Gear snobbery and stereotypes
- Thread starter mwalluk
- Start date
youngthrasher9
New member
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
I understand the subject of this thread, because I've auditioned literally hundreds of musicians, and it's like hiring someone for a job. You do tend to sum up all the variables.
It's like a guy showing up for a job interview with bad clothes....you just never know how good of a worker he'll be in the long run.
Then, I look at the rig I was playing tonight. In the context of this thread, it would make you laugh. It was my $3600 Matchless Chieftain with my $200 Fender Vibro Champ sitting on top of it, running in stereo. I like using that little Vibro Champ as an easy way to create a stereo spread. You should hear it when I run all my stereo pedals into a full stereo split between two amps. You would never think that one of the amps is a cheap little practice amp when you hear it handling the rotating horn off my Strymon Lex Rotary pedal. lol
So, let the guy audition. He'll likely be a punter, but you never know. He may have the most important things. Then later, he'll get another amp. And that's when you show him how to use both as a stereo rig.
I know one thing. None of my singers, bassists, or 2nd guitarists were ever as anal about gear as me. I consider it a secondary hobby to music actually.
I understand the subject of this thread, because I've auditioned literally hundreds of musicians, and it's like hiring someone for a job. You do tend to sum up all the variables.
It's like a guy showing up for a job interview with bad clothes....you just never know how good of a worker he'll be in the long run.
Then, I look at the rig I was playing tonight. In the context of this thread, it would make you laugh. It was my $3600 Matchless Chieftain with my $200 Fender Vibro Champ sitting on top of it, running in stereo. I like using that little Vibro Champ as an easy way to create a stereo spread. You should hear it when I run all my stereo pedals into a full stereo split between two amps. You would never think that one of the amps is a cheap little practice amp when you hear it handling the rotating horn off my Strymon Lex Rotary pedal. lol
So, let the guy audition. He'll likely be a punter, but you never know. He may have the most important things. Then later, he'll get another amp. And that's when you show him how to use both as a stereo rig.
I know one thing. None of my singers, bassists, or 2nd guitarists were ever as anal about gear as me. I consider it a secondary hobby to music actually.
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crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
I was in a band once that lost everything in a fire. We had to hobble along with whatever we could get our hands on for a while. People at our gigs didn't know that, they took us at face value.
So you just don't know what the backstory is. Music first, gear second.
I was in a band once that lost everything in a fire. We had to hobble along with whatever we could get our hands on for a while. People at our gigs didn't know that, they took us at face value.
So you just don't know what the backstory is. Music first, gear second.
Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
You can do amazing things with SS amps. Stuart Adamson (RIP) on the right here is using a pair of H|H SS amps. Now you're not going to say he sounds bad are you? For that matter, The Buzzcocks used the same amps. The one thing that comes across in spades in this one is that attitude is everything. YMMV...
You can do amazing things with SS amps. Stuart Adamson (RIP) on the right here is using a pair of H|H SS amps. Now you're not going to say he sounds bad are you? For that matter, The Buzzcocks used the same amps. The one thing that comes across in spades in this one is that attitude is everything. YMMV...
Bludave
New member
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
Some people just can't afford high level gear. It doesn't mean they can't play, it just means they have bills to pay & can't seem to find what others have been able to have easily. My keyboard player falls into this. his keyboard is crap, his stand is falling apart, but the dude can play & play well. that's all that really matters to me & that's all that should matter to you.
Some people just can't afford high level gear. It doesn't mean they can't play, it just means they have bills to pay & can't seem to find what others have been able to have easily. My keyboard player falls into this. his keyboard is crap, his stand is falling apart, but the dude can play & play well. that's all that really matters to me & that's all that should matter to you.
mwalluk
New member
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
Thing is he has a few really nice guitars that are pretty pricey....
I guess I was just a little surprised.
Thing is he has a few really nice guitars that are pretty pricey....
I guess I was just a little surprised.
mwalluk
New member
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
Going to jam with him next week.
My band finally called it quits last night (i was waiting for that before I start auditioning or auditioning for other bands).
Going to jam with him next week.
My band finally called it quits last night (i was waiting for that before I start auditioning or auditioning for other bands).
fretburner
Well-known member
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
I never was a gear snob. I don't think I ever will be.
True, I've been upgrading my gear since day 1 (and a lot of them just became more expensive), but a good player with a DS-1 plugged into a POS SS amp doesn't bother me at all. I've been to a gig where I just have an Epiphone rebel with a Marshall Shredmaster and DOD EQ plugged into a Peavey Keyboard Amp. It was a struggle with tone and all, and I was envious of the nicer gears around me, but at the end of the gig, those same folks were banging their heads and asking for my pick. Been there, done that.
What bothers me the most are folks in a band who don't have the sense of rhythm. I've screamed at drummers, bassists, and other guitarists because of this.
I never was a gear snob. I don't think I ever will be.
True, I've been upgrading my gear since day 1 (and a lot of them just became more expensive), but a good player with a DS-1 plugged into a POS SS amp doesn't bother me at all. I've been to a gig where I just have an Epiphone rebel with a Marshall Shredmaster and DOD EQ plugged into a Peavey Keyboard Amp. It was a struggle with tone and all, and I was envious of the nicer gears around me, but at the end of the gig, those same folks were banging their heads and asking for my pick. Been there, done that.
