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Kids with expensive basses...
- Thread starter Waster
- Start date
Make friends and be there when it's time for him to upgrade. Maybe you can take that "junk" off his hands. Heck, maybe he should pay you to take it away.
I bought my first high end bass at the age of 20. I felt I was too young to have a $4500 bass, but it made me happy having it. It is a Ken Smith Black Tiger 5. I love that bass, and I will never get rid of it. My only regret was not buying it in Elite. No doubt people looked at me and questioned me about it, but I was happy with it. I felt complete with it.
So wait a sec, you've talked so much trash but you've only been playing 2 years. Seriously?
I get it. I was a drummer gigging and recording albums with a one-step-above-student grade Tama kit with hardware that was falling apart and had to be held together with duct tape.
I'd show up on a bill with another band, see a $5,000 custom maple DW Collectors series sitting there. And it would be setup all cock-eyed with the toms at weird angles and all mismatched drumheads and my face would go right into my palm.
After awhile, I learned to appreciate the challenge of getting a great sound out of something cheap. I have a 4-year old cousin with a little cheapie kiddie set and sometimes it is fun to sit down and play funk with the little 10" hi-hat.
I'd show up on a bill with another band, see a $5,000 custom maple DW Collectors series sitting there. And it would be setup all cock-eyed with the toms at weird angles and all mismatched drumheads and my face would go right into my palm.
After awhile, I learned to appreciate the challenge of getting a great sound out of something cheap. I have a 4-year old cousin with a little cheapie kiddie set and sometimes it is fun to sit down and play funk with the little 10" hi-hat.
Good observation, though I'm speaking in general terms. There will always be exceptions, hence the "bell curve".
I drive a crappy car and the only bass I have now is an SX that my brother gave me.
I sold my G&L, Pedulla, Ampeg, and Mesa gear since I wasn't playing much over the past 10 years. I wish I'd have kept it along with my nice pickup truck.
But, it's not what you own, it's what you do.
While nice things are nice, they aren't what defines you.
I sold my G&L, Pedulla, Ampeg, and Mesa gear since I wasn't playing much over the past 10 years. I wish I'd have kept it along with my nice pickup truck.
But, it's not what you own, it's what you do.
While nice things are nice, they aren't what defines you.
And a lesson from psychology......"hedonic adaptation" or "hedonic treadmill". People adapt to an extraordinary range of circumstances-and in quick fashion. Do an internet search for the terms for an invaluable life lesson. One implication is that your colleague with the flashly equipment probably doesn't get more satisfaction from his equipment than you get from yours. Life gets easier when you put the burden of envy down.
And a personal note. I play a section of a song. My instructor then plays the same section using my bass through the same amp. I'm deeply aware that it's not equipment that makes him the better bassist.
And a personal note. I play a section of a song. My instructor then plays the same section using my bass through the same amp. I'm deeply aware that it's not equipment that makes him the better bassist.
spvmhc said:
Ha ha, so true.
Many years ago I was selling a guitar multiFX with a separate expression pedal for the wah etc. I always said it was a crap wah, and the effects were not that good.
This guy calls me, he is in a hurry, he has a gig and his equipment is not with him so he wants a cheap multiFX to get through the day.
He arrives and starts playing through it, and my amp etc. It sounded awesome, in particular the wah...
It was not the equipment that sounded crap, it was that I made it sound like crap
If you flip two coins, you have four possible outcomes. Now substitute rich and poor for the first coin, talented and untalented for the second coin. Given the sheer randomness, does it really make sense to get upset over two of the outcomes?
Fable of the fox and the grapes. The classics live on.
Fable of the fox and the grapes. The classics live on.
- Sep 14, 2009
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- Endorsing Artist: GullanskyLab pickups
It reminds me a pupil I had.
He was in his 30's, he said he ran is own business, had studied some piano when he was a child.. Before the first lesson, I suggested him to buy some Ibanez or Yamaha, that wouldn't lose too much of their value in resell, whether to step up to something better or give up. I also suggested him to choose the bass together. Two days later he called me back: he had gone to the best music shop in town, asked for a good bass in HIS price range, and after a check on the internet about the brand the next day he bought it.
