I feel like selling all my gear except for a bass and a practice amp.

[naruki]

Ever since I picked up a bass, I've treated it like a toy, with lots of effects and a Mesa while I can't even name a scale. Feel like just going for the zen thing. Just my fingers, a bass and a small amp until I emerge from the forest after a few years being able to play Tommy the Cat or YYZ with ease while playing around with the notes improvising.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Why not just invest in some lessons?

You can learn with good gear y'know

[naruki]

Yeah that's why I'll prob be keeping the bass but I don't see how all my effects and Mesa's gonna do much besides distracting me. Heck, I don't even use the Mesa for proper gigs, just for casual jamming and open mic nights with my jam buddies in my college's music club. A Mesa M3, for that D: I feel bad.

[hover]

Well lock your distractions away instead of taking the zen route, offing the effects and amp and then "emerging" or whatever you wanna call it and then going out and buyin it all again.

You already own it. Put it aside, exercise some self control with that and take some lessons, get a better foundation to build upon and then reintroduce the other goodies.

Oh, and I personally would not call Tommy the Cat an exercise in stellar technique by any stretch of the imagination, if I am to take you literal.

OR, don't.

[naruki]

Originally Posted by hover

Oh, and I personally would not call Tommy the Cat an exercise in stellar technique by any stretch of the imagination, if I am to take you literal.

OR, don't.

Just an example. This kinda proves how crappy of a bassist I am too haha

[hover]

Yeah, I was being cheeky too. BUT, I will say I know too many impulsive people who do hasty, irrational or snap decision things for idealistic reasons or whatever and make a whole bucketload of regret for themselves. The bigger problem was buying all the periphery in the first place, without realizing that ho it's neat, it won't help what isn't already there ability-wise. Now you realize it, no harm no foul.

Pare down your rig to practice and re-introduce yourself to it with out all the color. If you start to gain momentum, there's no reason not to bring back the toys because you'll be building upon something bigger.

[naruki]

Originally Posted by hover

Yeah, I was being cheeky too. BUT, I will say I know too many impulsive people who do hasty, irrational or snap decision things for idealistic reasons or whatever and make a whole bucketload of regret for themselves. The bigger problem was buying all the periphery in the first place, without realizing that ho it's neat, it won't help what isn't already there ability-wise. Now you realize it, no harm no foul.

Pare down your rig to practice and re-introduce yourself to it with out all the color. If you start to gain momentum, there's no reason not to bring back the toys because you'll be building upon something bigger.

Hmm.. I'll think about what you said. The toys are kinda crappy when I use them anyways, since I can't even mute my strings properly and it causes some undesirable harmonics through the pedals.

[hdracer]

You do not have to be able to play Tommy the Cat or YYZ with ease to be a bass player or to be in a band.

[naruki]

Originally Posted by hdracer

You do not have to be able to play Tommy the Cat or YYZ with ease to be a bass player or to be in a band.

Yeah but I wanna you know, improve my solo skills, or in my words, I wanna pwn monkey balls.

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by naruki

Yeah but I wanna you know, improve my solo skills, or in my words, I wanna pwn monkey balls.

Nothing wrong with that. You have to pursue what you are likely to enjoy.

[hover]

You don't have to play bass to own monkey balls. Here's a source to cut out all that practicing you're set on...

ThinkGeek :: Singing Monkey Balls

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by hover

Well lock your distractions away instead of taking the zen route, offing the effects and amp and then "emerging" or whatever you wanna call it and then going out and buyin it all again.

You already own it. Put it aside, exercise some self control with that and take some lessons, get a better foundation to build upon and then reintroduce the other goodies.

+1 This.

Strip it back and improve your fundamental playing, then decide what is useful to you and what's not from there. As far as soloing etc. is concerned, as much as I can respect and appreciate it I'm far more moved and impressed by hearing great time and well constructed lines which I consider way more important abilities. I find myself gravitating to the guy's who can play for the song whether that requires a lot or very little. I do still listen to the some of the cats who can rip it up, but they are very few for me personally. Anyways each to their own but yes, concentrate on improving your fundamental playing and get happier with that first.

[LiquidMidnight]

Professional gear is generally more responsive than entry level gear; ergo, it shows made technique more readily. The Mesa will help you get your technique down faster, because it will show the warts.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by LiquidMidnight

Professional gear is generally more responsive than entry level gear; ergo, it shows made technique more readily. The Mesa will help you get your technique down faster, because it will show the warts.

+1

I also practice with a looooot of treble and high mids in my tone. It doesn't sound pretty, but it allows me to hear every nuance and mistake in my playing much more easily.

[naruki]

Originally Posted by hover

You don't have to play bass to own monkey balls. Here's a source to cut out all that practicing you're set on...

ThinkGeek :: Singing Monkey Balls

OMG I NEED THAT

[fhm555]

I've been playing almost 30 years and the only stomp box I've ever owned was a tuner I bought last december.

If I wanted to deal with a buttload of PITA gadgets and outboard gear I'd have taken up guitar...or drums.

[guitar<bass]

I must say to the O.P... If you can gig and keep a rhythm, you're by no stretch not worthy of decent gear. If they are a distraction, toss them aside and work on technique.. But the very foundation of the song is the very foundation of what we do. Rhythm is your job. The rest is just flair. Give yourself some credit.

[crucislancer]

Originally Posted by naruki

Ever since I picked up a bass, I've treated it like a toy, with lots of effects and a Mesa while I can't even name a scale. Feel like just going for the zen thing. Just my fingers, a bass and a small amp until I emerge from the forest after a few years being able to play Tommy the Cat or YYZ with ease while playing around with the notes improvising.

Keep it all. I went through a period a little over a decade ago where I didn't want to play and sold everything except a bass and my 50w combo. Big mistake.

Having that gear handy when you need it would be much better then wishing you had it later and having to fork over more cash.

[fdeck]

I agree about keeping the gear, at least the amp. It's hard to sell that stuff for more than pennies on the dollar, and when you eventually come back up for air, your present gear might not be exactly right for what you end up playing, but it will at least be functional and paid for.

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by naruki

Ever since I picked up a bass, I've treated it like a toy, with lots of effects and a Mesa while I can't even name a scale. Feel like just going for the zen thing. Just my fingers, a bass and a small amp until I emerge from the forest after a few years being able to play Tommy the Cat or YYZ with ease while playing around with the notes improvising.

Maybe it's an age thing with me, but - you know what gear really is? STUFF!! Maybe you do need to sell it and use the funds to invest in yourself via lessons either with a good teacher and/or some of the good bass books out there. You can always buy gear, but an investment in yourself yields so much more. Firstly, learn and practice the fundamentals, then as time goes by you can delve into more complex matters.