I’ve Played Bass for 30 Years Now!

[rojo412]

I was just trying to do the math in my head on this and I knew I was approaching 30 years on it. Pretty sure I started shopping for one 30 years ago and finally got one a little less than that.
Whatever the case, I'm hoping to keep doing it for at least 30 more. It's been fun and only seems to get funner.

 

[grocker]

38yrs where has it gone. Started at 15

 

[CallMeAl]

32 years making music and 23 on bass for me.

keep on rockin'!

 

[Five or Six]

I started in 68. Uh, thats......let's see? I think I'm going to be sick. Been one helluva journey that I wouldn't change for anything! Even with the the bad.

 

[Pings Bass]

Top: 1986-ish
Bottom: 2023

 

[micguy]

46 years at this point. Good job, short timer!

 

[staurosjohn]

Nice… Congrats! Here I am with my '76 RIC - purchased, new, when I turned 15… and me, more recently, with one of my FrankenFenders… 45+yrs & counting
Top pic: Cinderella Man (RUSH)
Bottom pic: This Velvet Glove (RHCP)

 

[Jazzdogg]

55 years for me. Retired a few years ago, but still love playing.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

started at 12, I'm now xx years old. That's all I can say

 

[CryingBass]

52 years now, playing many of those years. And I still ( fill in the blanks with expletives ) Sxxx!

My basement band played my 8th grade graduation dance. In the basement of a Catholic grade school! Santana ( including a B3+Leslie on stage! ), Grand Funk, Cream, Jethro Tull, and more. Aw, the good old days.

And the rest is infamy... Congrats man - keep on doing it!

 

[mikewalker]

Yow! This thread had me checking the archives. No ancient pics available but I have now put in 50 years of bass-playing (45 since the first real paying gig...)

 

[crucislancer]

35 years for me. Time does fly!

 

[Johnny Crab]

Dad got me a bass(poor Japanese clone) for my 10th birthday in 1965 and they've been following me around since. 57 years.
Thanks Dad!!!

 

[Drzejzi]

Congrats

In a month it will be 17 years for me.

I envy those of you that play a single bass all those years. I feel that I was inspired the most when I just had one bass - not thinking about the gear, just playing. Now most of the time I spend thinking about which one should be my number one.

 

[sylvanbass]

33 years in July for me. Started playing bass on my 12th birthday in 1990, so it's easy to remember the exact day and year for me lol. First bass was an old Washburn B2 I believe, and a Crate 110 combo amp that my parents got me as a birthday present. They had no idea the monster they would create lol. I know there is a polaroid somewhere I need to find.

 

[pbass2]

Nice… Congrats! Here I am with my '76 RIC - purchased, new, when I turned 15… and me, more recently, with one of my FrankenFenders… 45+yrs & counting
Top pic: Cinderella Man (RUSH)
Bottom pic: This Velvet Glove (RHCP)

View attachment 5081752 View attachment 5081753

Love this. I was 15 when I got a new Jetglo 4001 off the rack, 1975.

 

[Turnaround]

I started bass when I was 15. My pals were forming a band and none of them had heard of an electric bass. We had four guitarists, one piano player, and a drummer. Since I was the only one who knew what a bass guitar was I lay down the guitar for the bass - and fell in love. That was 60 years ago (yah - do the math). And though I play a number of instruments, bass is my true love. And I play better today than ever, despite the arthritis in my left hand. Same is true of the guitarist in my main band. He's even older than me and I would say his playing is at his best ever. But his hands are not a pretty sight - gnarled fingers from arthritis.

Moral of the story - you're never too old even if it is a challenge at times.

 

[Low Class]

49 years!

 

[WG Plum]

This is a cool thread, really enjoying it!

 

[Wild_Bill_57]

There is a lot of experience in this thread, but even more passion for playing and learning. It's amazing how fast life moves, sometimes you have to stop a take a look at where you've been and where your going.