Would you rather have 8 Harley Bentons or 1 Musicman/Fender (MIA)/Rickenbacker (etc...)

[Misdee]

On 05/06/2024 at 13:15, Dan Dare said:

We're all different. Peoples' attitudes to instruments range from purely functional/utilitarian - it's a tool to do a job - to aesthetic/personal - it's the instrument they feel at home with or the one they had built in exotic hardwoods that they've always dreamed of owning . Nowt wrong with that and we're all at our own particular point along that range of opinion.

 

The original question - would you rather have 8 HBs or one high end bass - is a bit wide of the mark, in that it represents two extremes. Most of us are somewhere in the middle. We have one or two basses we really like and play most of the time, plus a beater or two that are handy for gigs in iffy circumstances or for when the kids want to mess around with them.

There's no need for folks who enjoy the aesthetics dimension of various basses to apologise. I'm certainly in  that category, and as long as I can remember there has been a implicit assumption from self-styled savvy "muso" types that if you aspire to or own some nice basses then you can't be a good player. This is,of course, complete bollocks.

 

I've been fascinated by bass equipment since I started playing, and I don't care what anyone else thinks about it. Other folks can judge all they like. I'll probably be too busy adjusting the neck relief on my fretless for optimal "mwaaa" or some other similar mind-bending bass-related activity to notice.

 

Edited June 8 by Misdee

[tegs07]

3 minutes ago, Misdee said:

There's no need for folks who enjoy the aesthetics dimension of various basses to apologise. I'm certainly in  that category, and as long as I can remember there has been a implicit assumption from self-styled savvy "muso" types that if you aspire to or own some nice basses then you are not a good player. This is,of course, complete bollocks.

 

 

I have a few nice basses and can confirm I am rubbish.

[12stringbassist]

On 04/06/2024 at 10:33, dclaassen said:

Okay...but would you take a irreplaceable bass (let's say, your MK1 Wal) to the Dog and Duck during free beer night? 

I have been hosting a jam night every Sunday for about 10 years now. I often take one of my 4 Rickenbacker 4003s to the jam. Mortals use a Squier if they need to borrow a bass, though. I will sometimes crack out my Gretsch White Falcon if I want to play a guitar.

 

I always keep my good gear safe and secure and don't worry at all about using it anywhere I play.

[Dan Dare]

13 hours ago, Misdee said:

There's no need for folks who enjoy the aesthetics dimension of various basses to apologise. I'm certainly in  that category, and as long as I can remember there has been a implicit assumption from self-styled savvy "muso" types that if you aspire to or own some nice basses then you can't be a good player. This is, of course, complete bollocks.

 

I wasn't suggesting anyone should apologise. I was pointing out that we all have different priorities when it comes to instruments. Your reference to self-styled savvy "muso" types comes cross as rather defensive.

[Misdee]

1 hour ago, Dan Dare said:

 

I wasn't suggesting anyone should apologise. I was pointing out that we all have different priorities when it comes to instruments. Your reference to self-styled savvy "muso" types comes cross as rather defensive.

I was agreeing with you, not criticizing you. I quoted to endorse your post, because I thought it echoed my own thoughts. My apologies, I should have made that clear.

 

The self-styled savvy muso types are very much people I have known in real life., not anyone on Basschat.

.

 

Edited June 6 by Misdee

[neepheid]

I have found muso "savvyness" to be an empty aura for the most part which me inexperience probably created subconsciously.  The more I have learned, the more I question what other players say and do and think to myself "I wouldn't have played it like that" or "I like my tone better" and been OK with being different.  Learning that "different" does not automatically equal "wrong" is a big step forward in one's development as a bass player, IMO.  The trick is not to be a cockwomble about it and start telling other people that they're wrong because they're different to you.  Break that cycle!

[Ed_S]

I just worked out what my HB project actually owes me, and it turns out that from its £120 purchase price I've managed to add £240 in parts and supplies, and do work which a couple of luthier price lists suggest could be another £120 in labour. Given that the 'nice' version of it would be a USA Fender, I could have 4 of these modded to my satisfaction for the same price as 1 of those. I actually just sold my American Pro Jazz 5 and kept the Hardly Benton so perhaps I've made my decision, but if I took the HB to the local shop as it is right now they'd offer me £80 and sell for £120, so they probably don't make much financial sense if you can't/won't just take them out of the box and use them.

 

[Newfoundfreedom]

I'd rather have one cheap Harley Benton and lots of beer. 

[nilorius]

Smebody would love only one Harley Davidson.

[triplebass]

don’t think i’ll have 8 HB but also couldn’t do with just 1 Fender. I got this MV4 a couple of weeks ago, seems their whole first batch was gone in a couple of days?

It’s for a project/band that’s happening atm and a nice addition to the fleet. Very nice out of the box, changed the strings and have a Lollar set at home if if needs must…

[diskwave]

Wrong thread.

Edited June 10 by diskwave

[Little Dragon]

On Saturday I visited Bass Gallery as I was down in Camden and was gratefully allowed to play a real Rickenbacker as I'd only played a copy before and a Stingray, (I own an OLP it is not the same). The difference is unreal and I would have love to leave the shop with both, one was close to 5k and the other over 2k so obviously didn't. I would love to play either of these every day, the Rick in particular has a sound like no other but not convinced I'd be comfortable playing them in a Tyneside pub without worrying about damage. Don't think I could justify the expense for home use either.

[EssexBuccaneer]

On 07/06/2024 at 22:19, Newfoundfreedom said:

I'd rather have one cheap Harley Benton and lots of beer. 

This is a double win, because with enough beer the HB will sound just as good as anything else 😊

[Newfoundfreedom]

4 hours ago, EssexBuccaneer said:

This is a double win, because with enough beer the HB will sound just as good as anything else 😊

 

You don't need beer for that. 

 

But I need lots of beer to make my playing sound as good as everybody else. 

 

Of course to everyone else it's also dependent on the amount of beers they've drunk. 

Edited June 12 by Newfoundfreedom

[Lozz196]

I just read that the Bernie Marsden (of Whitesnake) auction included a Korean Squier Strat and that he used this to record most of an album in 2004 as he preferred it to a number of much higher end guitars. Just shows that it’s what the hands & fingers like that’s important and price tag maybe not so much. Although I went for one higher end bass over several lower priced one it would of course depend on it feeling better to play.

[nilorius]

2 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

I just read that the Bernie Marsden (of Whitesnake) auction included a Korean Squier Strat and that he used this to record most of an album in 2004 as he preferred it to a number of much higher end guitars. Just shows that it’s what the hands & fingers like that’s important and price tag maybe not so much. Although I went for one higher end bass over several lower priced one it would of course depend on it feeling better to play.

It's hard to believe but lots of high end, popular musicians prefer they instruments depending on acid, alc, her, coc sujestions.