What bothers me the most are folks in a band who don't have the sense of rhythm. I've screamed at drummers, bassists, and other guitarists because of this.
Gr8Scott
Wookieologist
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
I am one of the few. I have spent way more on amps than on guitars. I like cheap to midline guitars and I like midline to boutique amps. I'm happier with my tone than most as a result. I have more guitars than amps, but I have owned far more amps than guitars...
I am one of the few. I have spent way more on amps than on guitars. I like cheap to midline guitars and I like midline to boutique amps. I'm happier with my tone than most as a result. I have more guitars than amps, but I have owned far more amps than guitars...
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
If you play a tube amp, there's a fair chance you can get a non-functional amp working again at the gig if you have spare tubes and fuses. Even if it can't get fixed on the gig, you won't have to send it too far to get fixed.
But when the go, they go catastrophically (e.g., they let out the magic smoke). I had that happen with a GK ML250 my freshman year of college. I will say that after I got it fixed, I used it for all the gigs I played in college.
If you play a tube amp, there's a fair chance you can get a non-functional amp working again at the gig if you have spare tubes and fuses. Even if it can't get fixed on the gig, you won't have to send it too far to get fixed.
voggin
New member
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
The only thing that springs to my mind about this thread is portability. I know a guy who used to be in a grungy-type band, then started doing solo acoustic stuff. Kept his electric guitars (one really nice start in particular) but got rid of the heavy tube stuff and kept an old ss amp. Mainly 'cause he was moving around a lot. It's a lot easier to keep good guitars than good amps if you're not using them.
BTW, my pal sounds awesome through his old ss, while I sound at best mediocre with tubes.
The only thing that springs to my mind about this thread is portability. I know a guy who used to be in a grungy-type band, then started doing solo acoustic stuff. Kept his electric guitars (one really nice start in particular) but got rid of the heavy tube stuff and kept an old ss amp. Mainly 'cause he was moving around a lot. It's a lot easier to keep good guitars than good amps if you're not using them.
BTW, my pal sounds awesome through his old ss, while I sound at best mediocre with tubes.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
+1. I've seen great players with import guitars and mid-price amps. There's certainly not a 100% correlation between expensive gear and playing ability. There's a much stronger relationship between disposable cash and gear quality. I don't judge a musician by what he plays and plays thru. It's too easy to wind up with a guy that's a hack who has nice stuff.
Look at all the idiots in the OP's band. Would the cost of their gear make a difference? If you don't learn the songs, show up reliably, have a sense of rhythm, or make much effort in general, would owning top-shelf gear somehow make you a desirable bandmate? Wouldn't the reverse be true also? Everybody wants to be in a band; there's a huge fall off from that to the ones that actually have the talent and dedication to make it work. Those two qualities are all that matters in the long run. You can't filter out the dreamers by looking at what they've spent. Way too many other things impact that.
+1. I've seen great players with import guitars and mid-price amps. There's certainly not a 100% correlation between expensive gear and playing ability. There's a much stronger relationship between disposable cash and gear quality. I don't judge a musician by what he plays and plays thru. It's too easy to wind up with a guy that's a hack who has nice stuff.
Look at all the idiots in the OP's band. Would the cost of their gear make a difference? If you don't learn the songs, show up reliably, have a sense of rhythm, or make much effort in general, would owning top-shelf gear somehow make you a desirable bandmate? Wouldn't the reverse be true also? Everybody wants to be in a band; there's a huge fall off from that to the ones that actually have the talent and dedication to make it work. Those two qualities are all that matters in the long run. You can't filter out the dreamers by looking at what they've spent. Way too many other things impact that.
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L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
Yeah. If you're fairly lacking in ambition and talent, it can actually be easier to buy a $2,000 guitar than it is to practice with it enough to get good. I should know.
Yeah. If you're fairly lacking in ambition and talent, it can actually be easier to buy a $2,000 guitar than it is to practice with it enough to get good. I should know.
bungalowbill
Luckybastidologist
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
I would take a better player with budget gear over someone with gear, and less talent.
All of my friends who are great players can make budget gear sound good...sometimes it isn't the gear, but the knowledge of how to use it.
I would take a better player with budget gear over someone with gear, and less talent.
All of my friends who are great players can make budget gear sound good...sometimes it isn't the gear, but the knowledge of how to use it.
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
Talent is more important
Ability to work with others is most important
Gear is important
Talent is more important
Ability to work with others is most important
Lazarus1140
New member
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
Me too. I'd take him for all he's worth and then sell "his" gear and mine and use the funds to buy better stuff. Then I could look at my new, better gear and wish even more that I could improve without practice.
Me too. I'd take him for all he's worth and then sell "his" gear and mine and use the funds to buy better stuff. Then I could look at my new, better gear and wish even more that I could improve without practice.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
+1. Audiences don't care about your gear, they're there to see what you can do with it.
+1. Audiences don't care about your gear, they're there to see what you can do with it.
everdrone
New member
Re: Gear snobbery and stereotypes
+1
a lot goes into a band, marketing, showing up to practices and gigs prepared, getting people to go to your show, funding for the practice studio and recordingz etc etc ...gear should be at the last part of that list!
+1
a lot goes into a band, marketing, showing up to practices and gigs prepared, getting people to go to your show, funding for the practice studio and recordingz etc etc ...gear should be at the last part of that list!
