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When people ask how much your gear cost...
- Thread starter organworthyplayer337
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In a loud club by a patron?
Patron: "how much did that cost?
Me: what???? Why would you call the cops?!?!?!
Patron: "how much did that cost?
Me: what???? Why would you call the cops?!?!?!
My parents are the ones that ask me how much I've invested usually. I always lie and say half of what I spent lol
The most often question I actually get outside the house is how I get "that tone" when I'm in music shops.
Some guy was puzzled that I sounded the same on a musicman, p bass with flats, and an ibanez SR bass.
It's just my tone man.
The most often question I actually get outside the house is how I get "that tone" when I'm in music shops.
Some guy was puzzled that I sounded the same on a musicman, p bass with flats, and an ibanez SR bass.
It's just my tone man.
Never been asked that. A good friend of mine has coveted my MIJ P Bass, and wanted to get one of his own. I didn't mind telling him (mostly because I got hooked up w/the good buddy discount), and told him what they were going for on E Bay.
In this day of the Internet, anyone who really wants to know, can look it up. I'd never get rude w/someone, unless they were being a total Jerkweasel.
All of that having been said, I like hrodbert's response: Less than psychoanalysis. True that.
In this day of the Internet, anyone who really wants to know, can look it up. I'd never get rude w/someone, unless they were being a total Jerkweasel.
All of that having been said, I like hrodbert's response: Less than psychoanalysis. True that.
Go play some gigs in Thailand and this all changes. "How much does that cost" then "How much money do you make" and finally "how much does your house (or car) cost"
They actually are not being rude. Asking those questions is normal for a Thai. I lived there for 3+ years and never got comfortable with the questions but I never lied. I would tell them a daily pay amount rather than a monthly. That worked as most make in a month what we make in a day. They would just smile and say "good pay good pay" and move on. You just never get used to it though so you better have your answers already worked out.
They actually are not being rude. Asking those questions is normal for a Thai. I lived there for 3+ years and never got comfortable with the questions but I never lied. I would tell them a daily pay amount rather than a monthly. That worked as most make in a month what we make in a day. They would just smile and say "good pay good pay" and move on. You just never get used to it though so you better have your answers already worked out.
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"No idea dude, I stole all of this."
Ironic how a lot of these busybodies don't hesitate to drop the big bucks when it comes to their own interests (newest i-phone, sickest war games, hottest plasma tvs, etc).
I've been asked a few times but only about my bass, nobody seems to notice my amp and cab. If it is some drunk kid I usually say "more than your car" if he comes back with the smart arsed answer that he doesn't have a car then "more than your dads car". If it is another musician, especially a bass player, then I will tell the truth.
(The bass I played at tonight's gig cost me 130GBP (about $170) - used Hofner violin bass copy but the amp and cab were a lot more!)
(The bass I played at tonight's gig cost me 130GBP (about $170) - used Hofner violin bass copy but the amp and cab were a lot more!)
Wow. No one has ever asked. My basses are very distinctive and people often ask what they are, but never how much they cost. Musicians will comment on my tone and ask about my amp, cabinet, bass or pick-ups - but again- I do not recall anyone asking the cost of any of it.
I would tell them the story of how I got my T-40 for the equivalent of $25, and then offer to sell them a Squier for $350
Big Hoss
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If it's my insurance guy I tell them double what I paid! (J/k). Seriously outside of TalkBass.com and a bargain hunting friend nobody asks....
People ask me about my Alembic all the time.
I always give them a straight answer...
And usually qualify it with, "...it's a relatively 'cheap' Alembic."
But its never about, "...Wow, that's crazy expensive" as much as it is just about what Alembic is, their history and such.
Honestly, I have friends that's wear 8k watches and drive cars that cost 150, so a few thousand dollars on an instrument really isn't that impressive to anyone.
My buddy usually plays either a Collings and a Mcallister and he's never taken either out of the case without someone going, "wow, that is pretty. What kind is that? how much do they cost?"
It's not rude, it's just conversation.
I always give them a straight answer...
And usually qualify it with, "...it's a relatively 'cheap' Alembic."
But its never about, "...Wow, that's crazy expensive" as much as it is just about what Alembic is, their history and such.
Honestly, I have friends that's wear 8k watches and drive cars that cost 150, so a few thousand dollars on an instrument really isn't that impressive to anyone.
My buddy usually plays either a Collings and a Mcallister and he's never taken either out of the case without someone going, "wow, that is pretty. What kind is that? how much do they cost?"
It's not rude, it's just conversation.
To be fair, OP said he was young. Older generations see this stuff as rude, but for young people its more along the lines of "that looks nice, how much was it?"
Pretty sure i've asked that question to people my age. I'd never ask it to an old timer though, i know better.
Pretty sure i've asked that question to people my age. I'd never ask it to an old timer though, i know better.
As somebody who has been guilty of asking this question a couple times (not ever about musical equipment) I would just tell them the price. When I find myself asking the question it's not to chastise the item, the person, or the purchase. It's because i'm probably or will probably be looking to make a purchase of like item in my lifetime. I just want the info as a point of reference. If you don't want to tell him cause you don't want them to have it also then realize your just a hater or crab and that's probably something you should work on.
I'll talk shop if I know it's another bass player asking about my gear. But I generally just say I don't know because I've accumulated stuff through buying and selling and trading over 20 years. I personally don't think the gear you play makes you a snob or anything like that. I had purchased over 10k in warwicks alone before I was 25. I wasn't a doctor or a lawyer, I delivered pizza and went to school or worked two jobs, had two and sometimes three roommates and made extra money playing music and flipping gear, ate a lot of Romen noodles and dollar menu food. Set goals and went after them. Having money for gear is really about priorities. There's a local bassist here who plays starter pack gear but drives a hummer, that's his priority. Some people dump money into fast cars, I think that's kind of silly considering Owning a fast car doesn't make you exempt from following the speed limit. Some people buy huge expensive houses, but I grew up in a big house, huge houses have high taxes and insurance that will Always be expensive not to mention rediculous electric bills. I put money into gear, after my bills and making sure my wife and kids are taken care of and have what they need that's my priority.
