A somewhat final farewell and thanks to the TB community

Squidfinger · #1 06-09-2006, 10:28 PM

Hey all,

I haven't been very active the past few months but for a long time TB was my bread and butter. I lived by the wisdom handed down from the bass elders.

I practiced everyday with stars in my eyes wanting to play in a local band. This never happened. Every band I joined imploded within a week. Trying to play with guitarists that apparently were either too "talented" or too stupid to learn things like scales quickly became old. I only liked freestyling with a guitarist when I led. Then I bought a cheap acoustic and couldn't put it down (I'm still holding it). I've touched my bass maybe 2 times in the past week. I've lost what little mojo I had on it. I'm crossing over to geetar and am pretty damn happy about it.

I just wanted to say thank you to all the pros and regular joes that answered my questions in a genuinely friendly manner. I always enjoyed reading the pro's stories (wondering if I'd ever have any like them). All in all TB has been by far the most intelligent board I've ever been a part of. I've joined a couple of guitar forums and let's just say I was shocked at how high the stupidity and ego levels were.

I know I'm not to supposed to say anything but I'm moving all my bass equipment out to pay for my guitar rig. I became a supporting member because I want to give you guys first crack at it and I want to avoid an ebay headache. Check out the classifieds.

Thanks guys. It was really great. I just didn't have the talent to be a bassist.

PS. I'll probably still lurk around.

d8g3jdh · #2 06-09-2006, 10:32 PM

Good luck with the guitar.

If you're looking to get into a band and get some gigs going, be forewarned it is much harder to do this as a guitar player. There are a lot more guitarists than anything else, so my advice would be to really know your stuff. Then again, that's sorta always good advice...

Have fun.

Squidfinger · #3 06-09-2006, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Zoltok

Good luck with the guitar.

If you're looking to get into a band and get some gigs going, be forewarned it is much harder to do this as a guitar player. There are a lot more guitarists than anything else, so my advice would be to really know your stuff. Then again, that's sorta always good advice...

Have fun.

Yeah, I hear ya. I'm really not concerned with band's yet (won't be for atleast a year). I'm having so much fun unraveling the guitar and making up my own songs. I can't wait till I get a 4-track.

Basshole · #4 06-09-2006, 10:36 PM

You'll be back to the bass eventually. It draws you in. When the wankery of guitar wears off, the tones will lure you back - the many flavors; the fretless mwah, the piano tone, the slap, the burp, the bark, the growl. Flatwounds, roundwounds, groundwounds, tapewounds, ARRRRRRGH.

You won't be able to stay away!

bassteban · #5 06-09-2006, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basshole

You'll be back to the bass eventually. It draws you in. When the wankery of guitar wears off, the tones will lure you back - the many flavors; the fretless mwah, the piano tone, the slap, the burp, the bark, the growl. Flatwounds, roundwounds, groundwounds, tapewounds, ARRRRRRGH.

You won't be able to stay away!

Don't forget the POWER. We can change chords.

You'll be back. Bring secrets from the dork- I mean, dark side.

whitedk57 · #6 06-10-2006, 10:07 AM

Another one has gone to the dark side.

Bluez Dawg · #7 06-10-2006, 10:22 AM

Argg after reading this thread I have changed my mind about the guitar and stay cracking away on the bass. How ever I like to wish you luck on your endeavor, an I hope you prevail.

Peace.

RiseOfTheWooten · #8 06-10-2006, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitedk57

Another one has gone to the dark side.

We should organise a special ops rescue team to kidnap him, bring him back to the interrogation/brainwashing room. We'll strap him down to a dentist chair and keep his eyelids open with toothpicks.

And we shall play him videos of Jaco, Wooten, Entwhistle, McCartney, Caron.. the whole checklist.

tplyons · #9 06-10-2006, 12:10 PM

You'll be back. I play guitar on the side, but it's nowhere near as fun.

lpdeluxe · #10 06-10-2006, 12:55 PM

After 30+ years of playing electric lead, harmonica, Dobro, and occasional bass, tell ya what: I have been permanently sucked into bass. Throw a rock and hit 5 rhythm g**tarists and one highly talented lead player: oooops, you're the only bass player there? A key is getting gear that speaks to you. If you don't have that, you're just an amplified bass drum.

