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Substance over Style

Quilbert

Quilbert

Oct 27, 2009
781
480
Waterford ireland
#1
Has anyone out there come to the realization that their TV bass is not all its cracked up to be. When I say TV bass I mean basses you see on TV, like Fenders, Musicmans, Rickenbackers and to a lesser extent Gibsons etc. I've had a Mucicman stingray for 10 years now, don't get me wrong its great but I feel like trading it in for something, newer, lighter, more playable around the same price range but not as recognizable by lay people in terms of branding. Something build for players and not just to be looked at. The Stingray weighs a ton and Id like something a bit 'slicker' but I know the stingray will retain its value and had tons of heritage. What to do?
 
#2
Never was a Fender fan but I've come to love them.
2urm8so.jpg

As for what some might call more stylish, I can't see myself playing any basses that make me look like I come from the future, or any basses that look like they'd make a better medieval weapon than guitar.
Can't really go with botique basses, either, other than the beautiful but classic type Bacchus basses.
Now, however, a nice Epiphone Thunderbird Classic IV in Alpine White or the Gibson Anniversary Thunderbird in Bullion Gold, that's another story.

You might be interested in this, though.
3478hsn.jpg

ESP Stream. There's a $500 version, an $1,800 version and a really nice botique version that costs as much as a new car.
 
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#3
Quilbert said:
Has anyone out there come to the realization that their TV bass is not all its cracked up to be. When I say TV bass I mean basses you see on TV, like Fenders, Musicmans, Rickenbackers and to a lesser extent Gibsons etc. I've had a Mucicman stingray for 10 years now, don't get me wrong its great but I feel like trading it in for something, newer, lighter, more playable around the same price range but not as recognizable by lay people in terms of branding. Something build for players and not just to be looked at. The Stingray weighs a ton and Id like something a bit 'slicker' but I know the stingray will retain its value and had tons of heritage. What to do?
Click to expand...

I’m not sure how to respond to this “TV bass" thing, and suggesting those brands are not built to be played, but looked at.

You're not making sense.
 
#5
Quilbert said:
Has anyone out there come to the realization that their TV bass is not all its cracked up to be. When I say TV bass I mean basses you see on TV, like Fenders, Musicmans, Rickenbackers and to a lesser extent Gibsons etc. I've had a Mucicman stingray for 10 years now, don't get me wrong its great but I feel like trading it in for something, newer, lighter, more playable around the same price range but not as recognizable by lay people in terms of branding. Something build for players and not just to be looked at. The Stingray weighs a ton and Id like something a bit 'slicker' but I know the stingray will retain its value and had tons of heritage. What to do?
Click to expand...
You can't really conpare how good or bad an instrument conpany is to others based on their marketing strategies. Their are still amazing companies out their that no one really knows about or people do but know next to nothing about them because said company has limited if any marketing. As an example: a fine bass i picked up last week was a schecter with active pickups. I didnt really know anything about this company other than that it made machines for metal. Boy was i wrong. They look like they are metal basses but they are capable of anything. It was in the back of the shop behind the fenders and the honey burst caught my eye. I was going to go buy a fender, but, i changed my mind when i found something new. I mean yes there are alot of companies that are all hyped
 
#6
Up by musicians, adds, and music shops alike. As a musician you should always be open to new things and brands and just find what you like. Don't let anyone tell you what instruments are the best and which are the worst. If someone told you to jump off the Brooklyn bridge because everyone was doing it, would you do it?


I am not affiliated with any of the companies, brands, or subbrands discused in this topic.
Edit: spelled brooklyn wrong. Damn that makes me look stupid
 
#7
TV Bass - by that comment maybe you mean when you listen to music used as part of a television show, very likely its a Fender(Fender design).... or a movie soundtrack or on the radio.... or live on a concert stage.... Yep, anywhere you find session recording artists and professional players, you will find a TV Bass and they are being played, and recorded.... not looked at. FWIW
 
#8
Marko 1 said:
I’m not sure how to respond to this “TV bass" thing, and suggesting those brands are not built to be played, but looked at.

You're not making sense.
Click to expand...


I'm not saying they're not built to be played. Sure the old school basses play great and look cool, but I know there's some cutting edge innovative stuff out there, made by smaller Luthiers at a similar price bracket as the big American brands. You just don't see these on pop videos for whatever reason.
 

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