the downside to buying a 'good' bass....

[clashcityrocker]

So I don't wanna keep going on about it but I really,really rate my EBMM sterling. Iv had her since January and I can't actually fault a single thing. Now this is a good thing but also has its negatives, I want a bass I can use in a punk band I'm in without worrying about light damage so I'm on the hunt, spent hours in the music shop playing loads of different 'cheap' basses,but everything I played was just so 'nothingy' compared to my sterling,even the much loved CV jazz bored me. The sound was nothing to write home about and the weight (compared to the sterling) was heavy,I don't even play my old beastly p bass cuz the neck is massive! I news to open my mind,help me! Has anyone else suffered from this?! I guess I'm lucky really and I should shut up!
Si

[Musky]

Play it. Enjoy it. Gig it.

If it picks up a few dings and marks along the way (which it will), then so be it. It's natural to want to keep your bass as pristine as is humanly possible, and the first will annoy you greatly, but you'll get used to it. The second, third and all the rest will bother you less. Otherwise by a beaten up MM and gig that, using the new one at home and in the studio - but I bet I know which one you'll end up loving the most.

Edited July 25, 2012 by Musky

[charic]

Having you considered playing live in a plastic bubble?

Seriously, just gig it. But insure it too. That way if anything serious happens you're covered

[Roland Rock]

I agree - you wouldn't buy a nice car and keep it in the garage. It's there to be enjoyed, and dings are just mementos of the fun you've had along the way.

[Toasted]

Go big or go home, play the stingray.

[gazhowe]

+1 to the above comments.

[BigRedX]

There's people on here in punk bands playing far more valuable instruments, so get out there and gig it.

[Gust0o]

Reluctantly, I'm in the gig it or go home camp - though I say [i]reluctantly[/i], as I know exactly how you feel. I think there's an old thread on here from when I put a ding in my old Gibson at rehearsal

But yes, you bought it for the sound, the playability... thus it pretty [i]has[/i] to be that bass in your hands.

I don't know if the new £300 Subs are any good or not.

[EBS_freak]

If you can recognise your bass as being a Stingray, it's not punk enough. Get the sander out, get some stickers on it... slam it against the wall a few times. That's punk.

[Conan]

[quote name='gazhowe' timestamp='1343203085' post='1746824']
+1 to the above comments.
[/quote]

And that one!

Every time you play a gig with your new 'cheap' bass you will think "why am I playing this when I have my lovely MM at home?"

Edited July 25, 2012 by Conan

[discreet]

Put a ding in it yourself, then it's done - and you can stop worrying about it!

[Conan]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1343213405' post='1747043']
Put a ding in it yourself, then it's done - and you can stop worrying about it!
[/quote]

Chuck Berry did that with his lovely Gibson 335. The mark was in the shape of a fish from the cod family.... He even wrote a song about it.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaEC-lWSlmI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaEC-lWSlmI[/url]

Edited July 25, 2012 by Conan

[discreet]

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1343213592' post='1747053']
The mark was in the shape of a fish from the cod family...[/quote]

I can't see it. It must be that piece of cod which passeth all understanding.

[razze06]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1343213961' post='1747061']
I can't see it. It must be that piece of cod which passeth all understanding.
[/quote]

May it was the Salmon of Knowledge (or the Salmon of Doubt)

[Icunningham]

It's there to be gigged. Dings are inevitable

[flyfisher]

It's a tool. If you get too precious about it you'll spend more time worrying about it rather than playing and enjoying it.

Failing that, hang it on the wall in a reinforced glass case and just admire it everyday (and yes, what a bloody waste that would be!).

[Musicman20]

Get a beater bass. If its the kind of punk I used to play (bordering on hardcore) it was pure mayhem in the crowd and on stage. I thrashed the hell out of a bass or two and they took it, but they were only £450 basses.

Best bet would be a second hand Sterling or Ray already pre dinged.

[charic]

Send me the sterling body (via ups and with no padding). I'm moving house soon and if the shipment via ups doesn't wear it in to your liking I can put it through the move with me and won't be precious about it

This way you'll get several dings out of the way and won't be able to tell when you do it yourself

[LukeTessié]

GIg it, every ding tells a story.

[Prime_BASS]

[quote name='Musky' timestamp='1343201174' post='1746780']
Play it. Enjoy it. Gig it.
[/quote]

This, I don't get the whole thing about needinga cheap beater, unless you really don't take of your instrument....

[charic]

[b]Wait![/b]

Just realised... is this really an ahem... "excuse" for buying another bass? If so... go for it, you don't want to scratch your baby!

[paulmcnamara]

Find another band?

[Lfalex v1.1]

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1343221917' post='1747262']
Get a beater bass. If its the kind of punk I used to play (bordering on hardcore) it was pure mayhem in the crowd and on stage. I thrashed the hell out of a bass or two and they took it, but they were only £450 basses.

Best bet would be a second hand Sterling or Ray already pre dinged.
[/quote]

[Lfalex v1.1]

Grr. Mobiles. I meant ^ this +1
I did it. Needed an evil bass for evil gigs. Bought a 500 quid Warwick second hand in here. Super bass. Sounds great and is pre dinged....

[Musicman20]

[quote name='paulmcnamara' timestamp='1343223906' post='1747299']
Find another band?
[/quote]

I don't play in bands like the hectic ones I used to, (although I may go back) but I must admit, the adrenaline rush and crowd reactions were brilliant. Nothing quite like it.