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Bass Players buying guitars
- Thread starter chazsundance
- Start date
My guitarist SO has a really nice assemblage of excellent guitars. When I've felt the urge to pick up a guitar I most often just played one of hers. (Her gear is usually much nicer than mine anyway. 
)
But over the last 5 or so years I've acquired a few guitars of my own because I mostly play guitar using alternate tunings and she gets annoyed if I tune one of hers and forget to retune it back to standard.
So now I've got a: Squier CV Tele, a Yamaha RevStar 502T (truly awesome dual P90 tone machine - highly recommended!), and another Tele I assembled from parts to get one done up my way. And there's also a Baby Taylor parlor guitar that was given to me as a gift that sees its share of use. I'm a big fan of parlor sized acoustics.
Most recently I acquired a vintage Hamer XT Sunburst AT (how's that for a model name?) at a bargain price too good to pass up that gets me more of a LesPaul type sound. So with the Teles, the RevStar, the Taylor, and now the Hamer, I've got my guitar tone spectrum covered. And I'll probably get rid of the first Tele eventually since it's become redundant and I don't ever experience GAS when it comes to guitars. So with guitars (at least) my buying plans are completely rational and disciplined. Wish my bass buying habits were the same.
)But over the last 5 or so years I've acquired a few guitars of my own because I mostly play guitar using alternate tunings and she gets annoyed if I tune one of hers and forget to retune it back to standard.
So now I've got a: Squier CV Tele, a Yamaha RevStar 502T (truly awesome dual P90 tone machine - highly recommended!), and another Tele I assembled from parts to get one done up my way. And there's also a Baby Taylor parlor guitar that was given to me as a gift that sees its share of use. I'm a big fan of parlor sized acoustics.
Most recently I acquired a vintage Hamer XT Sunburst AT (how's that for a model name?) at a bargain price too good to pass up that gets me more of a LesPaul type sound. So with the Teles, the RevStar, the Taylor, and now the Hamer, I've got my guitar tone spectrum covered. And I'll probably get rid of the first Tele eventually since it's become redundant and I don't ever experience GAS when it comes to guitars. So with guitars (at least) my buying plans are completely rational and disciplined. Wish my bass buying habits were the same.
I played guitar for many years before switching over to bass and my collection shows that. I still have my first Strat, a 77' standard I bought used in 78" - it's been re-fretted twice. A Fender P and a Franken bass, and about 7 guitars. Aside from my P, my favorite is an Epi-339, closely followed by my PRS SE Hollow body. I have one acoustic and 6 electrics including an Agile electric 12 - the Agile is similar to a Rick but about the size of a Les Paul and very well made. I'm not really a collector, just like to have a working toolset. Strat, Tele, LP, 12 string, and I found that for live gigs I really like the lighter semi-hollows like the 339 and PRS. I tend to play most of them fairly regularly.
The one guitar I'm still considering is a 4/6 double neck. Most likely a project, thinking about finding a couple of decent playing Squiers (Strat or Tele and a P or Jazz bass) with similar bodies and do a slice and join thing. Just to see if it's something I would actually use.
The one guitar I'm still considering is a 4/6 double neck. Most likely a project, thinking about finding a couple of decent playing Squiers (Strat or Tele and a P or Jazz bass) with similar bodies and do a slice and join thing. Just to see if it's something I would actually use.
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I bought a used Epiphone Les Paul Jr. Double Cutaway TV yellow Bolt on neck with a single P90 to have in my bedroom studio. I ended up tuning it EADGCF because never played guitar. Amazed it recorded so great. I loved that thing. Swapped out for better tuners and put a better tunable tailpiece on. My EX pawned it for oxy. She said: you are a bass player you didn't need it. Miss that guitar and haven't found another like it . i don't miss my wife. She'll be easier to replace.
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I think I've become a Tele cult guy.
Here's my latest covid goal, a 27 scale baritone. I need to slot the nut and set up, by the end of the week I'll be doing trucker songs, ba-dow-dow-down.
