Can you quit bass?

[jmattbassplaya]

I didn’t play for about 8 years, but I still considered myself a bassist. It’s simply part of who I am.

 

[micguy]

You really haven't quit until the last nail is in the lid. At that point, I'm guessing I'll be wondering if the wood for the box was good enough to have made a decent instrument.

 

[Geogio]

Back in 2020 I broke my left wrist very badly, hardware, PT, OT, not nearly what it used to be...bass is really what I can play the best right now, my guitar playing is terrible and my piano Left-Handed is terrible. It is what it is and I don't mind I like bass, I've always played bass so I'm glad I was able to get that back but I had to go to SS for a bit because my hand/ fingers were terribly stiff.

 

[Shepsdad]

Years ago I went through a spell where I was frustrated and sold off most of what I had, no basses, but several guitars and amps. I didn’t touch an instrument for a couple of years, and when I did, the regret came flooding in. I had some nice gear back then.

Now, I have way more gear than I ever thought of having back then, but I still regret selling that stuff! I don’t gig anymore, but I do a lot of recording in my home studio. I honestly don’t know what I would do if it wasn’t for that.

 

[prndltech]

No one likes a quitter

 

[Barticus]

Huh, didn’t you do this just a little while ago? Big sell off, name change, done with playing… then bought a bunch of new basses again… and… am I imagining things? I swear, I don’t smoke or drink…but…

I thought you just bought a new Musicman five string?

Take a deep breath, relax… take a week off, no bass, no talk bass, no buying basses.. just unplug a bit and then revisit all this.

I think you’re still a bassist

 

[nonohmic]

man can I relate to this!!! My job has long ended, but I’m still climbing and definitely still playing bass. And at 76 I can tell you that it keeps me going mentally.

I think we've chatted climbing on this site before, right?

But yeah if you're still climbing at 76, that's super inspiring! Love it. The mountains will outlive us all.

 

[G On Bass]

I have for the last few months. I'm in no bands and just have no inspiration/motivation to even noodle at home. My gear has been sitting disconnected in the closet since December. I'm not depressed as I am doing other things like golfing, but I'm just not into music right now. But I know that I will be again someday, so I'm making sure not to do anything I would regret like selling things off.

 

[robassable]

If playing bass isn't bringing joy then the time spent doing it is being wasted because you could be doing something else. Whole world out there, with endless things to do, appreciate, and work at to improve on. For that matter cultivating outside worldly interests I believe makes for better musicians and artists

 

[Methaneman]

This year, I resigned my church gig. I’m down to one more club gig with my jam band in 2 weeks, and that’s it. I’ve sold all but 2 basses, my Mike Lull M5V and my Elrick fretless 5. Buying/selling is getting more and more cost prohibitive a not nearly as fun as it used to be. And I think I’ve owned all the bass brands that ever interested me. This summer I’ll get calls for sub gigs at the beach and I’ll decline them all. The studio scene here is minimal and I don’t do at home recording.

So it would appear I no longer play bass. Sure, I’ll thump around at home, but it seems I am done.

My question is, can someone actually quit bass? I have guitars that rarely get played so I don’t call myself a guitarist. I own a beautiful grand piano that gets noodled on occasionally, but I’m not a pianist. If my basses become like my guitars and my piano, will I eventually no longer be a bassist? I dunno, but it sure feels like this last upcoming gig is a bit of a send off.

At the end of the day, I don’t need to define it. But it sure feels like I’m hanging it up.

Maybe you need to take a break. Could be 1 month, 6 months. If you don't need the money, keep your gear.

 

[tb-player]

Huh, didn’t you do this just a little while ago? Big sell off, name change, done with playing… then bought a bunch of new basses again… and… am I imagining things?

Yes, that was when it all started. This post is simply the realization of how far I have come from then.

I thought you just bought a new Musicman five string?

I did. Sent it back 4 days later. It was amazing but I have zero need for it.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I've had dead spots without bands for years.
I'm a stage ho tho. It always calls me back.
Now, approaching 58 years old it's exciting to see the crowd of 34 people updating their Instagram and doomscrolling wildly to the music...

 

[SharpCat]

Just take a bass vacation--hope to see you return someday.

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

 

[Rfan]

I quit . My wife didn't like me playing bass. This is as close as I get.

 

[BlackCrow]

You can take away a bass guitar from a bassist, but you cant take the bassist away from a bass player.

 

[BlackCrow]

You can take away a bass guitar from a bassist, but you cant take the bassist away from a bass player.

I apologize for my previous post. I thought I was being clever, and upon re-reading, it kinda wasnt...lol

 

[Topkat13]

And?

 

[Geepers]

You ultimately play for yourself. The size (or absence) of an audience is irrelevant. There’s great joy to be had just working on an etude in your music room and making it sound as beautiful as you can. My father is 93 and still playing clarinet and composing. My suggestion is don’t stop, just change your thinking. Go within instead of without.

 

[RandomKaren]

If you're not enjoying it, nothing wrong with taking a break. Quitting entirely is another thing altogether. I've taken breaks from bands and gigging but never stopped playing.