He probably considers himself more of a writer than pro type musician, but Richard Hell didn't like spending on the gear.
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Professional bassists/musicians who choose to use cheap gear?
- Thread starter Ren Key
- Start date
that's great. I just figured the originals were probably bought when you couldn't give them away. But literally free!
Tomomi plays a Squier, when not playing her Custom Shop.
If you talk to the upright guys, we're all using cheap gear.
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Cooper-Moore from "Digital Primitives"
He only plays instruments he builds himself out of "garbage". An incredible musician, saw the Digital Primitives in Warsaw 10 month ago. He plays a kind of one string bass too (on the second picture). One of the best concerts I've seen in a long long time. He is still a kind of "sleeper" although well respected in the Jazz world. I guess his entire collection might have a material value sub-entry-level-Squiere. But he is a better musician than most of us.
Nice guys, all of them, too.
Cooper-Moore from "Digital Primitives"
He only plays instruments he builds himself out of "garbage". An incredible musician, saw the Digital Primitives in Warsaw 10 month ago. He plays a kind of one string bass too (on the second picture). One of the best concerts I've seen in a long long time. He is still a kind of "sleeper" although well respected in the Jazz world. I guess his entire collection might have a material value sub-entry-level-Squiere. But he is a better musician than most of us.
Nice guys, all of them, too.
Yep...he can afford a villa in Tuscany, but he's playing an Ibanez Roadstar II.
I think he's mostly pimping that Cort RITHIMIC bass with his name on it these days.
Yep...he can afford a villa in Tuscany, but he's playing an Ibanez Roadstar II.
I think Sting was sponsored by Ibanez before he got his white Spector. Being rich and famous while getting free stuff to play with sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Those Musician series Ibanez's weren't exactly bottom of the barrel, either.
LOL! You betcha!
Yes but we miss the fun of seeing a cheap bass implode ! I read about this phenomenon and couldn't quit laughing !
Has anyone mentioned Joe Dart yet? He's been seen often with a white MIM Standard Jazz, a Squier PJ, and a P Bass Junior. None of those are going to cost you that much on the used market.
The quality of the more frugal instruments is very high compared to the ones from the 60's and 70's.
It does not take a lot of money to get working and making some.
It does not take a lot of money to get working and making some.
Well I can't speak for everybody but it matters to me because I am of a mind that it's is more about the form and function of the individual instrument than its price. Then when you see high profile players who could buy any bass they want and sound and play fantastically when doing it, it is a satisfying feeling.
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mike watt plays a couple 60s Gibsons that I'm guessing were almost free at the time he bought them, but that probably isn't in the spirit if this thread
This reminded me of Geddy Lee's story about getting his "Number One" in a pawn shop for something like $200. But to do a little fact-checking first, I ran it through an Inflation Calculator. Even if it was only 75% accurate, it'd still come out to about $750+…so, not applicable.
Tomomi plays a Squier, when not playing her Custom Shop.
You beat me to it!
khutch, I've always respected and enjoyed your thoughtful, pleasant and well-researched posts. But even a student of history, like myself, would have to say…
NEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRDDD!!!
Nothing to add other than ...
I adore Carol Kaye and Esperanza Spalding, each in their own way !!!!
I adore Carol Kaye and Esperanza Spalding, each in their own way !!!!
true, but then he ruins it by playing through two ehx POGs, a Mastotron and some boutique amp switcher... not so cheap when you throw all that in the mix
Just a guess, but I'm pretty sure Sonic Youth didn't spend too much on their stuff.
A lot of British bands from the late 70's and early 80s played with some pretty low end stuff and recorded with it also. Joy Division, the Cure, Bauhaus, most of those guys had some junk. Robert Smith bought his guitar at a dept. store for £35 and recorded the Three Imaginary Boys album with it. So it comes down to what you can do with it, not what you paid for it.
A lot of British bands from the late 70's and early 80s played with some pretty low end stuff and recorded with it also. Joy Division, the Cure, Bauhaus, most of those guys had some junk. Robert Smith bought his guitar at a dept. store for £35 and recorded the Three Imaginary Boys album with it. So it comes down to what you can do with it, not what you paid for it.
I don't recall the DynaBass being a cheap bass back in the day, mainly because it took me a summer of mowing lawns, birthday money, and my amazing folks putting some cash down back in 1987 to buy me one. Just sayin.
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Greetings, and help me value my basses, please.- Latest: Lammchop93
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