Having a bass & amp as a toy?

[Fender_Bender]

Ultimately I decided that this would probably happen, based on my past experience. Either that or I would get so bored with a bare bones cheap setup that I would just sell it. I don't want to get into a circle of buying, hardly using, and then selling over and over again.

It took me two days to get over that feeling that I needed to buy that bass, just because it's there!, but I think I'm over it now.
Banging on my bongos was good enough for releasing some pent up musical energy & it's so much easier than remembering where the notes are on a fretboard.

Any real practice time & my left arm starts to go numb, like it did last week from sweeping for 30 minutes.

We had an acoustic guitar that I would even take with me to the park or just sit & play around with while waiting someplace, but I never improved at chord changes. I'm not exaggerating at how bad I am at guitar.

I didn't start till I was 35 years old and I had a history of really bad golfers elbow in both arms from working in a steel rolling plant. I couldn't quit the job because I had a house. After someone gave me a bass, I could only play in drips and drabs but I stuck with it. Eventually my hands got to the point where I could play for as long as my knees allowed me to stand. I can't really sit because of my lower back now. But, I make it a point to play every evening even if it's only enough to get warmed up. I know I'm too messed up and too old to be the next bass idol but I still enjoy doing it. I enjoy putting on music and playing along to it and think that's something you could enjoy. Maybe playing seated will help your arm by not having the strap digging into your neck?.

 

[5544]

Have you tried playing in a different position? Sometimes the smallest movements could make a night and day difference.

Another thing to do is to work on your mental state. I go through the same thing every time I have to running again after an injury. It is frustrating when I say to myself "***! I was running 10k this time last year. Why am I having problems after 10 minutes?" Things seem to go better when I clear my mind and just focus on my current progress.

Congrats on your new bass & amp.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I thought I had tried everything, but it turns out just holding the neck up next to my head eases that issue with my arm going numb. I played quite a bit yesterday & had no trouble with my arm later in the evening. It usually starts to bug me later on. Too bad I wasn't bright enough to figure this out earlier, or smart enough not to sell my only tube amp & Rickenbacker

OTOH, I was pretty dumb to even buy a RIC when I had a G&L that could accomplish a timbre akin to that of the RIC, in treble boost mode. I marveled at the fact that the RIC could pull off that sound w/o active electronics.

 

[Fender_Bender]

I thought I had tried everything, but it turns out just holding the neck up next to my head eases that issue with my arm going numb. I played quite a bit yesterday & had no trouble with my arm later in the evening. It usually starts to bug me later on. Too bad I wasn't bright enough to figure this out earlier, or smart enough not to sell my only tube amp & Rickenbacker

OTOH, I was pretty dumb to even buy a RIC when I had a G&L that could accomplish a timbre akin to that of the RIC, in treble boost mode. I marveled at the fact that the RIC could pull off that sound w/o active electronics.

Maybe there's an electric upright bass in your future. It's a totally different playing style that somehow feels quite natural to me whenever I try one out.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I hope not, I've seen the prices on those in the local shop

not sure if any of these are electric, though

 

[Fat Freddy]

I hope not, I've seen the prices on those in the local shop

not sure if any of these are electric, though

Not like those.....Like these.....

Amazon.com: Barcelona 3/4-Size Electric Double Bass - Honey: Musical Instruments

 

[Fender_Bender]

There's also all sorts of videos on YouTube of homemade upright basses made on the cheap including one made using a suitcase for the body. There's also the British 60's/Wyman playing style that sounds to be better for you as you mentioned.

 

[tzohn]

Electric upright is a really good idea! I wonder how close can an upright sound like a BG

 

[Killed_by_Death]

There's also the British 60's/Wyman playing style

Yeah, that's basically what I look like:

maybe he did it for the same reason

 

[Fender_Bender]

Electric upright is a really good idea! I wonder how close can an upright sound like a BG

I think they can be close to a BG played with flats and the tone turned down somewhat.You pretty much have to use flats on a EUB unless you're willing to get your fingerboard chewed up. Id suggest you go to YouTube and watch some videos.

 

[Fender_Bender]

Yeah, that's basically what I look like:

maybe he did it for the same reason

Nothing wrong with that, the results were favourable . He was a wee lad so he favoured the short scale basses which might work better with that style.

 

[tzohn]

I think they can be close to a BG played with flats and the tone turned down somewhat.You pretty much have to use flats on a EUB unless you're willing to get your fingerboard chewed up. Id suggest you go to YouTube and watch some videos.

I did a quick search but I could only find BGs trying make them sound like EUBs. Anyway I am not really GASing for an EUB, just sounds like a good idea for Killed_By_Death who has these hand/finger issues.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I probably should have gotten the super short scale Ibanez Mikro. Last week I was ripping through Seven Nation Army by Jack White on the bass ukulele & now I can hardly play it at all on the long scale
but those pickups sound superb in the BTB

 

[5544]

I think more of the problem between uke bass and btb is not really the scale length but the muscle memory.

If I practice something hard until I get it right while sitting down, I have to start over the same piece because I went from sitting to standing. If I go from standing to sitting, things just get easier, not harder like you would expect.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I can easily stretch from the 2nd fret to the 7th on the uke w/o even moving my hand, but on the BTB I have move my hand pretty fast between those two frets.
I've not had the problem of standing vs. sitting, but I play in the same position & have always had my strap so that the bass rides at the same height sitting as it does standing.

Oh wait, I do with the uke, because there is no strap, at least standing anyway.

 

[Plake]

Read through most of this and elbow pain/numbness is was what led me to short scales. Just last year I finally bought a Bach non reverse that I spent over a year looking for. Only position of comfort was with the headstock by my ear. Had to sell it. Grab that Micro you have been eyeballin.