The Golden Boy · #11 06-10-2006, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squidfinger

Every band I joined imploded within a week. Trying to play with guitarists that apparently were either too "talented" or too stupid to learn things like scales quickly became old. I only liked freestyling with a guitarist when I led.

Just a guess here, but if you're having trouble dealing on a band level with everybody- you just might have trouble playing well with others. If you can only play with people when you lead, maybe you need to not change instruments, but change how you interact with the other players.

**MAJOR METAL** · #12 06-10-2006, 01:49 PM

All the best

Squidfinger · #13 06-10-2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

Just a guess here, but if you're having trouble dealing on a band level with everybody- you just might have trouble playing well with others. If you can only play with people when you lead, maybe you need to not change instruments, but change how you interact with the other players.

Yeah, maybe that came out wrong. I never thought it was a "it's all them and not me" situation. I knew alot it was me. It had alot do do with conflicting musical styles.

I wanted to be Mr. Mellow/Mr. Blues while it seemed everybody else wanted to be Kerry King.

markjazzbassist · #14 06-10-2006, 04:53 PM

good luck man. learn how to play fingerstyle guitar. i play classical and its really fun. but bass is still my #1 love.

4Mal · #15 06-10-2006, 05:30 PM

it's cool. Bass is a great spring board to other instruments and other ways of being a musician. If the singer/song writer thing grabs you, you'll write better bass parts or you'll write songs and leave space for a good bassist to contribute. It isn't like the time you spent as a bassist was down time, you were learning some new musical sensibilities... being a bassist is more about attitude than strength, dexterity and muscle memory in my opinion. It's a philosophy, an expression of your committment to make the music better. If you really got it during your tenure as a bassist, that stays with you regardless of the instrument you're playing at the moment.
'Luck to you Squidfinger

The Golden Boy · #16 06-10-2006, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squidfinger

Yeah, maybe that came out wrong. I never thought it was a "it's all them and not me" situation. I knew alot it was me. It had alot do do with conflicting musical styles.

I wanted to be Mr. Mellow/Mr. Blues while it seemed everybody else wanted to be Kerry King.

Then it sounds like you're playing with the wrong guys instead of the wrong instrument, or you're just having trouble "playing well with others." Heck, I'm a rock/indie rock guy and I played in a metal band for 2 years absolutely hating the music.

In any case, to play with people you're still going to deal with conflicting styles, and you're going to have to "play well with others." If you're having difficulty doing that as a bass player, you'll probably have as much- if not more difficulty as a guitarist.

I've been playing guitar almost as long as I've been playing bass. Even when guitar was my primary instrument, I was still a bass player playing guitar.

In the end, it's all up to you, and I wish you the best of luck.

SuperDuck · #17 06-10-2006, 06:35 PM

On a similar note, I'll be leaving to start spending more time at TalkAccordian.com.

The Golden Boy · #18 06-11-2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperDuck

On a similar note, I'll be leaving to start spending more time at TalkAccordian.com.

That's only to be expected.

Us accordianists like to refer to that as "imminent progression."

ebe9 · #19 06-11-2006, 11:03 AM

Best of luck, you need to do what makes you happy.

And hey, if Guitar does not work out, you will always have Bass.

georgestrings · #20 06-11-2006, 03:39 PM

I started as a guitarist and had over 15 years of band experience as one before picking up bass - by continuing to play both, I'm rarely without an opportunity for a band, and find composing to be easier on the guitar than on bass... However, it turns out that I'm a better bassist than guitarist - and as a result, I get opportunities to play in a "higher caliber" of band as a bassist than I typically do as a guitarist - something to consider, IMO... Currently I'm playing bass in 2 bands, BTW - but still plugging away on the guitar "on the side"...

- georgestrings