Normally I am a very logical person and have no problem making decisions, but I find myself totally frozen on this particular issue and I can't proceed, so thought I'd throw it out there for opinions.
First off, I know no one else can make this decision but me, but I am VERY interested in the opinions of people who have more experience.
So I'm not looking for someone to make the decision, but rather to pound on my reasoning until something gives. OK? Here goes:
I am an electric bass player that has recently become obsessed with Bluegrass. At age 52, I am ready to make Bluegrass my life's musical work from here on out. (I am a doctor not pro musician so this is a hobby for me).
I hand built my own fretted upright electric bass and love the way it looks, and plays.
Now, I have been playing with Bluegrass groups jams, and have noticed a kind of snobbish rejection of electric instruments. In fact there are places here where electric instruments are simply not welcome. Thankfully, not my main group. They are cool with the electric.
However, I accept that is Bluegrass is about acoustic instruments. So I decided to get one. Shopping now 6 months. In my region, there has been mostly junk in the $500-$700 (used) range. They feel unpleasant to play and unpleasant to my ear (at least in the stores).
So yesterday I wander into a REAL strings store and the owner shows me a new $1,600 Christopher bass. So I don't know much about big boy basses, but I know this - I touched it and it sang to me. I could not believe the difference between this and the junk I had seen out there. I am new to this, but my hands immediately felt that "this is good-this is right" for the first time when holding and playing a big upright. The sound immediately made me think "THAT is what I am looking for". All this from less than 1 hour in the store.
I feel crazy for even considering buying this thing: I have never had an upright bass lesson in my life, and yet this thing feels like it is calling out to me. I keep asking myself "What kind of idiot walks into a store and drops $1,800 (Bass plus travel bag) on an instrument that he does not even know how to play or if he will like it. Non refundable of course......
I have absolutely no skill or experience in picking out a bass, but, I have been obsessed with this monster, ever since I touched it.
So I keep trying to figure this out but it feels like my right brain is jumping all over my left brain and logic is not working here....
Sometimes I think that if not for the snob issue, I would be forever happy with my electric upright fretted bass. Other times, using my electric feels like I am "bringing a knife to a gunfight."
Sometimes I think "If you don't get a good instrument you like from the start, you'll never practice with it and you will never get good"
Other times: "You may never learn to play it, and your currently pretty good Bluegrass skills won't translate. If it doesn't work out, you'll never be able to sell it without a huge loss"
Sometimes my brain says: "maybe you'll hate it or end up with a repetitive stress injury - just stick with the electric and screw the snobs"
As I see it, I have 3 choices:
1) Stay with my current electric upright setup and just supress these feelings. Accept that there are simply Bluegrass jams where I will never be welcome.
2) Rent an upright to see if you like it. Unfortunately, all of the rentals in my area that I have played, look feel and sound like junk to my ear. They also are NOT fun to play. Actions are way high and none of them have adjustable bridges.
3) Just jump in, spend the $1,800 and see where this leads. If it does not work out, accept that and just take the loss. Be poorer but wiser, knowing that you tried it.
The money is not a huge issue. I have it in savings. It will not bankrupt us. I just feel really shocked and a little stupid that I am seriously considering dropping $1,800 on something like this without any real certainty that it is going to work out. This feels like a total impulse decision. And yet, when I touch and hear this bass it just "feels right" I can't describe it any other way.
For the first time in my life I feel like whatever I coose here, I could possibly make a VERY big mistake.
Either lose big $ if I jump and it goes bad, or worse, miss the opportunity of a life to expand to a whole new level and experience of playing (if I pass it up to stay with the "safe" electric upright.) If I try and compromise with a junky rental and throw away $150 on a 3 month (minimum here) rental, will it cost me my interest and enthusiasm?
So, I welcome all comments. I'll try not to be too thin skinned. I guess what I am really looking for is perspectives. Has this ever happened to anyone else out there? Did it work out for you or leave you sadder but wiser? Were you glad you took the intuitive leap?
All insights welcomed.
Thanks!
