stingrayfan Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 Saw a really good blues/rock band the other night. Bass player had a Stingray 4 and an old Peavey rig, connected with a curly lead. Went and spoke to him afterwards and asked him about his gear and he said he'd not changed it for 20 years. I was gobsmacked. I can't go more than a couple of months without replacing some of my stuff! I guess if it ain't broke, don't fix it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 I'm pretty jealous of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Nimrod Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 I can only but aspire to that level of contentment The point is (and I'm speaking for myself here) that gear becomes an end in itself... And I kind of hate that, it seems so daft; but basses [b][i]are[/i][/b] beautiful and I love buying them. I just feel a bit foolish when I hear a player with crummy gear who's playing better than I ever will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 [quote name='stingrayfan' post='158358' date='Mar 16 2008, 11:45 AM']Saw a really good blues/rock band the other night. Bass player had a Stingray 4 and an old Peavey rig, connected with a curly lead. Went and spoke to him afterwards and asked him about his gear and he said he'd not changed it for 20 years. I was gobsmacked. I can't go more than a couple of months without replacing some of my stuff! I guess if it ain't broke, don't fix it...[/quote] Very impressive but he's probably been married and divorced 5 times in that time though! It all comes out somewhere in the wash... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalMan Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 (edited) Up until last summer I had used the same bass (my Wal) for 20+ years. Amp wise I had had the Trace 122H for 8 years (ish) and before that a 4x10 Trace Combo for probably another 8-10 years. The reason? I had never found anything bass wise that beat it and amp wise that I could afford or wanted to upgrade to. After all - If it ain't broke, don't fix it Of course since then I've had two 5 strings, sold the Trace and acquired the MarkBass combo so my claim to longevity on gear use has taken a bit of a battering. Still got the same missus as well - no one else will put up with me Edited March 16, 2008 by WalMan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 When I started basschat I was pretty shocked at how quickly some people got through gear. In the 28 years I have been playing I have used 6 basses and for 20 of those 28 years I have used a fretted and fretless. If was not for the weight of the basses I used when I was young I would have changed less. I have had a few more rigs in the same time but some of that has been to keep up with increased stage volume. I have had two very expensive divorces mind but neither of my ex wives would have let me hang a brace of GB's in the front room! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJ Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 I only ever had one bass, my jazz from the early 80's to the mid 90's. I think you learn to get by if it's all you have. Simple experiment...sell everything but one axe and one amp and see how you get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E_MaN Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 I've just got a lovelry Shuker 6, pretty much two weeks ago, and already I'm gassing....dear.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I've had the Thumb for around 20 years and have no desire to change it. I've had the GK 200MB for about 15 years and have sometimes been on the verge of selling it but never have, and after attaining lucidity, I've decided it would be a bad idea to. I do buy other basses though - I play both fretted and fretless so needed to find a fretless I felt as comfortable with, then wanted 5-string fretted and fretless (one objective attained, the position of 5-string fretless is still unsecured), and I wanted a headless 5-string fretted too, for pragmatic reasons, so I bought one. Basically, anything I don't develop an attachment to gets thrown back into the pool, anything I do stays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teen t-shirt Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Am in the process of selling my Fender P Copy that was my first bass and have had for coming up to a year and a half..... the weight of it has really started effecting my back and shoulders...... but all is not lost i have tried and tested and am now in the process of buying a Ibanez GSR200... and i hope i will have it for years and gigs to come.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 You can't sell your first bass!!!! I've still got my Squier P-Special in the cupboard, and I've finally made good on my threats to mod it into a serious weapon. I couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion when I took the neck off, and the date stamped on the end was March 1998... my little baby is ten years old! Seems appropriate that this is the month for it's long awaited renaissance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Wal Cusom Fretless 4-string bought 25/4/86 from Monkey Business. Still keeps me [i]very[/i] happy. 4 basses ever - my first Hondo II Precsion copy (1980), replaced fairly quickly by an Aria SB700 (1981) followed by the Wal. Since had a Status 6-string but its on the wall most of teh time and only comes out if an MD demands a low B (2/3 times a year). Amps - Sound City to Frunt (remember them!!) to Trace Eliot AH250 to GK MB150S (stoeln) to SWR Electric Blue head to Eden Metro (2001). Amps are more likely to get changed due to improvements in technology/differing needs in terms of playing situations but the bass stays put. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Crazy.. but cool that he was immune to GAS. I know i'll always want something else.. And I sold my first bass... it was a crappy Squier Bronco. I'm glad I don't have it anymore because it sucked . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbass Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I think there's someting to be said for your GAS increasing proportionately to the time spent on this site! Whilst I've always been keen to pick up a 'bargain'; I've spent more on gear in the two months I've been a member here than I had in the past 4 years!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJA Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 if that curly lead's lasted 20 years it must have supernatural powers.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Aye. That bloody lead'd be the first thing to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huggy and the Bears Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I inherited my Dad's gear when he died 3 years ago. I remember him buying a new Bassman 135 head and matching 2x15 cab in the 70's (which replaced his Bassman Blackface setup which he bought in '65 beige tolex and creame knobs) and a Jazz bass. He used them until 2004 so I guess thats about 30 years with the same gear. He reckoned that changing his gear would not make him play any better! I however do not have the same fortitude and can't stop swapping my rig! Help Dad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysbass Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I've only owned 4 basses since I started playing in 1982 and still have 2 of them. Having kept the bass I bought new in 1985, I can understand where that guy is coming from. I'm still happy enough with it to feel that I'd have to spend more than I can comfortably afford to improve on it. Doesn't stop me window-shopping though! Could be that my weakness is more directed at amps - I've been through 7 of those, but then that's not much either, seeing as it's spread across 28 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 [quote name='stingrayfan' post='158358' date='Mar 16 2008, 11:45 AM'].... Bass player had a Stingray 4 and an old Peavey rig, connected with a curly lead. Went and spoke to him afterwards and asked him about his gear and he said he'd not changed it for 20 years....[/quote] A sensible man! This gear is perfect for a semi pro Blues/Rock bass player. I only stopped playing my Precision after 25 years to go 5 string. If you've got the best why change it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I have now got to the stage with my gear that I can safely say I won't sell any of it for a long time, if ever. But I thought that 2 years ago and have since sold on 2 basses, 3 amps and 2 cabs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalMan Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 [quote name='coasterbass' post='158884' date='Mar 17 2008, 12:55 PM']I think there's someting to be said for your GAS increasing proportionately to the time spent on this site! Whilst I've always been keen to pick up a 'bargain'; I've spent more on gear in the two months I've been a member here than I had in the past 4 years!![/quote] Amen to that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayfan Posted March 17, 2008 Author Share Posted March 17, 2008 I'm guessing said bass player hasn't discovered: 1. The internet 2. Google 3. This website! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I hope you didn't give him a basschat card I was perfectly happy with my '62 Precision which I got in about '72... Sadly in about '84 it was stolen and the GAS attacks have happened every few years since. I'm very happy with my basses now though and I can't see myself needing to replace either Shuker. The Markbass Amp is fine but I want to have two Schroeder 1212L's rather than one... and my effects are in flux too but that doesn't count Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilmour Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I've been playing the same bass since '98 and just replaced my amp after the last one started to get unreliable - it had been giging weekly for about 13 years. I do GAS and buy the odd bit of equipment but it rarely makes it into my live set up. It's good to know your equiomet, not only sound and feel but particular quirks etc. that will help you irn out anr little creases in your tone etc. We all spend a lot of time looking for new kit to get 'that' sound, but acctually it's all about the way you play it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 20 years? No new strings?! What's his name, Jamerson or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.