Yea the truth of the matter is that we all started out on the same level playing field and let me tell ya, I guarantee you that no one started out as a virtuouso. For anyone to judge you, especially in a music store, is a piece of lame new york city landfill garbage. Just my two cents.
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If the staff are "Real Pros" they wont give a crap or judge you. They are there to sell gear and noting else. What I hate personally are the "Yes Men" that work in these places! Ya know the type...
Customer " Boy I love maple fingerboards"
Employee " Yes maple is my favorite as well"
Customer " Yup I love maple but not as much as rosewood, thats the sweetest if you as me"
Employee " I hear ya nothing beats a good slab of rosewood"
Customer " Well except for ebony!"
Employees brain goes poof!!
I love doing this kinda of stuff to them lol
Customer " Boy I love maple fingerboards"
Employee " Yes maple is my favorite as well"
Customer " Yup I love maple but not as much as rosewood, thats the sweetest if you as me"
Employee " I hear ya nothing beats a good slab of rosewood"
Customer " Well except for ebony!"
Employees brain goes poof!!
I love doing this kinda of stuff to them lol
For me it's mostly chromatic scales, scales in thirds, and longer notes to listen for any buzzes, dead spots, or anything else bad. I'll also do a couple of moderately fast phrases to see how it responds and what it feels like. I'm more concerned with finding out whether it's something I'm interested in than what other people think of my playing.
I used to feel this way as well. I would hate going to the local shop and having to think of something “cool” to play to impress the employees and other musicians. Then as I got a bit older, I just decided when testing gear, the easiest thing to do was play scales and not care what anyone else thinks.
I’m no pro. I play in local bands that do well and have fun. That’s good enough for me and that’s all I care about now.
So, just keep it simple. Don’t worry about impressing anyone. You’re there for you and as long as you’re happy doing what you enjoy, that’s what matters the most.
Also, testing in a store if different than at home or in a band setting. So, take advantage of return/exchange policies as well. You can even resell here on TB. Something that doesn’t fit you might be perfect for someone else.
I’m no pro. I play in local bands that do well and have fun. That’s good enough for me and that’s all I care about now.
So, just keep it simple. Don’t worry about impressing anyone. You’re there for you and as long as you’re happy doing what you enjoy, that’s what matters the most.
Also, testing in a store if different than at home or in a band setting. So, take advantage of return/exchange policies as well. You can even resell here on TB. Something that doesn’t fit you might be perfect for someone else.
Dude I work in a music store, and both gig and run my own professional repair service on the side. Trust me, no one in a music store cares what you sound like. We (music store employees) kind of become numb to that sort of thing and only really notice if someone is trying out gear at obnoxious volumes. We were all beginners once and I remember feeling some nerves when trying out gear when I was younger. Now, as a music store employee I realize how silly that is. We WANT you to play the gear!
Yeah, I agree with the contrary sentiments so far. Testing gear is not the time to be showing off, or worrying what other people think of your showing off. It is a time to slowly and carefully put that gear through its paces. It is mundane, it is methodical, it is systematic...and it is boring to hear.
If you’re testing—truly testing gear, listeners won’t be amazed or judgemental. They will be bored.
If you’re testing—truly testing gear, listeners won’t be amazed or judgemental. They will be bored.
thank you guys for your support.
no, impressing wasn't in my shortlist. i just can't focus on the sound in this situation. of course i don't try anything too complicated. i usually go with some basic bass lines of some of my favorites and more practiced songs such as guns of brixton or forest (cure) or i wonna be adored. and then i think mmm that line doesn't include that string or that area of the fretboard let's start something else there. so yeah a scale is a good way to cover a large part of the fretboard.
i think an afternoon at home with the instrument is the best to way to judge it.
as for the amps is quite common practice in big cities, to go to different rehearsal studios and by the way test different equipment. that's a nice opportunity because you hear in the mix with your band. but usually with instruments is more difficult.
