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I Ain't Feelin' It

#81
40Hz said:
If you continue to grow as a person, I think you discover your interests and priorities changing over time. And you reach a point where you finally and begin to master the art of truly letting go. Up until a few years ago I used to think I was pretty good at letting go. But I one day realized I wasn't letting anything go. Ever. I was just pushing it all down and doing my best not to think about it afterwards.

It was a bad habit to get into.

These days I take most things in stride. And like you, I've pretty much got over getting one mire thing. There was. Gibson Victory Artist here I missed out on by a nose. But that's about it. The new Jumbo Sweetwater catalog that just showed up left me completely cold. And my last visit to a music store made question my habit of dropping by most times I was in the neighborhood.

For the most part I think I'm actually satisfied. Finally.

It's a good feeling. Frees up time and attention for more important and far more interesting things.

;)
Click to expand...

As you know, you played a big part in helping me reach this point of contentment. Thanks again.;)
 
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#84
I'll soon be 75 and still playing bass. I had to give up guitar and Dobro over the years, but I can still mangle the low notes. I'm rid of GAS: I am currently shedding instruments. First to go was my Godin A5 Fretless: great bass, but it had no place in the material I currently play. Next up is my SR5. Again, a great bass, but it is now surplus to requirements. I'll keep the Dobros (two of 'em), acoustic and electric guitars (also, two each) and my MIM Classic '50s P and AVRI '57 P, and my current squeeze, the Classic '51. I have the ideal bass rig, after years of lugging around monsters: a Mesa/Boogie Walkabout (13 lb) and a pair of Genz-Benz 10T speakers (16 lb each).

Library-00_zpsetlkgkr7.jpg
 
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#85
Something you might want to consider if you have money coming back...

There's some really good but inexpensive (and free) courses you can take from companies like Udemy and Coursera, etc. Last refund I got I spent about $60 on four courses and got a lot of satisfaction out of working through them. Mainly because I half forgot how much I used to enjoy being in school and learning new and different things.

Some ideas on where to look for courses here.

I also liked the DVD/book lecture packages from The Great Courses. Just wait for sales on them however, otherwise they can be expensive. My GF recently got a few of their astronomy courses and liked them quite a bit. So much so she went out a got a telescope she actually uses. I tried one of their particle physics titles and was very impressed.

My new priority whenever I have money to spend is to use it to take courses and travel. Now that I'm older I find myself wanting do things to expand my mental and physical worlds more than anything else.

I've been given to understand that's something a lot of people decide to do once they reach my age.
 
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#86
lpdeluxe said:
I'll soon be 75 and still playing bass. I had to give up guitar and Dobro over the years, but I can still mangle the low notes. I'm rid of GAS: I am currently shedding instruments. First to go was my Godin A5 Fretless: great bass, but it had no place in the material I currently play. Next up is my SR5. Again, a great bass, but it is now surplus to requirements. I'll keep the Dobros (two of 'em), acoustic and electric guitars (also, two each) and my MIM Classic '50s P and AVRI '57 P, and my current squeeze, the Classic '51. I have the ideal bass rig, after years of lugging around monsters: a Mesa/Boogie Walkabout (13 lb) and a pair of Genz-Benz 10T speakers (16 lb each).

Library-00_zpsetlkgkr7.jpg
Click to expand...

You are looking good!
 
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#88
Dr. Cheese said:
It would be nice to leave at least a little for the wife and daughters.
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M.R. Ogle said:
I'm getting LESS picky about what I play.
My GAS is trending towards the "unusual" stuff (Dano's, Kay's, etc.) just for the quirkiness of them. I've had a lot of very good basses, including a couple of Alembics, and still have a birth-year Precision. I'm kinda "done" seeking instruments that "complete" me, and now am just seeking ones that AMUSE me.

The car analogy applies: Like, I've done the Ferrari thing, now I collect BMW 2002's.

