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When you go see local bands,do you study their gear

#82
I listen to and evaluate whatever music crosses my path, and the gear is just an aspect of that. Especially if I hear some crazy tone and go, "How the heck..." But I never, ever interrupt the guys or try to talk to them until AFTER the set, if I talk to them at all. Most guys don't like to be bothered, and I respect that.
 
#84
I only carefully check out the gear if the sound is extremely bad or awesomely great. Given the opportunity I will complement a great player, rarely do mention their gear (only if it's rare or unusual and sounds fantastic). Anyone with enough money can purchase/rent/use any gear, that doesn't automatically mean they'll sound great. I've seen/heard some amazing players using very pedestrian equipment and also been witness to their counter parts with super expensive rigs/instruments that sounded terrible. IMHO amazing sound is in the hands and soul of the individual player(s).
 
#86
I admit, I am a gear whore. I look at not only the stage gear but also the PA. No prejudging unless shiny. new and expensive then I prepare for an easy exit. I really enjoy hearing equipment that snobs turn their untalented noses at kicking booty.
If the band is even reasonably good I'll pump them up at the end of songs with the crowd. Not so good I'll still show appreciation for their effort, if they suck or show more interest in being loud than making music I quietly slip away.
 
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#88
xUptheIronsx said:
I do this at any gig. Be it a local rock band; high school jazz band; wind ensemble concert; arena act..
It is usually the very first thing I do. Having grown up a drummer, it is my instinct to
the one thing I notice I DON'T do anymore is judge a guy by the gear. I used to do this almost exclusively. Now I wait to hear it, and then make the judgement.
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Same here. Heard a killer blues unit Sunday and realized that 70s jazz bass was a Squier not a MIA. The man was playing it heart and soul. So we had a conversation on what a great sounding instrument it was and how he put the rest of the money on his kids orthodontic braces
 
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#90
Mantis Tobaggan said:
like a nerd? I do this so bad. I love seeing what people are using. I sometimes ask them about their equipment while they are setting up. Then i listen during the show for the tone and how it sits in the mix etc. i think this is so fun. Does anyone else do this? I love seeing local bands.
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I like to see local bands as well. I know many of the bass players, so during the brake or afterwards we have a chat anyway. Here in The Netherlands the bass community is pretty tight. With the local bass forum we organize meetings, so we know who is playing where, what, how and with whom. :cool:
 
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#92
/\/\3phist0 said:
I listen with my EARS first, and if I like what I hear I investigate. I've heard a guy with a bergantino, and a Stewart world driven by an Alembic F1 playing a Moduulus sound like doody, and a guy playing a Squier affinity through a beringer combo that sounded amazing.
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Funny, the first rig was my EXACT rig for a while. Haven't ever gigged that rig in SoCal, though.
 
#93
brendanbassix said:
Man I look at it, ask about it, tell them about it, tell them what they are doing wrong, give them tips on eq between sets, ask to play it, what strings they use, tell them what pedals would work for them, ask if they have tried this or that....basically harass them all night it's the reason I got to gigs.
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LMAO!!!!! You're "THAT GUY"
 
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#94
brendanbassix said:
Man I look at it, ask about it, tell them about it, tell them what they are doing wrong, give them tips on eq between sets, ask to play it, what strings they use, tell them what pedals would work for them, ask if they have tried this or that....basically harass them all night it's the reason I go to gigs.
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Piker. You gotta hit on their girlfriends while they're playing too.
 
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#95
Yeah I love to check out gear- basses, rigs, and pedal boards. I usually don't talk about it though. If I have another "10's for highs, and my 1x15 for the lows" conversation I might explode. But I also realize there are lots of great players who get a great sound without really knowing anything technical at all - and in fact harboring many complete fallacies about the technical aspects of their setups. So I observe, but do not usually question.
 
#97
I usually take a good long look at what they are using, see what I can make out in the dark. Gear snobs not withstanding, the live bands I see around here tend to run a LOT of Squiers, SXes, a few Epiphones etc... There is no shortage of Behringer either... The worst sounding band I have heard lately was with everyone running higher end gear. Bass player was running One of the premium Ibanez Soundgears, and a Markbass combo, guitarist was shredding on a pointy BC Rich going through an older Ampeg guitar stack, and neither of them knew what they were doing. It was actually somewhat painful to listen to... Proves the point a good musician makes great music no matter the gear, a skill less hack makes painful noise no matter the gear.
 
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#99
Well yeah if I like how they sound. But I always tell them you sound great, not your bass x or your amp y. This is because i get a bit miffed if wellintentioned people compliment me on how good my bass and my home built cab sound, while I'd rather hear them say "you sounded great". I know, never satisfied, nit-picky etc.
 

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