for me the ideal situation would be to have a possibility to rent an instrument for 1-2 days and have a clear picture. i know of this practice of returning the instrument after some day (either online or to the shop) but it feels a little like cheating and i don't like it
no, impressing wasn't in my shortlist. i just can't focus on the sound in this situation. of course i don't try anything too complicated. i usually go with some basic bass lines of some of my favorites and more practiced songs such as guns of brixton or forest (cure) or i wonna be adored. and then i think mmm that line doesn't include that string or that area of the fretboard let's start something else there. so yeah a scale is a good way to cover a large part of the fretboard.
i think an afternoon at home with the instrument is the best to way to judge it.
as for the amps is quite common practice in big cities, to go to different rehearsal studios and by the way test different equipment. that's a nice opportunity because you hear in the mix with your band. but usually with instruments is more difficult.
for me the ideal situation would be to have a possibility to rent an instrument for 1-2 days and have a clear picture. i know of this practice of returning the instrument after some day (either online or to the shop) but it feels a little like cheating and i don't like it
Ditto on all this, though I don't go thru a lot of gear. I only made one quite spectacular instrument upgrade after having my Craigslist starter bass for a a bit under a year.
So I know what you mean ... i was playing for about 6 months when i began the search for my first real bass
I'm not a virtuoso now, and i certainly didn't show any signs of being one back when I was testing out all different brands at a couple different GCs & Bass Northwest (RIP) for 2 months straight. Many of the employees got to recognize me from coming in 1-3 times a week to try out what was new ... one even commented on how my playing was improving since the month before
Overall they could tell I was serious about learning this instrument, and I even knew a few things that a couple GC employees were just guessing at, from being a research junkie (which lead me to TB to begin with
.)In the end I bought from Bass Northwest because not only did they really care about me finding the right one for me, but they had nearly a dozen high end Spectors (which is the direction my TB research narrowed me towards.) And though i didn't much care for the smaller & more rounded bodies, when I saw that Bird shaped Forte-X hanging on the wall (they had not one, but two of them!), i knew before even hearing how awesome it sounded, that I wanted to learn to play THAT bass
Several years later we're still very much in love.Take your time, just play scales, and maybe bring a strap with you to try it standing. You don't have to play loudly when testing, either. Some wanker in the guitar section will cover you, most likely
You really can't expect to learn much in 10 anxiety laden minutes at a shop. If you like the look, price, and the sound you may have heard others get out of a similar model, go for it. I recently spent 65 grand on a new Chevy diesel and had never even sat in it, but I had researched it and rode in similar one's, so when the sale's manager called me offering a great deal I jumped. Spending 10 minutes test driving a Chevy, Dodge, and Ford would have told me very little.
What’s a music store?
Buy it used off Talkbass, try it out for as long as you like, sell if it doesn’t work out.
But if you are shopping don’t just play a scale, bring a scale.
Nothing says you are seriously weighing the merits of a bass like weighing it on your bass scale.
Yes, aluminum neck Kramers are that heavy.
Buy it used off Talkbass, try it out for as long as you like, sell if it doesn’t work out.
But if you are shopping don’t just play a scale, bring a scale.
Nothing says you are seriously weighing the merits of a bass like weighing it on your bass scale.
Yes, aluminum neck Kramers are that heavy.
I've been playing for a very long tome now. And I've long since know there will always be better players than me, and I'm better that other player as well. But this is not a competition. Music is not a competitive sport. It's an individual art form, and the only persons you're answerable to is yourself and your bandmates.
FWIW, the only people listening and passing judgement about what you're doing in a music store are wannabees and music store wankers. None of them are going anywhere. So just ignore them as best you can and go find yourself a nice instrument you can live with.
FWIW, the only people listening and passing judgement about what you're doing in a music store are wannabees and music store wankers. None of them are going anywhere. So just ignore them as best you can and go find yourself a nice instrument you can live with.
