I haven’t had this happen to me, but I would be tempted to say something about how “expensive” is relative or “expensive for you, maybe “ and leave it there.
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Not sure what to make of this statement.
- Thread starter Wambemando
- Start date
I haven’t had this happen to me, but I would be tempted to say something about how “expensive” is relative or “expensive for you, maybe “ and leave it there.
“Expensive bass? This is my cheapest beater. Wasn’t going to bring out the good stuff for strangers”
No excuse to be an as*hole just because you are an (ahem) artist.
I would tell your drummer straight up that working with this guitarist is not going to work. Life is way to short to put up with this crap.
My answer would be, “Spending other people’s money is also compensating for something.”
I predict that in the end, the guitarist will turn out to be a real problem who suggests certain ideas and arrangements but ends up being the one who doesn't remember them and messes up constantly. I'm speaking from personal experience with similar situations, and I'm sure they aren't all the same, but it does seem to fit a pattern of some folks.
Then you can reply with... something like...
You know what they say about people who play lawsuit guitars... they can't tell the difference between a cheap fake hack job versus authentic originality, hard work, and quality.
Or words to that effect.
Or just tell him to eff off because he's an a**. Maybe it's just the mood I'm in today. LoL
Then you can reply with... something like...
You know what they say about people who play lawsuit guitars... they can't tell the difference between a cheap fake hack job versus authentic originality, hard work, and quality.
Or words to that effect.
Or just tell him to eff off because he's an a**. Maybe it's just the mood I'm in today. LoL
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Quote: "Well, you know people who buy expensive instruments are compensating for their lack of ability"
45G nailed it.
But I would handle this situation as follows:
“Oh dear! With respect you don’t seem to know very much about musicians and musical instruments, do you?
I am considering whether to work with you in future, so let’s examine the evidence and see if your courageously novel theory, actually holds up in practice.
I would then begin to list an exhaustive catalogue of famously outstanding players who own and play in the studio and on stage with highly expensive, vintage instruments and modern instruments, fabricated by boutique luthiers.
Finally, after proving his statement to be a complete falsehood, I would parrot his statement back to him and say: “As your statement is palpable nonsense, let’s go on to examine where the need to state this clearly obvious rubbish actually comes from?”
As you only possess inexpensive knock off replicas of high-quality instruments, I’m wondering whether you have a low sense of self-worth?
It appears to me you possess a deep-seated inferiority complex and are therefore defensive about the inferior quality of your inexpensive instruments.
Therefore, you openly attempt to rationalize and find reasons why someone who performs better than you, that possesses better instruments than you, must be inferior to you.
Because when you boil everything down that’s what your statement is really suggesting.
If you think this through, you will begin to understand why your statements are nonsense and begin to appreciate that the only person who is actually compensating for anything at all hereabouts is you.
As I am considering whether to perform with this group, you need to understand that before I ever will, it will be necessary for you to send me a written apology for your unnecessarily rude comments.
Promising that from now on, you will never speak to me unless I speak to you first.
I trust you know how to write?
You definitely won’t see me again unless I receive a hand written apology.
I would then leave him to explain to the drummer how he had disenfranchised the newest, greatly needed recruit.
I think he would be in for another blasting!
I realise that most people would simply ignore this matter, but if this individual is not put in his place now, in future he will only continue to try a adopt a superior position to you, in order to maintain his flagging ego.
45G nailed it.
But I would handle this situation as follows:
“Oh dear! With respect you don’t seem to know very much about musicians and musical instruments, do you?
I am considering whether to work with you in future, so let’s examine the evidence and see if your courageously novel theory, actually holds up in practice.
I would then begin to list an exhaustive catalogue of famously outstanding players who own and play in the studio and on stage with highly expensive, vintage instruments and modern instruments, fabricated by boutique luthiers.
Finally, after proving his statement to be a complete falsehood, I would parrot his statement back to him and say: “As your statement is palpable nonsense, let’s go on to examine where the need to state this clearly obvious rubbish actually comes from?”
As you only possess inexpensive knock off replicas of high-quality instruments, I’m wondering whether you have a low sense of self-worth?
It appears to me you possess a deep-seated inferiority complex and are therefore defensive about the inferior quality of your inexpensive instruments.
Therefore, you openly attempt to rationalize and find reasons why someone who performs better than you, that possesses better instruments than you, must be inferior to you.
Because when you boil everything down that’s what your statement is really suggesting.
If you think this through, you will begin to understand why your statements are nonsense and begin to appreciate that the only person who is actually compensating for anything at all hereabouts is you.
As I am considering whether to perform with this group, you need to understand that before I ever will, it will be necessary for you to send me a written apology for your unnecessarily rude comments.
Promising that from now on, you will never speak to me unless I speak to you first.
I trust you know how to write?
You definitely won’t see me again unless I receive a hand written apology.
I would then leave him to explain to the drummer how he had disenfranchised the newest, greatly needed recruit.
I think he would be in for another blasting!
I realise that most people would simply ignore this matter, but if this individual is not put in his place now, in future he will only continue to try a adopt a superior position to you, in order to maintain his flagging ego.
I would simply ask the rhetorical question: Just how does an expensive instrument makes up for playing inadequacies?
Ans: 1) It doesn’t. 2) No one notices whether the bass guitar is a $200 instrument or a $20,000 instrument; except possibly some of the musicians.
"Yes, that's right. We also make a point of playing with inferior musicians, to make us look more accomplished.
By the way, how's that new guitar fund coming along? Still saving?"
This is the way. I also enjoy diving right into the insult.
Or asking him what they mean. "Well, I have an expensive instrument, so what do you mean to say?" "I was just trying to be funny" "oh, well I don't understand, why is that funny."
I'd fight fire with fire. Next time, come prepared with an arsenal of "dumb guitarist" jokes, and call changes that push his understanding of theory to the breaking point. Insult to injury, blame every clam he makes on his instrument.
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Well, the guitars bought by Clapton etc were not expensive back in the day....59 bursts werent expensive until the very late 70's...Joe Bonamassa is a different thing his vintage collection is crazy but an investment....some folks are collectors, others maybe getting older in life and want something they always wanted....doesnt bother me at all...ive seen many young bands on the charts playing all kinds of cheap/common guitars along with expensive stuff.
Several young solid players in Nashville i know from my area and there is a tendency to 'keep up with the Joneses' at least a bit....custom guitars, high end PRS stuff, boutique tube amps and thats fine and dandy...but i do know lots of players with common stuff on charts.
Unfortunately, that's what's happen when people gathered together. Only with very few you could join and feel completely relaxed. But that's life. Other pearls will come.
Did you ask how many players he talked with that bought expensive guitars to compensate for their lack of ability? When he speaks of expensive how much doe are we talk'n? $1000, $2000, $3000, $4000 or more? How does he measure lack of ability? I have a buddy back home who has an $80,000 bass boat and hasn't fished in a couple of years. I like expensive food but I ain't a chef. I play 2/mo with some other old farts and have a blast and I own, what I consider expensive, Dingwall Jazz bass. So once again we have little to no info/facts ='ing broad baseless assumptions. Baseless...get it?
