Older players - have you found the need to slow down and turn down?

[BigRedX]

No

[bassbrad]

Originally Posted by SBassman

I never struggled with hauling my own gear. It's everyone Else's gear that I don't want to haul anymore. [at least the gear that is not necessary, like Two giant SUBs, Light show, board/rack that weighs 200 pounds, etc.]

I was always the tireless beast and actually feel a bit guilty these days just doing my own thing or helping a bit with the PA. In days gone by one of the reasons i got some gigs was because I was willing to work so hard at gigs, just can't do that much anymore and still play with the same intensity. I remember playing Sefcik Hall, up stairs essentially a 3rd floor with the most horrible uneven, slick and worn stairs, for many years hailing my fridge up the stairs, then the PA and the freaking B3 and Leslies all pretty much on my own--going down was the wurst.

[Mr Alembic]

I'm 56 and still pulling the late shift. I still use an ampeg 4 x 10 and a large heavy rack with amp and preamp...........I love the sound but hate the carry. I have tried some of the new small setups but find it hard to leave the 'big' sound and the head room. So i will struggle on till they bring out something I like.








Alembic series 1, Ashley preamp, Ampeg HLF

[rtslinger]

no 54 and still rocking the bottom 4 shows per month on avg.

[NWB]

Originally Posted by waynobass

Medium volume is best. If people want to talk, they should go somewhere without live music. But earplugs for everyone in the audience should not be necessary either.

What!?

How dare you use common sense to find a middle-ground!

[Mike M.]

I'm soon to be 60 (!?!?!?!) and down sized a little over a year ago. Played thru a '74 SVT for years and loved it, but it was time to part with it. Got arthitis in my lower back and trying to haul that setup got to be too much. The guy who bought it from me was much younger than me and was thrilled to death that I sold it to him. Time for someone else to enjoy it.

I only play at church now and have found that my GK MB115 gives me all that I need. Plus the overall stage volume isn't all that loud, we each have our own monitors and that really helps. I can't handle the super high high volume thing like I use to.

[Matt Dean]

I'm 55 and this is what I take to every show...

[phillybass101]

57 here and I'm gearing up to play out more. In terms of lighter gear I'd say it's a must as I still don't have a dependable roadie. Currently running a Puma 500 with a 48b lb 2x12. Looking to get into a 32 lb LilG or a Slap G (4x10) stack. If I need more than 500 watts, there s/b a good PA involved. I still like bar gigs and have a blast at them and I have basses that I take to bar gigs. I've played really nice gigs and some not so nice. During a bar/holiday gig our band broke into Love Train by the OJ's and a fight broke out on the dance floor. I was rollin, that was some funny %$^&. We're singing get on board the Love Train, fists are flying, people rollin on the floor and a woman in the middle of it all standing with her arms up in the air still holding her beer telling everyone to stop. I like a nice/bar/grill scene where people are drinking and dancing and one fly honey after the next keeps coming through the front door. I don't have a steady gig right now and only miss the steady money not the grind. I am expanding my horizins though and getting into the clinician/workshop thing. Pays like a gig, it's a nice hang and a lot of networking goes on. And you have a captive audience for an hour or so. Very painless as long as you are prepared. There is a CD in my future as well. In terms of volume, I like to make noise and love it when I can rock the house with my bass. Playing mostly Funk and R&B I don't have the problem of playing with loud rock guitarists stepping on my mids or low mids. I can hear my tone. The only thing I have to lookout for is a keyboardiist with a busy and bass heavy left hand. There ain't nothng worse in the world than playing right next to that. I'll take rock guitar over that any day.

[Mike in Chicago]

early five zeros...I have more and louder stuff than I've ever had. And now that I'm retired I'm playing with 3 bands.

[JaamE]

I'm 45 and not really interested in playing bars, it might be fun once or twice but with my real job being 6 days a week and my body being older than my brain i just don't need to be out late like that. And after helping haul it *all* into a gig i'm glad that *my* stuff is relatively light :-)
I'm fine with helping set up and tear down, but i can't lift things, i'm much happier doing cables.

[Spaldo]

42.

I just flew 3,500 kms to play four shows over the weekend and we lugged our own gear. Same as I was doing at age 25 (touches wood...)

[NWB]

I still play as loud as ever. Although these days I use hearing protection. I wasn't so smart about that in my younger days.

Fortunately, I can generate the same volume levels as I used to with gear that weighs a fraction of the old stuff. This is all good because I'm rather lazy.

So far as slowing down, I don't drive around nearly as fast as I used to, so yeah, I've slowed down!

[js1]

Double nickel here.

Slow down? Na.
Turn down? Na. Drummer sets level of band. I like drummers that hit.
Scale down? Ya. But because of vehicle, not carry.
Wear hearing protection. Big ya.

I guess I'm not really feeling the age thing. I do work at keeping fit, and nothing feels better than playing with a band that cooks.

Now, time for my nap.

[Moe Monsarrat]

I'm 61. Turn down? Maybe a little, but only because of better PAs. Slow down?....no.

[Richbass101]

I'm 47 and like Moe I turn down only if a good PA and as far as slowing down lol never!

[Cycho]

65 here. I hate bar gigs but that's nothing new. My gear has been light weight for a long time although it's gradually getting more complex. If things get loud I depend on the PA and in-ear monitors.

[SBassman]

Interesting range of responses.

Me - I'm looking to turn down, slow down, and lighten up, and I'm paying the price - because I still haven't found a matching band.

[mrjim123]

I'll be 62 in May and I've got a bad back (hereditary) and bad knees (former avid jogger for decades). I bought neo 2x10's 4 years ago and they were STILL too heavy. Now I'm playing through a fEARful 12 sub I built that weighs 29 lbs, along with a 6" mid that I built with a crossover in a separate enclosure. On larger gigs I also add a LDS 1x15. I figure I'll be able to play til I can no longer lug the gear, or until they 86 me for telling people to get off my stage.

I really like the earlier hour gigs, but I'll play 9:00 to 1:00 if I have to. I retired, so any paying gig is good. Hopefully (and lately) my days of ringing ears are over.

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by mrjim123

I'll be 62 in May and I've got a bad back (hereditary) and bad knees (former avid jogger for decades). I bought neo 2x10's 4 years ago and they were STILL too heavy. Now I'm playing through a fEARful 12 sub I built that weighs 29 lbs, along with a 6" mid that I built with a crossover in a separate enclosure. On larger gigs I also add a LDS 1x15. I figure I'll be able to play til I can no longer lug the gear, or until they 86 me for telling people to get off my stage.

I really like the earlier hour gigs, but I'll play 9:00 to 1:00 if I have to. I retired, so any paying gig is good. Hopefully (and lately) my days of ringing ears are over.

I would still be good with the 9 to 1s, fairly close to home.
Last year, I outgrew the 9 to 2s, that were ear bleeding loud, and an hour+ from home. With a band that needs another hour for tear down for all the friggin gear they insist on bringing. Not doing that anymore. That stopped being inside my definition of fun.

[PlaysAJunker]

My 2x12 isn't that heavy. When I can't carry a 2x12 I will start doing squats religiously in the basement room that has a squat rack (I really oughta be doing that already, but slacking expands as far as it can) and get the buff on. I would not ever get anything bigger than a 4x10, and it'd have to be a bad mother@#$%er. Because I have a halfstack guitar amp, and I know moving it blows.