At the first lesson he showed up with a Sadowsky Metro.
"Why buying something cheap, he said, when one can afford something good?"
By the way, he was really proficient, and overall music talented. And with a great taste for good old-school soul... Maybe the best absolute beginner I had in my teaching career.
Never envy anyone: it's useful. Just try playing your best.
He was in his 30's, he said he ran is own business, had studied some piano when he was a child.. Before the first lesson, I suggested him to buy some Ibanez or Yamaha, that wouldn't lose too much of their value in resell, whether to step up to something better or give up. I also suggested him to choose the bass together. Two days later he called me back: he had gone to the best music shop in town, asked for a good bass in HIS price range, and after a check on the internet about the brand the next day he bought it.
At the first lesson he showed up with a Sadowsky Metro.
"Why buying something cheap, he said, when one can afford something good?"
By the way, he was really proficient, and overall music talented. And with a great taste for good old-school soul... Maybe the best absolute beginner I had in my teaching career.
Never envy anyone: it's useful. Just try playing your best.
We have a neat situation at my house. My 17 year old son also plays bass and is now in a position with his group to go on tour opening for a nationally known band this month. They also have an EP on Itunes and will be recording a full length album for a label this summer. He started at 12 on a short-scale Bronco bass and took lessons for 4 years. He has now passed me on chops and reading and I've been playing for 35 years, albeit as a dedicated weekend warrior. 
In the early years, I used him as a passdown to get to better gear for me. Now the tide has turned. In my current group, I have no need for a 5 so I recently gave him my US Spector NS-JH5. On the local gigs, I'll be his stage hand and bass tech! Here's some shots of him on stage:
In the early years, I used him as a passdown to get to better gear for me. Now the tide has turned. In my current group, I have no need for a 5 so I recently gave him my US Spector NS-JH5. On the local gigs, I'll be his stage hand and bass tech! Here's some shots of him on stage:
Yep - the world is full of people that have much more expensive gear than you can afford. Some are better than you, some are not. I'd be willing to be there is someone on this message board that has a bass that cost more than my car - and you can probably outplay him. It doesn't matter. Practice, play, have fun with it and don't worry about what the other guy has. My first shot at being in a band when I was a kid, I lost out to a little rich boy who decided he wanted to play bass. His parents bought him a really nice bass, amp, wireless setup, everything. He got the part in that band, I didn't. Whatever - I did my best to laugh it off
I checked them out on Unsignedpunk - nice sound - I hear a LOT of Paramore in them (lead singer sounds just like Hayley Williams). Good stuff! Great story - good luck to your son!
We have a neat situation at my house. My 17 year old son also plays bass and is now in a position with his group to go on tour opening for a nationally known band this month. They also have an EP on Itunes and will be recording a full length album for a label this summer. He started at 12 on a short-scale Bronco bass and took lessons for 4 years. He has now passed me on chops and reading and I've been playing for 35 years, albeit as a dedicated weekend warrior.
In the early years, I used him as a passdown to get to better gear for me. Now the tide has turned. In my current group, I have no need for a 5 so I recently gave him my US Spector NS-JH5. On the local gigs, I'll be his stage hand and bass tech! Here's some shots of him on stage:
View attachment 304097
View attachment 304098
It is natural, and ok, to feel like that, but in the end, it just doesn't matter, do not waste your time thinking about what you would do with what others have, just make extraordinary things with the stuff you have ...
I remember when I was in college and I found myself jealous of the bassist for the gospel choir.
He was way better than me, had a car and a cute girlfriend. I had a good bass, no chops, no car or girlfriend. Being jealous got me absolutely nothing. Practicing, however, did result in improvement although I was never better than him. The bottom line was that he had more than me, but life went on and I eventually achieved many of my goals.
He was way better than me, had a car and a cute girlfriend. I had a good bass, no chops, no car or girlfriend. Being jealous got me absolutely nothing. Practicing, however, did result in improvement although I was never better than him. The bottom line was that he had more than me, but life went on and I eventually achieved many of my goals.