Could you imagine going to a music store, seeing something that interests you, and then being told that, no, you may not try it out?
Don't worry about the 14 year old kids who wank all Saturday morning and purchase nothing. It is not a competition. Play what you wish, listen for details in the new equipment, and enjoy.
Don't worry about the 14 year old kids who wank all Saturday morning and purchase nothing. It is not a competition. Play what you wish, listen for details in the new equipment, and enjoy.
I think a music store is one of the worst possible environments for checking out gear or instruments. With the exception of a couple of very small shops in my hometown area where I know the owner and or staff I avoid them like the plague.
That said, if I do happen to want to check out an instrument I first play it unplugged to check for weight, resonance, overall feel, etc. if it sounds goods unplugged I will plug it in to something that’s as close as possible to my rig and simply play every note on every string. No need to do anything fancy. Sometimes I will play something like Sir Duke but that’s an exception.
That said, if I do happen to want to check out an instrument I first play it unplugged to check for weight, resonance, overall feel, etc. if it sounds goods unplugged I will plug it in to something that’s as close as possible to my rig and simply play every note on every string. No need to do anything fancy. Sometimes I will play something like Sir Duke but that’s an exception.
@PanRap
You live in Greece, anything you buy online is covered by the "European Distance Selling Regs". That means you have 14 days from it's arrival to make up your mind if it's suitable,if you don't think it is then you return it.
That's the law and no stores can avoid it.
For myself on the rare occasion I visit a music shop I take the wee Pandora multi effects unit and headphones. At home I pretty much use the "Thumpy" setting so that's my point of referrence in any shop.
You live in Greece, anything you buy online is covered by the "European Distance Selling Regs". That means you have 14 days from it's arrival to make up your mind if it's suitable,if you don't think it is then you return it.
That's the law and no stores can avoid it.
For myself on the rare occasion I visit a music shop I take the wee Pandora multi effects unit and headphones. At home I pretty much use the "Thumpy" setting so that's my point of referrence in any shop.
My biggest fear is that the salesperson will hear me playing chromatics....
If they hear that they know I want the bass. I usually try to throw some herrings and play chromatics as softly as possible on the bass I want. Then I wank all over the store "pig". It's like a magic trick. Make them think I want the overpriced hog and then bargain back to the bass I really want and haggle down. I might even come back another day and try again. I practice my "meh face" in the mirror before I go back to actually buy it. I bring cash and use my "face" and talk about basses at other stores.
If they hear that they know I want the bass. I usually try to throw some herrings and play chromatics as softly as possible on the bass I want. Then I wank all over the store "pig". It's like a magic trick. Make them think I want the overpriced hog and then bargain back to the bass I really want and haggle down. I might even come back another day and try again. I practice my "meh face" in the mirror before I go back to actually buy it. I bring cash and use my "face" and talk about basses at other stores.
If I walk into a music store and there's a good left-handed bass....I'm playing it. I don't care if John Paul Jones is standing there and he falls to the floor laughing.
I would say this is a great example of a situation in which you can use the return policy without feeling like you're taking advantage.
1. Are you in a major center with GC? Maybe speak to a manager and say 'Look, this is my situation, I will commit to buy if you'll let me demo a couple of instruments for a day or two'? Convince him they won't come back all scratched up. Former and current GC employees please straighten me out if this is unlikely.
EDIT: Just saw you're in Greece...
2. I hear that Musician's Friend and other online retailers have liberal return policies. Do you have to pay for return shipping on these deals? If not, commit in your mind to giving them your business and then maybe try a few out?
3. Your rental idea is good too, but...the thing is, you need to find an instrument that's set up decently, and also your selection will be limited.
4. Be the first one there in the morning? Or ask the manager for a favour and see if you can stay in there for 15 minutes after they close while they're doing their thing? Again, maybe naive, I never worked in a retail music store.
