peteb

To be honest, I haven’t played a Squier since the 80s, when they actually were better than the crappy Fenders being produced at that time. My reference for the OP’s question is a MIM Fender, which are certainly not anywhere near as good as any of my basses or any recent American Fenders. I certainly could use one for my current gigs if I had to, but would much prefer a better bass. I have certainly seen some pros occasionally use old Squire basses on blues gigs. I don’t know how the hypothetical Squire in the OP would compare to a MIM Fender?

That's the thing, you probably have but they had the good grace not to play one within earshot...!

I went and bought a Fender P because I knew that some of the people I was playing with (and also some of the band leaders that I wouldn’t mind playing with) preferred that sound image / look. The BL was gushing about how great the new bass was and said that his bass playing mate had said “I see that Pete has got himself a proper bass at last”! Personally, I think that a lot of it is nonsense and that a decent bass will get a sound that will work in pretty much all situations. But it can’t be denied that a lot of people think that a ‘proper’ bass sounds and looks like the basses on the records they grew up with (be it Motown or the Clash) and ideally has ‘Fender Made in USA’ written on the headstock. So, I bought one because it would help me get more gigs. I heard a story of someone auditioning for Mark Knopfler who turned up with a high end coffee table 5 string. The audition obviously went well because he was asked to come back but Knopfler said to him ‘next time you come, bring something that looks like a proper bass’! So, he went and bought a 5 string that looked like a Fender for the second audition and I believe that he got the gig in the end.

It's the old adage on the blues circuit, that the definition of a gentleman is someone who can play the harmonica but refrains from doing so...

Perhaps she's from Essex (or Halifax)!

I think that answer to your earlier question is that guitarists are much more likely to break strings and maybe occasionally justified in using a different guitar for different songs! I usually take a spare bass to the gig, but it stays in a gigbag at the back where it is out of the way unless it's needed. You do realise that bass players don't HAVE to stay at the back don't you (depending on the gig of course)??

I could never see myself buying one, even if I had the money (something like a Sadowsky would be more suitable for my needs) but certainly the best bass that I have ever played was a Fodera.

IMO all versions of Deep Purple up to and including the mark IV version with Tommy Bolin...!

I know plenty of bikers who might dispute that statement...! :-)

That's a world many of us inhabit! I'm sure that you can play the riff on a 5 string but that song fairly motors along - but would you want to play that riff live without the open D for four minutes? Especially if the next song is Spoonman by Soundgarden?? I have a bass tuned down half a step with a D tuner for most of the rock gigs I do and a P bass in concert for the blues stuff.

Depends what you're playing mate - a lot of rock stuff depends heavily on bouncing off open strings (Slither by Velvet Revolver is a good example). A mate of mine (a good player) has ended up installing a d tuner to the E string of his 5 string Ray so that he can get the open drop D for a lot of the 90s alt metal / grunge stuff he plays.

You're possibly taking the comfort part of the post a little too literally and I am sure there are a lot Squires around that are actually better than many 80s Fenders, or even the worst 70s ones. But, as you say, most Fenders (and remember other types of basses are available) will be better and will therefore sound / play a bit better. You may not think that makes any difference in a pub, but it is little details that make one band better than another. One of these details is how the bass or any other instrument sounds - not a major thing in itself but it all adds up. The other thing to remember is that as a bassist you are being judged on your sound and you playing. There may be a band leader in the audience thinking the bass player has got his sound together. In a year's time his bassist may have quit just when your band breaks up and you might get a call...

It is a bit of a loaded question, suggesting that you don't need a more expensive instrument when you could cover most gigs with a budget instrument like a Squier. I could drive the 200 miles to London in a 20 year old Fiat Pinto. However it would be more comfortable, safer and enjoyable to do the same journey in a Mercedes!

Depends on the gig. If you are playing a 'music' pub where people have come to see the band then I reckon that more than two 45 / 60 (at a push) minute sets is excessive and you will struggle to keep the audience's attention. If the gig is at a place where there is a circuit of bars, the band's job is to keep the punter there for an additional drink or two before they go on to the next bar. At those type of places they will want the band on for as long as possible to catch the punters who have just come in, who are not expected to stay for the whole show.

I believe that most of the classic Metallica stuff (Black album, etc) is in concert pitch If you are playing rock stuff you will probably find it better to tune down.

Yes, I could. It wouldn't sound as good or be as easy to play as my Xotic jazz, but I've no doubt that I could gig it if I had to. If I lived in an african township playing the tourist bars uptown for a few dollars, then a Squier would be a dream bass and a nearly unbelievable luxury. But that doesn't mean that it is as good as a more expensive, far superior bass...

And with a bladder to match...!

I was at that show as well - great gig! I always thought that the Go For What You Know Pat Travers lineup was one of the best rock and roll bands ever, playing / performance wise!

You're certainly meeting different women to those I used to come across...!

Just found out that my personal bass hero, the great Mars Cowling passed away a couple of days ago at the age of 72. What a great player…

Dunno about that - to the best of my knowledge Steven Tyler wasn't born and raised in Bogner Regis...! As far as I'm concerned, I'm really just a song and dance man! You have to be able to be a capable enough musician to play what you need to, but you should also develop some stagecraft along the way. It doesn’t have to be all pyros and gold lame suits, but you definitely need to learn how to entertain your audience. There is nothing worse than seeing a band that can’t or won’t engage with the people watching them!

Just been checking out his YT channel - all good stuff...

I don't understand what the poll is trying to get at. Surely if someone in the audience (who isn't a sound engineer) notices that you're using a compressor then you have got it set up wrong??

I assume from your apparent surprise that you have not read Guy's book, where he does touch upon aspects of his childhood (including the loss of his dad at a relatively young age). Well worth a read - very funny book...

You can use a pick but you don't have to. Pick or fingers? As long as your tone is good and you can play the songs well then neither is better or worse. I would agree, but... Unfortunately some band leaders do specifically want you to play with a pick (and of course others will want a finger style player). In the 80s I switched to playing with a pick because that as want the bands I wanted to join wanted. However, I was always a better fingerstyle player and switched back after a few years and a couple of bands (which were, of course, the biggest bands I ever played with). I agree that neither style is necessarily better than the other for any given genre. Personally I think it is all a matter of fashion and now I play fingerstyle exclusively , but it is an advantage to be equally adept with both styles.