Confessions of A Former Guitar Player.

[Xavier Zed]

I started playing a beat up acoustic my Mom scored from Sears when I was thirteen. Why, Chuck Berry, then Clapton, my heros to this day thou I've added some others along the way, Stanley Clarke, Jamerson, Bruce Foxton, Geddy. My first electric guitar was a Peavy T-60 bought in Oceanside, California because the MIA strat I wanted was too expensive.

I sold the Peavey when I deployed to Okinawa and picked up a Yamaha strat copy in a shop outside the base I was stationed. I played the crap out of that thing, shipped it home and played the crap out of it some more when I got out. A funny thing was I had lost the tremolo arm within the first week of ownership. This resulted in me using and becoming quite adept at palming the bridge for vibrato. That was the first time I felt it, that feeling that the instrument was an extension of my body and mind. That all I had to do was think it and so shall it be.

Then my attempts at heme recording which led to my need for a bass. I figure well it only has four strings. First bass, a busted Hondo P-bass copy with two strings, then an Ibanez Musician, traded to get a headless bass and a Casio CZ synth which I still have, headless when it for an amp. At this point my young wife scored me a gift for my birthday a hot pink Gibson SG, yes hot pink, it was her big surprise to support my musical dreams.

Kids and hard times saw my musical dreams and the Gibson disappear. Soon I was back to an acoustic making up bedtime songs for the kids. I had settled into my career, things were looking good for me and my family didn't have much time to play anymore. And as life settled into its routine, kids grown, wife going. I had some time again and after years of hanging out at Rondo Music. I bought an Agile Les Paul copy, upgraded the pups, and soon I was home recording again, and of course I needed a bass, all the loops I had sucked. And, from Rondo I scored a MIM P-bass rosewood board, white body and tort guard, $179.

About this time I saw a program with Stanley Clarke on PBS and that's when the bug bit me. I played the MIM P until the neck snapped in an accident. I decide to upgrade both to MIA and a Jazz, the deluxe model right. Sold my Trace Elliot Big Ben ( it vibrated the entire house on 2) for a rosewood board, black body, white guard MIA Jazz which I still own. That was ten years ago and in that interim as I re-examine all the music of my youth and formative years, this time listening to the bass players learning their names. The only benchmark to guide me on this quest was how I had as I searched for my sound was that natural feeling I felt playing that old Yamaha strat from Okinawa and the bass sound in my head (turned out to be James Jamerson, all that Motown).

Now, over 30 odd basses later, I play a 57Ri P bass
maple board, sunburst anodized guard, and a Sterling Ray34 also in sunburst that I will keep forever.

And, after all the years I spent on this board lurking before joining, has been very rewarding in my continued development as a bassist. I need to say this.

Thank You All (including the Mods) for help making this board one of the most enjoyable communities to be a part of.

I am a

[dwm74]

Interesting. Your story has many parallels to mine.

Started playing guitar back in '78. The I got married in the late 80's, started a family in the early 90's, and while raising kids and building a career the guitar virtually sat untouched for about 10 years (but for a handful of times a year).

I also eased back into it by getting an acoustic guitar, and when my son was about 10 or 11 he started showing interest in playing. Bought him his own electric guitar/amp starter package, and dug my electric out of the closet. We'd play together just occasionally, but he'd play a lot on his own. Fast forward a half-dozen years...he had long since surpassed my abilities on the six-string, so I got the idea to pick up a cheap bass so I could at least lay down some low end for him. That didn't really work out as planned, but I did become smitten with the bass.

In the past three years, I have pretty much phased out the guitar. I only concentrate on bass now, and probably haven't picked up a six-stringer in the last 6 months.

Coincidentally, up until a few months ago, by two basses were a Precision and a Ray34. However I did end up selling off the Ray34...and adding a second P.

[Xavier Zed]

You are right our stories are similar. My eldest son at 14 ten years ago went with me to buy my first MIA Jazz in 00. I tried to convince him to start drumming so we could spend more time together but it didn't stick with him.

So, was the P bass your first bass? Reason I ask, is because I started on a P then took along journey thru the bass spectrum just to end up right back where I started.

[dwm74]

No, I had an ESP f104 first. Kind of a gothic-looking body shape. Had active pups, played fine, and I had that for about two years, then decided to try a P.

Bought a used one off craigslist, but as soon as I held it, it felt like that bass was made for my hands. Neck felt great, and just everything about it seemed to 'just right'.

Sold off the ESP soon afterward, and eventually got the Ray34, thinking it would be a nice complement to the P sound. It was, and it also was a fantastic instrument...well-built, and solid. But after a few months of chasing the exact tone I was trying the get out of it, I realized I'd already had that tone I sought in the Fender. So I sold the Ray and picked up the second used Precision...one with rounds, one with flats. They're both MIMs, so they didn't set me back a ton of money, but they're both in great condition and set up just right for me.

I never say never, but I can't see myself going back to active basses. I've had two and know what they're all about and appreciate what they can do, but they're just not for me at this point.

[Xavier Zed]

My fingers are fairly long and I need a neck with some chunk not to cramp up on. And, the P and the Ray 34 in turn fits that bill. Also, you are right about the P bass's tone, its my favorite also but, the Ray 34 has that P on steroids vibe with a meaty neck and something about that big heavy body and bridge, man that bridge... Heck, I want a bridge like that on all my other basses

My Ray 34 might also be going fretless. And, if it takes, it could become my signature main bass