Jeff
Charleston, SC
First off, I know no one else can make this decision but me, but I am VERY interested in the opinions of people who have more experience.
So I'm not looking for someone to make the decision, but rather to pound on my reasoning until something gives. OK? Here goes:
I am an electric bass player that has recently become obsessed with Bluegrass. At age 52, I am ready to make Bluegrass my life's musical work from here on out. (I am a doctor not pro musician so this is a hobby for me).
I hand built my own fretted upright electric bass and love the way it looks, and plays.
Now, I have been playing with Bluegrass groups jams, and have noticed a kind of snobbish rejection of electric instruments. In fact there are places here where electric instruments are simply not welcome. Thankfully, not my main group. They are cool with the electric.
However, I accept that is Bluegrass is about acoustic instruments. So I decided to get one. Shopping now 6 months. In my region, there has been mostly junk in the $500-$700 (used) range. They feel unpleasant to play and unpleasant to my ear (at least in the stores).
So yesterday I wander into a REAL strings store and the owner shows me a new $1,600 Christopher bass. So I don't know much about big boy basses, but I know this - I touched it and it sang to me. I could not believe the difference between this and the junk I had seen out there. I am new to this, but my hands immediately felt that "this is good-this is right" for the first time when holding and playing a big upright. The sound immediately made me think "THAT is what I am looking for". All this from less than 1 hour in the store.
I feel crazy for even considering buying this thing: I have never had an upright bass lesson in my life, and yet this thing feels like it is calling out to me. I keep asking myself "What kind of idiot walks into a store and drops $1,800 (Bass plus travel bag) on an instrument that he does not even know how to play or if he will like it. Non refundable of course......
I have absolutely no skill or experience in picking out a bass, but, I have been obsessed with this monster, ever since I touched it.
So I keep trying to figure this out but it feels like my right brain is jumping all over my left brain and logic is not working here....
Sometimes I think that if not for the snob issue, I would be forever happy with my electric upright fretted bass. Other times, using my electric feels like I am "bringing a knife to a gunfight."
Sometimes I think "If you don't get a good instrument you like from the start, you'll never practice with it and you will never get good"
Other times: "You may never learn to play it, and your currently pretty good Bluegrass skills won't translate. If it doesn't work out, you'll never be able to sell it without a huge loss"
Sometimes my brain says: "maybe you'll hate it or end up with a repetitive stress injury - just stick with the electric and screw the snobs"
As I see it, I have 3 choices:
1) Stay with my current electric upright setup and just supress these feelings. Accept that there are simply Bluegrass jams where I will never be welcome.
2) Rent an upright to see if you like it. Unfortunately, all of the rentals in my area that I have played, look feel and sound like junk to my ear. They also are NOT fun to play. Actions are way high and none of them have adjustable bridges.
3) Just jump in, spend the $1,800 and see where this leads. If it does not work out, accept that and just take the loss. Be poorer but wiser, knowing that you tried it.
The money is not a huge issue. I have it in savings. It will not bankrupt us. I just feel really shocked and a little stupid that I am seriously considering dropping $1,800 on something like this without any real certainty that it is going to work out. This feels like a total impulse decision. And yet, when I touch and hear this bass it just "feels right" I can't describe it any other way.
For the first time in my life I feel like whatever I coose here, I could possibly make a VERY big mistake.
Either lose big $ if I jump and it goes bad, or worse, miss the opportunity of a life to expand to a whole new level and experience of playing (if I pass it up to stay with the "safe" electric upright.) If I try and compromise with a junky rental and throw away $150 on a 3 month (minimum here) rental, will it cost me my interest and enthusiasm?
So, I welcome all comments. I'll try not to be too thin skinned. I guess what I am really looking for is perspectives. Has this ever happened to anyone else out there? Did it work out for you or leave you sadder but wiser? Were you glad you took the intuitive leap?
All insights welcomed.
Thanks!
Jeff
Charleston, SC
if you were sincere in your description, I'd buy it, I don't see any major objections... it's only reason fooling with you 
