Jus Lukin

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[quote]I get a lot of that from[b] the current [/b]mrs discreet.[/quote] That sounds ominously temporary!

[quote]...because it's less of an issue on the session scene, where most of the non-hobbyists reside.[/quote] Indeed. Looking back I think the 'never understand' was a little passive-agressive on my part. [quote]I agree, but what about if it isn't work, and its fun or a hobby. Most bands I see just do it for the fact they love music, not to earn.[/quote] The two aren't mutually exclusive. I love music, and playing music. If it can be my work, I can do more of it! Nonetheless, if I were getting paid a good chunk to do so, I would certainly play a 4-string Fender (I love 'em too!), but I wouldn't be able to justify getting one for a non-paying gig which I can cover with my own basses already. And frankly, in fact from experience, I can say that a gig producing no income with a band who put pressure on each other to spend good money for the sake of image alone is not one I would consider fun. I'm 'projecting' here, but bands I've played with like that in the past have had that as just the tip of the iceberg. Band politics can be very nasty if handled wrong, and if someone is anal enough to complain about the strings on my bass, then alarm bells for deeper running issues will start ringing for me!

Wow, some strong opinions in this thread. Aesthetics, you can't really judge people on. If someone prefers the looks of a 4 string P, then that is their perogative. Of course there are many extended range basses which can sound much like a P, though I can see the concern in some contexts. If I wanted to start a Neil Young tribute band, I might wonder whether the 9-string bassist at the audition will be able to contain himself in the heat of the moment, or indeed whether he'd be comfortable making his hi-tech handcrafted bass-machine sound as raw as the material required. Likewise, you might have a preconception or two to get around if, as mentioned before, a 7-string medieval weapon turned up to your western swing audtion. Both my basses are 5's, though very much in the lineage of Fender designs. They would rarely look wildy out of place, and at and audition after a few bars I hope I'd be able to prove that I can get an appropriate sound and feel for a song, to the point that people won't worry about how I get those sounds. I only go below a low E when I feel it's warranted, and when it happens, it generally gets a positve response. Most musicains enjoy a tasefully used low note, and most punters seem impressed to see a 5'er, as if it is some kind of achievement! I think that most working musicians understand that the musician is more important than the instrument, and if you can serve the music well, then you're in. Almost paradoxically it tends to be the hobbyists who feel the strongest (either way) about this kind of thing, though why the 'pro-bashing' I'll never understand.

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