Super Rant... Am I alone?

[Donavan12]

A musician has talent and ability. Real musicians know this, wannabes don't. I own about 18 basses; Spectors, Fenders, a Rickenbacker, etc. I've played more gigs with a Korean Spector I paid $250 for on clearance than any other bass. The bass I keep at rehearsal is a FrankenSquier. I want a work horse, not a show horse.

I'm the same way. As long as it works, I'm satisfied

 

[Donavan12]

when I started 35 years ago,I had a cheap Jazz copy,then a cheap but good Vantage,then a Hohner headless. Neveer ever did I get criticised for having cheap gear. I don't think my generation were as snobby as todays youth.
We HID our clothes' labels, now they put them on the OUTSIDE. This is the difference between us.

I think it was around 1995 when they started wearing labels on the outside,and boys started spending more time doing their hair than the girls.

Today's youth is spoiled and gets stuff handed to them, I had to buy my own gear and my dad isn't even really supportive of my bass playing. I just do my own thing and find comfort other places.

 

[Donavan12]

Cracks me up when musicians pontificate about the importance of supporting the local music scene--while playing their Chinese gear.

I see nothing wrong with Chinese gear. I've played and borrowed American made gear, I've also played and owned Mexican made gear. I obviously prefer the higher end gear, but I won't complain if I spend some money on lower end gear. Again a CV jazz bass has me satisfied.

 

[mdogs]

Is there like a daily random drawing to see who has to start this thread?

 

[Donavan12]

Is there like a daily random drawing to see who has to start this thread?

Probably lol. I'm sure there's been many posts about "gear snobs" in the past. Too many to count.

 

[okcrum]

I've only ever gotten that from the blues society people around here. They are fixated on what the headstock says. But they also play inside a little musical box of their own creation.

 

[Donavan12]

I've only ever gotten that from the blues society people around here. They are fixated on what the headstock says. But they also play inside a little musical box of their own creation.

Yeah. I steer clear of those folks, most of the TB members are good company. I like it here for the most part.

 

[organworthyplayer337]

I wouldn't a band in my band

 

[basschanges]

1.) what is the blues society?

2.) People who bash other people's gear are turds

3.) get good enough to play circles around those turds and they won't care what you play anymore.

 

[SirMjac28]

After watching that very popular movie "The Hunger Games" a movie about kids murdering each other I've grown a little leary of kids I think they're all potentially murdering little monsters.

 

[Quilbert]

How times have changed. I remember as a kid playing bass, seeing an older guys squire and being amazed at the little 'fender' logo at the headstock. That'll tell you what kinda cheap piece of garbage I had. I think it was called a 'karina'. it actually wasn't that bad a bass(terrible electronics though). I then graduated to an 'Encore' (when the karina died) I also had several crappy amps that I literally played to death. Through summer jobs etc I eventually had a MIA jazz and a Marshall 100w superbass / 4x12. Then the band fell apart . The thing is my best memories was when I had the cheap stuff. The snobbery wasn't there though and nobody expected you to have a fender when you were a teenager. I would reply to the insistence of professional gear with ' oh great you're a professional band, when do I get my first check to pay for my professional gear'

 

[OOD]

I call bull. I play a MIM, and like it, but your statement tells me either you don't know the difference, or you haven't played one in decent shape with a good setup. Or it's just bull.

It's really not something you can call bull on. There are these things called opinions you see. I never said the reasons I didn't like them. Some had to do with setups, some were j basses which I don't care for, and some played great and just didn't sound good to me for whatever reason maybe it was the strings or knots in the wood for all I know. I'm not saying there aren't any MIAs that I would like. I've simpliy had bad luck when I comes to trying them out. But some how you got more information out of what I said.

You probably shouldn't call someone a liar for having an opinion btw, It's rude, but that's just my opinion.

 

[ShallowBayXI]

Buy a Peavey Fury for $50 and outplay everyone in the band. Problem solved

 

[OOD]

Cracks me up when musicians pontificate about the importance of supporting the local music scene--while playing their Chinese gear.

I have to drive 2 hours before I see a bass made in America. Not local enough for me.

 

[stratovani]

That's a good looking instrument. But, when I first saw from the top of the photo it was leaning against a garbage can, I expected the accompanying comment to be a negative one. Lol

Yeah, I thought about that some time after I took this picture. You should see what the backyard looks like now! Three plus feet of snow and a mountain of snow in the middle of the yard, courtesy of the truck that plows out my driveway. And more snow coming this weekend!

 

[Mr Gaston]

I often go on Craigslist and see "MUST HAVE PROFESSIONAL GEAR, IF YOU PLAY A SQUIER DON'T CONTACT US".

You know, I keep seeing this coming up on TB but I have never actually seen an ad like this.

I have seen ads where someone is looking for professional players for a band that has high expectations that specifies pro equipment. These guys aren't looking for a first time band member.

I have also seen guys playing Squires at paying gigs.

 

[bevan lurrito]

Tempest in a teapot, bro.

Don't play with stupid people.

*POOF*

problem solved.

 

[Skasteadyb]

I own 2 american fender jazz basses. But recently got a Squier pbass v and squier Jazz v. I play the squiers live in our band more than the Americans. Nobody judges me. And it should be that way. If you can play. You can play. Give victor Wooten a squier and I'm sure he would still blow your mind.

 

[hintz]

Wow!!! I would've loved to have a squier as my 1st bass...mine was a $80 "Gremlin" bass, and I had to carry lumber for my father to afford it, that was in 94 though... As I got better on the bass I continued to work with him on weekends and summers to save up for nicer gear(BTW, he is also a bassist)

now i wouldn't expect ANY 8 year old to have thick skin, but i encountered negative vibes and discouragement many times and never let it dissuade me from learning even though i was pretty terrible for the first 3-4 years...

fast forward 20 years and (not to toot my own horn)I have been playing fulltime professionally for the last 5 years for the US Army, and semi- pro since 2005(as in getting paid for regular weekend gigs)playing so-so gear to top notch custom builds, and never once did I let anyone slow me down, I just took it as fuel for motivation, I also never got crap about my gear at any point, nor would I dish it out to others... Maybe kids now are just truly terrible with materialism, I don't know as I don't have kids!! Of course, if your cuz really has it in him, he'll keep with it regardless of naysayers

edit: best piece of advice my father ever gave me, "its not the tools, but the hands that make it happen"

 

[blindrabbit]

IMO, Squier CVs are the best basses that Fender makes these days.