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

[jwilson67]

I do always try to check out their gear. It especially cracks me up to go to a bar or restaurant and the bass player is running an SVT with an 8x10 cab.

 

[jwilson67]

My general rule with local bands is the ones with the best gear usually are the worst sounding because it indicates that the group is comprised of guys who have really good day jobs (translation: they spent the majority of their adulthood preparing for and executing said career) but are mediocre or crappy musicians. You know, the guys who have all the "signature" stuff.

 

[Ballin'bass]

i always check out what they are using. If something strikes me as particularly nice, i'll gauge whether they seem approachable and if they are i'll comment on their sweet rig or bass. I've never met a person who doesn't appreciate a compliment.
If i don't particularly care about anything they are using, I don't say anything.

 

[cnltb]

When you go see local bands,do you study their gear
No, not really.
When I hear something I like, I might ask specifically though.

 

[Yango]

Sure, I do it all the time. I'll even go talk to the band, and 99 times out of a hundred, they're happy to shoot the breeze.

 

[PimasterPearson]

I'll check it out, and if the bassist seems friendly or if he sounds especially great, I'll ask for a closer look after the show. But that's about it.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Every male bassist I've spoken with at set break — in even the most humorous light (what kind of strings to you use ... this is a guaranteed laugh every time when it's delivered properly) — has asked to speak with me again a set's end. Weird, huh. (Perfectly able to geek out on tech stuff, hey.)

 

[jwilson67]

I wouldn't exactly say I study their gear but I definitely look to see what they're using. To be honest I look more at keyboards (if they have them) than anything else.

 

[Mike Sorr]

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.

I always check out what they're using, but rarely ask them about it anymore unless it's particularly intriguing. What I learned from watching local bands is that gear doesn't matter unless it's really terrible, like falling apart terrible. The guy playing a really expensive bass usually gets screwed by the guy working the board as much as the guy playing a Squire. It made me re-think what I'm bringing out, and what I'm spending money on, especially when you consider that the only people who care are other bass players in the audience if there are any.

 

[rogerbmiller]

I am always studying gear. Not just when local bands are using it. Always.

 

[jwilson67]

Generally for me the more multi-colored LED lights the gear has the better.

 

[jwilson67]

...and if the lights blink even better. I give extra points for always-on rack tuners with the red light going back and forth the whole gig. Makes the bass player look like he means business.

 

[Spent]

Absolutely. I was in a very active cover band for years and always got a kick out of other bass players checking out my gear. Enjoyed talking to them about it as well. I generally played my Spector Euro and either my Demeter VTBP-201s or Genz Benz Shuttlemax 9.2, so I was especially impressed if they could ID my gear. Always offered to let them try it (must be sober), but they generally declined.

 

[Kmonk]

I look at gear when I see a band on television or if I go to a concert but I rarely go see local bands. I live halfway between Boston and Cape Cod and there are very few live entertainment venues in my area. The places that do have bands are usually small and the bands are not very good. The only time I go see a band now is when a friend of mine is playing.

 

[spanndrew]

Yeppers.

 

[rodl2005]

I always check out ALL the gear. Bass, guitar, drums, PA..... learning, learning. .....
I hate gear snobs. ..Once, a guy I liked. ..a local bassist. . told me- at a gig where I was playing with my Stingray 5...- that you HAD to have a $800 + bass to gig with or it'll just sound cr@ppy. So for the next set, I used my $150 modded SX P bass & it, of course, sounded great. I didn't say anything to him tho.
When I'm impressed by a bassist's tone I'll have a good look'n see what his chain of events is.
One that surprised me was a LMII into a Mark Bass 104HF that wasn't going thru the FOH PA but filled the room beautifully.
Another was a LOUD international alt rock band that was playing in the club that my band plays monthly.
They were LOUD as hayull.!!!!! Both guitarists had Fender 410 Bassmans and the bassist had a vintage Fender Bassman 100 running into an Ampeg 810AV - sure it was mic'd to the PA but it sounded effin great and must've had enough stage volume to be "there" for him with those guitarists amps cranking out power tube distortion.

 

[ThisBass]

Good question. I'm mostly more interested in playing style and the instrument than the gear and effect boards. There where a couple of very impressing players I listened the past year or tow but, I can't remember on the gear used but I can remember on the sound and the instruments.

 

[Jay2U]

I specifically study the 'gear' of female bands.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I am always paying attention to what the bands are using, whether it's live, in a video or on TV.

 

[lbbc]

absolutely