Gig anymore or not,do you still keep buying basses ?

[Rip Topaz]

I'm 42, stopped gigging last summer, though I'm still wanting to keep playing.
This is what stopped me:

GAS has in NO way subsided.

[Bongolation]

Can't gig anymore due to this:



Haven't bought any more gear in the intervening ~18 months. Desperately want to dump *ALL* my gear except for a few passive basses for recording (which I can still do, with a few retakes), a couple of quality small amps and my investment vintage stuff.

It's a great relief to not care about equipment any longer.

[Jazz Ad]

The more I play and gig, the less I think about buying stuff.
It's clearly a substitute to me.

[velalv]

Rip and Bongo

Mind if I ask what happened in both your cases? I can't tell completely by the pictures, and when it comes to health matters I am always looking for motivation to keep me follow whatever best practices I can. Thanks!

[TolerancEJ]

Originally Posted by pete rallis

I'M 58, until a few months ago, had not played out for over20 years, but have more basses, guitars, and amps than I ever had when I was younger and trying to "make it"..and its better stuff. and I am always looking for the next one..

I can relate. I'll be 40 this year, and haven't played onstage in 10+ years. Likewise, I always want to stop in music shops, try instruments and sometimes buy.

[Fuzzbass]

I had the same concern.

I'm going to be 54 soon. One of my working bands broke up, and it looks like I'm down to two gigs a month. So, I wondered if I really should splurge for another Sadowsky.

But then I realized that even if my remaining bands broke up and I had no gigs whatsoever, I would still do open mic nights, and jam with friends and family.

All of us in this age bracket understand how short life is. If another bass will bring you some happiness, and won't cause financial or other hardship, then go for it.

[hgiles]

I am a little more inclined to collecting basses than rigs.

[beatdatthang]

As a guy who is mostly just a hobbyist these days, I'm still always searching for that "perfect" match between bass, amp, cab, etc. I have 5 basses right now and have GAS for several more.

I don't just buy every bass I lust after for only two reasons:

1) I'm not a working musician and they're just "wants" not "needs".

2) I'm not wealthy and my wife would kill me if I just bought every bass I wanted because we'd be broke. My oldest child is also in college and it puts a damper on my bass funds...

It doesn't mean I don't "window shop" and dream continuously about gear...

[Phalex]

I quit my long time band last year. I'm really fairly content with what I have, but I do think a fretless electric bass would be pretty sweet. And maybe a five string. And I really would like an upright.

I'm cool with what I have, and I have everything I could possibly need to gig. Well, except for a fretted five string, and an electric fretless, and maybe an upright for those fancy gigs I don't ever play...........

[alfred88]

Originally Posted by Crabby

I don't play out much these days and have more bases and amps then I ever did while playing in a band. But I am a bit older and can now afford some of the instruments that I never could back in the day. I think of people I know who are my age and spend thousands of dollars a year on gambling, smoking, and other crap and have nothing to show for it. I may spend more then I should on gear but the money for the most part, is still sitting in my gear room. I get to enjoy my stuff, and can re sell things in the future if needed.

You could do a lot worse!

That's also my argument and it convinced my wife.

[msb]

I've still got a busy playing schedule and have no desire for another bass .

this could change

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by okc-zee

I've been playing bass since 13 yrs. old...Just turned 60 this year...I've played,taught,and gigged professionally for many years...nowadays,I'll get to a jam here and there,and a gathering of other musician friends for a good time...I no longer have the time to do it full time,and haven't in the last few years...however,I don't think my interest and desire to acquire new or different basses will ever stop...there are a couple I own that I'll never part with,but I'm always still wanting to sell/buy something new,so I still do..matter of fact,I added 2 more the end of this year...so,I am just curious...do you think there's a time that you stop getting instruments even if you don't gig or are in a band anymore ?

I stopped gigging about 15 years ago (I'll be 50 in a few weeks); I got tired of constantly being surrounded by drug dealers and the same 5 drunks and noone else at my gigs. So gave up the performing artist thing, best thing I ever did.

