Super Rant... Am I alone?

[friendlybass]

I'm very blessed to own comfortable high quality basses nowadays. I worked my butt off to get here though and I started on some real pieces of junk (fret sprout, near square necks, solder that came undone). Imo people who are gear snobs are entitled to ant and all of their opinions as long as they aren't dumping em on poor kids who just want to have fun. I take flack for my fenders and i always say "good thing its mine and not yours then"

 

[esa372]

I have no ground rules, I'll play with anyone who plays anything.

Not everyone is like this... some have "ground rules", "standards", or "criteria" that must be met before they will play.

One perspective is not better than the other.

(Miles once said that he could tell, just by watching a musician hold his instrument, whether or not they could play well...)

 

[Donavan12]

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

I agree %100!

 

[iiipopes]

B........ I have played Squiers that are better instruments than some of the Am. Std. instruments, including especially '80's MIJ Squier's. If the band is that hung up on the headstock logo, I'm not sure I would want to play in that band, anyway.

 

[devnulljp]

Can you see the logo on this guy's guitar?

 

[iiipopes]

B........ I have played Squiers that are better instruments than some of the Am. Std. instruments, including especially '80's MIJ Squier's. If the band is that hung up on the headstock logo, I'm not sure I would want to play in that band, anyway.

Oh, I forgot: about twenty years ago, I got to see John Mayhall and hang out back stage. His guitar was a Squier with the body modified to suit how he wanted to hold it. I guess he wouldn't be good enough for the band the OP mentioned, either!!!

 

[PauFerro]

I played a squire musicmaster bass for a VERY long time. It fit me well, and sounded good for certain applications. The bass I play now with pro-level guys is an SX Jazz Bass knock-off, in which I put a set of Dimarzzio ultra jazz pickups. The bass cost $139 dollars when I bought it. I also use a piccolo bass which is a short scale 5-string bass that I strung up with piccolo bass strings. I use that for paid gigs as well. No problem.

Having built many basses in my lifetime, I realized that all this hype about the brand is a load of bull pucky. A solid body bass is simply an appliance for holding the strings. I believe the pickups can alter the sound, and so can the type of wood -- but even basswood sounds good to me. Naturally the tuners and bridge need to be solid so it doesn't go out of tune, and it needs to be playable. But beyond that, I really feel the brand loyalty is mostly hype.

The only exception, based on my reading, is when you play in a studio. Engineers know how to get the right sound of brand name instruments like Fender jazz basses, so, if you are on the studio clock, I would recommend being brand loyal. Otherwise, it's up to you.

The guy who discouraged the kid in your story was not very kind. Shame on him...

 

[CGremlin]

So, he has it outside and he's playing with it and one of these neighbor kids(around 12) bragged about how his parents just bought him a new MIM Fender Strat, and told my cousin to "BUY A REAL GUITAR"

Does it play in tune? Does it sound okay? Most importantly, does he enjoy playing it? For me, those are the only things that really matter, whether it's a First Act or a Ken Smith. Elitism when it comes to gear is something I don't have a lot of tolerance for. Makes me want to audition with one of the Peaveys and take the 4003 with me just to say, "Would this have been better?" as I'm packing up to leave if they say anything about it.

 

[CGremlin]

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.

Similar experience here - I loved those times when all I had was my Harmony Marquis, jamming with my friends that owned a Hondo II Les Paul copy and whatever the drummer could get his hands on since he didn't own his own set.

 

[Mr Gaston]

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

I can't believe no one has called you on that.

I'm not, because I have only played two basses in my life and neither is a Squire or a high end Fender, but that does seem unlikely.

 

[tbplayer59]

Can you see the logo on this guy's guitar?

Is it inappropriate to say, "neither could he?". Jeff Healey, blind slide guitarist. He died a few years ago.
While not a Squier, one of my favorite bassists, Robert Sledge of Ben Folds Five, used an Epiphone Les Paul bass back in the day, even using it for a performance that was televised.

 

[zontar]

If you're jamming with me, bring a plastic bass if you know how to play it and get a good sound out of it--it would be fun.

