I'd just say "Matthew 7:1, Judge not, that you be not judged."
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when people act weird about your gear...
- Thread starter friendlybass
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Clearly, the EB is the devil's instrument. Anyone can see that. Cast it out.
BUT, Pops Staples was 100% church and he rocked Teles, Strats, Jazzmasters and Jags.
And who the hell looks at a pedalboard anyway?!? Tempest, meet teapot.
BUT, Pops Staples was 100% church and he rocked Teles, Strats, Jazzmasters and Jags.
And who the hell looks at a pedalboard anyway?!? Tempest, meet teapot.
I would have laughed as if I thought they were totally joking, and responded "let's see how it all sounds before we worry about how it looks." I'm just a tension-diffusing, fun-loving guy who doesn't give a damn what others think internally, but I often try to accommodate to avoid conflict. That said, if you keep pushing it wouldn't take too long before I'd say something like (even if not 100% true) "I bought it because it's my favourite looking" to watch them squirm.
Reminds me of the time I went on a rant to a coworker about how crappy I thought Pontiac cars were - only to have the guy, who waited for my rant to end, to say "I drive a Pontiac."
My feet don't taste great... Now I try to think about my audience before I crap on something, and I prefer when others do the same... so sometimes I like to briefly turn into the "I drive a Pontiac" guy if someone insults something I like 
Reminds me of the time I went on a rant to a coworker about how crappy I thought Pontiac cars were - only to have the guy, who waited for my rant to end, to say "I drive a Pontiac."
My feet don't taste great... Now I try to think about my audience before I crap on something, and I prefer when others do the same... so sometimes I like to briefly turn into the "I drive a Pontiac" guy if someone insults something I like
Things like this are part of why I stopped going to church. IF there's a next time, you should show up with a black leather jacket and P-bass in full Ramones mode.
If there's one thing my church has taught me is that "We don't need to judge as that's reserved for God". That would give them something to ponder.
People understand what they see better than what they hear. It's unfortunate, but true.
PS...I think your oly white Jaguar looks great, can't imagine what the Deacon was on about.
PS...I think your oly white Jaguar looks great, can't imagine what the Deacon was on about.
wmhill
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You can always ask if they rather you went home, things may change in a hurry.
Next time a deacon gets his knickers in a twist about your kit, introduce him to this Deacon:
I mean really???? Is there such a thing as a "Church" bass??? Does one have to get cleared through a committee as to what is appropriate for church? Does the committee even know anything about musical instruments?? Really?
What ever happened to 'come as you are!?
This is one reason I don't do the church thing. Way too invasive and way too many politics!
What ever happened to 'come as you are!?
This is one reason I don't do the church thing. Way too invasive and way too many politics!
So, never mind the church stuff, how about telling us more about that skateboard rig, that's awesome!
In that kind of an atmosphere you're there for more than just a gig and it's not about you. That being said though, I see nothing wrong with your basses. I think the effects skateboard could look distracting to the focus and purpose. Same as a drummer wearing a clown suit or a piano painted hunter orange. That kind of thing could get you in trouble in a secular environment with a bandleader that was looking to promote a professional image for the clients.
It's not just about church folks being too into looks etc. which is always a bummer. But to be fair, if you showed up to a secular gig where everyone was dressed down on purpose and you showed up dressed up real well, don't think for a moment you wouldn't hear about it from a bunch of folks and you yourself might just dress likewise to "fit in". So in that case you might "get it "? So why not give the church folks the same pass?
It does stink to get judged on the outside especially in a place that's supposed to care more about what's on the inside. Christians are people too in the process of becoming more like Jesus, some are trying hard and for others it's a sluggish zombie like shuffle.
we are all sinners. 
I have friends that are drummers and in an environment like that they would not do things to attract undue attention but in a less formal church atmosphere like a concert or coffeehouse event, would strap their stuffed toy mascot in front of the drum set like they normally do. I think some of it is just trying to be sensitive to the environment you're in at the time.
If you were playing at a funeral or wedding you wouldn't play bare foot wearing a favorite old beat up t shirt and and your most comfortable yard work jeans.
It's not just about church folks being too into looks etc. which is always a bummer. But to be fair, if you showed up to a secular gig where everyone was dressed down on purpose and you showed up dressed up real well, don't think for a moment you wouldn't hear about it from a bunch of folks and you yourself might just dress likewise to "fit in". So in that case you might "get it "? So why not give the church folks the same pass?
It does stink to get judged on the outside especially in a place that's supposed to care more about what's on the inside. Christians are people too in the process of becoming more like Jesus, some are trying hard and for others it's a sluggish zombie like shuffle.
we are all sinners. I have friends that are drummers and in an environment like that they would not do things to attract undue attention but in a less formal church atmosphere like a concert or coffeehouse event, would strap their stuffed toy mascot in front of the drum set like they normally do. I think some of it is just trying to be sensitive to the environment you're in at the time.
