Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

[uOpt]

I'm getting a bit frustrated here. Flipping gear and doing useless micropotimization in bass land is a lot harder than it is with guitars. If things continue this way I might have no choice but spend my bass time actually playing the darn thing(s).

List of issues includes:

• Greater variety of styles. Most guitarists have at least a Strat, probably a LP, maybe a Tele. You rotate them until one of them sticks, or several. Easy trading. Bass styles are much more varied/
• It seems bassists have less money but basses are more expensive. There is a much higher rate of trades going on than buy-sell-buy.
• Different pickup styles. No more most pickups can be tried in >= 50% of the instruments.
• Worst of all the number of strings, which makes each of the problems above worse. Can't sell you 5-string a 4-string only bassist. Can't use your 4-string soapbars on the 6-string bass.
• Neck-through is more universally useful, putting a stop to neck-changing and driving up prices.

Just venting.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

Bassists tend to be more focussed on their end goal, too...

 

[jeremy]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

right. booty.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

I agree. The bass market is picky and stubborn. The options make matters worse and the gear is expensive. Then, when it's time to sell some gear it sits there forever because the people who actually want it can't afford it. Finally, you are faced with the decision of whether or not you should accept less money for it just to move on.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

Bassists tend to be more focussed on their end goal, too...

Those/we jerks.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

I agree. The bass market is picky and stubborn. The options make matters worse and the gear is expensive. Then, when it's time to sell some gear it sits there forever because the people who actually want it can't afford it. Finally, you are faced with the decision of whether or not you should accept less money for it just to move on.

I also think it has gotten worse now that shipping is so expensive.

You used to be able to make trades where somebody gets an instrument they are actively looking for, and the other side just wants something that is easier to sell or trade in turn. That's nice but the additional hop adds mail time and that is very expensive now.

I think we need to address income equality to solve this.

ETA: oh and *&%$*# music man cases are too long for most shipping boxes.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

I also think it has gotten worse now that shipping is so expensive.

You used to be able to make trades where somebody gets an instrument they are actively looking for, and the other side just wants something that is easier to sell or trade in turn. That's nice but the additional hop adds mail time and that is very expensive now.

I think we need to address income equality to solve this.

ETA: oh and *&%$*# music man cases are too long for most shipping boxes.

Couldn't agree more on all accounts. Especially the music man cases being too long for shipping boxes. It is expensive enough just to ship a guitar not to mention a bass. The music man cases add even more cost to it. Great basses though.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

Couldn't agree more on all accounts. Especially the music man cases being too long for shipping boxes. It is expensive enough just to ship a guitar not to mention a bass. The music man cases add even more cost to it. Great basses though.

I just wish the MM forum wasn't so screwed up. That is really bothering me. Just look at it today.

In general, that is a bit of a problem with basses, too. One very large forum and (for the US) more of a sprinkle otherwise. The Warwick forum is cool. But small.

 

[Kais]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

If things continue this way I might have no choice but spend my bass time actually playing the darn thing(s).

maybe that should be the main goal

 

[uOpt]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

maybe that should be the main goal

lalala I can't hear you.

You see it is bad enough I waste all the money on music gear. Now you want me to waste all the time on it, too?

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

I just wish the MM forum wasn't so screwed up. That is really bothering me. Just look at it today.

In general, that is a bit of a problem with basses, too. One very large forum and (for the US) more of a sprinkle otherwise. The Warwick forum is cool. But small.

Yeah, I haven't even been to the MM forum in about 5 years or so now. I must admit I have never been to the Warwick forum though. I used to check out talkbass but that wasn't my cup either.

Like you, I would like to see the bassment expand here too.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

lalala I can't hear you.

You see it is bad enough I waste all the money on music gear. Now you want me to waste all the time on it, too?

Haha, nice!

 

[uOpt]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

One good thing about basses is that strings make a bigger difference, and there is more variety of strings that do some form of interesting thing. Strings are good gearslutting. And you throw them out when done.

 

[Kais]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

I'm actually compiling a bass pedal board at the moment. Waiting on Mr Post Man to hurry it up

 

[uOpt]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

I'm actually compiling a bass pedal board at the moment. Waiting on Mr Post Man to hurry it up

Ahhhh.

Down that path lies doom. Pedals are nice because they are small, but you can fix that by mounting them on something big.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

Well the reasons for not having as many different basses and basses being more expensive is that most of the time a bassist has his main and a backup. They don't need to change basses all the time for a different sound like a guitar player does. In general, a bassist will change basses for different tunings more than they will change for a different tone. If they need a different sound, then yes they will change basses or they'll use a pick. There's nothing wrong with a bass player wanting different tones but it's not as common as a guitar player trading his Les Paul for a Tele. Because bassists are more likely to not switch for tones, they are more willing to pay a larger amount for a good instrument rather than using a cheap one.

That's how I look at it at least. YRMV.

 

[Kais]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

Ahhhh.

Down that path lies doom. Pedals are nice because they are small, but you can fix that by mounting them on something big.

I plan to make a board at home sometime soon, but first I need to acquire the pedalz

 

[uOpt]

Re: Gearslutting - bass versus guitar

I went through my collection.

My guitar collection is actually in very nice shape. Almost all I actively like and they serve a purpose, and it is diverse.

My bass collection is very rough, with too many p57 style instruments, some I outright hate, many that don't have the right strings, pickups or electronics. I invited my wife to review them with me to decide what we dump out. Let's see how that goes.

Limiting myself to 4 or 6 string basses worked out great, BTW. You get to do everything you could do but it seriously cuts down on the flippin'n'shippin'.