Incredible...

[FreaqyFrequency]

WARNING: The passage you are about to read is ridiculously long, and you may want to empty your hands of all coffee and beverages and put pillows at your sides lest you slumber in the midst of the passage and fall from thy seat.





Ok, here's my deal: I've been playing bass for a little over a year and I'm 16 years old. My first bass is a Peavey Millennium 4-string strung up with ADGC strings (long story), but I find that they actually give me a nice Primus-esque tone. My main bass is a Schecter Stiletto Studio-6, which lies among the nicest basses I have ever played.

My rig is a Korg AX3000B Effects board and a Crate BT50 50W 12" amplifier, which were acquired combined for under $400 new. I'm not precisely going to become a Tom B. anytime in the near future.

However, despite how deprecated all-in-ones, simulators and the like are, I am quite astounded how this little team performs. I rolled back the treble and mids and boosted bass on my sixer, found a setting on the board (I generally keep my amp flat, or nearly so) and Voila! I had an upright bass. Didn't sound like some cheap simulation at all, sounded like the real thing (minus the fretlessness)

Rolled the treble back up, bumped the mids very slightly (but they were still cut), and I sent the blend to the neck pickup, and I had a very Flea-reminiscent slap tone. It was pretty cool. I was able to find a Tommy the Cat tone without too much difficulty as well.

But by far, the most amazing tone is one that gave me an inspiration so powerful that I wrote a song in 2 days. It was a delay, reverb and amp simulation with some treble bumped on the board, and the bass and treble bumped on the bass, the mids flat. The song's title is "Wind in the Tunnels under the Sea", and I do not mean to brag, but every person who has heard it has exclaimed how gorgeous it was and how talented I am. I insist that it is not me, but the board that's making the magic. It would not be nearly the song it is without it.

So, I suppose this is just a tribute to my inexpensive equipment, and a gracious letter of thanks to my parents for helping me out so much.

I intend to be getting a Fender 400 Pro in 3 months so that I can play a 500-person gig in July, so wish me luck for that since that is about as much as my gear thus far combined.

Thanks to everyone who reads this,

-Sean

[txbasschik]

Congratulations!!! It sounds like you are, indeed, talented. And you have a great attitude. Loved it that you thanked your folks...make sure you tell them in person, 'k? They'll never forget it, I promise.



Cherie

[fenderhutz]

Can I have my 2 minutes back I just spent reading this?

[FreaqyFrequency]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

Can I have my 2 minutes back I just spent reading this?

Sure! Would you like that to be in cash, check or money order?

I'll need to have your shipping address as well.

[FreaqyFrequency]

Originally Posted by txbasschik

Congratulations!!! It sounds like you are, indeed, talented. And you have a great attitude. Loved it that you thanked your folks...make sure you tell them in person, 'k? They'll never forget it, I promise.



Cherie

Thank you very much for the kind words!

I thank them every day. I would be nowhere if it weren't for them, and I hope I remember that for the rest of my life.

I don't mean to sound righteous, but whenever I get angry with them, I think about how good I have it and that generally cools me right down. Part of the reason they don't buy me all the gear in the world I would ever want is so that I can practice delayed gratification, a tool I will very much need at least when starting out as an adult. There are probably many more things they do for me now that I won't appreciate until I'm a fully developed adult.

Thanks again.

-Sean

[ric1312]

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

Thank you very much for the kind words!

I thank them every day. I would be nowhere if it weren't for them, and I hope I remember that for the rest of my life.

I don't mean to sound righteous, but whenever I get angry with them, I think about how good I have it and that generally cools me right down. Part of the reason they don't buy me all the gear in the world I would ever want is so that I can practice delayed gratification, a tool I will very much need at least when starting out as an adult. There are probably many more things they do for me now that I won't appreciate until I'm a fully developed adult.

Thanks again.

-Sean

OMG a kid who appreciates his parents..........the world is coming to an end.

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

Thank you very much for the kind words!

I thank them every day. I would be nowhere if it weren't for them, and I hope I remember that for the rest of my life.