Yes, but the whole thing back-fired on me. I've played lead guitar on and off my whole life, but considered bass my "stage instrument". Not a pro, just weekend warrior stuff doing local clubs,weddings, etc.
Rewind two years ago and my wife's cover band simply could not keep a good lead guitar player (I was playing bass in the band at the time). We went through a half dozen guitar players over a period of a year. Just had the worst luck. After guitar player number 6 I let myself get sucked into the position. I knew if I did not fill the gap the project would disintegrate, so I stepped up. So I've been doing that for two years now. We're successful, which is great (even with the pandemic). But I miss playing the bass terribly.
Honestly, at this point I wish no one in the band knew I was also a guitar player. I've considered attempting to convince everyone to look for another guitar player and going back to bass, but the band chemistry is good, and we all like the new bass player. We're stable, and simply too far along to change things now.
So, I'm now looking for a second project to play bass in. I'm hoping I actually have the time and that I can keep scheduling conflicts to a minimum. We shall see.
Rewind two years ago and my wife's cover band simply could not keep a good lead guitar player (I was playing bass in the band at the time). We went through a half dozen guitar players over a period of a year. Just had the worst luck. After guitar player number 6 I let myself get sucked into the position. I knew if I did not fill the gap the project would disintegrate, so I stepped up. So I've been doing that for two years now. We're successful, which is great (even with the pandemic). But I miss playing the bass terribly.
Honestly, at this point I wish no one in the band knew I was also a guitar player. I've considered attempting to convince everyone to look for another guitar player and going back to bass, but the band chemistry is good, and we all like the new bass player. We're stable, and simply too far along to change things now.
So, I'm now looking for a second project to play bass in. I'm hoping I actually have the time and that I can keep scheduling conflicts to a minimum. We shall see.
I bought an acoustic (two, really) guitar recently to just learn to strum through some chords. Part of this was getting my daughter a loog guitar to learn on, and so a bit of playing together, hopefully. It has been fun to strum through on an acoustic, though.
I've had an acoustic guitar for years - I haul it out and play it in public twice a decade, whether I need to or not.
Last spring during the lockdown when I was doing a bunch of one-man-band split screen videos, I thought it was imperative to add an archtop with a pickup. I used it on a few things and now it's gathering dust.
The last month or so, I've started working on comping Jazz chords with the 6-string bass and that's doing more for me, tonally speaking. I'll probably trade the archtop away, soon.
I occasionally experience minor GAS pangs for a good guitar, but if I'm being honest, I don't think I really need to be wading in to that already over-crowded field.
FWIW I do also have a decent mandolin now, and I've gotten a lot more traction with that.
Last spring during the lockdown when I was doing a bunch of one-man-band split screen videos, I thought it was imperative to add an archtop with a pickup. I used it on a few things and now it's gathering dust.
The last month or so, I've started working on comping Jazz chords with the 6-string bass and that's doing more for me, tonally speaking. I'll probably trade the archtop away, soon.
I occasionally experience minor GAS pangs for a good guitar, but if I'm being honest, I don't think I really need to be wading in to that already over-crowded field.
FWIW I do also have a decent mandolin now, and I've gotten a lot more traction with that.
When I'm working on learning a new song, I often start with my old Ovation Balladeer acoustic, work out the melody, then work out the chords, and lastly work out the bass. Then, it's in my head.
Acoustic guitars are hunks of wood containing little sound patterns, and you can hold them against your chest and get all sensitive. Electric guitars are those pretty girls walking past you on the street that you can't help but notice, and you think, yeah that would be fun.....uh huh. Bass is coming home, walking through the front door and smelling home made bread and your woman looking at you to see what you've hunted and brought back from the great outdoors.
I've got my room full of basses, a Yamaha U3 (piano), Seagull and Guild acoustic guitars strung with light gauge D'addario phospher-bronze. EJ16's.
Great! now looking at everyones cool guitar pictures I want a few more guitars again 
I think I've learned my lesson though and this last acoustic I'll probably sell and invest in a better little amp for me Telecaster and call it good.