I also have a lot of hearing damage and injuries that keep me from being able to play long enough to get through a gig; I can make it through a song at a time without a break and that's about it.

But, I did take the time off to do some things I'd always wanted to do:
- get rid of my Rick 4001/3's. Horrible sound and ergos for gigging, so finally had the opportunity to sell them off.
- finally hunker down and learn the fretless. For this I bought my L2000, which I still have.
- make some technique changes to improve my tone and keep my injuries from getting worse.
- get away from drum kits that trash my ears. I.e. retreat to the bedroom .

So I've actually ended up buying (or I should say keeping, there were a couple others I bought that got stolen) 3 basses since I quit - my L2K unlined FL and 2 carvin bunnies, a BB70F and BB76F. The 6 string I don't play anymore but the L2K and BB70 are where I've stopped buying basses. They do everything I need at this point. I never did get rid of my last Rick 4003, but I"m keeping it around as a collector's item/work of art type thing. It's a fretted model so I don't play it anymore (besides its generally miserable tone).

In fact, my playing has improved dramatically since I quit gigging. Without the distractions of beer, weed and coke all over the place along with the associated drug dealers and stoned people, aching and ringing ears, etc., I've been able to actually concentrate on improving my playing. Going to fretless completely changed the entire tone game, now I can occasionally actually sound like a real bass player (though I'm cheating a little bit by ditching the clicky little frets lol).

Getting some gear to accomodate that has come along with. I don't miss gigging a bit and now prefer doing my own thing as a bedroom warrior....

LS

[uOpt]

If you don't burden yourself financially, why not?

And as long as it is quality instruments the money can be recovered. Compare that with getting a boat, lots of camera gear, overclocked or gaming computers or new wives every couple of years. $$$->drain.

[thisSNsucks]

I consider myself more of a collector than a serious player. I do about a gig a month (sometimes less) but for me, its more about having cool stuff.

I've always been that way, when I was a kid I collected bottle caps, action figures, cards, comics. Now I collect basses.

[Bassist30]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

I'm 42, stopped gigging last summer, though I'm still wanting to keep playing.
This is what stopped me:

GAS has in NO way subsided.

Sorry, But what is that?

[Sid Fang]

Originally Posted by Bassist30

Sorry, But what is that?

Looks to me like a pacemaker.

[DwaynieAD]

My band plays in drop A. My 4 string Stingray is my favorite bass. currently thinking of buying a second 4 string Ray, getting the nut slotted for a low B string, but the reality that this band may not be around in another 2 years gives me some pause. I'm always thinking of new gear I'd like and what not.

[lomo]

Originally Posted by Bassist30

Sorry, But what is that?

It's an x-ray of a lumbar spine that has been "fixed" with titanium hardware keeping the vertebrae aligned. The electrical device is probably a neural stimulator (looks just like a pacemaker) and there is liquid contrast material in the spinal canal (the thick white stripe). I suspect the whole story is a traumatic spinal injury, but it could also be a very severe spinal stenosis (too small a central canal and not enough space for nerve tissue) due to instability and disc herniation that may also be chronic and not associated with an abrupt accident. The poster can clarify if he likes. Hope he is recovering.

[ExaltBass]

I'm 62... and have been playing since '63. I'm no longer interested in bar gigs (too far past my bedtime )

I usually had 2-3 basses when I was a full time pro ('68-'84) and now I mostly play at church 2-3 times a month, occasional subbing and 'Real Book' gigs. I currently own 8 basses, and I have better gear now than ever. Partly because gear has improved.

I don't hunt, fish, snowmobile, have a cabin, Harley or other $$$ toys. This is my passion, and my focus. I'm planning my next custom build with Ben Lindsey for 2013 right now. I may slow down the acquisitions, and sell off the big rig, but I see no reason to sell any of my basses.

[SlingBass4]

Gig anymore or not,do you still keep buying basses ?

I've got all I need...except for this lamp...and this remote control...and this paddle-ball board...and this ashtray...and...I'll quit buying when they find out about the new bass I ordered and was delivered a couple weeks after they buried me (and shredded my charge cards)