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Afraid to play my bass?
- Thread starter scsm
- Start date
SCSM - you are way over-thinking this. Instead of tying yourself in knots over the guilt of a nice thing your folks did, why don't you get a part time job, save up some funds and buy your parents a nice gift as well? In the meantime, use the bass to improve your self esteem as a player. Being paralyzed by guilt and self doubt is not doing anyone any good.
This guy hit the nail on the head. Your parents bought you it because they want you to play it. Think how you would feel if you spent a couple of thousand dollars on a gift for someone who locked it in a closet for years.
Buy your parents a Warwick and play yours. Guilt free. I just hope they actually play the one you got them, though. It'd be silly if they left it sitting in its case in their closet.
Hey, old-timers ... didn't we have this a year or two ago? I distinctly remember it, but I don't know if it was the same OP or another with the same kink. Help me out here.
Well its insured in case of theft but not damage.
I already work 30 hours or so a week and go to school full time and there's still not much left over. But hopefully this whole advertising degree works out so I can get them a nice vacation somewhere tropic.
Thanks for everyone's posts, in my head I've been saying "they bought it for you to play it" but like a couple people put it I'm way over thinking this whole thing.
I already work 30 hours or so a week and go to school full time and there's still not much left over. But hopefully this whole advertising degree works out so I can get them a nice vacation somewhere tropic.
Thanks for everyone's posts, in my head I've been saying "they bought it for you to play it" but like a couple people put it I'm way over thinking this whole thing.
Your hang ups are not so unusual for someone your age. Feeling guilty about how much you deserve to have something good is something many people experience. Think about this;
In a few years you'll feel like the clock is ticking on your time to do the things you want to do on your terms. Then you'll play your butt off trying to catch up on the time you wasted thinking about how much you don't deserve nice things.
Save yourself the regret, play bass and don't worry about anything other than doing what you love to do. Music is a retreat from all the neurotic crap we deal with in our day to day lives, leave it that way.
In my opinion if you are a sculpter you sculpt and understand that the tools you use will get worn(hopefully to a minimum) If you are a musician, you make music. It doesn't matter if it's a Sadowsky, Lakland or your precious Warwick. They're all just nice tools for sculpting music.
In a few years you'll feel like the clock is ticking on your time to do the things you want to do on your terms. Then you'll play your butt off trying to catch up on the time you wasted thinking about how much you don't deserve nice things.
Save yourself the regret, play bass and don't worry about anything other than doing what you love to do. Music is a retreat from all the neurotic crap we deal with in our day to day lives, leave it that way.
In my opinion if you are a sculpter you sculpt and understand that the tools you use will get worn(hopefully to a minimum) If you are a musician, you make music. It doesn't matter if it's a Sadowsky, Lakland or your precious Warwick. They're all just nice tools for sculpting music.
Dude, my guitar rig on an expensive day is worth about $2800. (Ric 360 / DSL-100 / 1970something Ampeg 2x12 with original Vintage 30's)
My bass rig on an expensive day is worth $2300. (Ric 4001 / Kustom Groove Bass 1200 head + 410H cab)
That is not counting backups or anything. I'm hella attached to my Rics. I worked my ass off to purchase each at minimum wage. I had to borrow money to get the 4001 in time. I'd use the hell out of them if I had reason to. Moral: I'm only going on 21, but I can use my dream instruments every day of my life. There's no point in having the makings of your dream if you don't use it.
My bass rig on an expensive day is worth $2300. (Ric 4001 / Kustom Groove Bass 1200 head + 410H cab)
That is not counting backups or anything. I'm hella attached to my Rics. I worked my ass off to purchase each at minimum wage. I had to borrow money to get the 4001 in time. I'd use the hell out of them if I had reason to. Moral: I'm only going on 21, but I can use my dream instruments every day of my life. There's no point in having the makings of your dream if you don't use it.
I am really only re-iterating what everyone else has said.
But.....
You should definately play it.
Don't stress about dinging it. The odd ding is inevitable. The ding will tell a story. With any luck you'll ding it at a really cool gig and it'll help you remember that moment forever.
Don't worry about other people being better than you. There will ALWAYS be someone better than you. That is the exciting part. You can learn from them. Music is about learning. If you think you know everything there is too know about music (I don't think this is possible) it is probably time to give up.
Good luck and make sure you play the hell out of that fine bass!
But.....
You should definately play it.
Don't stress about dinging it. The odd ding is inevitable. The ding will tell a story. With any luck you'll ding it at a really cool gig and it'll help you remember that moment forever.
Don't worry about other people being better than you. There will ALWAYS be someone better than you. That is the exciting part. You can learn from them. Music is about learning. If you think you know everything there is too know about music (I don't think this is possible) it is probably time to give up.
Good luck and make sure you play the hell out of that fine bass!
HI
Seriously? U should be rockin' it in their honor. If they went out of their way financially to get you something that you love, why wouldnt you use it? I find it sad that it sits in a case and doesnt get played. What do they think of your reaction to the gift?
Sorta reminds me of people who get a very nice custom bass but wont gig it or have it leave the house. Whats the point? These are musical instruments. Make music with them. Enjoy life. Throw your guilt in the garbage and live!