If you were playing at a funeral or wedding you wouldn't play bare foot wearing a favorite old beat up t shirt and and your most comfortable yard work jeans.
better yet get a B.C. Rich warlock with the red pinstripe and widow head stock, and I'm thinking, dress should be inspired by WASP, or maybe even GWAR.
Big Hoss
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I don't see anything about your bass that anyone could reasonably say "That's not appropriate for a worship team". The skateboard pedalboard gives me pause not so much for cosmetics, but more as a safety hazard. And no, I personally don't think a skateboard is an appropriate pedalboard, especially a convex board, the shape tends to not lend itself well to holding pedals, the wheels tend to make it roll when you are trying to activate / deactivate pedals etc...
I am pretty sure if I went into where I think that "Worship Team" was coming from I would violate the religion and politics clause of the user agreement here, so I had better shut up. Let's just say I don't think they are following the manual quite right.
FWIW, on the few church gigs I have done, I have used in the past my Candy Apple Red / Rosewood Squier PJ with the only strap I had at the time, a black leather studded strap. Nobody said anything about it. And more recently my Burgundy Mist Jazz with Tort guard, and tan leather strap.
FWIW, a suit would stand out like a sore thumb in my church. I typically show up dressed in jeans, polo shirt and hiking boots.
I am pretty sure if I went into where I think that "Worship Team" was coming from I would violate the religion and politics clause of the user agreement here, so I had better shut up. Let's just say I don't think they are following the manual quite right.
FWIW, on the few church gigs I have done, I have used in the past my Candy Apple Red / Rosewood Squier PJ with the only strap I had at the time, a black leather studded strap. Nobody said anything about it. And more recently my Burgundy Mist Jazz with Tort guard, and tan leather strap.
FWIW, a suit would stand out like a sore thumb in my church. I typically show up dressed in jeans, polo shirt and hiking boots.
The "serious" gospel people that I have encountered were all very trendy, suits and ties, all of their very latest "in" gear that costs as much as a car. They might as well have been clones, just so cookie-cutter trendy with each other. Me, I grew up hearing the classic hymns of Charles Wesley on a Hammond organ, so I couldn't give a carrot less about all that crap. There's no reverence in it.
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I'm so glad to hear that Im not the only who thought the situation is odd! My gigs are usually polar opposites, I'm either playing a dive bar or a church, and sometimes I get concerned playing one makes me forget how to act at the other. You guys rock and I love the responses, also thanks so much on the compliments (and criticism) of my gear!
I can sympathise with the view that the skateboard is not "appropriate" as a pedal board in the meaning that there may be practical issues with it.
But I do not think that has anything to do with the church situation. Aren't skaters welcome to church?
But I do not think that has anything to do with the church situation. Aren't skaters welcome to church?
Haha thanks! It's just a WalMart skateboard with strips of home depot Velcro on it. The voodoo labs my sansamp is sitting on powers the whole deal and if ya can't see my chain runs big muff-bass soul food-mojo mojo-shaker vibrato-memory boy delay-sansamp bddi. Pretty straight forward. In the next couple of months gone will be the mojomojo and bass soul food and possibly the memory boy in exchange for a fuzzrocious cat tail, wren and cuff mercy phuk, and old blood Black Fountain respectively. Oh and I'm adding a bypass looper so basically my stacked dirt sound is a footswitch away and my ambient vibey-delay sound is a footswitch away. I'm gonna need a bigger skateboard
I wonder if a Jazz bass would be appropriate.
Like this:
Like this:
I'm making an assumption, but even for church band stuff I'm assuming they have other gear on stage right? What would be the issue with putting the skateboard pedalboard behind that so the people in front don't even have a view of it? I suppose as far as the bass is concerned it's not something he knows about, and since it's not what he's familiar with it definitely has to be a child's instrument 
. Regardless, if they aren't paying you, then you as far as I see it, you're just doing the church a favor. If they want to customize the experience and dictate things about it then they don't want the free option.
Never played in a church, but I've considered it. It's things like this that have always kept me away in general. Guess I've been going to the wrong places, but in my experience these issues aren't really about faith. Sounds more like a social club that is worried about it's image. (Not to say all churches are like this of course)
. Regardless, if they aren't paying you, then you as far as I see it, you're just doing the church a favor. If they want to customize the experience and dictate things about it then they don't want the free option.Never played in a church, but I've considered it. It's things like this that have always kept me away in general. Guess I've been going to the wrong places, but in my experience these issues aren't really about faith. Sounds more like a social club that is worried about it's image. (Not to say all churches are like this of course)
