So you're saying that good gear really lets you know what a difference good technique makes?
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.
Nobody cares about your tone....
- Thread starter JSandbloom
- Start date
I've seen phenomenol players playing garden variety P basses and absolutly killin with it and other guys using hi end active basses that sound like dogsh*t, of course I've also seen the exact opposite too.
Jamerson played a stock P bass, "off the rack" most of the time. Didn't seem to hold him back...
Not sure what's good gear and what's bad - there are different sorts of gear. Some very good gear might cover for bad technique more than other very good gear. I just know that no gear can really make up for bad technique - just that some gear can maybe cover it over more than other gear.
Well FWIW I agree with you. I've used expensive stuff and I've used cheap stuff and continue to do both to this day, and if I sound bad, it's never the gear's fault. I just thought it was funny how you said it was all about how you play, then said a more expensive bass exposed flaws in your technique 
Bah, looks only matter in that everyone should look like they're in the same band. There are plenty of really ugly people out there in bands making money. It's all in the marketing. So there's hope for you guys!
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I didn't read any of this thread, and I'm sure it's been said already, but I'll say it again 
. The rest of the band cares, as does the sound person. Or at least they should.
After that, I agree lest the 1 or 2 bass geeks in the audience. That would be me if I happened to be there.
. The rest of the band cares, as does the sound person. Or at least they should. After that, I agree lest the 1 or 2 bass geeks in the audience. That would be me if I happened to be there.
well thats good news, we cant all be handsome devils like you Jimmy ..........that is you in your avatar isnt it
Of course it is!well thats good news, we cant all be handsome devils like you Jimmy ..........that is you in your avatar isnt it
Reminds me of the old joke about the brain surgeon's bill:Nope. Can't blame the gear - it's just a tool. You have to know how to use it. A butcher won't be able to do brain surgery if you give him a scalpel...
Surgical procedure on prefrontal cortex: $10.00
Knowing where to cut: $75,000.00
This is nothing new... we all just like having cool things to brag to our musician friends about, or to talk about on forums.
I spent over a decade hitting stages with high-end amplifiers, speakers, and basses. After taking a couple years off and selling off all my expensive gear, I started playing in a band again using a Peavey Session Bass head. I got it on eBay for $130 shipped. I said to myself "Jesus, I can't be using this thing with a band, right?! It'll just hold me over until I get something nice" and then I started playing shows with it, and realized no one ever commented about the amp I was using, or the tone I was getting. You're right, no one cares.
That was 2008. It's 7 years later, and I'm still using the same amp and the same pair of 90s Genz-Benz 210 cabs, and I've never had anyone comment about any of it. I like having a nice bass because of how they feel and play, but the audience doesn't know the difference between the Streamer Stage II 5-string that cost me $3000 used and the Fender Modern Player Jazz 5 that cost me $400 new. The Fender says "Fender", so bandmates like it better, soundguys at shows like it better, and recording engineers like it better. Give Victor Wooten a Rogue bass from Craigslist and he will still sound like Victor Wooten. Give me a $10k Fodera and I won't sound like I deserve that bass! LoL
Gear is the way we reward ourselves for our dedication to the craft. If I were rich, I'd probably have an expensive car. Would it be more reliable than my Camry? Doubtful! But it would be a tangible representation of feeling a sense of accomplishment.
The only problem is when you choose to have expensive gear while your family struggles to make ends meet. But as long as you're taking care of things, if you can amass a collection of jaw-dropping gear, good for you! I'm all for it.
Happy GASing!
Jacob
I spent over a decade hitting stages with high-end amplifiers, speakers, and basses. After taking a couple years off and selling off all my expensive gear, I started playing in a band again using a Peavey Session Bass head. I got it on eBay for $130 shipped. I said to myself "Jesus, I can't be using this thing with a band, right?! It'll just hold me over until I get something nice" and then I started playing shows with it, and realized no one ever commented about the amp I was using, or the tone I was getting. You're right, no one cares.
That was 2008. It's 7 years later, and I'm still using the same amp and the same pair of 90s Genz-Benz 210 cabs, and I've never had anyone comment about any of it. I like having a nice bass because of how they feel and play, but the audience doesn't know the difference between the Streamer Stage II 5-string that cost me $3000 used and the Fender Modern Player Jazz 5 that cost me $400 new. The Fender says "Fender", so bandmates like it better, soundguys at shows like it better, and recording engineers like it better. Give Victor Wooten a Rogue bass from Craigslist and he will still sound like Victor Wooten. Give me a $10k Fodera and I won't sound like I deserve that bass! LoL
Gear is the way we reward ourselves for our dedication to the craft. If I were rich, I'd probably have an expensive car. Would it be more reliable than my Camry? Doubtful! But it would be a tangible representation of feeling a sense of accomplishment.
The only problem is when you choose to have expensive gear while your family struggles to make ends meet. But as long as you're taking care of things, if you can amass a collection of jaw-dropping gear, good for you! I'm all for it.
Happy GASing!
Jacob
