I Ain't Feelin' It

[DavC]

i've never had a tax refund ... i've never let uncle irs play with My money ...

that said , if you know part of my story , you know i've bought more than my fair share of toys ...!

but , these days , at 59 , my GAS has diminished and changed quite a bit ... maybe moving from things i might want , to things i actually need and will use ..!

 

[pnchad]

I'm afraid we're about to flood the market and drive down values. Not nearly as many bass players coming up now.

 

[Mr_O'B]

It sure is. No complaints, for sure. It's serious overkill for me, but such is life. I thought of maybe selling one but I would probably need to turn in my TB membership as a result...

If you sell one you will probably replace it with another one, so it's best to keep the one that you may sell!

 

[SteveC]

An TB friend of mine has a 59 P bass that I would play in a heartbeat as my one and only. There's also a 66 jazz at a shop in St. Paul that I would play as my one and only.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

An TB friend of mine has a 59 P bass that I would play in a heartbeat as my one and only. There's also a 66 jazz at a shop in St. Paul that I would play as my one and only.

Until proven otherwise, I think you would miss the B string.

 

[spiritbass]

I haven't 'felt it' for four years. I bought two of my three basses in 2013, my five-string jazz, and my four-string precision. It's still fun coming to TB to see what everyone else is into and up to, but my GAS immunity continues. It's a peaceful place to be.

I did get small refunds from the state & federal revenue organizations, enough to buy a few sets of strings.

 

[AngelCrusher]

I don't know. I haven't owned a 5 now for a couple months and there is a certain magic to a 4 that I love. Just feels great in my hands and less cumbersome. I have to get a 5 in the rack for sessions, but I have not been rushing the process. Lot of guys I talk to have been switching back to 4 from 5 strings for similar reasons.

 

[Bass Viking]

An TB friend of mine has a 59 P bass that I would play in a heartbeat as my one and only. There's also a 66 jazz at a shop in St. Paul that I would play as my one and only.

I guess I'm mystified how an old Fender can displace a fantastic bass like Roscoe?

 

[AngelCrusher]

I guess I'm mystified how an old Fender can displace a fantastic bass like Roscoe?

I'm not.

 

[George1962]

Mid fifties is not that old in today's world. Think of Flea who is about the same age, he's still turning out music with the RHCP, and they sound as good if not better than they ever did.

Playing music keeps the brain strong. Think of all the greats that played into their 80s.

Anyway, you're right, material things like instruments take on a whole different level of value once you've found your tone.

I'm 54 and I just really started to take bass seriously. I am starting at the beginning again and trying to put in a couple of hours a day. I bought a lot of gear because it made me happy. At my age staying happy is a necessity. I have no regrets and have no plans to sell anything. Obviously I wish I could buy talent but having shiny new toys goes a long way.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I don't know. I haven't owned a 5 now for a couple months and there is a certain magic to a 4 that I love. Just feels great in my hands and less cumbersome. I have to get a 5 in the rack for sessions, but I have not been rushing the process. Lot of guys I talk to have been switching back to 4 from 5 strings for similar reasons.

I simply prefer having a B string. Four strings are great, and really enjoy seeing four stringers playing bass go into the upper register. I do it myself, but I love being able to go low when I want to.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Many pearls of wisdom on this thread. Thanks guys.

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.

I've pretty much got over getting one more thing. 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.

I am only interested in a very few specific things and barring that I feel a much greater desire to "de-clutter" my life as much as possible.

As I age I am appreciating "less is more". I've sold most of my basses. Fewer basses now, but the ones I have are the best quality. After all these years I deserve the best. Not the most, just the best.

Anyway, you're right, material things like instruments take on a whole different level of value once you've found your tone.

I'm kinda "done" seeking instruments that "complete" me, and now am just seeking ones that AMUSE me.

These days, it really takes something special to make me want to change.

Cultivating contentment. I have more than I need and all I could reasonably want.

It's great to sit in my music room where everything within reach is something that makes me a bit happier.

 

[AngelCrusher]

I simply prefer having a B string. Four strings are great, and really enjoy seeing four stringers playing bass go into the upper register. I do it myself, but I love being able to go low when I want to.

It has some nice benefits for sure. I don't miss the insane attention I needed to pay to my right hand muting though. One thing I noticed over time is that I found I prefer tighter string spacing. The Cirrus is a good example of what I mean.

 

[spiritbass]

I guess I'm mystified how an old Fender can displace a fantastic bass like Roscoe?

If he gets his mitts on a vintage four-string, it would not displace the Roscoes (they're staying!). I have to agree there is something special about four-string basses (I have two, and one fiver).

 

[two fingers]

I'm with you Doc. I accidentally added some gear this year. But half my gear is on loan to kids just starting out. I'm set for a while.....I think.

 

[bassbenj]

Personally I don't get guys who have to sell any bass they aren't playing once a week. They play them diligently in rotation as if the basses will all hate you if you don't show them equal attention. My Carlo Robelli 8 string probably hasn't been played in a couple years. Is that reason to sell it? I mean its only a crappy Carlo Robelli, right. Hey, it's an 8 string and it's MY 8 string and another one is just too hard to get to get rid of it. If I want that I have that. Period. (Of course I am GASing to trade it for a 10 string!)

But when I was younger and more of a newb, the world of bass was one huge mystery to be explored. What is it about more than 4 strings. fretless, graphite neck, active basses, 7 strings, Fenders, G&Ls and on and on. But now I've been there and done all that. So I go to GC and cry because there are no more basses left to buy. I look at the wall of basses and I'm thinking "I've got one of those and I've got one of those and mine is better than that one!". But in music it's never over. Sure there is a world of playing to learn as well as gear. It's all valid. It's all a matter of what your current interests are. So sure GAS has settled down a lot since the early days, but GAS is never over. I'm still wondering if a Dingwall is something or not and occasionally I do take a dreamy visit to the Ritter website. But being now into fretless you know that takes a lot of practice to get right so there is that to. It all works together.

 

[JonKim]

Must be nice to get a tax return...

 

[SteveC]

Until proven otherwise, I think you would miss the B string.

Probably. I do seem to use it - especially when transposing lower for singers.

I don't know. I haven't owned a 5 now for a couple months and there is a certain magic to a 4 that I love. Just feels great in my hands and less cumbersome. I have to get a 5 in the rack for sessions, but I have not been rushing the process. Lot of guys I talk to have been switching back to 4 from 5 strings for similar reasons.

I played 4 string (mostly Jazz basses) for a long time......

I guess I'm mystified how an old Fender can displace a fantastic bass like Roscoe?

Tastes can change. That '66 jazz was a fantastic playing and sounding bass. So is my friends 59 Precision.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Probably. I do seem to use it - especially when transposing lower for singers.



I played 4 string (mostly Jazz basses) for a long time......



Tastes can change. That '66 jazz was a fantastic playing and sounding bass. So is my friends 59 Precision.

That's how I feel about the Caprice, I love to play it! I also know that if I use it in church, I miss having a B string. A four string in church can be a fun change of pace for me, but I really like to get low like a keyboard.

 

[RobBottom69]

Must be nice to get a tax return...

I like to try to get it as close to $0 due as much as possible. I don't understand why people think they're getting ahead with a large refund when all they've done is given an interest free loan to the government...but that's just me....