Who prefers mass produced over boutique?

[neurotictim]

Where was your case that someone could step on it? Just curious. For someone to step on something of mine in a case, they would typically have to be walking on a wall. Because that's typically where I'd set it.

In this particular bar, the Half-Shell(a dive, but original rock/metal bands can't be too choosy around here, either) the setup/teardown area is between the stage and the kitchen, on the way to the bathroom. Some guy bumped into another guy, spilled his beer, something like that. My bass was actually in it's case under a table, but during the ensuing fight the table got knocked over, along with my bass and one of my guitarist's Strats, also in it's case. When the bouncer finally made it over to take care of business, he stepped right in between the guys - which happened to be where my bass had fallen. I know part of it was just bad luck, but this guy stepped right in the wrong place. I'll dig around and see if I can find a pic or two.

Maybe I'm overdue

I certainly hope not - Many of your basses are truly "one of a kind" and I'd hate to see anything happen to them.

That's a basic difference between me and many bassists... "I" care how much better I sound and I consider what you're saying, no offense to be kind of a copout. One you're entitled to but it's really saying that since no one knows any better, work to that level. I would like to kill every single time I hit the stage and that's what I shoot for.

I understand, really I do. The thing is, I'm willing to compromise my tone in a live setting because I know my role as a bassist. Your role may be different, but I'm the guy that holds down the low end in a hard rock/heavy metal band. I'm not going to do anything fancy, and to be completely honest, I'm not really going to hear the nuances that make boutique basses so great, especially in the dives that I play in. That's not to say that I'm slacking on my playing, or that I don't intend to kill when I get out there, but I don't think that my gear dictates the level to which I play. Again, YMMV, but that's my take.

Again, 30+ years of gigging, never had anything anywhere near what you spent on repairs. A preamp might eventually fail, I think I broke a string back in the 80's, other than that, nada.

The only thing I can say to that is that you must have a great combination of preparation and luck. That being said, it wouldn't hurt to knock on wood.

And you seem to miss the obvious reason... because it's FUN.

No, I'm not missing the point, I'm disagreeing with the point. The problem I have is there seems to be only two sides to this discussion - that I somehow enjoy my instruments less because I choose not to take them out.

As always, I could be wrong, but the sentiment seems to be that if I don't take them to the dives and whatnot, then I couldn't possibly be enjoying them as much as if I did, which is patently untrue for me. I don't buy into the idea that the amount of time you spend with your bass dictates how much you enjoy it - You might even say that because I don't play it as often, I enjoy it more than those who play their boutiques all the time. It shouldn't be about quantity of time spent, it should be about the quality of time spent, IMO.

*shrug*

<snip>Then in '93 my financial situation changed and I was able to afford the basses I had always dreamed of and I indulged myself ( my wife would say I went hog wild). If something happened to one of my "boutique" basses it would definitely suck but now I am able to easily replace it whereas the first 10 years of my playing I would have been up a creek</snip>

I totally respect that. I won't even pretend that, were my financial situation to allow it, I wouldn't be hauling around a Ritter or Fodera to every dive bar I could find without any more concern than I do now with my SXs.

The simple truth for me is that I have never bought a bass I couldn't afford - I don't use my credit cards for gear purchases at all, so if I don't have the cash, I won't buy it. Even so, the fact that I saved for several months to be able to afford a used Dingwall ABI or that I traded away a ton of stuff for a used Alembic Epic is what prevents me, more than anything else, from taking my nice gear out. I simply can't afford to be cavalier about "accidents" or "battle scars." I take good care of my instruments, and for ME that means they stay in an environment that I can have more than a modicum of control.

*shrug*

 

[Brad Johnson]

Man! If I could only be as perfect as you, I could be just as arrogant!! Where is the God smiley? I would post it for ya. I'm done with this one.

It has nothing to do with being perfect but as usual some people have to take it that way.

Have a blessed day, go forth and break stuff.

 

[Brad Johnson]

++++11111 BUTTTTT, flying with an expensive bass is another story unless there was some guarantee I could take it onboard with me. With the way the airlines are trippin' now...

Yep, flying is different. You have little control over your instrument short of buying it a seat.

