I'm not enjoying playing any more, please help

[poomwah]

Hi guys,
I don't know if this is a thread for the bass section, or the amp section, or the effects section. Because I really don't know where the problem lies.
I barely play anymore because when I do, I just get frustrated because I can't get anything to sound right. I cannot get a tone I like. And I spend more time tweaking than I do playing. When I do play I almost feel like I'm playing the wrong instrument (like playing basslines on guitar, the notes are right, the timing is right, the sound is NOT)
I have a couple basses.... epi thunderbird, a bc rich mockingbird modified into a gene simmons axe, a dean "something or other".
I've tried them all dry through my rig. well, if you can call it a rig.
GK MB200 head, carvin 210 cabinet. My cabinet is really old and it should probably have new speakers. I'm probably going to get a GK 210 in a couple weeks.
anyway, I still can't get a tone I like. I tried a korg ax300b processor, it helped a little, but not much.
I'm trying for a tone like Robert Kearnes of Cry of Love, or Allen Woody from Gov't Mule (may he rest in piece).
If its my playing I'm screwed, because I've been playing forever and I don't see it improving much in the future, LOL.
Where should I look for the weak spot? I'm told the MB200 is a very transparent amp, so I ruled that out. So, do I need a new bass to get the sound I'm looking for? Sorry for such a lame post, but I'm really desperate at this point to figure this out so I can actually enjoy playing again, I really miss it until I start doing it :[

[Ironderby]

i had the same problem, when i owned a line 6. So fiddly, i could not get a good tone it was awful. I bought an ashdown and it sounded beautiful, and i've changed how i learn, i used to just play song after song, now i find it alot more fun to spend a few days concentrating on slapping or other techniques, then when you get better at it. You feel proud that you've made progress. And if a new amp/effects or learning different things doesn't help. Maybe you're just not a bass player. I played drums for nearly 4 years when i was younger, didn't enjoy it or put my soul into it, to me they were just bits of wood you hit. Hope this helps

[Jim Carr]

Can you get to a music store and try some new rigs? How about trying another bassist's gear? It might be that you need to look at both the rig and your instruments. How are your strings/setup? What kind of volume are you trying to provide?

[PBnJBassist]

Take a break. There's no point trying to force yourself from doing something, even if your memories of it were enjoyable. Breaks are a good thing. You might come back to it, you might not. If you do, it could be anywhere from days to years. Forcing yourself and buying new gear isn't going to solve anything. You'll just end up burning a hole in your wallet, enforcing your frustration, and more times than not, it usually leads to a breaking point of selling off everything you have acquired and (maybe) later on regretting it.

This is just my suggestion though. To each their own, and by all means, take it easy. Also, do some digging on the combination of things can produce that sound you're looking for. What bass did Robert & Allen play? What brand, wood, pickups, strings, and settings did they use? Find that out and use it as a template to start on. From there, tweak it to your likings. Sometimes the answer is as simple as changing strings to rolling down the tone knob. Other times, you need different gear, such as another bass, pickups, or amp. I'd start with seeing which bass (since you have a few of them) brings you closer to what you're looking for and making the necessary adjustments there after.

I've been down this road before, so all the luck & much love to you.

[Miskatonic]

Personally I play simply for the joy of playing. What it sounds like for you is that you enjoy the playing but want that specific tone to accompany it. Nothing wrong there for sure.

Try taking a look at some of the gear your favorites tend to use, it might help point you in another direction that could make playing more enjoyable and more meaningful. I know that there are tones that I am not going to get out of a solid state amp that I could out of a tube amp, or that extra thump from a semi hollow/hollow body bass.

Just take a step back and examine what you have, what it gets you, and what you think you might need to do to get where you want to be. Some people spend years on a tone quest, so you would not be alone in that.

