'Professional' bass guitars

[DannyBob]

Hey folks,

So... I am hoping to go to University/College to study bass guitar performance and theory. I have a problem however.

I am not from a wealthy family at all, and have average bass guitars at the moment; an Ibanez SRX590, Ibanez SR300 and a P bass copy. We can't afford for me to get any more basses or upgrade, and I need to save up for university now, as I can't rely on my parents to support me.

The question: Will I be looked down on because of the gear I use at a more professional level, even if I 'gots the chops' to 'hang with the big guys'? I don't want my career to be cut short because of a lack of funds in my teens?

Thanks any comments or input is brilliant!

 

[Gorn]

It's better to be better at bass than to have a better bass.

 

[hasbeen]

I don't think you will be looked down upon at all. You are facing the same challenge that many pro's did when they got their start so don't worry about it cutting your career short. You'll be fine. Good luck to you.

 

[bassbully]

If you are Professional the rest will come.

 

[lomo]

It's better to be better at bass than to have a better bass.

^^^^^
sig-worthy!

 

[RED J]

If the people you play with look down on your gear you're hangin' with the wrooooooooong cats

 

[PortlandBass77]

Hey folks,

So... I am hoping to go to University/College to study bass guitar performance and theory. I have a problem however.

I am not from a wealthy family at all, and have average bass guitars at the moment; an Ibanez SRX590, Ibanez SR300 and a P bass copy. We can't afford for me to get any more basses or upgrade, and I need to save up for university now, as I can't rely on my parents to support me.

The question: Will I be looked down on because of the gear I use at a more professional level, even if I 'gots the chops' to 'hang with the big guys'? I don't want my career to be cut short because of a lack of funds in my teens?

Thanks any comments or input is brilliant!

If you're looked down at for not having $$$$$$ gear then just say to the people "so I assume you don't like Nirvana?" If you don't know Kurt Cobain was notorious for using the cheapest gear possible, I heard that he even recorded a song with an acoustic guitar with a missing high e string. Any people who look down at you for this are $$$holes that you want nothing to do with.

 

[Mr.Lowe]

If you do feel like getting some new gear I'd recommend consolidating your collection and looking at a nice piece of used gear. Better to have one instrument you love than three that are so so.

 

[OutToPlayJazz]

As the others have said, it's your playing, not what you play. Opportunities will come further down the line to buy better basses and on a lot of performance courses there are often opportunities to get a bursary towards better equipment for those unable to afford to buy their own. Some instrument companies even sponsor promising up and coming young players with equipment.

Let your style, playing and determination shine through and the rest will fall into place in time.

Just remember that it's what you put into it now and every day going forward that counts.

Which area in the UK are you planning to study, btw? (I'm a UK based lower strings teacher in the SW.)

 

[Jon Moody]

I've actually seen the opposite happen. There was a student a couple years back that came into the school of music with a Fodera. He got heckled. A lot.

As long as the instrument itself doesn't impede your growing abilities (which a lot of that is due to setup and maintenance over anything else) and is reliable (everything works well, the electronics don't short out), I think you'll be fine.

 

[scourgeofgod]

If you indeed have the chops it doesn't matter what bass you play, you'll be fine, in fact you'll look better than people with better gear that can't play as well as you.

 

[scourgeofgod]

If you're looked down at for not having $$$$$$ gear then just say to the people "so I assume you don't like Nirvana?" If you don't know Kurt Cobain was notorious for using the cheapest gear possible, I heard that he even recorded a song with an acoustic guitar with a missing high e string. Any people who look down at you for this are $$$holes that you want nothing to do with.

I feel like this isn't the best example, Kurt wasn't known to be a very good player, but then again I'm not a nirvana fan.

 

[OldDirtyBassist]

You're just a student and those are perfectly good Ibanez basses anyway. Play your heart out.

 

[DannyBob]

Thank you to everyone who has commented One thing that I would consider doing is selling my two Ibanez's for their new 6 string fanned fret. I feel with that it would cover so many possibilities both tonally and tuning-wise I would be pretty safe with it.

 

[OutToPlayJazz]

Thank you to everyone who has commented One thing that I would consider doing is selling my two Ibanez's for their new 6 string fanned fret. I feel with that it would cover so many possibilities both tonally and tuning-wise I would be pretty safe with it.

That's one idea, yes. As a student, I usually only had the one bass. I did my first couple of years on a Hohner Jack headless - Hardly the last word in pro gear! Then I took out a three year loan to buy my first Status. It wasn't easy at 20, but the rest is history.

 

[Dogbertday]

Don't sweat it, man. It's most important that what you play is good and you get a "good" sound from whatever gear you use. I used quotes because it really does just have to be acceptable at this point. As someone who's been through some music school, not sounding bad is your first priority. Just take it all in man, and if anyone comments on your tone make sure you at least consider what they're saying (especially professors) and if they're too vague in what they ask for ask them to clarify. Remember you're there to learn, so suck every morale of information out of everyone whose kppinion you even care about a little.

Now go practice.

 

[MD]

If it really concerns you, sell your gear, as mentioned above, for one nicer bass. Being professional has little to do with the bass you play. It's an attitude, how you behave and what you do with your gear.
Case in point... my sister has top of the line cookware, yet burns guacamole. Hell, she can mess up "take out"!

 

[bluesdogblues]

Hey folks,

So... I am hoping to go to University/College to study bass guitar performance and theory. I have a problem however.

I am not from a wealthy family at all, and have average bass guitars at the moment; an Ibanez SRX590, Ibanez SR300 and a P bass copy. We can't afford for me to get any more basses or upgrade, and I need to save up for university now, as I can't rely on my parents to support me.

The question: Will I be looked down on because of the gear I use at a more professional level, even if I 'gots the chops' to 'hang with the big guys'? I don't want my career to be cut short because of a lack of funds in my teens?

Thanks any comments or input is brilliant!

You have enough gear to go however far you'd like to go as long as you play (and learn to play) them well.
I know some 'professional' bassists that have less (only one or two) bass than you.

 

[RickBlair]

The "chops" are more important than the piece of wood hanging around your neck. If you can play well you will sound good on any bass. Students at school may look down on you because you don't have a $5000.00 Fodera but if you play better than them you will build a reputation - and get more gigs than them.

Rick B.

 

[Jackson Knight]

If they look down upon you for that then they aren't really professionals themselves