Gigging with a really cheap bass

[BigRedX]

But the bass player who wrote the catchy riff is still earning money from it long after the guitarist is destitute and can no longer get any work because of his drug habit.

[Spike Vincent]

There's plenty of gigs where I've thought "hmmmm do I really want to take a 1978 Fender Precision to this establishment" so the second hand Squier PJ gets plenty of outings.I've also got a £10 Aria,XRB, it's previous owner had removed the active circuitry,and replaced the P pickup with a bar pickup from a 1966 Watkins Rapier.Sounds great.

[ratman]

I picked up a cheap Squire PJ for peanuts 12 years ago. I didn't use it much for a couple of years. Then I took it out for a whirl and it was so much fun it's been my main gigging bass ever since. All I upgraded was the wiring, added a set of Quarter Pounders and a new scratch plate, and it kicks ass. Would you believe that I ended up selling my GB Rumour in the end 'cos it just sat around doing nothing! It just didn't have that classic P tone.

[Adrenochrome]

I've never gigged a bass that cost me more than £199. Many bass players (with expensive basses) get upset when your Yamaha/Aria/Peavey outperforms their $1000 plank.

[fender73]

I gigged for years with a £70 OLP. Great bass. Agree with an earlier comment re the audience at your average gig not knowing the difference or caring about the tone etc. As much as I lust after a Fodera MGS, my Squier CV Jazz is perfect for my needs.

[leschirons]

[quote name='fender73' timestamp='1389020615' post='2328853']
I gigged for years with a £70 OLP. Great bass. Agree with an earlier comment re the audience at your average gig not knowing the difference or caring about the tone etc. As much as I lust after a Fodera MGS, my Squier CV Jazz is perfect for my needs.
[/quote]

Same here. Currently gig an £80 OLP 5 string. Everyone reckons it sounds better than anything else I've ever used over here. (Fbass, Fender CS, Spector, Status) Weird, but satisfying.

[alyctes]

£80 no-name jazz bought from Mr Foxen.

Reading this thread, I'm beginning to think it's too pricey to gig

[PaulWarning]

used to gig with A Hondo professional MIJ, use a MIA P now, cuts through loads better, most punters haven't got a clue what a bass does, or why a band sounds crap when it's not there

[Maude]

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1389048883' post='2329431']
. . . . . . . . . most punters haven't got a clue what a bass does, or why a band sounds crap when it's not there
[/quote]


My band sounds crap when the bass [i]is[/i] there

[sblueplanet]

Ive used some expensive basses at gigs but never got the good comments I got when I used a cheap violin bass copy. Also had stress-free nights not worrying about good gear getting damaged or nicked.

[CHW]

I've never gigged with a bass of any value- though in fairness I've never owned a bass of any value.

I had a pro drummer seek me out after a gig and comment of the decent tone of my borrowed (from my daughter) Epiphone EB-0, I've also had a lot of positive comments from other players about the sound of a cheap Wesley 5 string, which looks quite expensive from a distance, bit in reality is a bit of a tree to lug about, and a dog to play, but I too like the sound.

I started out (20+ years ago) with an Encore P, and my first half a dozen gigs would have been played on that.

I've recently treated myself to a modern player jazz bass- which is the most expensive bass I've ever owned, and am looking forward to its first gig.