Is there a way that Nickelback could somehow be stricken from Spector's history books.
When I want to know what equipment NOT to purchase, I look at a band like Nickelback's gear and go the other way.
Spectors play well (we know this). I played death/speed metal for 20 years, and I'm in a new hardcore band now. Spectors work for many music genres, because they're slick, sound great, and are very agile instruments.
They are not "metal basses". That's like saying that Ferrari only markets to race car drivers. Anyone can own one. People who play high-performance music (whether you appreciate the style or not) are great endorsers of the product.
Now, let's all pretend that Nickelback plays Fenders or Ricks...
I mean it's sort of a funny thing... I'm listing to one of Ra Diaz's projects right now... Nina Dioz, a Mexican, all Spanish Rap/Hip-Hop group... but MAN is it good stuff...
On the other hand there's a lot of Spector artists I know and respect, and consider friends, and I don't particularly care for or listen to their music.
I can love the bassist, not the style of music so much.
I don't know Mike Kroeger. I've never met him. His tech, Shu, is a really nice guy. Really cool and know his stuff. That guy is a real, hard-core tech and he's a complete pro.
What I will say is that I don't really know a lot about Nickelback... I've heard a couple of songs. And there's a few groups, Nickelback, Hinder, and a few more, that all seem to do a very similar style of music. There's nothing wrong with it.
I will say that of the three of four Nickelback songs I have heard and can remember... or they come on the TV or radio and I think, "Oh, this is Nickelback" I listen to them closely.
And Mike Kroeger is a very good bassist. Stays in the pocket, but takes some risks, punches and accents the melody in a few unexpected places (which is a nice thing for me)... they may be a formula band, but his playing isn't.
And they've sold like 50,000,000 records. That's 50 Million. And so regardless of all the hate they get from people, they have to have a seriously big following somewhere.
Music is a subjective art form because people have different tastes and likes and it's all good.
I tend not to care what any bassist plays or doesn't play. I look at the tone. I hear a song, hear a bass lines, hear a tone and that's what is important to me. Not what strings or amps or bass the artist is using.
Sting got me started with Spector. And I'd personally love to see him play a Spector again. But Kramer messed that up pretty good. They didn't care about him. They wanted hard-rock metal guys. So they ignored the relationship and Sting moved on.
And now he's like Geddy Lee. One of Fender's top guys. And they take Good care of him. He's going no where, not back to Spector or anywhere else. And that's fine.
PJ still talks to Sting's tech Danny. And Danny says Sting has always thought highly of Stuart's basses. But he's going to stay with Fender, not that PJ has asked that I'm aware of.
I'm glad Sting played his white NS-2 in the only concert of his I've ever seen live. That single concert has without question changed my life.
But since that time... I didn't care that Sting played that bass. That wasn't the appeal of the NS-2 for me. It was standing in an arena with 50,000 other Southerners hearing that growl dominate the mix... I heard Copeland's drums and Sting's bass. That was about it.
So what any one artist plays or doesn't play doesn't matter. It's all about their tone for me. But I respect that you wouldn't want to play something that someone you don't like plays. I'm sort of that way too. Unless it's something awesome like a Spector... then I don't care. LOL.
