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Why do we obsess over the instrument?
- Thread starter Holy War
- Start date
Enjoying gear and playing music are separate parts of a larger passion IMO. There's no harm in appreciating great gear as long as one doesn't think it'll improve the musicianship or music and doesn't substitute oogling TB ads for practice. It's more of a guy thing IMO. Male hobbies often have a technical side, whether it's carpentry, cars or a sport-the gear is a part of the whole package.
I understand the op's point, and definitely agree that this obsession isn't always healthy...
However, I think I am obsessed with everything musical. Whether it's learning how to setup a bass well, or learning how to eq the bass freq mud out of a bad room, or transcribing away from my instrument, or working on groove and time feels, or learning about the history and story of an inspiring musician, or learning where the resonant freq of a kick drum sits, or learning vocal and horn ranges for songwriting and arranging purposes, or learning how to solder a cable or restring a bass, or learning about impedence matching, or listening to an inspiring album for a week straight, or checking out new gear that can help me sound better... Etc etc
To me, it's all the same thing. I'm obsessed with my CRAFT.. Becoming better at what I
do and expanding my skills and knowledge as far as I can go.
Don't get me wrong, I own 4 electric basses, but I definitely treat them all as tools, and they were purchased over years and were fairly inexpensive really, no boutique basses!
I totally agree with the OPs point, however I belive there is nothing wrong with being obsessed with something that you believe will make you sound better and help you improve as a musican. Be obsessed, but keep it healthy
However, I think I am obsessed with everything musical. Whether it's learning how to setup a bass well, or learning how to eq the bass freq mud out of a bad room, or transcribing away from my instrument, or working on groove and time feels, or learning about the history and story of an inspiring musician, or learning where the resonant freq of a kick drum sits, or learning vocal and horn ranges for songwriting and arranging purposes, or learning how to solder a cable or restring a bass, or learning about impedence matching, or listening to an inspiring album for a week straight, or checking out new gear that can help me sound better... Etc etc
To me, it's all the same thing. I'm obsessed with my CRAFT.. Becoming better at what I
do and expanding my skills and knowledge as far as I can go.
Don't get me wrong, I own 4 electric basses, but I definitely treat them all as tools, and they were purchased over years and were fairly inexpensive really, no boutique basses!
I totally agree with the OPs point, however I belive there is nothing wrong with being obsessed with something that you believe will make you sound better and help you improve as a musican. Be obsessed, but keep it healthy
HW, you've simply posted two poles between which most musicians fluctuate as their careers and experiences develop.
Yes, the music is the focal point of the performance; but the instrument is part of the voice, which you use to get your part across. So, it is normal for most players to continually seek ways to improve their voice. That can be done by improving your vocabulary, modifying your existing "instrument" or acquiring new "instrumentation" with improved tonal characteristics. All are valid and kept in balance contribute to the artist's growth and development.
Really, the key is maintaining the balance, and you are also correct to continually question that balance. It does shift as we develop.
So, my <2c is to maintain focus, and keep challenging your balance.
Yes, the music is the focal point of the performance; but the instrument is part of the voice, which you use to get your part across. So, it is normal for most players to continually seek ways to improve their voice. That can be done by improving your vocabulary, modifying your existing "instrument" or acquiring new "instrumentation" with improved tonal characteristics. All are valid and kept in balance contribute to the artist's growth and development.
Really, the key is maintaining the balance, and you are also correct to continually question that balance. It does shift as we develop.
So, my <2c is to maintain focus, and keep challenging your balance.
What I mean is that Obssesed minds (hahahaha, this is getting weird) tned to be that way with a lot of things, kind inherent to the caracter, if you get what I mean...
...
I have a very particular idea of what I want a bass guitar to be in terms of sound, playbility, and setup, and yes, aesthetics. Some people think none of that matters (not singling anybody in particular) and that as long as it goes "thump", it's good enough.
There are alot of "good enough" people in the world. I'm not one. Some people get upset when they encounter other individuals who are more ambitious and want more out of life than they do, as if what's "good enough" for them should be "good enough" for everybody. I'm not trying to get too deep here, but I work hard for my money, and, in fact, deserve better than a low-grade instrument that sounds cheap and can't handle an optimal setup.
It's not just about being materialistic, because I can actually play quite well, though there's nothing wrong with being a collector and wanting historical pieces of craftsmanship from a bygone era (vintage instruments.)
To each their own. I don't give a damn what anybody else uses or sounds like unless I'm a fan of their music. And I know that my gear will always help me sound good and that my abilities will always allow me to play well.
