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Greeting from Toddington, Bedfordshire

Hi everyone,

Right at the age of 53 I have decided to do something useful my life and learn to play the bass guitar a daunting prospect or not.....:bassist:

I've always enjoyed a heavy bass rifts listening and following such bands as...

The Stranglers - JJ
Big Country - Tony Butler
New Model Army - Stuart Morrow

Any advice welcome of the type/make of bass etc I should purchase without breaking the bank.

Thanks
Brian
 
Hi everyone,
Right at the age of 53 I have decided to do something useful my life and learn to play the bass guitar a daunting prospect or not.....:bassist:

I've always enjoyed a heavy bass rifts listening and following such bands as...

The Stranglers - JJ
Big Country - Tony Butler
New Model Army - Stuart Morrow
Any advice welcome of the type/make of bass etc I should purchase without breaking the bank.

Thanks
Brian
First thing you are not too old, however, you will have to carve out an hour practice time each day. I leave the when to you. The kids do seem to pick it up quicker, but, they have the time to practice all day as food and shelter just happen for them.

IMO there is little need to spend a lot of money on gear, I've never been a gear head, until you start gigging in public. So one of the starter kits for $200 to $300 will do anything you ask of it right now. If this thing sticks then spend the money. First improvement - the amp.

If you can take someone that plays the bass with you when you pick out your instrument, do so. And yes I do recommend you purchase your first bass from a local Mom and Pop store. Why? Free advice is just a phone call away. So it costs you 10% more. At the price we are talking about, worth the personal care.

Couple of months of instructions at $75 to $100 per month will be money well spent. If that is not in the cards, Bass Guitar for Dummies is a good starter book. Google Scott Devine and Ed Friedland. They both have a way with words and put that to good use in writing instruction books and videos. Any time spent with Scott or Ed will be time well spent.

Patterns and the major scale box seemed to help me the most when I started. Dummies will have all that. For example: Invalid Link Removed

Good luck, and welcome to the bottom end.