 

[peterpalmieri]

No, I'm not missing the point, I'm disagreeing with the point. The problem I have is there seems to be only two sides to this discussion - that I somehow enjoy my instruments less because I choose not to take them out.

As always, I could be wrong, but the sentiment seems to be that if I don't take them to the dives and whatnot, then I couldn't possibly be enjoying them as much as if I did, which is patently untrue for me. I don't buy into the idea that the amount of time you spend with your bass dictates how much you enjoy it - You might even say that because I don't play it as often, I enjoy it more than those who play their boutiques all the time. It shouldn't be about quantity of time spent, it should be about the quality of time spent, IMO.

*shrug*

This is the problem, some have said "your either ......1 or 2...." If you don't take out your expensive bass your wrong, if you take it everywhere your wrong.

How about this is what I choose to do and why.

I've explained what I do and why, others have as well.

I just don't get Gabriel51 you EITHER "1. Don't own a one off bass or, 2. You just don't get it?"

It just sets you up for failure because there are plenty of guys that own one off basses and "get it".

 

[Brad Johnson]

In this particular bar, the Half-Shell(a dive, but original rock/metal bands can't be too choosy around here, either) the setup/teardown area is between the stage and the kitchen, on the way to the bathroom. Some guy bumped into another guy, spilled his beer, something like that. My bass was actually in it's case under a table, but during the ensuing fight the table got knocked over, along with my bass and one of my guitarist's Strats, also in it's case. When the bouncer finally made it over to take care of business, he stepped right in between the guys - which happened to be where my bass had fallen. I know part of it was just bad luck, but this guy stepped right in the wrong place. I'll dig around and see if I can find a pic or two.

That sucks. Let me start out by saying I'm not criticizing you and I've been where you are. Early on every instrument I owned meant the world to me and I treated them that way. If I had pics you'd probably laugh out loud at what I was being so protective about... I think my third bass, which was prgressively better than the previous basses, was a $79 Fender Tele copy that I made payments on.

I won't go into where your bass was sitting, in my case I always anticipated fights breaking out, shootings, etc. (that's why you do recon to check available exits and come up with a strategy) so I'd choose where to set my stuff accordingly. I'm not as anal about my rig because it's much easier to replace. Basses, in or out of cases, stay close to me. Period.

I certainly hope not - Many of your basses are truly "one of a kind" and I'd hate to see anything happen to them.

Honestly, at this point, it wouldn't kill me. What would bother me though is if it was somehow due to my negligence because really, what's a good excuse for that?

I understand, really I do. The thing is, I'm willing to compromise my tone in a live setting because I know my role as a bassist. Your role may be different, but I'm the guy that holds down the low end in a hard rock/heavy metal band. I'm not going to do anything fancy, and to be completely honest, I'm not really going to hear the nuances that make boutique basses so great, especially in the dives that I play in. That's not to say that I'm slacking on my playing, or that I don't intend to kill when I get out there, but I don't think that my gear dictates the level to which I play. Again, YMMV, but that's my take.

I hold down the low end in a few bands. I'm not really doing anything fancy. Because I use amplification that can keep up with whomever I'm playing with, I can hear nuances that make anything I use stand out. Even in a dive. I do that because it makes me happy. I dictate the level to which I play, regardless of what I'm using... but that doesn't mean that a particular instrument can't make my job all that much easier.

The only thing I can say to that is that you must have a great combination of preparation and luck. That being said, it wouldn't hurt to knock on wood.

The funny thing is that luck seem to follow the prepared. I know some think that's a God-like mindset D) while others understand it actually makes sense. Like many people I learn from my mistakes AND the mistakes of others. Beats dealing with the consequences... over and over again.

No, I'm not missing the point, I'm disagreeing with the point. The problem I have is there seems to be only two sides to this discussion - that I somehow enjoy my instruments less because I choose not to take them out.

I was responding to this: "I understand that there are more points of view on this than just mine, but IMO practicality is just as important as anything else - I bought my SWR gear over Bergantino because of the same 3 reasons above. It's just not practical to me to drive a Ferrari to work everyday. The only reason I can see for doing it, since I can enjoy it just as much on sunny days, is that I want everyone to see that I can drive a Ferrari to work every day".