I think I've learned my lesson though and this last acoustic I'll probably sell and invest in a better little amp for me Telecaster and call it good.Nope. If anything, I've bought more guitars over the last 5 years. Heck, my 8 String is tuned to F Standard, so it's technically only a 1/2 Step Higher than a 4 String Bass. I still play bass, but I do most of my song writing on guitar now.
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I actually started on guitar first, in April, 1975, and bass a year later (after starting piano lessons in April, 1970 and school band in 1973). So I have several electric and acoustic guitars that I still play from time to time for informal gigs since I haven't had a primary electric guitar gig for over 20 years now. I still have my first guitar, Sears & Roebuck, modified through the years.
I started dabbling on acoustic guitar about 12 years ago. Shortly after, I made the switch to electric and have since had a dozen or so come and go. Currently I have 5 (I think?) ranging from solid body electrics, a semi hollow body, a hollow body I built, and an acoustic or two. My favorite and main player is my CV Duo Sonic, it's the one I end up using with my band most often.
I have a small selection of guitars that I keep. A 60th Anniversary Blizzard Pearl Stratocaster, A Modified Jazzmaster, a Taylor acoustic and an old Harmony Astro parlor guitar. But I do need a Fender Bassbreaker 15 watt amp! I had tried out for a indie band as bassist but they asked me to be the lead guitarist. That was a fun few years and gigs all over Seattle and Eastern Washington. I ended up playing rhythm guitar in a little band of friends. So I keep those around for nostalgic reasons and if something ever comes up in the future. I'm a bassist at heart though...So over the years I've dabbled in electric guitar, I even played guitar for about 2 years in a band and recorded an album just to take a break from bass. It was a lot of fun and something I'm very proud off.
In 2007 I bought a Fender 52' hot rod telecaster and just had it around for goofing off at home and then that period in the band. I have since bought countless guitars and acoustics only to realize I don't play enough electric and or I suck and I just sell them and buy more bass stuff
Does anyone else do the same thing?
I'm a bass player first and foremost (or I used to be...) but I have always had a 6-string lying about for my semi-annual attempts at becoming Jeff Beck. For the last 15 years that 6-string has been an Olympic White Squier Strat that I rescued from a pawn shop and rebuilt. It just feels good in my hands, the electronics were badly beat so I replaced them and the tuners, now it is a nice instrument. I, however, am no better.
a buddy sold me a boutique guitar for a great price - Bartlett Parlor electric
I've had the same 6 string electric (Fender Cyclone) since 2003 when I was plating guitar in a band and bass in HS band. That guitar is so heavily modded nothings original but the body, neck, pickguard, and trem.
I've owned several electrics, none note worthy, and I usually sold them. I've owned several acoustics, and just bought a Martin last year that I love. I play most nights with my wife and baby before we put him to bed. Unfortunately, I had an arthritic attack of some sort two nights (I have RA) in my fretting hand and it still aches.
I play both, but I'm a bass player. There's a long tradition of this. McCartney, of course. But one of my idols, Jay Bentleys too.
I shy away from buying guitars because I just don't use them enough, so I just stick with what I know works.
I've owned several electrics, none note worthy, and I usually sold them. I've owned several acoustics, and just bought a Martin last year that I love. I play most nights with my wife and baby before we put him to bed. Unfortunately, I had an arthritic attack of some sort two nights (I have RA) in my fretting hand and it still aches.
I play both, but I'm a bass player. There's a long tradition of this. McCartney, of course. But one of my idols, Jay Bentleys too.
I shy away from buying guitars because I just don't use them enough, so I just stick with what I know works.
I've got about 7-8x the number of guitars as basses but then again I've been playing guitar 3x as long...
Some of them don't get played as frequently as others, but aside from a few that I'm hanging onto for sentimental or other reason they either get played "enough" or they go up on the block eventually.
Here are the last two I picked up:
Some of them don't get played as frequently as others, but aside from a few that I'm hanging onto for sentimental or other reason they either get played "enough" or they go up on the block eventually.
Here are the last two I picked up:
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