was into bass enough and agreed to buy me a bass - A second (possibly 10th) hand Westone Thunder Jet for $80 - I didn't even have an amp!
I played this bass for hours and hours on end - only plugged in at school through their amp. All the other guys who played at school had good guitars & rigs & used to hang it on me for having my $80 bass but I didn't care - I loved that thing!
3 years later I was the best player at school & still didn't even own an amp.

On my18th birthday I got a call from the insurance company who handled my fathers life insurance - unbeknownst to me I had been left a large inheritance & a cheque was in the mail.
I lashed out and bought myself an Ibanez Soundgear and a Hartke 2500 & Hartke Cab. From memory back then it cost me 2 grand all up.

I played that rig for around 10 years & only recently started purchasing higher end guitars etc.

I'd boast about my setup to those guys from High School but funnily enough not one of them still plays or probably even cares what gear I have... Not now that their parents aren't buying it for them.


By the way I still have the Westone - I break it out every now & then for a quick play.... Not as nice to play as my G&L's or Laklands. But there is still something awesome about it.