I'll play anything that's in tune and reasonably comfortable.
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Got any tii's ? My first car..... '74
 
#89
ale29 said:
I envy the OP.
I'm just in my mid 20s, but I've already tried my fair share of basses, even high end ones (Fender Custom shop, FBass, Dingwall, Spector, Sadowsky, Lull, Xotic, Mayones, Warwick and probably others...)
I'm also a serial monogamist, bass wise...no point in having a lot of instruments for me, just trying to get the absolute best I can get within my finances.
The problem is that I can't seem to find "The one"... ANY instrument I've tried had one or more flaws to my eyes/ears. I don't feel like I've found the one bass that I will keep for many, many years to come, yet. And I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever find it.

There's nothing wrong in NOT wanting new tools. It's just wrong when you're never satisfied with what you have.
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Go buy a Fender American Vntage '63 Precision bass with risewood fretboard (I think it's only in risewood anyway) and you'll find the one!
 
#90
See if this makes sense....during my "busy" years, musically, I was gigging 3 or 4 nights a week while holding down a day job and raising a family. That was probably 35 years or so with 1 or 2 Basses and 1 amp. When I got older and my situation changed, and I'm gigging far less now, but my Bass inventory has grown to 22 Basses, 6 amps, and 7 Cabs, wishing I was back down to 1 or 2 Basses and 1 amp.
My take is that when our active years are mostly behind us we surplant the activity with its trappings.
 
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#93
GAS is still fun, but when you get older and look at the calendar the big question is always: Do I spend time trying buying, setting up, re-trying, then deciding if I like the new bass - or do I just sit and play? It's not the acquisition that bugs me, it's the time spent on it that gives me pause. Returning to playing is great, returning with too much GAS is not. Especially as the timer starts running out of years.

I've still a few instruments to acquire because chasing tone is what we do. But if I vaporlock tomorrow, I'll drop knowing I've played some good gear. YMMV
 
#94
Dr. Cheese said:
Refund time is just about here, and there are some things I could get while leaving something for my wife and taking care of important business, but I am having misgivings about buying something I don't need. I guess I am just getting old. Charles Mingus died at my age, and at my age, my father only had five years left. No, as far as I know my health is okay, but I like what I have, and who knows how many more really productive years of playing I have left? I am really enjoying the challenge of lessons, and picking up little things like hand position that make a huge difference in speed and tone. My teacher even played my Fernandes Atlas, and loved how it played, and he is an endorsed artist with complimentary USA Lakland Joe Osbornes. Of course, my DJ5 is great as is my Forum.

I am not saying my GAS is dead, I am just saying that I feel my perspective is changing with age, and I guess that is just natural. The older I get, the reality that I have a shorter future than past has really hit home. Material things just have a different meaning now.
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+1 I'm no spring chicken either (mid-40s). I could easily buy another bass (and of course I have a few in mind), but as I already have three Spector USA basses that I love, what would be the point?
 
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#95
I am now older than I thought I would ever be....life is funny.

Anyway, my new thing is One in, One out. I don't need more stuff. Except books...books don't count.I may need better stuff...but not more. I have 2 really nice basses but if I get another, one will go. And if I get a medium or short scale, both will go.

Except books...books don't count.
 
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#96
I think the boomers are feelin it. 62 next week. 16 EBs, 2 DBs, 2 EUBs, 5 amps - but ya know you can only play one at a time. I'm feelin it too.

I think the Fodera & NYC Sad will be first to go. Enough there for several mortgage payments as I start SS. hahaha timely thread!
 
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#100
Rezdog said:
Greetings from the North,

I was just thinking about all this for the last couple of days and then I ran into this thread lol. After playing everything I've decided to keep the family together for right now. They sound & feel good to me and make me smile.

Rezdog
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I know how you feel, at least I think I do. I have said I like what I have for a while, but I really and truly know I mean it now, and that is a good feeling.:smug:
 
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