Gettingt hassled for playing an Alembic?

[glocke]

Just curious if anyone has ever gotten hassled for playing Alembic basses/guitars?
 
Had an encounter last night at a rehearsal with someone who is a friend of the people I am playing with.  Short of it is this individual was drunk/stoned/angry at the world and proceeded to rip me a new one because I play what he thinks is a $25,000 dollar bass....Now we all know what the cost of used Alembic series basses are, and they are far short of that, but they are still alot of money.
 
Not the first time this has happened with this group of people, as I have had some snarky comments thrown at me in the past regarding my basses, and the fact that I have more than one, and I have had other comments thrown at me when showing up at open mics and jam sessions with my signature deluxe.
 
Previously I just ignored the comments, but last nights encounter was downright hostile.  Im normally pretty laid back, so it takes alot to piss me off, but the one thing I do not tolerate are people who act like downright assholes.    
 
I listened to about ten minutes of this guys insults,  (ten minutes too long), debated whether or not it was worth it trying to tell the guy what people do with their money is not any of his business, but instead packed up my shit up and left telling the other guys in the band to give me a call when they want to play music and not hang out with drunken idiots.  
 
Now this guy, and one other guy in the band have been unemployed for going on at least two years now, they don't have much money, and I suppose are pretty angry about it but I don't see that as an excuse for being an ignorant ass.
 
I've also been at the other end, only being able to afford very inexpensive gear, yet being in bands with guys that were playing expensive instruments and I never felt jealousy or anger because I could not afford the type of gear they had.

[pace]

 debated whether or not it was worth it trying to tell the guy what people do with their money is not any of his business,
 
jeez Greg, haven't you heard?  
 
Capitalism is dead. We've entered a new era where the playing field is going to be level, and the wealth spread around.... Even if that means chopping your Series II into little pieces!!!!!
 

[crobbins]

I've had the same encounters with people when I ride my highend Cannondale mountain bike around. It aint no Huffy......Oh yeah, check your email...

[sonicus]

glocke,     I think you took the  high road and did not give a rebuttal at the indignant fellows  level. I would think that the folks that you have your musical association with will straighten out the insecure drunk's  attitude . In situations such as this it is envy and insecurity that motivates such negative behavior ,the alcohol of course can remove the inhibitions and can open feelings of inadequacy where they have been suppressed from the past and present.  When I personally  encounter such behavior I TRY to consider the source and walk away such as you did . This I have learned is the best thing to do, FINALLY in my advancing years in this life.  
 
      Don't let the music stop!  
Sonic Regards,  Wolf  AKA Sonicus

[terryc]

The ex wife's boyfriend who is a bass player calls my MK 'the coffee table' but he is just jealous 'cos he just has a Fender J and not an Alembic haha

[thumbsup]

I've only been palying Alembics for a few years and have yet to experience any negative comments or jerks.  
I just have a hard time keeping other bass players paws off my Alembics!  
And then I'm the jerk! Go Figure.
 
Glocke probably did the smart thing by leaving.
You would like to tell those types a thing or two but it would'nt do any good but start a fight which is probably what the fool was looking for.
Funny...no job no money but had enough to buy a couple of six packs!  
Sounds like Glocke has his priorities right! He does own some realy nice Alembic Basses! You don't get there by spending your last couple of bucks on booze or drugs.  
(as Charley Sheen would say) Glocke is winning!

[hydrargyrum]

I only own one main guitar, but I worked damned hard to get it.  Anyone who cares to give me grief about that will find my company scarce.  Some of us care enough about what we are doing to seek out the best.  It has nothing to do with politics, personal behavior, or social strata.  It's all about the love of music, and choosing to put your priorities there.

[dannobasso]

Been dealing with haters almost as long as I've been playing. First with my Ripper in 1978 by Fenderheads. Then when I had a hybrid fretless. Then when I got my Spoiler in 83. It continues to the present day. But one must endure and after a while folk will give up. I'm happy with my axes and get far more joy than the haters.  I'm single and no kids so I spend on what I love. Others chose fluids and substances and can'y look at what they worked for. Perhaps thats why they hate. Be Zen, walk away and enjoy the fruits of your labors.

[tmoney61092]

don't exactly own an Alembic but do have some Alembic guts in a bass i made. going off of what Danno said about working to get an instrument, i recently purchased a Fender American Jazz that had been in this shop for a month and every week I'd come in and play it and just dream about owning it because it played like butter(in a good way of course). found out the store had layaway which had never ever crossed my mind and i instantly put some money down, then after a couple weeks of setting money aside i finally brought her home. I've played her in my church's worship band a couple times along with my Gibson Victory Artist bass and have had people come up and look at them and then they would look at me as if saying wow, your parents must be rich for an 18 year old to own these 2 basses and I would just casually throw in there a good ol' yea took me a good while to save up to buy these basses and the surprising look on their face made it all worth it. so that being said, let the haters hate Greg and be proud of what you've acquired  
 
~Taylor

[ajdover]

The only time I've had a negative reaction as regards playing Alembics was when I was in Iraq with one.  Other than that, I've had nothing but compliments.  Today, I went to a Talk Bass gathering in Raleigh, and my Series II Entwistle Replica garnered a lot of compliments as well as requests to play it.
 
Alan

[bigredbass]

I'm about to turn 56 next month (for which I'm starting the '56 is the new 17' campaign), and I've learned life is too short to tolerate drunk/stoned/angry at the world nitwits for more than 30 seconds at any one sitting.
 
It would tell ME a lot that anybody who was without a job for two years is having a drunken pity party at a rehearsal instead of mopping floors at WalMart if necessary to keep food on the table and the lights on.  Damn sure came up with some money for some bud and a few Buds, eh?
 
I can always find lots of reasons NOT to get my Carry Permit . . . .
 
Ever notice it's always cats with cheap basses that always start the 'Coffee Table Bass Rag'?  Never hear that from someone with another higher quality axe.  I tell them my other favorite bass is Squier, that REALLY twists their head up !
 
J o e y

[lbpesq]

Joey:
 
Are we long-lost twins?  I, too, am celebrating completing my 56th year on the planet next month.  However, I thought 56 is the new 22.  There are a couple of things I might like to indulge in that 17 year olds have to wait to do!  lol
 
Back to this thread, the only time I've ever heard anything negative about my Alembics, the source was clearly jealous.  It is what it is.  Sour grapes is sour grapes!
 
Bill, tgo
 
(Message edited by lbpesq on March 07, 2011)

[sonicus]

Well ____Bill and Joey , I am right behind you . I will be 55 on the 14th of March.  Such A Long Strange Trip It's Been   but I like it !
Sonic Regards ! ,  
 Wolf AKA Sonicus_____

[811952]

50 in October.  For the most part I've gotten only envy for my instruments.  Occasionally I get the all hat, no cattle look from some musicians until I start playing, but I've only ever had one person (a bluegrass guy) refer to the Alembic as fancy plywood.  Of course, I was a lowly college student (soon to be dropout) who gigged and gave lessons at minimum wage to pay for it..
 
John

[darkstar01]

i used to get hassled about playing my custom (dark star) out when i first got it, because i was like 17 at the time... which just kind of annoyed people, i'm sure. but, once they saw that i could actually play it, they'd usually shut up. people asking me how much things cost has always really, really annoyed me though... so i didn't really put up with that too well.
odd thing is, when i play my upright out.. no one asks what it costs. and let's just say it's way more than any alembic i've owned.