Might just pack my basses up...and stuff them in a closet for a while.

[TUEP]

Looks like I am cursed to play acoustic bass. Ever sense I bought one years ago. My bass influences were Mike Starr (AIC), Frank Bello (Anthrax), Duff McKagan (GnR), Rex Brown (Pantera), Robert Deleo (STP), and Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam). As you can see I have a lot of heavy rock, and some metal influences in my bass playing. All I wanted to be was a solid rock bassist. Instead...ever time I am in something that is getting going. Something falls through. Then the only other options are to go acoustic. You know those bassist so desperate to play, that they will get on stage with a vocalist playing guitar and play basslines.

Yep...I am that guy unfortunately. Over the years its like the harder I try to rock...the more open mic's, and bon fire parties I have to endure. I have been on this journey for a while. I started playing a bit when I was 18 or 19. I didn't really get into it until I was about 24 or 25. Now I am 30.

Most of the problems that bands I have been in are mostly due to lack of place to practice, or members have scheduling problems, and a lack of drummers in the area. So I am always resorting to playing with a singer guitar player acoustically.

Its like the never ending cycle. Its like I am doomed not to rock. So I get to play songs like "In the meantime" by Spacehog...and "Would" by AIC with no drums...and just me and a singer who plays guitar.

I really seemed to be doomed to the 4 string acoustic craptacular world of bass. The funny thing is my acoustic bass is a cheapo Sonata AEB that is an ok Korean model. I think it was like $350 back in the day. I bought it only to jam with my friends late at night or tinker with...not to be my main bass. Yet, that is sadly what it has become.

[VWbug08']

Unfortunately I enjoy those low profile type of gigs. LOL. One of the reasons I like fretless! LOL

In my opinion you could be in much worse shape. A lot of guys just stop playing and pick it up much later and lose the oppurtunity to develope. If you can refocus and try to make the best of it and even enjoy it a little that would set you way ahead in the long run?

I do appreciate what you are saying though, you have to have your own goals and dreams to drive you to practice.

Hang in there. Try not to put them in the closet.

Maybe continue on and just consider yourself semi-retired?

Good luck.

[collins81]

acoustic bass? Did the bassist for days of the new go acoustic with his band mates? Negatory.

Get a smaller cab for the open mic night stuff. and a generator for the bon fires.

[Tupac]

Well, at least you get to play Alice in Chains...

[TDSLaBassiste]

You're complaining about the kinds of gigs I love to play.... and I always get offers to play metal.... can we switch?

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by TUEP

Most of the problems that bands I have been in:
1) lack of place to practice
2) members have scheduling problems
3) lack of drummers in the area.

I suggest:

1) you find a place for band rehearsal that you control.

2) If you have a rehearsal space available at all times, maybe that will resolve some of the scheduling problems.

3) Learn how to program drum tracks for when you don't have a drummer. Again, something that you control

Then you can play whatever music makes you happy. Even you and a vocalist can do a gig if you have guitar tracks as well.

Good luck.

P.S. Be a problem solver, not a problem.

[carlthegroover]

Man, too bad such things happen sometimes, but I can offer some suggestions.

I would say do not just pack away your basses. I would say, keep practicing even if it's only with a guitarist. Maybe you can find someone who does have an electric guitar, and it will sound closer to the real deal even without drums.

Maybe you can just practice your butt off by yourself with the recordings of songs you're working on, and whenever you get a decent guitarist, you become the sole timekeeper, so the jam doesn't fall apart and the guitarist can still be all over the place. And I like Stumbo's idea: it's best to have a drum machine than nothing at all.

Maybe you should devote the time to experiment with other genres. It is sad, but I also think that rock is losing a lot of momentum on the mainstream music scene, and maybe we rockers should just lay low for a while, hoping that someday people will again come back to their senses and receive rock with arms wide open again.

Or... maybe we should just go out there and rock wherever and whenever we can. After all, there still has to be a rock scene. Heck, even if it's all underground or indie, I take it.

My two cents. Just keep rockin', brother. Even if the situation doesn't seem ideal.

[Caca de Kick]

The way I fixed that? I packed up and moved (two States away as a matter of fact). I've had a much happier music life.

[TUEP]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

I suggest:

1) you find a place for band rehearsal that you control.

2) If you have a rehearsal space available at all times, maybe that will resolve some of the scheduling problems.

3) Learn how to program drum tracks for when you don't have a drummer. Again, something that you control

Then you can play whatever music makes you happy. Even you and a vocalist can do a gig if you have guitar tracks as well.

Good luck.

P.S. Be a problem solver, not a problem.

We have absolutely no place to jam right now. All of us live in neighborhoods where that isn't happening without the law being called. So that is kind of not happening.