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Why do we obsess over the instrument?

#61
BartmanPDX said:
I love having them, and I can't think of anything I'd rather mess around with than bass gear. If that means I drive a crappy car, wear crappy clothes, etc., then that's fine by me. Bass is the biggest source of joy in my life, and I have no problem in indulging in my favorite hobby.
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I think I'm on the same boat, although I can't buy basses as often as I'd like to. I prefer to spend my money on a bass I like than change my car, for instance (as long as the car works fine, of course).
 
#64
Our instrument: an electric bass or bass guitar is an extension of our self. It should express us both musically and visually I feel. The bass needs to sound, feel, and look good. If you've obsessed over another bass and weren't happy with the ones you have then you thought that bass would meet one of the three criteria better than what you had.

It's human nature (I feel) to think the grass is greener on the other side. I have had some great basses in my short life and have sold them to buy something that I thought was going to sound better, play better, feel better, or just be better! Guess what? Many times it wasn't better, it was just different. I then either missed what I had or wanted something else because I had made up my mind that this was THE BASS and it would be perfect for me.

I started out wanting an MIA Fender Jazz as my "dream bass" a few years ago. Well before I got on TB. I had it and thought there was something better out there. So I sold it, bought others and seemed to be on that endless quest, when it hit me one day. I was in my local guitar shop and there was a young black guy playing an MTD 6 string through an SWR. He had the lows backed off and treble cranked. He had a very very modern sound as well and chops a plenty! After he got done and left, I picked up the MTD 6 and plugged it in. I hated the sounds I was getting. I reEQed the amp and it helped a lot, but I wasn't happy with the way I sounded. Then I went over and picked up a passive J bass and plugged it in. It sounded great, looked great, and felt great.

My point is the MTD 6 worked for his style and tone. I've had basses like that, but I keep coming back to what I like the most and works for me and that's a passive Jazz bass. I have two really good J basses right now. A G&L Jb-2 and a Schecter Diamond J. I love both of them and I realize now, the gas can't get much greener for me. You just have to find your type of grass and stick with it!
 
#66
Not to sound sexist, but men obsess about everything: women, sex(probably first), cars, houses, status, football, racing and our gear. To have the best gear out there says something about us. We are also obsessively in denial most of the time. Please don't tell me we'd be perfectly content with a SX.
 
#67
This thread is a heavy read.

I definately think that many of us spend more time looking for, and buying new basses than we should. At times, I'm just as guilty as anyone. In the eight o so years I've been playing, I've owned five basses. I still own three of them, but really, considering I've been in two bands, and only made a few hundred bucks doing gigs, I think maybe I should settle.

I'e also noticed how much obsessing over getting new gear can detract from the enjoyment of current gear. And needless to say, playing can suffer because of this kind of obsession. For example, the first bass I ever bought was way better than the next two I bought, but because I wanted something new and shiny, I couldn't pick it up for a long time. I've narrowed my basses down to three (Lado, Spector, Stingray) and I'm happy with that for a long time. These three basses cover so much area tonally that I can wait a while.
 
#69
Check out the new movie It Might Get Loud. Really cool movie with Jack White, Jimmy Page and The Edge about their careers, music, etc.

So Jack White starts the movie by making a "guitar" with a 2x4, couple nails, glass bottle, piece of cable, crappy pick up and jack. Plugs it in and starts playing it. For him its about the music, and the expression. Then you see the Edge with his crazy rack and pedal board. Also shows Jimmy Page's basement with hundreds? of guitar cases.

All renown players but, its different strokes.

I am waiting for the Bass version of the movie to come out. Maybe Paul McCartney, Sting and Flea?
 
#71
I think the key is getting what you want to make your music. There are a few basses that I really want, because the tone they have goes with the music I make (a gibson eb-2, lakland hollowbody w/ darkstars, MM stingray, bongo 6 hhp) None of which are cheap. However I think the problem comes when the instrument trumps the music. Not the cost or the quality or the quantity of the instruments but the buying selling and keeping up with the ones that you have (or want). If the bass is in the way of your music, there is a problem.
 
#72
Music is the result of us methodically manipulating a moderately-sophisticated piece of machinery in order to create amplified sound of user-determined frequency. Music is not some magical entity that spontaneously springs from the speakers as we mindlessly move our hands across a lifeless chunk of wood with metal stuck on it.

Music, however, is very personal. And to accurately recreate our thoughts into the form of music, we must choose the proper tool. We obsess over the instrument, because it is our tool (albeit an imperfect tool). And like all other pieces of technology, there is no fairy dust involved in creating an instrument... just cold, hard science.


Certain instruments just happen to make certain sounds, not because of some unnamed evil hell-bent on taking your money, but because of technological limitations. And it is an unfortunate fact that certain people like certain sounds. In order for people to find a personally pleasing sound, they must find the instrument that makes it.




If you want the be-all, end-all of instruments...

One that will make all else obsolete...

Then feel free to take out the physics book, woodworking guide, and composite fabricator manual and read until you figure out something every other instrument builder hasn't.
 
#73
it's pretty simple for me. I'm in it for the music, and that's a given. That's why I play in the first place. That being said, my bass has to sound cool, look cool and feel great. So damn right I am going to obsess over the instrument I play. What you play has to fit your vibe.
 

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