 

[basschanges]

I can't believe no one has called you on that.

I'm not, because I have only played two basses in my life and neither is a Squire or a high end Fender, but that does seem unlikely.

It does seem unlikely. He's just going on his personal experience. I don't quite share his opinion, but think that a well set up Squier CV will usually play as well as a similar MIA. The Squiers I have tried have all blown me away. As for sound? I don't know. They sounded similar when I A/B'ed them. The Squiers had a cheaper fit and finish.

I would try my best to use my playing to lodge any gear snob's foot in his mouth. Nothing wrong with expensive gear, but we've got to stop crapping on the consumption choices of others.

And if someone's gear isn't cutting it, there is a way to broach the subject without being a dip-@$@$.

 

[Quilbert]

I had a job working in a toothpaste factory between years in college. One of my jobs was relapsing caps on damaged tubes of toothpaste..,no kidding. What kept me going was getting closer as closer to a MIA jazz. When I finally bought it is like. Is that it? Why all the fuss? Sometimes we place too much value on brand names.

 

[Dojix]

I know this damn feel all too well. I have a Cort EVL-Z6B, and Cort gets a lot of hate, but it's quite literally the nicest instrument I've ever played. And hell, it's got pentagram inlays and the whole thing looks like it was a custom job. If the logo on the headstock wasn't Cort, people would think it was amazing.

And now I'm aiming to get into 5 strings with a Cort C5H, which is $400 AUD at my local store, but plays like something around $1000.

 

[mdogs]

I can't believe no one has called you on that.

I'm not, because I have only played two basses in my life and neither is a Squire or a high end Fender, but that does seem unlikely.

The rationalization that goes on around Squires is a daily thread as I said before. It has absolutely gotten to the point of being hilarious. As I have said on many occasions, if you are unable to tell the difference, get the squire. But, don't make make global statements about your perceived level of quality between the various levels of Fender instruments...

 

[Honch]

Can't really believe this is real. See my other post about how spotting a lemon, of which I reply to how I behave towards beginners and newbies in the bass business:

http://www.talkbass.com/threads/how...t-buying-a-lemon.1133196/page-4#post-16955323

FWIW, In Scandinavia, and most part of northern Europe, I have never ever heard of this immature and ridiculous thing . FWIW a bass playing friend of mine recently got hold of a very good Squier bass and I am longing to find something similiar! That bass just plays itself! A brand new one. Without requiring any set up. I've played it on some jams, and it just works without any struggle. And yes, I own a Dingwall.

Very clearly a "see the speck in their neighbors eye, but miss the plank in their own". I thought that these brand-people have disappeared for good, but alas. A cultural decline and then some. But I do get a lot of flak for playing my headless from time to time. Regardless of brand. Thank god I am not living in the US having to bring up my kids in such environments.

And speaking of how to spot "lemons". Well these people are lemons.

 

[Honch]

BTW have you seen the logo on this guy's bass? (again!)

 

[gumbynotpokey]

Kids can be cruel. I'm 53 And love my Squiers. I have never yet in 12 years of playing bass had anyone say anything about what bass brand I use. Good players could care less as long as you can play it and it holds together. As for any band saying you need professional gear many are saying not junk, Squiers are not junk. Any band who puts this in their ad anyways is a band I would pass on.

It's like any other job you are interviewing for. Know your stuff and be confident. That is to say, I am interviewing the possible employer as much as they are interviewing me. In this case, ads or statements like that are doing you a big favor. It is screaming at you, "Don't contact us. We are narrow-minded elitists with image concerns, not musical concerns." Really. The ad is very helpful.

 

[obimark]

My two basses are custom Carvins- an sb4000 and a Jb4- ANY band that told me I had to have a Fender (I have owned 6 in the past and have no major issues with)-- I would LAUGH in their ******* faces. Feel free to do the same. I would gladly rock a Squier like no tomorrow if I found one that did it for me- actually if you were in an "Emo" band I'd think the Squier would actually be more "street" cred.