I don't mean to sound righteous, but whenever I get angry with them, I think about how good I have it and that generally cools me right down. Part of the reason they don't buy me all the gear in the world I would ever want is so that I can practice delayed gratification, a tool I will very much need at least when starting out as an adult. There are probably many more things they do for me now that I won't appreciate until I'm a fully developed adult.

Thanks again.

-Sean

You have very fortunate parents. Evidently, honey, they've raised you right!!!

Rock on, sug...

Cherie

[fenderhutz]

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

Sure! Would you like that to be in cash, check or money order?

I'll need to have your shipping address as well.

Just picking really. If you are having this much fun "out of the box" just getting started I would highly recommend finding other musicians to collaborate with. Even at your level or higher. You can learn even from the worst musicians.

[Jim Carr]

Originally Posted by txbasschik

You have very fortunate parents. Evidently, honey, they've raised you right!!!

Rock on, sug...

Cherie

+1

[FreaqyFrequency]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

If you are having this much fun "out of the box" just getting started I would highly recommend finding other musicians to collaborate with. Even at your level or higher. You can learn even from the worst musicians.

I play with a guitarist, and I have very mixed feelings about him. He's not an idiot, but he and I are not much alike. I can create decently intricate basslines to what he plays, most of which he likes, but I made up a reggae-ish bassline in Bb and he started playing a Clapton/Hendrix-like riff which did not mix well at all. He's a faithful friend though, and I will not stop playing with him unless if it's painfully clear we aren't going anywhere, or he becomes a jerk.

I also once jammed with a drummer and I thought we were going somewhere, but all of a sudden he got together with our would-be singer and "decided" that the very band I started didn't need a bassist.

I seek every opportunity to jam with someone, and I am playing a 500-person show in July as was stated above. Another example of how my parents are so great is that they are kicking in $1000 to my next amp upgrade before this show takes place. Upon request, I'm amassing any extra funds necessary to pay for accessories (Tripp Lite, strings, etc.)

Anyway, I think that's enough for now.

Take care, and thanks again everyone.

[TheDarkReaver]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

Can I have my 2 minutes back I just spent reading this?

it took you 2 minutes to read that?

[grace & groove]

You need to record this song and post it here!

[FreaqyFrequency]

Originally Posted by grace & groove

You need to record this song and post it here!

I'd love to, at the moment I have no access to recording equipment of any kind.

I'll find something/someone though. I'm sure of it.

[FreaqyFrequency]

So, I got a PM from someone asking about this post and if I had done any recordings today, which nearly knocked me off my rocker. It's only been two years, but this is taking me back!

I'll be going into the studio with my jazz/bebop project in twelve days to record my first CD with them, and to be on my first CD to date. I played the Telluride International Jazz Festival last year with them (sadly, there were no recordings taken of that which I have access to), but it was to date the best experience of my life. The people, the environment, the sheer beauty of the mountains and nature abound...unspeakable. I'm planning to go back with my girlfriend this year in August (not to play this time, just for the experience.)

I'm currently rocking an EB/MM Bongo 6 HS, Genz-Benz ShuttleMAX 6.0, Acme B2, and (though it took a bit of a hiatus) that same old AX3000B. I still feel like a kid in a candy store some of these days. I live for the nights when I'm having fun finding new sounds, and conversely, for the nights when I'm playing with other people for fun, without an ounce of pressure.

I've been playing for just over three years now and if that time has been at all suggestive of the remainder of the time I will be playing, it's going to be one hell of a ride.

[xgator4u]

You keep that positive attitude son, and it sure will be a hell of a ride. Always remember where you came from, and who helped you along the way, and ENJOY the trip.

[bassic.science]

You've got some pretty nice equipment considering how short of a time you've been playing. But it sounds like you understand that and are sure to show appreciation to the right people, so it doesn't bother me. Keep at it, best of luck in your future endeavors.

[kesslari]

Freaqy, that's pretty cool. Rock on , lil bro.