Fired/not recruited for playing the wrong brand.

Have you been fired of a band because you were playing the wrong brand if bass?

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#341
If not mentioned already, I am guessing it is a nod to Kiss, etc:

And I recall at least one Kiss album stating Kiss uses Gibson because they want the best.

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#349
No...not to an audition.

In one of my current bands BL doesn't even know what my basses are.. and he knows sounds and gear in general, but he can't get past a P with flats.
I just give him that sound when I think that sound fits but I just think he was setting the expectation at the first few rehearsals and now he doesn't mention it anymore.

I can imagine plenty on other musicians wouldnt know what Sadowsky was too.
But most bass players dont know what they are looking at either.
 
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#350
I always bring my Ray to an audition for cover/rock genre. If I get invited to join afterwards, I show up at rehearsal with the Ray and either the Yamaha BBP or the Lakland, AND also the Ray. If they want me to play a Fender, then they need to look elsewhere. Owned a few and never found one that impressed me.
The BBP is a better sounding P than any Fender (IMHO) hands down. I can generally tame the Ray to a good level of mellow if needed. The most versatile is my USA Sterling strung with Cobalt flats. The Sterling is so aggressive that even with flats it can do the face-melting Ray bark, but i can tone it down enough for most things.
 
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#351
Knew a guy who went to Berklee Shool of Music in Boston. He had Ric, first class for some bass course, teacher literally kicked him out of class saying “come back with a Real (Fender) bass”. He got some POS P bass copy that looked and played like crap just for that class. Guy didn’t care how it sounded, as long as It looked like a Fender. Strange behavior.
 
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#352
Nek07 said:
I was twice.
The first time, the band I was playing was on an upward trajectory, I was in that band for two years, playing the band owned Squier Mickey Way Mustang Bass when at some point the band leader wanted me to change that bass for a more serious model as we were getting traction. So I brought my Yamaha BB614 just to be laught at, the band leader wanted a Rickenbacker (as the previous bass player used to own...well a cheap copy really). As I said that at that time I could not afford a bass that was two month salary for me, he showed me the door.

Second time, I show up to give a try to a band, nothing too serious, weekend warrior type with a few paying gig a year. I showed up with my Yamaha BB434M and was immediatly told "you do not have a real bass?". That band was loosing gigs because they cant find a bass player and they didnt wanted me to play with them because only Gibson is good enought for them (actual quote).

So I was thinking about that these days (the tread about the guitarist requesting the bass player to change his gear comes to mind, standing your ground) and I wondered if that happened to other peoples. I have noted Bass Brand, but it can be anything really, like people wanting you to play a certain rIf that’s all
Click to expand...

Being visually acceptable is an important part of the process. If you are in a band for 2 years musically you were doing the job. I’ll also venture somewhere along the line this subject came up more that once. Pretty much buying a a specific bass as a joke just to poke the bear, well you asked for it.

As for band #2, no loss there. You really don’t want to work with these guys anyway. Your interaction is a pretty good tip off why they are having trouble retaining a bassist. I realize some players really like Gibson Basses, but unless I’m in a niche band, like a Jack Bruce Tribute band, I wouldn’t play a Gibby professionally if my life depended on it.
 
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#353
Im with the BL's who aint happy. A lot of people dont now how to setup or play P basses. New rounds played away from tips of fingers sound flabby and dull...P basses played with dead chromes on the tips sound gnarly and punchy. world of difference.
 
#354
Image is important to some people. My pride, not so much. If I really want to be part of a band that has a preference what bass I play, I'll happily play that bass.

Without name dropping, I'm friends with someone who has played with several of the most famous rock artists in the industry. He told me the story of when he was playing with one such artist. He, at the time, loved and endorsed Warwick basses. A friend of the rockstar came to a rehearsal one day, and asked why the bass player was playing what he was. He told him the band would sound much better if he was playing a G&L. Rockstar asked my friend to play a G&L. He went out that afternoon and bought one.

I guess it really comes down to one's goals. If its to please oneself, by all means play whatever ya want. If you want to move forward in the industry, its a good idea to think twice before digging yer heels in.
 
#355
I suppose it's relative? If I earned a spot in a high profile band where I could get paid real well and/or it would be a foot in the door leading to more high profile, high paying jobs then, yeah, I'd consider playing what they want me to play.

But I'm a bar band bassist. At this level, it shouldn't matter what bass I play as long as I can play, so I guess that's one reason to be grateful that I'm at the bottom of the musical food chain. :laugh: In my band, I play with some pretty talented people and lots of other local bands have people as talented or even more so. But I can't imagine finding myself in a musical situation where the type of bass I played would be a factor in a band's decision to hire me. And there'd have to be some other unusual factors that would make me consider taking a job with that kind of constraint. I'd almost certainly decline.
 
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#359
Brand? Never. That’s straight up offensive.

Type - yes. Sometimes an electric upright is the wrong bass for a gig. I’ve been told that lol. Or when I want to use a fretless but that’s not the sound they want. Or the time when I wanted to use a 12-string bass when there really wasn’t the need.
 
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