Rob
Seriously? U should be rockin' it in their honor. If they went out of their way financially to get you something that you love, why wouldnt you use it? I find it sad that it sits in a case and doesnt get played. What do they think of your reaction to the gift?
Sorta reminds me of people who get a very nice custom bass but wont gig it or have it leave the house. Whats the point? These are musical instruments. Make music with them. Enjoy life. Throw your guilt in the garbage and live!
Rob
Hey man I used to goto school full time (18 hours) and work 35 hours a week and I still had time to play bass. Of course I'd loose sleep to play bass,but hey,it was one of my few escapes from everything. Maybe an extra half hour or an hour of sleep is worth more than playing music. To me it's the opposite. I think everybody needs a break from reality,work,school,family and financial troubles. Getting lost in music for 30 minutes a day can surprisingly improve your quality of life and your confidence as you get better.
you would be dishonoring them
if you DIDN'T play the bass
your folks didn't work their asses off buying that bass for you so it sits in a case wiped down by a diaper. If it gets used and USED WELL then thats the best thing you can do to make your parents happy
My folks did the same for me when i was 13
My dad bought me a saxophone because I wanted to learn to play an instrument
not a Conn, or a Bundy (think Squier or Epiphone) but a Yamaha which was pretty expensive even back in the mid 80s it was just a notch below Selmer in prices (think Fender vs Musicman). They made small payments every month on my Dad's meager salary
while I took to the lessons and played in the school band. I didnt practice as much as I should have at home but I still managed Superiors at the county level of competition and I stayed with it all the way up to college. If anything it helped me expand into playing the bass and other instruments.
You know what? I STILL OWN my sax that I received lovingly from my parents and I hope to pass onto my own kid along the way. And my folks? Well that saxophone they worked so hard to buy for me has contributed to me playing the bass and now not only do I see the smiles on their faces when I play at church but they can see that it brings smiles to other people all around them.
Keep the bass
Play your heart out on it
Dont worry about the dings and dents - my sax has ALOT of character and has been in the rain during a football game in HS all the way up to smoky gigs when I played horn in a
ska band
Then your folks will see how much you appreciate the gift by your playing and your attitude
if you DIDN'T play the bass
your folks didn't work their asses off buying that bass for you so it sits in a case wiped down by a diaper. If it gets used and USED WELL then thats the best thing you can do to make your parents happy
My folks did the same for me when i was 13
My dad bought me a saxophone because I wanted to learn to play an instrument
not a Conn, or a Bundy (think Squier or Epiphone) but a Yamaha which was pretty expensive even back in the mid 80s it was just a notch below Selmer in prices (think Fender vs Musicman). They made small payments every month on my Dad's meager salary
while I took to the lessons and played in the school band. I didnt practice as much as I should have at home but I still managed Superiors at the county level of competition and I stayed with it all the way up to college. If anything it helped me expand into playing the bass and other instruments.
You know what? I STILL OWN my sax that I received lovingly from my parents and I hope to pass onto my own kid along the way. And my folks? Well that saxophone they worked so hard to buy for me has contributed to me playing the bass and now not only do I see the smiles on their faces when I play at church but they can see that it brings smiles to other people all around them.
Keep the bass
Play your heart out on it
Dont worry about the dings and dents - my sax has ALOT of character and has been in the rain during a football game in HS all the way up to smoky gigs when I played horn in a
ska band
Then your folks will see how much you appreciate the gift by your playing and your attitude
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
dings and nicks and scratches are mojo ... it won't get mojo by sitting in a case somewhere ...
I still have a 1960s acoustic guitar that I got for a birthday present. It has dings and scratches and each one has a memory attached ... it did not sit in a case unplayed for years.
I still have a 1960s acoustic guitar that I got for a birthday present. It has dings and scratches and each one has a memory attached ... it did not sit in a case unplayed for years.
soooo have you played it yet? you know they arent more fragile if they cost more... and unless its a fretless you dont have to worry about the neck. im surprised your parents havent said anything about you NOT playing it. i'd be pissed.
I have a similar problem. For my year 12 graduation, my grandmother bought me a classical acoustic guitar because I was, at the time, looking into learning the instrument. Eventually I decided that guitar wasn't for me and have since left it in its hardcase for about 4 years. Its a very nice guitar and sounds great but I just can't bring myself to learn it.
I don't blame you for feeling guilty. Its only natural when you're given something that someone else thinks you'll really enjoy...but don't. But since you DO play the instrument (bass) and you have such a killer bass in your possession, I can't find any reason for you to feel guilty about having it. Like you said...other players would kill to have that bass so you might as well play the life out of it.
If you don't already, get yourself a hardcase for protection and take the Wick with you to college and enjoy it! And since its insured, you have no reason to worry about it if it were to get damaged or stolen.
I don't blame you for feeling guilty. Its only natural when you're given something that someone else thinks you'll really enjoy...but don't. But since you DO play the instrument (bass) and you have such a killer bass in your possession, I can't find any reason for you to feel guilty about having it. Like you said...other players would kill to have that bass so you might as well play the life out of it.
If you don't already, get yourself a hardcase for protection and take the Wick with you to college and enjoy it! And since its insured, you have no reason to worry about it if it were to get damaged or stolen.