If that's the only reason you can think of, you are missing what I'd consider an ovbious reason. I didn't say you were missing the point. And no, i don't think your summation of the two sides of this is accurate either. It's not that you somehow enjoy your instruments less because you choose not to take them out. It's that you'd clearly enjoy them less often, in less opportunities, than someone who didn't feel compelled to leave things they liked more at home.

As always, I could be wrong, but the sentiment seems to be that if I don't take them to the dives and whatnot, then I couldn't possibly be enjoying them as much as if I did, which is patently untrue for me. I don't buy into the idea that the amount of time you spend with your bass dictates how much you enjoy it - You might even say that because I don't play it as often, I enjoy it more than those who play their boutiques all the time. It shouldn't be about quantity of time spent, it should be about the quality of time spent, IMO.

*shrug*

Cool. OTOH it is possible to have quality time in quantity. That's the other side of this discussion.

Bottom line, you have to go with what you're comfortable
with. My point was it's possible to get to a comfort level by anticipating (yeah I know, that God thing again)

 

[neurotictim]

And the bottom line is where we both agree.

...Besides, who am I to argue with God?!?..."

 

[spade2you]

Along with what Brad says, if I'm worried about my gear surviving the gig or making it out alive and intact, I tend to avoid that gig. Besides, it doesn't matter how much a bass costs if it's your baby.

 

[kevin newsham]

I have had several high end basses, as well as several mass produced basses. It really all depends on the sound. My favorite Fender was Rosco Beck 5, but the B string wasn't really there, so it went the way of the dodo. I have had Warrior 6's, WAY pricey. A Zon sonus studio 5 fretless that I traded for my Bogart 5 fretless that I will never part with.(Though I will never forgive you for letting me make that trade, Gard. lol.) I have a Warmoth parts Jazz bass 5 that sounds incredible, and has the B string NO Fender has ever had. And it is Birdseye maple everywhere!!!

I just really shop the used instrument sites around the internet. I like High end, but I will let someone else buy it first. lol. 2000 for a new mass produced 6 string, or the same for a like new 6 high end that sold for 4000 last year? As long as it has the sound, I go for the used. Besides, that used one will still be worth 2ooo next year, What will the Mass produced one be worth?

 

[Brad Johnson]

Along with what Brad says, if I'm worried about my gear surviving the gig or making it out alive and intact, I tend to avoid that gig. Besides, it doesn't matter how much a bass costs if it's your baby.

Yes! I'd be far more concerned with me getting out of a gig unharmed than anything else.

 

[Brad Johnson]

And the bottom line is where we both agree.

...Besides, who am I to argue with God?!?..."

You know, it's been a long time since I've had to smite somebody... don't push your luck.



Of course I knew you were going to say that.

 

[Michael Case]

+1.

I almost pulled the trigger recently on a $4000 F-Bass but after playing my 2 Sadowsky Metros while mulling the F Bass purchase over, I decided that the Sadowsky Metro is a damned fine bass, sounds just as good (but obviously different) as the F-Bass, cuts as good or better in the mix and all I really need. And at 1/2 the price.

Hard to justify bringing a $4000 bass to a $100 gig IMO. Then again so is bringing a $2000 Sadowsky!

I guess the Jazz style of basses (and Stingrays) are just my style.... and I am trying to never spend more than $2000 on a bass. Hopefully I can stick with that!

Try bringing a $3000.00-$5000.00 upright to a $50.00 gig. That's what I did a lot of in NYC.

 

[BurningSkies]

Yes! I'd be far more concerned with me getting out of a gig unharmed than anything else.

I have chosen a bass for one or two gigs purely upon whether it would stand up as a weapon or not. In those situations, my 73 Precision wins for "least likely to break when hitting someone", even though it worth about as much as an 'expensive' bass.

I do not discriminate though. I'll take a 4K bass to a gig just as well as a $200 bass. I buy my basses to play, I won't insult a crowd or club by bring less than what I want to hear because they come from the wrong demographic (aka 'dive-worthy').

