Here's a topic...

[Claymore]

If I knew that I was gonna be in a coma for 5 years, then I would definitely pull the trigger on that deal. Otherwise, no way.
I would get the shakes and eventually start hallucinating.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

I will do it by not doing it.

 

[Lagado]

"We know you're supposed to be twice as good now and all of that but we had to get this other guy in. He has become an integral part of the band and the audience loves him..."

 

[Claymore]

"We know you're supposed to be twice as good now and all of that but we had to get this other guy in. He has become an integral part of the band and the audience loves him..."

I must admit, the bassbot has pretty good tone.

 

[instrumentlevel]

Having passed 50, I’m by no means old. But I am aware that 5 years is a much higher portion of my remaining “playing years” than it was when doubling my ability would have been useful (say, age 15-25). So, no.

 

[telecopy]

View attachment 4047959

I suck. I've always sucked. I still suck. But it's still fun. Playing bass, that is..

 

[Lagado]

I must admit, the bassbot has pretty good tone.

It's not bad is it. I bet it wouldn't take 5 years for the thing to get twice as good neither.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Not play your instrument for five years, but become better? This makes absolutely no sense to me at all.

 

[bassliner50]

Hell no. I havn't got that many years left. Anyway covid factors into that question.

 

[obieito]

Nah I'm too old now.
Maybe when I was younger! I probably could have survived those five years just playing guitar

 

[CallMeAl]

We’re going on 9 months of seriously reduced playing, and it’s killing me! No way I’d make it 5 years. I’m good enough to join bands and have fun, that’s all I’ve ever wanted. (Not that I don’t work on improving)

 

[AudioTaper]

I voted no. I'm way out of practice and honestly kinda suck. I could get twice as good by just having 30 solid minutes a day to practice for a month.

Anyone with young kids and 300 other things going on while working full time knows how it is.

Edit: I have been putting in the free time I have on bass projects. It's easier to stop and start late at night, and I'm still recovering from a series on hand/wrist injuries. So I dont want to hear 'oh you can find 30 minutes a day....'

 

[SOUTH PAW]

I would never give up five years of playing for any results beyond what I could attain and enjoy by actually playing.

Last century, I barely touched my bass for a fifteen year stretch between the mid eighties to around 2000. I was happy I just needed to blow the rust off and pretty much picked up where I left off (which wasn't all that far). I recall it being more difficult to remember what songs I had previously learned to play than the physical ability to play for sure.
Mostly, just thankful I didn't wait any longer to get back in the saddle.

"We know you're supposed to be twice as good now and all of that but we had to get this other guy in. He has become an integral part of the band and the audience loves him..."

Hey, I know that guys initials. A.I., but can't remember his name...wasn't it something like Alberto Ienstienio from the prog rock band "Another Universe"?

 

[mrcbass]

Where's the "Hell No" option?
1. I play OK enough as it is, so why take 5 years off?
2. May not even be alive in 5 years. Why void my potential last moments from the one thing I enjoy doing?
3. I might be twice as good in 5 years if I just keep playing.
4. 5 years later? Gotta find another band now. Mine's not perfect, but it works.

All that being said, I'm sure there are things that could distract me enough for 5 years to make this worth serious consideration, but I probably couldn't list them all here ….

 

[Peteyboy]

Can't touch an instrument for 5 years? That's cool - I'll just be the drummer for a while.

Joking aside: that probably would make me twice as good on the bass.

 

[TheReceder]

I've found that I improve when I drop my standards... The lower my standards, it seems the better I get.

it's even easier than practicing.

Wow... I think I just got twice as gooder....

 

[2tonic]

Well, for starters, you're right! That is a topic!

In addition, using your criteria, you've just made my day. I have been physically unable to play bass now for 27 years, though the past 3 I have been struggling to try. There are breakthroughs on occasion, I enjoy the fight, even the bad rounds, and I think I see light at the end of the tunnel.
Even rounding down to 25 years, or 5 of the aforementioned five year periods, when I reach the apogee of my reclamation of skills I'll be 32 times better than I was at my earlier peak!

 

[ardgedee]

I've gone without touching an instrument for well over five years before picking it back up. It didn't make me twice as good, so I think this is a trick question.

 

[jdh3000]

If someone is a really, really bad bass player, they may benefit more from five years of playing than doubling their less than mediocre skills... which would still be bad.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

View attachment 4047959

At soon to be 68, even if I could get better, odds are slim that anybody would want to hire some old coot at age 73, regardless of how well he plays.

The short answer is no thank you.