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Why Change?
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
Well humans are selfish. They will do things to better themselves. 9 times out of 10. While I agree that sometimes cheaper things work and sound great, some of us want that wow factor aesthetically as well. People love attention
As somebody who has owned more basses than he can remember, I cannot be against change or variety. What I am in favor of is really listening to yourself and knowing yourself. We need to know what works for us. The guy I am talking about has played Ibanez for at least as long as I have known him which is is around seven years. He is a great bassist, and sounds great on Ibanez Soundgear basses. I can understand wanting a Fodera. They are beautiful and beautifully made. They sound great too! I just feel once we have achieved a certain level of comfort on a bass and a great sound, we should know to appeciate that and hold onto it even if we try out other things.
I have 5 basses, and they are all at least a little different, which is why I bought them. I consider 3 of them to be somewhat unique - Fender HM, P Elite II, and Maestro fretless. Even though I have what I consider to be "the one" (P Elite), I still buy different basses, just to have some variety. After all, variety IS the spice of life.
I think that people are frequently looking for the newer, better, bigger, faster, prettier model, without really asking themselves "why?". It seems as though the question being asked is "why not?". Person B is just trying to keep up with Person A. And, person A is just trying to stay ahead of person B. Just a giant rat race.
I think that people are frequently looking for the newer, better, bigger, faster, prettier model, without really asking themselves "why?". It seems as though the question being asked is "why not?". Person B is just trying to keep up with Person A. And, person A is just trying to stay ahead of person B. Just a giant rat race.
I think if you do like how you play and you feel good about your chops that you can probably make just about any comparable bass 'do it' for you - and any bass-hopping or accumulating is only adding to the number of basses you sound good on.
I think that some people blame the bass for their own inabilities, too. I think you will frequently find them continually seeking 'the bass for them' - finding it, then discovering it's not - then finding another - nope... another... nope... They end up going through a whole lotta basses that they think suck.
I think that some people blame the bass for their own inabilities, too. I think you will frequently find them continually seeking 'the bass for them' - finding it, then discovering it's not - then finding another - nope... another... nope... They end up going through a whole lotta basses that they think suck.
Not sure what I can add that hasn't been said. I have gone through a ton of basses. Part of it was trial and error. It's hard to know what bass you should stick with if you haven't tried a few to experience some differences first hand. Part of it was just fun and I liked having a different bass every month or whatever. This went on for years.
At this point, I am actually tired of the endless trial and error and tone quest. I've "settled" on a bass that I had bought a few years ago sold to a buddy, and bought back last month. I like how it plays, I like how it feels, I like how it sounds, I like how it "makes" me play or "inspires" me too play. I think it looks cool, too, with the new custom pick guard.
The plan is for this to be the bass. It does everything I need. Now, I my try one or two more (I'm feeling the urge for an unlined fretless 4) but I will keep this no matter what.
G.A.S. is an interesting thing. The human condition is an interesting thing.
At this point, I am actually tired of the endless trial and error and tone quest. I've "settled" on a bass that I had bought a few years ago sold to a buddy, and bought back last month. I like how it plays, I like how it feels, I like how it sounds, I like how it "makes" me play or "inspires" me too play. I think it looks cool, too, with the new custom pick guard.
The plan is for this to be the bass. It does everything I need. Now, I my try one or two more (I'm feeling the urge for an unlined fretless 4) but I will keep this no matter what.
G.A.S. is an interesting thing. The human condition is an interesting thing.
I don't think anyone should have to settle - and I will offer that if you really like the bass but you are not getting the sound you want it might be the amp - the strings - the setup... One good way to know is (assuming it's already setup pretty well and you have strings you like) is to take it and try some new amps.
I had NO idea my basses sounded as GREAT as they did until I got my Ampeg - and learned about what having a tube amp means and how to use it properly... which took about 10 years of feeling like I was "settling" even though I had the Ampeg, because I didn't know how to use it properly. Just about any bass pumping through that rig when it's fully warmed up and hummin' sounds absolutely killer.
I still have some of my older amps and all of my basses sound lackluster through them by comparison - but very much exactly like I remember sounding back in the day when I felt like I just had to settle. Anemic, no personality, no body... Just loud or soft... Switch over to the big rig... BOOM! Hello, baby!
The same thing happened to me when I had a Markbass. Once I turned off the filters, the sound I wanted popped out perfectly.
Yessss that is why I'm sticking with my Precision. Me & Jamerson & Sting. Play it into the ground.
Greed & covetousness. Perhaps that's why some people and marketing in general tend to mention the words--new, free, win, sex, bacon--in their ads.
Free new bacon pancake with purchase of my distortion pedal btw.
I used settle in quotes as many people would think I "settled" going to this from a Sadowsky or Roscoe or whatever, but really, I think I play better on this bass than any of those and I love the sound and feel.
My problem was I kept trying to buy the bass I thought I 'needed" for the gig instead of just getting a bass I liked and than getting all the tones I can from it - or just getting a good "me" tone and going with it.
I may try a different amp. I love my Genz Benz stuff, but have been using a BDDI to "dirty" up the tone a bit. I didn't like these in the past, but these days I like the "fat tube" kind of tone. Maybe it's playing a passive jazz instead of all the fancy active stuff I used to play. Maybe my taste just changed. Maybe I'm just finally being honest and using/playing what I lie instead of what I think others will like.
