Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Low paying gig...take the cheap gear?
- Thread starter john_g
- Start date
It's the Indian, not the arrow. Take what ever you want, and play the hell out of it.
If there were any correlation between gig pay and choice of instrument, one would think at least half the members here play the Wembley stadium every other weekend.
I say take the cheap bass, but….
While you are on stage, announce to everyone why you didn't bring your nice bass to the gig. Just tell them it wasn't worth it.
Try and notice if anyone cares. If anything, you might offend a few folks by telling them they aren't good enough for the fancy bass.
While you are on stage, announce to everyone why you didn't bring your nice bass to the gig. Just tell them it wasn't worth it.
Try and notice if anyone cares. If anything, you might offend a few folks by telling them they aren't good enough for the fancy bass.
I was livid and I gave them a piece of my mind. I was then accused of "overreaching" and "overreacting" until I made it very clear that neither opportunity would have likely been given to them if not for my intervention and that I don't appreciate disrespectful behavior that impacts my reputation on the local scene. The BL told me I should have said something and I told him he should take every job seriously.
Man I'm about to take this in a weird direction, but I often ask myself would I be satisfied if this were the last gig I got to play.
If it is a rowdy room full of heavy drinkers that are there for a good time (my favorite kinda gig, personally) then maybe take out the kinda bass that has had beer spilled on it before (basically all I own these days lol) but I'd say take what ya really wanna play.
I just never want to wind up thinking 'It would have been nice to have gigged that nice bass one more time'
If it is a rowdy room full of heavy drinkers that are there for a good time (my favorite kinda gig, personally) then maybe take out the kinda bass that has had beer spilled on it before (basically all I own these days lol) but I'd say take what ya really wanna play.
I just never want to wind up thinking 'It would have been nice to have gigged that nice bass one more time'
This is one reason I own low to moderately priced gear. If I owned a high-priced bass, guitar, or amp, I'd be considering this question. But, since much of what I own has been carefully set up to perform well above its price class, the question is more about stage space than potential equipment damage.
More important to me is backup. Making sure I never, ever gig without backup. Even at the smallest events. Second is making sure that whatever equipment I bring - primary and backup - will be appropriate to the music to be played. If the gig calls for a P-bass sound, a P-bass and, possibly, a P/J will be taken. And the P/J might be called upon to handle J-bass requirements, if needed. Amps, the same thing, although the backup might be left in the car, along with Direct Boxes. Usually a BDI21 and a GI100. Inexpensive, and useful.
As I've posted before, I've gigged on a shoestring budget when I was young, and gigging with better equipment makes things much, much easier. But I am a retired engineer, and the Law Of Diminishing Returns infuses every purchase decision I make. (Classic glass half full or half empty question; the engineer's answer is that the glass is twice as large as it needs to be.
)I don't criticize those who pay for the finest equipment. I criticize those who buy the finest equipment and then gig with it without backup. Because stuff happens.
Last edited:
The only way the audience will notice cheap gear is if there's another bass player watching the show.
Nope. I play the same rig no matter what if for no other reason that it's what I want to hear. Part of my job is to sound good, no matter how much the gig does or doesn't pay.
The one minor concession I made to that was at a sketchy bar I used to play regularly. I was playing guitar at the time and I always took my G&L ASAT instead of my '72 Tele. The G&L is a great guitar and sounds great. It was my backup and I sometimes played it just because I liked it. The reason it went with me to that particular gig was that if it got stolen, it would be a lot easier and a lot cheaper to replace than my Tele. There was a side door near the stage where it would have been easy to grab something off the stage and be out the door before anybody knew what happened. Ultimately, we never had any problems aside from the manager of the place getting funny with the money, which is what led to us dropping the place from our rotation.
The one minor concession I made to that was at a sketchy bar I used to play regularly. I was playing guitar at the time and I always took my G&L ASAT instead of my '72 Tele. The G&L is a great guitar and sounds great. It was my backup and I sometimes played it just because I liked it. The reason it went with me to that particular gig was that if it got stolen, it would be a lot easier and a lot cheaper to replace than my Tele. There was a side door near the stage where it would have been easy to grab something off the stage and be out the door before anybody knew what happened. Ultimately, we never had any problems aside from the manager of the place getting funny with the money, which is what led to us dropping the place from our rotation.
Agreed. And in-line with your comment, less expensive gear doesn't mean it sounds "lesser". If I play a smaller venue, I'll bring my smaller amp 'cuz I don't need the power, and probably my 2-10 cab, for smaller footprint. But I don't own any gear, at any price point, that I'm not fully satisfied with for gigging.
And if you're "rocking " the cheap gear , he'll likely be impressed !!! The bass I use 90% of the time for gigs/rehearsals is a $65 modified P-bass from Amazon. It's nowhere near "box-stock", and doesn't even have a logo on the headstock. No negative feedback from anyone yet.
I do not buy a bass as a financial investment, got a bass to play and enjoy, I do not sell gear.
We step on wood all the time on stairs, decks and porches they survive, just play.
Unless you are flipping/selling, then be careful.
Some are so scared to enjoy what they have because they may damage it, that is not fun.
I have fun.
Last edited:
FWIW from a guy who has gigged for 46 years: take the equipment you regularly gig with and feel comfortable with, so your band can play their best, give a good impression, and hopefully get a follow-up gig.
In general I don't think it matters, as long as the bass is fully functional and looks the part (to whatever extent you care about that). Your instrument isn't going to be degraded by one gig unless it is known to be an extremely rowdy venue.
However, I had assumed this question was something along the lines of "do I bring my $1500.00 bass or my $400.00 bass," and hadn't considered that you had an instrument worth $10,000.00. I think that kind of instrument kind of rises above being a working musician's tool and becomes something like a collectors piece, so my general thoughts don't apply. I'd probably be just as likely to keep that bass for home practice and studio work and bring the workhorse to the gig, no matter the gigs pay.
However, I had assumed this question was something along the lines of "do I bring my $1500.00 bass or my $400.00 bass," and hadn't considered that you had an instrument worth $10,000.00. I think that kind of instrument kind of rises above being a working musician's tool and becomes something like a collectors piece, so my general thoughts don't apply. I'd probably be just as likely to keep that bass for home practice and studio work and bring the workhorse to the gig, no matter the gigs pay.
I was playing Ocean City in the 70's and some guy walks up and starts playing the guitarist's Les Paul. He went up and read the guy the riot act. He was about as close to kicking someone's butt as I've ever seen. Fortunately the guy just wandered off, but if he'd said anything it would have been a different story.
What's the point in having a 10k bass if your not willing to play it out, like a Sunday car that never gets driven
A). Cheap gigs lead to more cheap gigs.
B). If your attitude is "cheap gigs don't count", then the gear isn't going to make any difference because you've already written it off.
C). Play the gear to know and play well regardless of what you're getting paid (or not paid).
B). If your attitude is "cheap gigs don't count", then the gear isn't going to make any difference because you've already written it off.
C). Play the gear to know and play well regardless of what you're getting paid (or not paid).
