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Could this be counterproductive?

#21
markoc said:
I think whatever works for you is great, keep it up. The one thing that caught me though is I would loose that 75 lbs amp. Plenty of great sounding amps around now days at about half the weight.
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Yes I agree. Fender, Carvin and many others make gigworthy amps that weigh about 30 lbs and won't break the bank. I think that you should play whatever way is most comfortable for you. If you can handle the long scale by all means play it. If shortscale is more comfortable go for it! If you want to switch by all means have at it! You may want to consider other long or shortscale basses at some point that are lighter and have more comfortable necks if that ever becomes an issue. Sometimes I don't feel much like holding a bass for long periods of time so I'll opt for my Kala Ukelele bass! It sounds great weighs probably 2 lbs, and has a scale length of about 18"!
The key is to try to have fun and be comfortable doing it! As I like to say, music is not a competitive sport!
 
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#22
I appreciate the advice, guys. I'm def looking into a new amp that's got some juice without the weight. I like the sound of the MarkBass combo units. They're dropping a bit in price, and I don't mind paying for something I like. I don't do much fiddling with the EQ anyway, and a combo is fine for the deep low sounds I prefer. I've realized how I can alter things a good deal by upping the tone and playing back near the bridge when needed.

Man, how cool is Prestia? Old school as it gets and, like many bassists, laid-back and humble. "Nothin' wrong with gettin' busy, but you don't wanna be steppin' on nobody's toes, either" - gotta love it! Thanks again for all the suggestions, and I'll be seeking opinions over in the "Amp" section for any ups/downs on MarkBass.

Rich
 
#23
I think that picking and playing with fingers are different enough tasks that you can switch them up without issues. I do think that more than one bass may be a bad idea in the beginning, but even that is not a huge deal.
 
#24
I would definitely suggest playing with that short scale bass if it feels more comfortable. Personally speaking, as much as I love the sound of a Precision Bass, I happen to think that the Gibson basses look cooler.

One thing that I would suggest would be warming up before you play. Also wearing warm clothes especially when it's cold out that'll definitely help the blood circulation.
 
#26
ZenG said:
I find that playing a longscale actually makes my shortscale playing better. As opposed to just continually playing a shortscale exclusively.

That said, I play a longscale differently than I do a short in terms of fretting..
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This is a very good point. I have noticed that after a few days fiddling exclusively with the Fender, I seem to have an easier time playing the SG. Maybe this is the best course to take - like playing baseball in my youth, holding and waving 2-3 bats around in the on-deck circle to (supposedly) enhance swing-speed. It could be strictly mental, but mental works if you believe so (not in the British sense).

In regard to fretting differently, in my case that flawed technique ship may have already sailed, as my ring finger wants nothing to do with the others in fretting. The fact that I started out exclusively with the long-scale bass put the 'one finger per fret' rule out of reach (bad pun intended). I've been working on using it, but even on the short-scale I feel uncomfortable incorporating it. I know those 'rules' aren't set in stone, but four fingers are better than three, I assume, so I'll keep trying.

Thanks again for the advice, people... I'm happy to get your thoughts as I progress.

Rich
 

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