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Lessons. You have good gear for your needs right now.
If you have round wound strings in your Lakland, perhaps invest in some flat wound strings . That will give you some different tones to work with. You can switch back and forth between the strings as needed or desired.
If you play finger style perhaps invest in a few picks and explore that technique as well. Again , adds different tones to your bass.
If you have round wound strings in your Lakland, perhaps invest in some flat wound strings . That will give you some different tones to work with. You can switch back and forth between the strings as needed or desired.
If you play finger style perhaps invest in a few picks and explore that technique as well. Again , adds different tones to your bass.
My Lakland came with rounds, and after a while i went to flats, and now I've settled (for now) on GHS Pressurewounds. I really like them!
I don't know how to play with a pick, so that might be a great new skill to learn. Thanks for the suggestion
If your axe is in good working order and playable (any Lakland should be unless it's been abused), further your knowledge.
Many of us who have been around the block a few times can say that the most versatility is in your hands. And many (including me) find out after years of trial and error while messing with new, fancy, multi-featured instruments, that a quality passive P-Bass RULES. It may not be the prettiest sounding thing while you are home practicing, but with a band and functioning as a BASSIST, you really cannot beat it on any given day. Not only that, but the seeming "limitations" of a single pickup, passive instrument push you to expand what you can make it do by how you're playing it. And you get to know the BASS intimately. After 25+ years of playing bass, 20+ as a gigging pro, I find a good P-bass can suit basically any situation and I MUST play at a higher level to stretch what it can do. I'm still growing. Just my experience.
Also, LESSONS I have taken formally and not, from amazing bass teachers when I was a younger player, they have all passed on or moved away. I needed that when I could get it. You can always get more basses. The teachers won't always be there.
Read at least the OP in this thread:
GAS free guide to Bass purchasing
Many of us who have been around the block a few times can say that the most versatility is in your hands. And many (including me) find out after years of trial and error while messing with new, fancy, multi-featured instruments, that a quality passive P-Bass RULES. It may not be the prettiest sounding thing while you are home practicing, but with a band and functioning as a BASSIST, you really cannot beat it on any given day. Not only that, but the seeming "limitations" of a single pickup, passive instrument push you to expand what you can make it do by how you're playing it. And you get to know the BASS intimately. After 25+ years of playing bass, 20+ as a gigging pro, I find a good P-bass can suit basically any situation and I MUST play at a higher level to stretch what it can do. I'm still growing. Just my experience.
Also, LESSONS I have taken formally and not, from amazing bass teachers when I was a younger player, they have all passed on or moved away. I needed that when I could get it. You can always get more basses. The teachers won't always be there.
Read at least the OP in this thread:
GAS free guide to Bass purchasing
I had been taking a 1/2 hour lesson every week, but cut back to 1/2 hour every month. What I think would be ideal would be 1 hour every other week. 1/2 hour is not really enough time to go into depth on anything, and weekly lessons don't always leave me enough time to make progress (despite my diligent practice habits), so an hour every 2 weeks seems like it would be perfect.
Great advice from an obviously wise and seasoned player - very much appreciated.
Why do you need so many lessons? At some point, you know it and it comes down to playing.
Get another bass.
Get another bass.
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buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I gigged one bass for over 20 years. I would stay with one unless/until you are gigging, and know what you (might) need.
Lessons are great, but I didn't understand how to be a musician until I got in a band.
If you can split the baby (do a little of each), here's something that may be fun:
Keep $250 or so around in your bank account/ shoebox. Every so often drop in to a music store locally or when you're in a new town. This way when you find a great price on something that feels great in your hands you can snatch it up. The trick is to be REALLY PICKY.
Something that plays great, is in acceptable shape, and looks really cool to you. I'd emphasize something to give you variety (maybe a jazz bass since your other is a P, or a hollow body shortscale, or something active). With $250, you can buy the bass for $175, a different variety of strings for $25, and a gig bag or another strap. This way you'll have a backup, some variety, and a bass to play outdoor shows and seedy bars with (without worrying too much about it getting damaged or stolen).
For example: I have a nice fancy Fender PJ with a clear nitro finish. Was $1200 used plus strings, case, blah blah.
I also have a Squier VM Jazz in 3TSB with rounds and a tort pickguard (plus a set of Lollar pickups and wiring). All in that one was like $325 (purchased everything but strings used). I love the variety in tone, look, and expensiveness.
Also, full hour lessons are way better in my opinion (whatever the frequency).
Keep $250 or so around in your bank account/ shoebox. Every so often drop in to a music store locally or when you're in a new town. This way when you find a great price on something that feels great in your hands you can snatch it up. The trick is to be REALLY PICKY.
Something that plays great, is in acceptable shape, and looks really cool to you. I'd emphasize something to give you variety (maybe a jazz bass since your other is a P, or a hollow body shortscale, or something active). With $250, you can buy the bass for $175, a different variety of strings for $25, and a gig bag or another strap. This way you'll have a backup, some variety, and a bass to play outdoor shows and seedy bars with (without worrying too much about it getting damaged or stolen).
For example: I have a nice fancy Fender PJ with a clear nitro finish. Was $1200 used plus strings, case, blah blah.
I also have a Squier VM Jazz in 3TSB with rounds and a tort pickguard (plus a set of Lollar pickups and wiring). All in that one was like $325 (purchased everything but strings used). I love the variety in tone, look, and expensiveness.
Also, full hour lessons are way better in my opinion (whatever the frequency).
I played bass for 3-4 years before getting a second bass. I had a 4-string Ibanez Roadstar P (was terrific!) and used some hard-earned summer bucks for a fretless 5-string. (I don't have either bass any longer, but now have others.)
I have had two instances in my life when I had the time to take lessons regularly and put in reasonable practice time. Once was during high school, when it was easier to make the time to practice and I could take lessons through school. The other was when I was in graduate school when my daily schedule was more flexible so I could fit in lessons and make time to practice. As I've gotten older, the time available to really benefit from lessons has become harder to come by. (I have taken a few lessons here or there since then when it's been possible.) Thus, if you have the time now, and not too many competing obligations, take advantage of it. It's easy to buy another bass (or two or twelve) later if you have the resources come your way. It's harder to make time happen for lessons and practice and such if it's not your career or a valuable contributor to your overall income stream.
I have had two instances in my life when I had the time to take lessons regularly and put in reasonable practice time. Once was during high school, when it was easier to make the time to practice and I could take lessons through school. The other was when I was in graduate school when my daily schedule was more flexible so I could fit in lessons and make time to practice. As I've gotten older, the time available to really benefit from lessons has become harder to come by. (I have taken a few lessons here or there since then when it's been possible.) Thus, if you have the time now, and not too many competing obligations, take advantage of it. It's easy to buy another bass (or two or twelve) later if you have the resources come your way. It's harder to make time happen for lessons and practice and such if it's not your career or a valuable contributor to your overall income stream.
Agreed. I'm in two bands at the moment. Gigging rarely, but sometimes
there's a lot of good advice in this thread, but i want to say something i haven't seen anybody else saying: if you do decide to get a second bass, for the sake of variety, don't get another lakland; get something really different. a rickenbacker or something.