 

[chadds]

Gems are where you find them. One of my best basses is G&L L1000 that was a gift. It was beat and chewed on and I had it restored so I have maybe $200. in it. It can't do everything so there have been boutiques in my stable that can.

I tend to not play bad places though. The memory of watching a 6" wide river of pee begin to flow and then pass the stage over a set and the bar folks do nothing about it really had me question was I in this for the music or some humanitarian mission to upstate anywhere USA? I really love music and love playing where it's listened to. The thought of bodily harm or getting jacked for your gear after the gig and the fact that these aren't the roads or trials to success in the music business don't drive me to continue into these places.

I would have to buy an old van that couldn't be locked and was so peculiar it couldn't or wouldn't be stolen. I would then buy an old SVT head and cab. The cab would have to have the tolex warn off one side. I'd be as fit as I am and definitely have a P-Bass with some wear on it. Then I could do this thing. However the size and cumbersomeness of this rig would preclude any fast getaways.
Thank God their is almost no smoking in bars which allows me to go where I absolutely wouldn't have before.

Really, I buy instruments for there sound and use them where appropriate to get that sound.

 

[The Hammer]

I have chosen a bass for one or two gigs purely upon whether it would stand up as a weapon or not. In those situations, my 73 Precision wins for "least likely to break when hitting someone", even though it worth about as much as an 'expensive' bass.

I do not discriminate though. I'll take a 4K bass to a gig just as well as a $200 bass. I buy my basses to play, I won't insult a crowd or club by bring less than what I want to hear because they come from the wrong demographic (aka 'dive-worthy').

HA! That brings back some memories. When I lived in Nashville I had a friend that played bass in a band that played all the redneck dives in the area. He swore by Peavey T40's because you could stop a bullet with it or crack somebodys skull and it wouldn't go out of tune

 

[LP75]

I have chosen a bass for one or two gigs purely upon whether it would stand up as a weapon or not. In those situations, my 73 Precision wins for "least likely to break when hitting someone", even though it worth about as much as an 'expensive' bass.

That reminds me of this classic courtesy of Keith Richards:



If only Mick wasn't between Keith and the camera....

 

[Bass Viking]

I won't insult a crowd or club by bring less than what I want to hear because they come from the wrong demographic (aka 'dive-worthy').

I wouldn't worry about the patrons being insulted. They probably couldn't care less.

 

[KPAX]

Boutique is for old ladys.

This is not meant to be a slam to any higher end bass owner(s). I figured since there are players who like for example, a MIM Jazz over its MIA counterpart. Why not ask the same of owners of boutique basses who also own regular off the shelf basses.

So after lusting, fantasizing and saving up mucho dinero on a finely crafted $3000-$6000 bass, who actually prefers playing their mass production bass?

 

[mongo2]

Boutique is for old ladys.

The truth, it's out there.

 

[4andnomore]

No interest whatsoever in boutique or anything with more than 4 strings - P's, J's, T-birds, and the occasional frankenbass for me thank you very much. Leo pretty much got it right the first (and second) time around.

 

[LowBSix]

I just picked up a Fretless SX project bass to compare with my LEJ 5 Fretted... I have a Fretless that I've owned since 1987 that I love, but I love the look of a J; so I'm experimenting.

IMHO
Right away there is a major difference:
Appearance
Feel
Hardware
Electronics
Tone
Build
The LEJ is clearly superior.

I must say that the raw/unplugged tone of the SX is OK. It plays alright, but the bridge rattles and the pickups are dull and muddy to my ears. The tuners are fair, but I'll see what happens.

The SX neck was covered with a very thick gloss finish. I don't like that. Steel wool 0000 wouldn't take it down fare enough, so I picked up a 3M SandBlaster 320 grit pad and it worked so well that I don't think I'll need to steel wool it any further. Although, there are still some globs of too much of gloss on areas near the shoulders.

So, I bought a Hipshot A style bridge that cost me $10 more than the bass and am going to put in an EMG J set of pickups. So, I'll have $235 into this bass and we'll see what happens.

If for nothing else, I'll have a decent beater bass that I can take on funkier gigs.