"Does gear really matter"?

[Nephilymbass]

The dreaded question ... especially for those of us that like to collect basses and other related gear.

I recently watched this Adam Neely video, I wanted to share it with the rest of the TB crew ... it's really quite good, just like all of Adam Neely's videos:



And last week I watched another video that really emphasized the point as Scott Devine did a blind A/B test of a $11,000 Fodera vs "The cheapest bass on Amazon" ... an $80 "Amoon" brand bass .... I'll admit, I got the answer wrong!



Not being able to / or having a very hard time telling the tonal difference between an $80 bass and a $11,000 Fodera is pretty sad and pretty eye opening ...

Makes you think ....

Yes and no. I would say yes but only to a certain point. It tend to put gear in classes.

For example “junk” is a class of basses I wouldn’t get caught playing onstage stuff that’s just so bad it sounds terrible or has major problems like poor intonation that actually makes them difficult to play.

“Gig-able” doesn't really have to be expensive for me this can actually be one of Mexican fenders Ive bought used for $300.

“Nice” for me does tend to be basses that fall in the $1500-$2500 range these are basses like the stingray 5s I’ve owned or my current main player my dingwall Ng2. It tends to be the range where I expect all the little details that might draw complaints from cheaper basses to be worked out. This seems to always be the ideal level for my main player. With other my basses falling more Into the gigable class.

“Overkill” this is where imo you get into a range where the price either isn’t justified or the quality of instrument doesn’t translate through the other gear. By translating I mean what’s the point of owning a Fodera or a Ritter for example if you can only afford to record in your buddies home studio or the majority of your gigs are playing through PA systems that are DJ level not pro . For example this is probably why you don’t hear a drastic difference in these cheap bass vs expensive bass comparison videos. It’s likely because they are using cheap home recording gear like cheap usb interfaces with digital converters that aren’t the best. I honestly think you’re better off staying away from gear that’s “overkill” and instead investing that money into something else, for example, getting your band into a nicer studio or actually spending some money on promoting your band or stocking your band Merch. Unless of course you have plenty of money do all those things and still afford that bass, if that’s the case buy whatever you want. But that’s not my situation

 

[catcauphonic]

My want/need of gear was greatly reduced when somebody at an open mic took my $199 starter bass and made it sing at an open mic. I knew right then that the gear only makes a small percentage of the player.

Since then I've made only one upgrade. If it inspires you to practice and play more ... a nicer piece of equipment is a good investment.

 

[David Sutkin]

I'm lucky to have acquired some really phenomenal basses over the years and yet I still often reach for my $650 MIJ Fender FrankenP or my $450 Squier Body / Warmoth neck PJ .... To me they sound and play just as nice as my higher end gear.

Suffice it to say THE RIGHT GEAR for ones personal preference matters .... price notwithstanding

 

[IronLung1986]

All I can say is that if it was an $80 fretless and a Pentabuzz you wouldn't be wondering which was which

 

[mongo2]

After over 45 years playing many, many different instruments from Sears to boutiques, for me the most important factor is now playing comfort. Once I realized that I've never met a bass with a tone I couldn't work with, comfort became the higher priority.

 

[Qlanq]

I think silvertone sums this up perfectly.

All the gear I use in my music making has an intended purpose and utility factor.
Whatever doesn't work is extraneous and doesn't wind up as part of the "tool kit" for a gig.
In some cases, building redundancy into one's tool kit can be helpful (like having a spare bass for a gig.)

Gear does matter if purchased and applied intelligently.

In my case a comfortable bass and reliable amp/cab fills my needs. A few pedals to give some colour and I'm set.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

After over 45 years playing many, many different instruments from Sears to boutiques, for me the most important factor is now playing comfort. Once I realized that I've never met a bass with a tone I couldn't work with, comfort became the higher priority.

Yes. I think talk about sound quality is missing the point. There are only about a jillion pedals, not to mention amp simulators out there. You can get any sound you want. What is difficult to get cheaply is great ergonomics: An instrument with a body that fits nicely and doesn't weight too much, and, even more important, a neck that feels good and won't tire you out after four hours. What money gets you are frets that sit securely on the fretboard, necks that don't dive, nuts and tuners that keep you in tune, easily adjustable bridges so you can get the action you prefer, etc. Yes, all these qualities are possible on a cheapie, and miracles do happen, but you'll have to look mighty hard to find them.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Gear matters to me. Cheap gear often limits the range of my playing abilities. Besides.... music is a relatively cheap hobby.

 

[InnerBass]

After over 45 years playing many, many different instruments from Sears to boutiques, for me the most important factor is now playing comfort. Once I realized that I've never met a bass with a tone I couldn't work with, comfort became the higher priority.

