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why with the hating?

funk generator

funk generator

Supporting Member
Nov 3, 2009
1,948
684
Johnson City, TN
#1
I'm currently 20 years old and in college. I work 3 part time jobs and keep 17 credit hours as a music major and I have a taste for expensive gear. Every time I buy a new bass I get constant bombardment from people saying how ridiculous it is that I'd buy such a thing. I wont get intothe details of all the comments, because well this post is already long enough :)

So my question is, why are people so hateful that I have/buy nice gear? I work really hard for what I have, I dont understand why my playing boutique basses is a such a problem.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?
 
#3
funk generator said:
So my question is, why are people so hateful that I have/buy nice gear? I work really hard for what I have, I dont understand why my playing boutique basses is a such a problem.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Click to expand...

Yes. Why? Possible insecurity and musicians HATE change. Leo perfected the bass in 1950. How dare you think you are worthy of something different!!!
 
#4
Perhaps people feel that instead of spending money on instruments, since I am sure you already have a collection, you can save it or invest into something more plausible.

I can agree, but not entirely. Some people just do not understand music, or the instruments needed to make it.

However, I have been working hard since I was 14 years old. Between part time jobs to graduating college while working full time during the summer. I have no car, I live with my family still, and I really do not seem to buy much yet my bank account is not growing. They might just be trying to say that you should save that money for a rainy day investment, or as an emergency. I don't think it is a hate thing, maybe that they have had some rough experiences and wish for you to not experience them.

But that is just a guess.
 
#5
It shouldn't really matter what they think. As long as you can afford it without getting into trouble, and you want it, who cares what they think or say? It's less important than a gnat on a fig in the desert. Just enjoy your stuff and your life and concentrate on that. You'll find things more important to actually worry about than a bunch of random people's opinions. Just remember their opinions are worth what you paid for them - nothing. I can't see a good reason why you would care.
 
#6
Its because they cant afford them..... When I was younger (man that makes me feel old) I had people that would come to shows and tell other people that I didnt deserve the gear I had because I didnt use it right or they didnt like my style of playing. Just dont pay no mind and get what you want. Doesnt matter what "they" say.
 
#10
is your playing solid? if not, they might think it foolish of you to spend so much on your gear when your playing doesn't seem to warrant it.

if you were a killer player, i doubt highly that they would say a thing about you purchasing boutique equipment.

or they could just be envious.
 
#11
I will ask the real question. How in this economy, does some get 3 part time jobs? It took me 8 months to just get one!!!!!!!! Then again, the unemployment checks really helped with practicing bass and achieving of twelve thousand x box live gamer points.
 
#12
Just remember too guys, these same people who b*tch and moan about oh my god you paid 500 bucks for a bass must be nice to be rich, probably drop 50 bucks every Friday night in a tavern for 5 dollar beers (that cost the bar 25 cents) and 7.50 for shots or mixed drinks, and probably smoke 2 packs of cigarettes a day at 5 bucks a pack (at least) so you can do the math and see that's 10 bucks a day or 300 a month for cigarettes, doesn't take long to add up, anyway, these folks quite likely just spend their money in other ways that are far more dubious than musical gear and you aren't whining about that and berating them for it are you? It's their choice, just as it's your choice to buy or not to buy musical gear.

If it makes you feel better, point out that a couple of months of their habit would pay for the gear you just bought. Won't shut them up but it may make you feel better.
 
#13
Perhaps people 'be hating' because all you do is play funky bass lines and talk about your gear. Maybe you seem uptight and difficult to communicate with. Perhaps you have body odour issues that you are used to (and therefore cannot smell) but to everybody else it is apparent. Perhaps you wear those cheap jeans that are basically 'undifferentiated leg covers' and you are confusing and infuriating your African-American cousins by being the whitest dude in town whilst playing Bootsy Collins licks on your uber expensive boutique rig.
 
#15
oh ya Im with ya. As soon as I got both the Aguilar DB359 and the DB728 this buddy at work was a complete jerk about it. Even said he couldnt stand me having better gear than him.

The bottom line is are you happy with your purchase? If others are hateful or judgemental, thats their problem, shake it off bro.
 
#17
i get that too sometimes dude. I have gone through alot of gear in the past five years, and people at school (music major as well) always said, are you rich or something? and i would always think, its not that hard to save up for decent gear if you have a decent job. its funny that most of the people who would make such comments actually had decent instruments themselves. instead of having one really nice bass, they would have a few cheap ones. its all relative. I just don't see the point in buying more than one mexican fender for example. i have one, but i wouldn't want another. my justification is if i really do care about my sound and even image, then i will invest in a really nice instrument, because no matter the bang for the buck, an MIM is just not as good as an american. No one will convince otherwise because i can seriously tell the difference. for someone investing time into a career, like ourselves, i believe its absolutely necessary.

remember, a good carpenter can't blame his tools, however a good carpenter would not use bad ones.
 

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