I think we need to listen to ourselves while we play. We need to listen to recordings, and we need to listen to what people who hear us play tell us. Beyond sound, we know if a bass is confortable for us to play.
It can be pretty stunning what having the right gear can do even for otherwise mediocre instruments. It can be even more stunning what that same gear, intelligently dialed in can do.
It can be frustrating as hell to go from one bass to the next and feel like they are all the same and none of them seem to sound the way you want to sound. I am very happy I found my recipe - and for me, the main ingredient is the amp. My basses are all over the map from home-made (some good, some only so-so) to a short-scale Bronco - to my most recent EUB creation - if I'm using the big rig, the bass is almost inconsequential...
My friend picked up a mexi-Fender jazz bass for a song and had it around the band room. It's a 4 string and for kicks I decided to jam with it for a bit. The action was a mile high and even through the rig, it sounded only OK.
A little TLC on the truss and saddles was all it took to go from 'meh' to 'yesssss!'.
Sometimes you can have a bass that feels fantastic - but you just cannot dial in that sound. A new set of pups or a on-board preamp might be all it needs. Don't take for granted a bass that FEELS really great but doesn't sound perfect. It doesn't take a lot to make it sound much better. But I think it's much harder to make a bass that doesn't feel good feel better.
Boredom and the desire to try new things for me.....and this friggin forum!
Non bass example: I just switched from Taylor Made golf clubs to Ping last year. What did $3000 worth of the latest and greatest golf gear do to my handicap? Almost nothing. My buddies were impressed though.
Will a Fodera Monarch make me play or sound better on gigs than my Bongo or Gibson 5ers do? Probably not much. Although any bassists in the audience that have bad GAS would likely go bananas over such a high end bass.
As my buddy that has played the same RIC and Peavey bass amp for 25+ years tells me... "the Internet is ruining your groove". True dat!
Non bass example: I just switched from Taylor Made golf clubs to Ping last year. What did $3000 worth of the latest and greatest golf gear do to my handicap? Almost nothing. My buddies were impressed though.
Will a Fodera Monarch make me play or sound better on gigs than my Bongo or Gibson 5ers do? Probably not much. Although any bassists in the audience that have bad GAS would likely go bananas over such a high end bass.
As my buddy that has played the same RIC and Peavey bass amp for 25+ years tells me... "the Internet is ruining your groove". True dat!
A Chevy Cruse will get you to the grocery store and back. A Ferrari will get you chicks. 'Nuff said.
All the chicks I know who have an opinion on how sexy one is over the other say...
Um... wait... I don't know any non-bass-playing chicks who give a flip about what the bass looks like... and the bass playing chicks like what you could probably consider the "Chevy" of basses, so...
I liked - even loved the instrument I used at home for years when I started, but after I used it on about 100 gigs, I kinda got a feel for what I need in an instrument. I new I could get what I needed out of an inexpensive instrument, but I new I would get "more" out of a "pro" instrument. Before that I never owned an instrument (guitar,bass,drums) that cost me over $500 but I've always wanted one of the major's top models. I saved $1300 which to some isn't alot considering boutiqe instruments, and bought my first "pro" level instrument. Do I play or sound better? [I hope so, but prob not because of the instrument] fastforward a cpl years, I"m looking for a diff sounding cheap used bass (as a backup?) maybe just for a lil diff flavor sometimes. Should I just be happy with my "pro" level bass and only own that one? After all I dreamed for years for the day I could afford a "pro" instrument for myself, now I have one and don't "need" a backup or different flavor, but still want one! 
\end derail
\end derail
A lot of players hear a tone in their head that they can't seem to get with their current bass. Buying new gear is a lot easier than practicing, if you have the money.
The bassist in the music store was clearly pushing himself, and probably coaxing a pretty nice Jazz tone out of his Ibby. Not everybody has the chops, technique and skill to do that. I might have grabbed a Jazz bass off the wall.
The bassist in the music store was clearly pushing himself, and probably coaxing a pretty nice Jazz tone out of his Ibby. Not everybody has the chops, technique and skill to do that. I might have grabbed a Jazz bass off the wall.
Just Thumpin'
Commercial User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 4,534
- 1,664
- Disclosures
- Manager and Partner, Fodera Guitars (10/14/09 - 12/16/19)
Actually Vic has been playing a Fodera Monarch since 1983...our very first year. He bought the bass because he loved it. For the 27 years following he never received a dime from us...we simply never had anything to give. Only last year were we able to start paying some small payments to him to help his music camp. That's 27 years where he could have been earning a LOT of money as an endorser with a much larger bass maker.
There is a profound misconception that the players that you mention play our gear because they are "endorsed." The reality is that they play our instruments because we have a very special, collaborative relationship with each person. We are friends and artistic collaborators that build instruments that hopefully help bring their musical voices to life. These players can choose ANY instrument they want -- and get paid very well to play them. We cannot afford to pay them and yet they still work with us...hopefully that speaks volumes.
Kindest regards,
J
There is a profound misconception that the players that you mention play our gear because they are "endorsed." The reality is that they play our instruments because we have a very special, collaborative relationship with each person. We are friends and artistic collaborators that build instruments that hopefully help bring their musical voices to life. These players can choose ANY instrument they want -- and get paid very well to play them. We cannot afford to pay them and yet they still work with us...hopefully that speaks volumes.
Kindest regards,
J
