Parents...

Elemetal · #1 11-04-2006, 06:37 PM

So after recently deciding to defret my first bass (Squier affinity P-bass) my parents say I'm not aloud. They are the type of people that say... "you already have a bass why do you need another one?" they really don't understand anything that I do with my basses. I got in **** for changing my pickups on another bass they said "You'll wreck it then what are you going to do?" They say the same thing about defretting my bass. The funny thing is I don't play the bass and I recently been wanting a fretless to fool around on, nothing special and peice of junk. So I was wondering if any of you ever ran into this trouble and can give me any tips on how to explain to them to **** off and let me do it.

spudmaster34 · #2 11-04-2006, 06:40 PM

play them "portrait of tracey" on you computor, then explain that that was played on a fretless, and it has a verry different tone than a fretted have some beatles clips ready to demonstrate this fact

69nites · #3 11-04-2006, 06:49 PM

show them what you are going to do.

Show them the tutorials and let them know that this isn't something you're doing for giggles and it actually has a purpose.

generally when you talk to them like an adult you get treated like one

tplyons · #4 11-04-2006, 06:54 PM

I almost miss those days where my parents were afraid I'd screw something up, and I have plenty of times.

Taught me to do my research. Show them that you've done your research, multiple choices, and that you have the tools, space, and knowledge to do it properly. Explain to them that you've weighed the pro's and cons and basically that the whole thing is thought through and through.

Elemetal · #5 11-04-2006, 06:54 PM

I already explained to them it gives a different sound and if they don't want me to do it so bad then they can buy me a brand new fretless. My parents have listened to Portrait of Tracy and tones of Jaco because I play it around the house so much. My dad is even getting into jaco and jazz stuff. But besides that they just don't want me defretting my bass because "I'll wreck it." Yeah I pretty much showed them everything too. I've showed them my research and I don't give a **** if I screw up because it's just a learning experience for me because I don't play that bass anyway and if I defretted it I most likely would. It's so enraging.

Poop-Loops · #6 11-04-2006, 06:56 PM

This can be a MFer to overcome. My parents were like that with everything I have ever tried to do myself. Now they know that I don't do something unless I already know what I'm doing.

Show them your bass, and show them a picture of a fretless. Explain to them the difference in tone and exactly what you want to do to it. Explain the possible pitfalls and how you will overcome them. That's about all you can do.

Elemetal · #7 11-04-2006, 06:57 PM

Done. Done. Done. Done. lol I've been trying to tell them all this for the past 5 hours guy. I was hoping I'd do it tomorrow as a project for fun.

tplyons · #8 11-04-2006, 06:59 PM

Then it's time to come to the conclusion that you still live under their roof, and under their rules. They may not always be right, but believe it or not, they've probably wrecked a few things in their day.

Keep revisiting it, but don't become pushy. That's the easiest way to get the "no"

Poop-Loops · #9 11-04-2006, 06:59 PM

Worst-case scenario: your bass is like what, 6, 7 pounds? It can do some damage.

Elemetal · #10 11-04-2006, 07:01 PM

Lol..... I think I'm going to do it anyway when no one is home one day. Thats my last option.

tplyons · #11 11-04-2006, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elemetal

Lol..... I think I'm going to do it anyway when no one is home one day. Thats my last option.

And I can assure you that'll get you even farther from ever trying something like this again. This is a sure sign that there's a good reason to distrust you, by blatantly going behind their backs and doing exactly what they told you not to.

Have some patience, it'll get you far in life.

SBassman · #12 11-04-2006, 07:13 PM

Hey, I have an idea.

Instead of trying to figure out how to tell your parents to go **** off, why don't you get a job, make your own money, buy a bass with Your money, and then you can **** around with it all you want.

spudmaster34 · #13 11-04-2006, 07:19 PM

thats a good point, my parents bought my first bass and amp as a cristmas present the rest of my gear
I bought myself with money I earned

tplyons · #14 11-04-2006, 07:21 PM

Yep. My parents still give me guff about changing things on instruments they bought me. And I have more gear than anyone my age should have, and am STILL changing things.

It never ends, best of luck.

Dave · #15 11-04-2006, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBassman

Hey, I have an idea.

Instead of trying to figure out how to tell your parents to go **** off, why don't you get a job, make your own money, buy a bass with Your money, and then you can **** around with it all you want.

I agree. Ive had a job since I was 14 and bought all of my equipment on my own. And also, telling your parents to **** off is just a bad idea in general.

Jazzin' · #16 11-04-2006, 08:38 PM

When I had to convince my parents that buying a fretless was not just buying an extra bass but a bass which does different things, I played them some Jaco tunes. After a few weeks of that and showing them what frets are and how some basses don't have them they finally understood. And I am planning on buying a Jaguar Bass very soon, wish me the best of luck convincing them that I need it.

Elemetal · #17 11-04-2006, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBassman

Hey, I have an idea.

Instead of trying to figure out how to tell your parents to go **** off, why don't you get a job, make your own money, buy a bass with Your money, and then you can **** around with it all you want.

Lol guy that is my bass bought with my own money all my bass **** is bought with my own money they wont pay for any of it. Also I explained everything to them and its not getting through I don't get it.

69nites · #18 11-04-2006, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elemetal

...I don't give a **** if I screw up...

If you were my kid
and those words came out of your mouth
You would never be left alone with the bass again

seriously I hope you didn't try to make the argument that you don't play it anymore so you don't care if you **** it up

maybe say if I mess it up I'll pay someone to fix it

But never ever say the words "I don't care" ever

Setebos · #19 11-04-2006, 11:35 PM

why dont trying to start talking to you father and get him involved in the project. Talk him into how much fun would be to do the defretting job together. You might get to his heart and may be in some time he will give you the greenlight.
but then, youjust have to be prepared to do the job together with your dad. may be is not such a fun. hahaha.

Elemetal · #20 11-04-2006, 11:43 PM

Lol doing a job with my dad thats murder you couldn't actually say that I'd be doing the job with him he'd have to do everything himself. For the guy that said I can't say I don't care if I screw up. This is like a 100 dollar bass we're talking about I never play it I was going to buy a cheap bass to do things to it so I can learn. Thats all I want to do. If I screw up so what I learn from it I can always buy another 100 dollar bass if it means so much to my parents even though it's my bass that I paid for in the first place anyway. I'm not stupid to do it on any bass I mean I've thought about this hard and I'm not just going to **** with any bass not caring the only reason I don't care is because if that bass was stolen I wouldn't be heart broken about it.