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Oh yeah, i forgot...........

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by IvanMike, Nov 22, 2005.

  1. Nov 22, 2005 #1
    IvanMike

    IvanMike TTRPG enthusiast, Happy, Joyous, & Free. Supporting Member

    Nov 10, 2002
    Middletown CT, USA
    Here's a post I've been kicking around for a while, and with Thanksgiving right around the corner, it seemed appropriate in a convoluted sorta way. Lots of you have essentially said the same thing in various threads already, but what the heck.... ;)

    Now I'm an admitted gear enthusiast and tone junkie, and love to try out new stuff. Nothing wrong with that. If I wasn't, I wouldn't hang so much in this forum. A quick perusal of threads in "amps" will reveal that I'm not the only one with this issue.

    Nevertheless, I think we frequently forget what amplifiers are for and why we bought our first one. Granted there are some exceptions, but i bet most of us didn't take up the bass with the desire to become obsessed with frequency response curves, plate voltages, and the merits of the fender tone stack. We wanted to play music, and for whatever reason we gravitated towards the electric bass. We got an amplifier because the darned thing just won't make a sound without one!

    Take away all the bells, whistles, charts and schematics and an amplifier is simply a tool for helping us make music by making the bass audible to whatever level required by the gig. Find one that's loud enough for your needs and that sounds good to you and you can get back to the serious buisiness of playing music. As a tool, an amplifier is a means to the end, not the end itself. (Don't tell the cats over in "basses", but a bass is simply a tool for making music as well, but that's another story.) - :D

    I've owned a good amount of rigs, more than some, and less than a lot of cats. Minor complaints aside, they've all done the job. My current rig is no slouch, it ain't the most boutique, but it does the job. (but so did the peavey rig i had in the eighties)! Despite being a tweaker, my ususal time spent with it is transport, setup, and turning it on. I think that comes from gigging an average of at least once a week. I spent more time worrying about and messing with my settings when i played less.

    Of course, the most liberating thing about the mindset i'm trying to convey is that all that time you don't spend obsessing about gear induced tone, settings, wondering if new gear is better than yours, etc...is time you can spend practicing, playing, and just plain enjoying making music.

    Happy Thanksgiving - Be thankful for what ya got. Now quit thinking about it and go use it. ;)
     
  2. Nov 22, 2005 #2
    henryjurstin13

    henryjurstin13

    Jun 5, 2005
    NWAR - 72764
    Sounds like you will be G.A.S. free this Thanksgiving! Congratulations!!!!




    and on a serious note - I am very thankful I live the life I do. I live in a very safe part of the world & I have a job & a nice warm house to sleep, do laundry, cook & eat, eat, sleep, eat, surf the 'net, play music, house guests, etc... I am very thankful for my phamily & phriends. Cheers to all!

    I am also thankful I got to see Gov't Mule this past Sunday night.... what a show. CCR cover, Zeppelin cover, and some great Mule tunes... too bad Woody wasn't there to hold down the low notes.

    I hope everyone has a safe holiday season.
     
  3. Nov 22, 2005 #3
    vicenzajay

    vicenzajay Supporting Member

    Dec 21, 2004
    Christiansburg, VA
    time to practice.

    Happy Thanksgiving.

    Jay
     
  4. Nov 23, 2005 #4
    Doug Parent

    Doug Parent Supporting Member

    May 31, 2004
    San Diego, Ca.
    Dealer Nordstrand Pickups.
    Great post, and I agree. And I have another angle on the subject as well, I give thanks to the many many individuals through the years that strived to improve the quality of our tools.

    I recall in an early Mel Bay beginner bass book, "the bass should be felt, not heard" What a change in viewpoint over the years.

    I think it's true that in ANY field, there will be those who find the very thing that produces the product more interesting than the product itself. As our tools and its technology develops, the technology-inclined-savvy individuals find it satisfying and interesting to follow it, to develop it, to improve it. I give thanks to them. It's probably more true than not- that many of our high end bass amp/speaker manufacturers are/were also bass players of various caliber.

    Thanks to everyone who's labor and innovation, whose passion, creativity and vision have resulted in a better bass equipment technology which I have enjoyed the fruits of.

    I also thank all of you Tb'ers for being here, contributing, and allowing us to contribute to you.
     
  5. Nov 23, 2005 #5
    KJung

    KJung

    Apr 9, 2005
    Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
    +1 :) Happy Thanksgiving!
     
  6. Nov 23, 2005 #6
    Big String

    Big String Supporting Member

    Apr 22, 2000
    Northwest Indiana
    Ivan... man you're inside my head...like the John Malcovich movie... LOL.

    I spend way too much money and time with gear too, but I love it. I should practice more though.. for sure. I've got more gear to try and it's coming today.... :help:

    Best ever holiday season to all of you out there.
     
  7. Nov 23, 2005 #7
    Passinwind

    Passinwind I know nothing. Commercial User

    Dec 3, 2003
    Columbia River Gorge, WA.
    Owner/Designer &Toaster Tech Passinwind Electronics
    Oh man, hope I don't get punted for questioning a mod. :cool:

    The pre-CBS turkeys are way better (I prefer the blackface ones), Bugs Bunny only needed four carrots, and practice is best done on the gig, if at all.

    Time for pie. Then I'll go play with my toys...er, tools...for a while. Hope you all find time over the holiday to do the same.
     
  8. Nov 23, 2005 #8
    bassguitar

    bassguitar

    Apr 25, 2005
    T-Dizzle fo shizzle
    Sheesh, Thanksgiving is in October guys.

    You're almost 2 months late.

    Freakin Americans!
    :bag:
     
  9. Nov 23, 2005 #9
    BillytheBassist

    BillytheBassist

    Aug 18, 2005
    Texas
    Great post Mike, You guy's have a good thanksgiving!
    Peace
     
  10. Nov 23, 2005 #10
    Fuzzbass

    Fuzzbass P5 with overdrive Gold Supporting Member

    Dec 13, 2001
    Maryland, between DC and Bawlmer
    I agree completely. If it sounds good, it is good. I play 5-string but don't worry about a cabinet's low-end specs, I let my ears be the judge. If I'm getting decent tone, I don't care where the knobs are pointing. I always care more about groove than tone. And finally, I'm especially thankful that other musicians ask me to play with them: that's a lot more important to me than my semi-fancy gear collection. Happy T-day, everybody!
     
  11. Nov 23, 2005 #11
    AaronS

    AaronS

    Apr 18, 2001
    Beautiful Western Colorado
    +1,000 Although in my case my bass amp is minimal and they still ask me. Have a great Thanksgiving everybody.
     
  12. Nov 23, 2005 #12
    IvanMike

    IvanMike TTRPG enthusiast, Happy, Joyous, & Free. Supporting Member

    Nov 10, 2002
    Middletown CT, USA
    :p

    Funny, i really didnt intend this to be a Thanksgiving related post, i just finally got around to writing it around this time.

    BTW, I talked to Gerald Weber, he says he makes a modern Turducken that can sound just like a vintage blackface Turkey, a Plexi duck, or an AC-30 chicken.