Gear vs Playing

[Marvin]

I don't buy a lot of gear and I don't practice enough

My gear isn't expensive, I've bought what I felt was the best for what I do. Others would say I'd have been better off buying x instead of y, but it does what I ask of it, maybe not perfect but it'll do. I genuinely don't actually like buying expensive gear, partly because I don't regard myself as a good enough player, partly because I don't really have the money and as such I'd feel rather guilty and self indulgent - especially as I have 3 young kids. I feel quite fortunate enough to have what I've got and although I don't practice enough I do enjoy playing and being in a band.

[Marvin]

[quote name='Johnston' post='1373614' date='Sep 14 2011, 07:38 PM']Come on every one knows thats 2nd rate and you need [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-/110739610961?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Outboards_Effects_MJ&hash=item19c8985d51"]this.[/url][/quote]

Hmmm, I had one of them, always letting me down, could never count on it.

[xilddx]

[quote name='Johnston' post='1373614' date='Sep 14 2011, 07:38 PM']Come on every one knows thats 2nd rate and you need [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-/110739610961?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Outboards_Effects_MJ&hash=item19c8985d51"]this.[/url][/quote]
Too pricey, [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ5TajZYW6Y"]this[/url] is better for your needs ..

[Guest bassman7755]

[quote name='Mog' post='1373060' date='Sep 14 2011, 11:56 AM']Thats actually a very valid point IMO. Whats the views in relation to amps, outboards, strings etc.
Surely a cheap packet of Warwick red label will do the same job as a pack of Elixers.[/quote]

Elixirs are much more economical than cheap strings because they last at 5 or 6 times as many playing hours before going dull. After 2 gig/rehearsals normal strings are too dull sounding for me.

[quote]Same thing with a POD. Why bother with expensive amps when you can get a fairly realistic reproduction for less than the price of a half dozen EL34's.[/quote]

For guitar absolutely, you get a digitech rp100 off ebay for 30 quid than does a fantastic balls out marshall impression. For bass however the procesing delay of modelling pedals makes them unusable (for me anyway).

[xilddx]

[quote name='bassman7755' post='1374076' date='Sep 15 2011, 09:28 AM']For guitar absolutely, you get a digitech rp100 off ebay for 30 quid than does a fantastic balls out marshall impression. For bass however the procesing delay of modelling pedals makes them unusable (for me anyway).[/quote]

Eh? What delay? I must tell my bands and studio engineers about this. And make it clear that when they say they like my laid back and just-behind-the-beat feel, what they are actually hearing is a DELAY brought about by the inability of the processors in my POD to process what I'm playing quickly enough to enable my Anthony Jackson style dead-on-the-beat execution to make itself apparent. I will of course pretend this is deliberate on my part.

[spinynorman]

Years ago I saw an interview with the classical guitarist John Williams. The interview turned to the rivalry between Williams and Julian Bream. "The difference between us", said Williams, "is Julian has to practice.".