[west*coast*bass]

Originally Posted by poomwah

Hi guys,
I don't know if this is a thread for the bass section, or the amp section, or the effects section. Because I really don't know where the problem lies.
I barely play anymore because when I do, I just get frustrated because I can't get anything to sound right. I cannot get a tone I like. And I spend more time tweaking than I do playing. When I do play I almost feel like I'm playing the wrong instrument (like playing basslines on guitar, the notes are right, the timing is right, the sound is NOT)
I have a couple basses.... epi thunderbird, a bc rich mockingbird modified into a gene simmons axe, a dean "something or other".
I've tried them all dry through my rig. well, if you can call it a rig.
GK MB200 head, carvin 210 cabinet. My cabinet is really old and it should probably have new speakers. I'm probably going to get a GK 210 in a couple weeks.
anyway, I still can't get a tone I like. I tried a korg ax300b processor, it helped a little, but not much.
I'm trying for a tone like Robert Kearnes of Cry of Love, or Allen Woody from Gov't Mule (may he rest in piece).
If its my playing I'm screwed, because I've been playing forever and I don't see it improving much in the future, LOL.
Where should I look for the weak spot? I'm told the MB200 is a very transparent amp, so I ruled that out. So, do I need a new bass to get the sound I'm looking for? Sorry for such a lame post, but I'm really desperate at this point to figure this out so I can actually enjoy playing again, I really miss it until I start doing it :[

Are you playing in a band situation or by yourself? It's important to hear your gear when playing with others, more so than when you are playing alone or practicing. The key is to understand how to listen to your gear. If you are playing with a band, find your tone, don't try to cop someone else's...it never works and you'll be chasing gear forever.

Decide what you want that works best for how you play and the music that you play and then find it. It's not difficult...it may take some time and money, but it's out there.

[JimmyM]

The best way to brighten your outlook up about playing is to take lessons and really learn about how music works. It's not brain surgery. Takes a bit of dedication to get it down, but once you do that, you'll find that everything comes so much easier.

[poomwah]

Thanks everybody, I really appreciate the advice.
I'm NOT trying to argue, just filling in more info . I tried taking a break, its actually driving me nuts not playing. That and I'm not in a band and I missed a really good opportunity recently because I was too rusty to have the confidence to accept the audition.
I started playing a little over 20 years ago, I still hear bass lines in my sleep, LOL, so its not that I picked the wrong instrument. I'm not playing in a band situation right now, just at home, with a sound system capable of being quite loud for when the mood strikes. I have tried everything that I've tried at lots of different volumes, playing by myself, and playing with the stereo.
I've got a great music store about an hour away, Sweetwater , but its not the greatest for trying out instruments and rigs. Their bass and guitar room is rather small and cramped and doesn't offer much selection on hand. I don't currently know any other bass players.
I did some research on my 3 favorite bass players. Robert Kearnes played a gibson triumph, Allen Woody played gibsons and epis, he seemed partial to EB's and Thunderbirds, Gene Simmons played way too many basses to list.
I did find a "common denominator" though. They all played through Ampeg SVT's. I guess I posted in the wrong section after all, LOL

[west*coast*bass]

Find a band.

[Shawn Luckman]

Been having the same problem here as well,I still love the Bass Guitar but with all my work and Family obligations I don't seem to find the time to sit and play.

[Prezel]

Originally Posted by PBnJBassist

Take a break. ....

I agree. Sounds to me, as if it was best to take a break. If the bass is your thing for real... you´ll get back to it sooner or later

all the best!!!

[poomwah]

Originally Posted by Prezel

I agree. Sounds to me, as if it was best to take a break. If the bass is your thing for real... you´ll get back to it sooner or later

all the best!!!

I took a break though :[ I'm trying to get back into it

[pnut166]

You said you`re playing seems up to par, you`ve been playing a long time, and this downturn / disgust in your sound sort of happened gradually. You also said you`re cab is really old = get a new cab. As I discovered for myself a while back, a cab can reeeeaaaalllly ruin things, even when the problems with it are not readily apparent. Edit - Ironderby: I love my L6 gear (combo & head). They`re quirky in their adjustments, but I get a LOT of great, diverse tones out of `em.

[poomwah]

yeah, the cabinet is definitely getting replaced in a couple weeks as soon as I get the cash. So should I just relax until then, and go from there?

[PBnJBassist]

Originally Posted by poomwah

I took a break though :[ I'm trying to get back into it

You're not really supposed to try to get back into it. When taking a break from it, you'll know when you're ready on a day when you just walk by your bass, pick it up, and start playing: a VERY natural impulse without forceful attempt, basically. Go back on break and do a bit more studying. I know (first-hand) it's hard NOT to play when you want to; the thing is, sometimes you want to play and you can't. More attempts will just discourage you if they end in vain.

