How have you changed as a bass player?

[rutrho]

Yes on all you said, I am at the point that my bass sounds really good, stays in tune, I am fine with it. I cant justify spending $5000 for a bass that sounds 5% better than my $300 bass. Also does not stay in tune any better than my current bass does. Would I like a more expensive bass? sure, but I only gig 1 or 2 times per month. actually how much better is a $5000 bass compared to a good $300 bass other than the finish? 16 times better? compared to what I have seen over the 25+ years of playing, I would say 1.5 times better, again, mainly the finish..

I think it depends on the particular bass, but I've had better playing, cheap instruments than a lot of really high end ones. Just depends on the particular plank of wood you get.

There is something to be said for the hotrodded, cheap bass though..

This may sound odd, but I started in high school orchestra. In that setting, practice was indeed all the practice I did - I played upright bass and didn't have one at home, so the only practicing I could do was in orchestra class. Then I had a long layoff (1973 to 1997).

When I joined a surf band 24 years later, I didn't realize that I needed to show up to practice with my parts already worked out. That just hadn't been part of my training. It took me a while to figure out that I had missed something, and I needed to do work ahead of time.

Now (although my practice habits are still weak) I know that I need to work out everything in the set before showing up to practice, so that we can concentrate on working out timing and any odd parts that need to be refined in a group setting.

Some other things I've learned:

I don't have a "tone." I can always get a sound I like out of any amp and bass I've owned or used at a jam. All I care about is getting a sound that's pleasing to me. It can be different every night.

My ears aren't what they used to be, so I don't hear many subtle differences between basses. I often wonder what people are talking about with some of the differences they claim to hear between basses (especially with differences in wood and pickups.) I'm still not sure how often they're hearing something I don't, and how often they're simply describing "psycho-acoustics" that are all in their head.

There are definitely differences with tone in a lot of that stuff, however.. most of the time, whomever is listening to our music, besides us... just doesn't hear it.

 

[Passinwind]

I'm a little surprised no one's mentioned the fact that NOW they have TalkBass.

I'm coming up on 20 years hanging here, so whatever changes that brought mostly happened quite a while ago. It certainly did bring some changes though! For me the biggest influence by far has been meeting hundreds of TB members at GTGs, NAMM, etc.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I think it depends on the particular bass, but I've had better playing, cheap instruments than a lot of really high end ones. Just depends on the particular plank of wood you get.it.

Yes, I can’t say I got lucky with my $300 bass but now days $300 basses are usually made pretty good. Some are even better. $300 basses are made side by side with $1000+ basses, same wood, same parts, different name & different finishes.

 

[HowieD72]

(1) I don't try to rip the strings off when I play! Much lighter on the strings now.
(2) I stopped using DR Lo-Rider rounds & moved on to flats.
(3) I stopped modding to what everyone else recommended & now mod to my likes and taste.
(4) Instead of serious GAS & buying basses & hundreds of parts, I've settled on my 2 keepers. 1 x Bacchus Active Jazz and 1 x Fender passive Jazz.
(5) I've finally decided white jazz basses are my fav!
(6) I'm now content with what I have.

 

[Danny O Danny]

For the first 5 years I played only with a pick. For the next 35 years I played only with my fingers. Now I switch back and forth between fingers and pick depending on what best suits the song.

For the first 10 years I only owned one bass. Now I own eight.

For the first 30 years I used roundwound strings. Now I mostly use flats.

From the beginning (when I was 14) I played long scale solid body basses. Now, at age 61 I'm gravitating towards short scale hollow body basses.

I used to use big amps and multiple cabinets. Now I mostly use IEMs. I have a lightweight class D amp and a 1x12 cabinet for when I need amplification onstage.

I used to play hard rock/heavy metal. Then I broadened out to "classic" rock, pop, folk, jazz, blues. Now I play Americana.

I always performed standing up (and jumping around) onstage. Now I play in a group where we all sit while performing.

When I was a young bassist my priorities were looking cool, getting laid, and becoming a rock star. Now my priorities are playing well, making good music, and enjoying my fellow musicians.

 

[Jefenator]

Less "Flea", more "me".

 

[Marko 1]

I started bass far-later in life than most in this thread, but....

I'm older, retired, learn songs a lot faster, know better how to make a bass line fit the band/music, easier to get along with,

and lots more gear.

 

[Ostie]

When I first started out, I could barely afford the Kalamazoo KB-1 I bought from a friend. Now I have seven basses, and I’m always looking. And let’s not even get started on guitars, mandolins, amps and drums.

 

[pepj]

I'm constantly changing.
Things and styles I played years and years ago, I can't play anymore, but I'm still progressing, imv, I guess I don't want to anymore.
And bass has moved on so much, that's a good thing as well.
For certain stylistic things, I'm very pleased I'm not stuck back in the 80's or 90's.

 

[Marko 1]

I started bass far-later in life than most in this thread, but....

I'm older, retired, learn songs a lot faster, know better how to make a bass line fit the band/music, easier to get along with,

and lots more gear.

Also, I think in the past few years I've gotten more fragile...

I used to love switching basses, and lot of variety,

now I only pick up the one or two which fit my hands better, easier to play,

and lost my desire to pick up any of the others.

 

[MuseChaser]

Didn't read the entire thread, so these may have already been stated, but here's my biggies..

1. I'm increasingly intolerant of volume. I simply won't play loud. If you can't hear me, tough. Turn down and play with musicality and sensitivity.
2. Less is more in all things musical. Notes. Gear. If a note or a piece of gear does not add significantly to the music, leave it out or at home, or sell it.

 

[BWB]

I have a voice. My bass playing sounds like .... me. 40 years worth of learning bass lines and improvising, I have a way I play and fit comfortably into almost anything with it. When you're younger (of course) you're learning lines and think things like "I want to play like ...." but that's all gone away. Learning bass lines now just means finding something interesting to meld into how I play and I don't try to emulate anyone else.

 

[Sixxer]

How have I changed? I get better.

 

[pepj]

Always changing within what is fundamentally my 'thing'.
I don't play much like I did 2 years ago but its still me. Always lstening, evolving etc but I put tme in.
If I listen to many bass players, you can hear they have no real style because they just play the notes.
If I listen to others, you can hear who they basically cloned years ago and haven't moved on.
Thats not my thing at all.