Bingo - and when you find the combination of ultimate comfort and tone?
Nirvana!!

 

[StudioGC]

I seem to find that I limit myself to a maximum of $500 for a bass (well ok, £500 know that I'm UK based). From ALL the darn basses I've gone through over the years, I find that $300-$500 is a good price point for some great gear (Sire Marcus Miller, Jack Casady, Gibson SG, MIM Mustang PG etc......).

I've had a few basses nearing $2000 and yes, they sounded great (Ric and a custom shop Fender) but not $2000 great.

My amp is $550 (Markbass Jeff Berlin) and has been a workhorse...and sounds great too.

 

[Microbass]

Anyone know of a pro using a really bad instrument? Like the ones most of us started out on...?

Sure Vic et al can make a £100 bass sound like £1000 bass, but would they have reached that level had they not upgraded to better gear? Everyone is always making the argument that those guys can do it so why can’t we?

I definitely agree that cost does not matter but playability and something you can connect with is worth way more. Point in fact is that not many of us have been lucky enough to find a good low end item and stick with it for years as we’ve grown. Seems to be plenty of TB’ers who have full circle for sure are now gigging regularly with Squiers and such but I ask again, would those guys be in the same boat if they hadn’t experimented with high end gear at some stage?

 

[Wasnex]

The question I seem to ask is can gear hinder ability? The answer I keep coming up with is no, great players sound great because they have studied and have an original approach to music. Better gear simply let’s then refine their vision.

I can feel hindered when I play on crappy gear. Not that I am a great player, but I got some skills. Give me a rig with loose woolly lows and lot of clank and I am probably going to have a bad night....unless of course the music I am playing really shouts out for that type of sound.

Some great players will seek out an instrument's crappy qualities and explore it.

 

[Mediocrity Man]

Good reliable gear is always important if you are to work in a band or studio setting. However, skill acquired by lot's of practice will always be more important.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I can feel hindered when I play on crappy gear. Not that I am a great player, but I got some skills. Give me a rig with loose woolly lows and lot of clank and I am probably going to have a bad night....unless of course the music I am playing really shouts out for that type of sound.

Some great players will seek out an instruments crappy qualities and explore it.

I think about players like Victor Wooten, Stanley Clarke, Bubby Lewis, or Tal Wilkenfeld, who were pretty much given basses because their talent was so obvious. If a player is good enough, they give him or her the gear because regular Joes with money will buy it based on how they sound.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

I could guess correctly in Scott's vid. It was quite obvious to me, everything was so well articulated on the Fodera.


Anyway we have it easy on bass,guitar or drum. It is really a middle class instruments compare to the cost of a DB and an arco or an Harp or whatever classical instrument.

It is such a middle class instrument that everything more expensive than the person can pay, it is over expensive and all that. Just play what you have.

 

[gt96g]

I actually got the A-B between the Fodera & the 80 dollar bass right, the first one had so much more fret noise, that's what gave it away.

 

[+6dB Dan]

Besides.... music is a relatively cheap hobby.

It is? Teach me your secrets!

 

[JakobT]

There is an old saying that I think still holds true: «A bad workman blames his tools». Good gear might make some things a little easier, bad gear might make some things a little more difficult. But good gear won’t turn a bad player into a good one, nor will bad gear hold a good player back that much.

 

[Wasnex]

I think about players like Victor Wooten, Stanley Clarke, Bubby Lewis, or Tal Wilkenfeld, who were pretty much given basses because their talent was so obvious. If you are a player is good enough, they give you the gear because regular Joes with money will buy it based on how they sound.

To be honest, I haven't cared for most of the Alembics I have played, although the craftsmanship is obviously top notch. I think I would probably love a Fodera...but no one in their right mind would allow me to even touch one of those...cause I ain't gonna pay that much for a bass. I would be fine with a decent Fender or MTD, but might as well just stick with my jankie old Yamaha TRB6P.

 

[madbanjoman]

For my work equipment, I tend to look for deals and buy only what the job requires. I mainly play upright and my rig is a PJB double four amp, Tonedexter pre amp and cheap wing pickup on a student ply chinese DB with old spiros on it and a custom MK studio EUB with a cheap wing pickup. The EUB was a stagg that I still have, but I am lefty who stands on the wrong side on the DB so my EUB needs to have an arm that is comfortable.

I did take some time to find the lightest and loud enough rig, mainly because space, weight, and run on batteries is a requirement for a lot of gigs we play.

Now when comes to my hobby instruments guitar, drums, ukes and such, I am as guilty as the next of GAS.