If you hear bass lines in your head, record yourself humming them, archive it for later until you just naturally want to play. By the way, glad you found a common denominator for amps that lean towards that sound they give, but remember to incorporate EVERYTHING else into the picture. Pickups, strings, action, gauge, amp settings and tone settings: everything. I honestly think you don't need to buy anything else, but I can only recommend working with what you have and then evaluating if new gear is a necessary solution.

Research and knowledge goes a long, long way. The saying goes, you only know where you're going if you know where you've been. Stop for a moment and play your basses for ONLY a sound check. That's the sound that you have. You know what sound you want, so all you need now is how to get it. Easier said than done, I know, but this is where researching and experimenting comes in handy via trial & error. Learning something new and weeding out what works and what doesn't is much better than just pushing yourself to play and purchasing (semi-)blindly on impulse.

Take is slow. You may not be "playing" but you will be analyzing and evaluating yourself and what suits you. Do you need to play in a band? Not quite. There are many "living room rockers" that are content playing on the side or whatnot. Do you need new gear? Probably not. You may be the exception to the rule, but plenty of bassists gig with what they have, and they do just fine. As I said before and I'll reiterate again, sometimes, the answer is as simple as rolling off the tone knob, as subtle as using different strings & gauges, or as "right in front of our eyes" obvious as adjusting our amp's EQ.

Continue the break, relax, research, experiment, analyze, and evaluate. When the day comes you just pick up the bass and play, you'll know, because it will JUST FEEL NATURAL.

[poomwah]

thanks Pbnj. I know EXACTLY what you mean about being un natural and forcing yourself to play and how bad that can be. I went through that stage a long time ago.
The only reason I'm having to try to get back into it is because the sound issue. I miss playing. I do want to play, and my hands feel weird if I don't. It still feels natural to play, and I only play when I want to. The problem is not that I'm forcing myself to play. It's that I'm fine until I plug in. That's when it all goes to hell. If I'm just sitting in my recliner playing, or walking around the house playing, I enjoy it. Then I plug in, and its more frustrating than enjoyable. Its not the playing that is causing me the problems, or the desire or lack of desire or anything like that, its the results I'm getting.

[poomwah]

Originally Posted by caaraa

The best way to brighten your outlook up about playing is to take lessons and really learn about how music works.

taking lessons will effect my frustration with my tone?

[BogeyBass]

The tone you admire and want to achieve by your influences
is being created with a Fender P Bass and a Ampeg 8x10 with a SVT.

Probably the most generic statement found on a Bass forum.

but yet so many ask why and how to get "this" kinda sound from a small compact rig. the answer is you don't.

If you want a compact cabinet i would lean towards a 2x12.

If you you like the GK amp then great, but i wouldn't be caught dead using one.

If you like the brands of basses you use great, but i wouldn't be caught dead using any of them.

Here is the list of Happiness

Fender P or Fender J

Heads
Acoustic 370, Sunn Coliseum, Sunn Model T 1st Generation, Ampeg SVT, Ampeg V4B, Fender Bassman135, Mesa boogie 400 or 400+.
Cabs
2x12 minimum, 2x15 or 8x10 highly recommended

Dual 2x15 or Dual 8x10 rock god status.

the End

[poomwah]

thanks Bogey,
if its that simple I need to accept being unhappy I guess
theres no way I can afford an svt, and theres no way I can haul an 810
that and I'm not really fond of fenders (I know they arent necessary to get the sound I want, because the three bass players I listed don't use them)
as far as the rest, I think I'm pretty well screwed though

[richtea]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

The best way to brighten your outlook up about playing is to take lessons and really learn about how music works. It's not brain surgery. Takes a bit of dedication to get it down, but once you do that, you'll find that everything comes so much easier.

I'm with Jimmy, I used to do this when ever I started to get stale, of course I dont have to now cos I know it all (not).
I just used to book one lesson with a good teacher, it can take you in a compleatly different direction, maybe even get some more hands on help with your tone issues. It would be enough to keep me motivated for months sometimes.