There are alot of "good enough" people in the world. I'm not one. Some people get upset when they encounter other individuals who are more ambitious and want more out of life than they do, as if what's "good enough" for them should be "good enough" for everybody. I'm not trying to get too deep here, but I work hard for my money, and, in fact, deserve better than a low-grade instrument that sounds cheap and can't handle an optimal setup.
It's not just about being materialistic, because I can actually play quite well, though there's nothing wrong with being a collector and wanting historical pieces of craftsmanship from a bygone era (vintage instruments.)
To each their own. I don't give a damn what anybody else uses or sounds like unless I'm a fan of their music. And I know that my gear will always help me sound good and that my abilities will always allow me to play well.
I think this is very true. Just about anything I've ever been into has been the same way, cars,drawing,painting,bass,photography. Drawers and painters go crazy over certain paints,high quality paints that cost 10 bucks and ounce,pencils that are 50 bucks for a 10 pack,paper than 10 bucks a sheet. True, I could use a number 2 pencil and a piece of printer paper,or some construction paper and temper paints. If I'm good enough I can draw or paint something just was well as I could with a giant array of pencils and paints that cost 100 times more. But the subtle qualities and differences that make something from a good sketch to a work of art comes with a price. Also, I think as most artists are,have it be music,drawing,painting,photography,as true artists, we are never satisfied with our ending result. We always think "that could be better" no matter what others think. We are all our biggest critics, and so we're always in search of something that can make what we do better,I.E. better gear.
I understand the op's point, and definitely agree that this obsession isn't always healthy...
However, I think I am obsessed with everything musical. Whether it's learning how to setup a bass well, or learning how to eq the bass freq mud out of a bad room, or transcribing away from my instrument, or working on groove and time feels, or learning about the history and story of an inspiring musician, or learning where the resonant freq of a kick drum sits, or learning vocal and horn ranges for songwriting and arranging purposes, or learning how to solder a cable or restring a bass, or learning about impedence matching, or listening to an inspiring album for a week straight, or checking out new gear that can help me sound better... Etc etc
To me, it's all the same thing. I'm obsessed with my CRAFT.. Becoming better at what I
do and expanding my skills and knowledge as far as I can go.
Don't get me wrong, I own 4 electric basses, but I definitely treat them all as tools, and they were purchased over years and were fairly inexpensive really, no boutique basses!
I totally agree with the OPs point, however I belive there is nothing wrong with being obsessed with something that you believe will make you sound better and help you improve as a musican. Be obsessed, but keep it healthy
wow, you so eloquently put what I have been trying to say and get at, haha. I thank you
again, another fantastic point!
See, I wasnt trolling these boards at all, this is the exact kind of responce(s) that Im looking for on the subject
Personally think the OP has raised some viable points. On the other hand, i play and practice so much that my previous sought after tone gets worn out. Preferences change with the wind.
Some great analogies have already been made to this effect. It's easy to get caught up with gear acquisition when your chasing perfection in tone. Some people never "settle" and you have in effect what the OP is talking about. I'm alright if i arrive at 80% there tone-wise.
Still, while I may be satisfied with my gear for several years at a time, once I've recorded and played with that gear (rotating three basses and two vastly diff heads) i know at some point I'll grow tired of those "sounds" and start searching for other options.
One alternative to turning so much gear over in this pursuit is to try things out before you buy or especially trade.
Sometimes you can just see the blindsight in the bassists' eyes; two basses rolling around like a slot machine...
I see both sides somewhat and try to balance in the middle. I'll never ever sell my fretless schecter with active pups; that one stays..
Some great analogies have already been made to this effect. It's easy to get caught up with gear acquisition when your chasing perfection in tone. Some people never "settle" and you have in effect what the OP is talking about. I'm alright if i arrive at 80% there tone-wise.
Still, while I may be satisfied with my gear for several years at a time, once I've recorded and played with that gear (rotating three basses and two vastly diff heads) i know at some point I'll grow tired of those "sounds" and start searching for other options.
One alternative to turning so much gear over in this pursuit is to try things out before you buy or especially trade.
Sometimes you can just see the blindsight in the bassists' eyes; two basses rolling around like a slot machine...I see both sides somewhat and try to balance in the middle. I'll never ever sell my fretless schecter with active pups; that one stays..
Bryan R. Tyler
TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
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Dude, it's "draftsman"- a drawer is what you keep your underwear in
lol ok thats a nice little euphemism
Personally, I think that of course the sound and playability are the most important aspects of any instrument.
Then it's a question of feeling good about playing it, especially if it's going to be in your hands several hours a day everyday and then if you play concerts you are going to present yourself in public with it as an extension of yourself physically and musically.
