Thinkin' about bailing out...

[jive1]

There's nothing wrong with hanging it up. It keeps the market saturation for bassists down and let's others get deals on nice instruments.

[Bert Slide]

When I am feeling down and beaten I always remember the inspirational speech my old high school football coach would give me when things got tough and i felt like quitting: ..."What are you a baby!...Cry Baby Cry!...You know you want to cry Baby!...Go ahead, cry like the baby you are! Look you guys! Baby's gonna cry! C'mon Baby, cry for us like the baby you are!!!!"

[MrLenny1]

I am in my 3rd year off.
Been doing this for a long time.
Play, get burnt out, quit 3-5 years, repeat as needed.
Get into studying and reading music that you like.

[alan_hill]

Never give up. Put your bass out of sight in a cupboard and forget about it. Take up golf ;-)

One day you'll get the urge to play again and it'll be there waiting for you.

Music isn't just for Christmas :-p

[alan_hill]

Originally Posted by Bassamatic

It is not a big deal if playing some instrument is not fulfilling - there is SOMETHING that is. You just have to find it.

The whole post is gold. Great advice.

I recently moved over to guitar as it serves my desire for melody more. But that was after 18 years of playing bass.
I love playing bass especially with the Mrs on drums but I love playing guitar more.

[jive1]

Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
And it ain't over now. 'Cause when the goin' gets tough..........the tough get goin'! Who's with me? Let's go!

What the **** happened to the Delta I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you Bluto, we might get in trouble." Well just kiss my *** from now on! Not me! I'm not gonna take this.

[bluewine]

Question:

How can you guys make all these suggestions when the OP said very little about his experience as a bass player. There had to be a reason it wasn't doing anything for him anymore, maybe it never did.

Was he burnt out from gigging, did he have a history of playing in bands that went nowhere or weren't a natch for him?

Bkue

[chef wong]

The truth is..I don't have an amplifier right now and it's bummin' me out. Aint I a stinker?

[portlandguy]

I read once where Geddy Lee sometime during the 90's didn't touch abass for 8 months. just took some time off.

[chef wong]

I can't take time off. My technique gets weaker, and my timing then suffers. Not recommended.

I'm stuck for now playing through a tiny Fender guitar amp with headphones. I'd like to find a nice 300 watt combo real soon.

[lbbc]

Hanging it up....something we all have done at time or another. I've found, now that I'm 54, that I really want to play and play more for myself and with friends. We do special events and other gigs as they come up.

Also, I sold my Alembic Rogue the last time....and can't afford to buy another now. So, my advice is to take time off and keep your Alembic. You'll play again...when the time is right.

[HolmeBass]

We can sum up all the coherent advice in this thread as:

"Don't sell the Alembic!"

And I think that is actually really good advice. Anything else, follow your heart.

[Big Brother]

Originally Posted by Itzayana

I know exactly how you feel. I am 60 years old and started playing when I was 13.
There have been a few times in my life where I actually lost interest to the point of looking at my gear gather dust and turning down opportunities to play gigs. I sold all my gear and took time off. The longest was three years!
But I always seemed to come back with a great new enthusiasm. Jumped back into it. Learned all about the new gear and started fresh.
Funny thing is that it always had the effect of springboarding me way ahead.
You see that I firmly believe that the mind will continue to grow and process even if you aren't actively doing it.
Muscle memory fades, slows, and grows clumbsy. But that is relatively easy to get back.

This is true for just about everything but growing hair.

[Ryan L.]

Hmmm. I thought I was gonna hang it up for awhile, after I quit my band a couple months back.

I wasn't off for a week when I got a call from a VERY popular variety/cover band, saying that they heard I was done with my (then) current band, and wondering if I would be interested in taking over the bass chair and doing a good share of the male lead vocal work for them.

Needless to say, I decided not to hang it up after all.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by MrLenny1

I am in my 3rd year off.
Been doing this for a long time.
Play, get burnt out, quit 3-5 years, repeat as needed.
Get into studying and reading music that you like.

Knock on wood , I will be 60 in February. Never been burnt out or had any reason to take time off. I look forward to that 4 hours on Friday & Saturday nights.

However, my condo is on the second floor and it's getting more & more difficult to get that rig in and out of my car.

Blue

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Question:

How can you guys make all these suggestions when the OP said very little about his experience as a bass player. There had to be a reason it wasn't doing anything for him anymore, maybe it never did.

Was he burnt out from gigging, did he have a history of playing in bands that went nowhere or weren't a natch for him?

Bkue

My guess would be that we read the first post. It said plenty.


Plus I'd also guess that many of us have felt the same way at some point for various reasons... it's still basically the same feeling.

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Some of you probably know that I'm the opposite. I have to be in a band. It's all I know. I have no other interests.

To me rock n roll and all the different genres has always been about being in a band and gigging. It's not for everyone.

So if that's the case, I guess playing solo at home satisfies some guys. I guess it's the best and only alternative.

Blue

Pick up classical guitar... that's what Yvon did.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

My guess would be that we read the first post. It said plenty.


Plus I'd also guess that many of us have felt the same way at some point for various reasons... it's still basically the same feeling.

I read the OPs original poat and I still see nothing.

"All of todays music is whack"

I'm not in touch with all of todays music, at 59, I'm just not. But I have no opinion on it really. I would think some of it is fantastic.

Either way, it's not much of a reason for me to quit. If your a true bass guitarist, outside of health and family responsibilities there is no reason to stop.

blue

[JimmyM]

The evolution of a musician:

Teens-30's: Best job in the world even if it doesn't pay.

30's-40's: It's OK but not as fun as it used to be, mostly because it doesn't pay.

40's-50's: It sucks.

50's-60's: Starts being fun again.

60's-death: Who cares if it doesn't pay? It's awesome!

[bassfart]

Pick up the new Soundgarden album King Animal, you WILL find inspiration there I promise.