There are inexpensive instruments that will do the job but it's like the car, camera, bicycle or even a walking stick.
If something happened to you and you needed to use a walking stick every day of your life you might want something more than a cut off broomstick that could theoretically do the job just as well.
Then it's a question of feeling good about playing it, especially if it's going to be in your hands several hours a day everyday and then if you play concerts you are going to present yourself in public with it as an extension of yourself physically and musically.
There are inexpensive instruments that will do the job but it's like the car, camera, bicycle or even a walking stick.
If something happened to you and you needed to use a walking stick every day of your life you might want something more than a cut off broomstick that could theoretically do the job just as well.
I can only speak for myself. While I don't obsess:
1. I am curious. I want to know, "what is it about [insert an aspect of a bass, e.g., pickup design, body style etc.] that makes people like it? So yeah, I have a lot of basses, with different pups and strings. I'm a tinkerer, but my goal is to find what matters, what I like and how to optimize whatever I've got.
2. OK, I'm gonna generalize on this one, males are competitive and always looking for an edge. I bet when Cain threw his first rock, Abel said, "Hah, I can throw farther than that!" Eventually, somebody figured out that if you got a flatter rock and spun it just so, you could REALLY throw far (and the olympics were born, j/k). Musicians will look for the "whatever", in the pursuit of greater music. It's a natural thing.
3. ANYthing can be done to excess, even practicing. Well, let me caveat that last phrase, if you keep practicing the SAME thing and never try something new, another genre, another instrument, another key signature, time signature you aren't developing your craft, IMO. Diversity is a good thing. I love having a bunch of diverse tools to use making music.
So different people have their own idea about the line between learning and obsessing. Whatever. Sure Jamerson created great music on a bass that other professional bass players described as "unplayable". They weren't Jamerson... and neither am I.
1. I am curious. I want to know, "what is it about [insert an aspect of a bass, e.g., pickup design, body style etc.] that makes people like it? So yeah, I have a lot of basses, with different pups and strings. I'm a tinkerer, but my goal is to find what matters, what I like and how to optimize whatever I've got.
2. OK, I'm gonna generalize on this one, males are competitive and always looking for an edge. I bet when Cain threw his first rock, Abel said, "Hah, I can throw farther than that!" Eventually, somebody figured out that if you got a flatter rock and spun it just so, you could REALLY throw far (and the olympics were born, j/k). Musicians will look for the "whatever", in the pursuit of greater music. It's a natural thing.
3. ANYthing can be done to excess, even practicing. Well, let me caveat that last phrase, if you keep practicing the SAME thing and never try something new, another genre, another instrument, another key signature, time signature you aren't developing your craft, IMO. Diversity is a good thing. I love having a bunch of diverse tools to use making music.
So different people have their own idea about the line between learning and obsessing. Whatever. Sure Jamerson created great music on a bass that other professional bass players described as "unplayable". They weren't Jamerson... and neither am I.
Holy- I recently sold or gave away about 10 basses. I found it to be a very liberating experience as I'm not always considering how this bass will sound with that amp. I really enjoyed collecting them, and I also enjoyed getting rid of them. Now I'm really focused on playing.
But that's just the way the equipment pendulum is swinging for me right now. Who knows what next month will bring.
But that's just the way the equipment pendulum is swinging for me right now. Who knows what next month will bring.
AMEN!!
Ooops, did I type that out loud?? Let me sit back down. OK, yeah lomo, I hear you and AGREE!!!! VERY eloquently and concisely (unlike MY post above) put!
But I would say that it IS possible for a particular piece of gear to improve the music. In fact if the neck profile is uncomfortable it can hinder the musicianship too! But those are nits, and I can disagree on those points agreeably. At the heart of what you are saying I wholeheartedly agree!
I love this analogy.
Just look at Steve Swallow and Anthony Jackson...those guys did not sacrifice their artistic abilities to obsess over the details of their instruments. Spending time, energy and money towards perfecting the tools of your craft should not be considered a waste.
Honestly questions like the ones the OP raised are very personal in nature. I have those questions about areas in my life (mostly: do I really need to spend $50 on a pair of pants?). I spent less on my main transportation than either of my two main basses. That's based on my own priorities and views on life, but for me to project those views on others would be absurd. Now if spending money on gear is taking away from family or causing financial problems than by all means, re-evaluate, but that goes for anything in life not just gear purchases.
it's a hyundai vs mercedes thing. Some things that you buy don't need to have a reason. You want luxury buy it, don't try to give valuable arguments for luxury, because it would go against the definition of luxury.
