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I suddenly feel like a real bass player!

#21
"Good for you, as I'm still waiting for this to happen. I've been playing for 10 months, but still feel like a drummer holding a bass. I'm getting better, but it still feels pretty mechanical right now. Damn fingers!"




It's weird how this huge improvement happened so suddenly. I've been practicing a lot and all of the sudden, Bang! It feels good. I understand gas, believe me...


I currently own 8 drum kits

1964 Leedy (from the era that Slingerland owned them) kit with a virgin bass. The 12" tom originally clamped to the bass drum rim. It is in blue sparling pearl finish. It must have spent 40 plus years in cases as it is the cleanest 1960s kit I've ever seen. I picked up a 1958 13" tom on ebay in the same finish.
12", 13", 16", 20".

1973 Slingerland kit in sparkling blue pearl finish.
13", 16", 18", 24".

1975 Slingerland blakrome 7 pc kit with a virgin bass.
12", 13", 14", 16", 18", 22".

1970s Slingerland blakrome kit with a virgin bass
13", 14", 15" concert tom, 18", 24" (I haven't researched the serial numbers for the age yet.)

1981 Gretsch "Drop-G" badge 6 pc kit in walnut lacquer finish.
12", 13", 14", 16", 22".

2005 Gretsch Catalina Birch 6 pc kit in Chestnut fade finish. This is a nice kit, but the one I use as my gig kit as I have a lot less invested in it.
8", 10", 12", 14", 22".

2008 8pc DW Collector's Series kit in Broken Glass finish. I lusted after a set of DWs for 10 years before I took the plunge three years ago.
8", 10", 12", 13", 14", 16", 22".

1980s Remo Legero nesting kit that I bought to carry in our motorhome. They don't sound wonderful, but they are likely the nicest kit at any campground we visit.
10", 12", 14", 20".


My current snare drum arsenal

2007 Ahead Black on Brass 6" x 13"

2009 Ahead Black on Brass 6" x 14"

1990s Ayotte Drumsmith Stainless steel 5 1/2" x 13"

2004 DW Solid Shell Natural Satin 5" x 14"

2008 DW 10 ply maple Broken Glass 5" x 14"

2008 DW Edge Broken Glass 6" x 13"

2009 DW Super Solid Shell Broken Glass 5 1/2" x 14"

2008 Fibes maple White Marine Pearl 5 1/2" x 14"

1970s Gretsch model 4160 Chrome Over Brass 5" x 14"

1981 Gretsch model 4160 Chrome Over Brass 5" x 14"

2006 Gretsch Catalina Birch Chestnut Fade Lacquer 5 1/2" x 14"

2007 Gretsch Nickel over steel 5" x 14"

1990s Legend Maple 6 1/2" x 14" with die cast hoops Natural Lacquer finish.

2000s Ludwig Acrolite 5" x 14" Black Galaxie finish.

2000s Ludwig Classic Maple 3" x 13" Natural Lacquer finish.

2000s Ludwig Classic Maple 6 1/2" x 14" Natural Lacquer.

2009 Ludwig Black Beauty 5" x 14"

2009 Ludwig Supraphonic 5" x 14"

2009 Ludwig Classic Maple 5" x 14" Natural Lacquer.

2009 Mapex Big Cat 8" x 14" blue wrap with "Big Beat" logo signed by Jimmy Chamberlin.

1988 Noble & Cooley 7" x 14" solid shell maple Red Lacquer finish.

2000s Pearl Free Floating Brass Piccolo 3 1/2" x 14"

2007 Pearl Chad Smith 5 1/2" x 14"

1990s Remo Black Piccolo 3" x 13"

1960s Rogers COB Dynasonic 5" x 14"

1958 Slingerland Radio King single ply 5 1/2" x 14" Sparkling blue pearl finish.

1962 Slingerland Artist model single ply 5 1/2" x 14" Sparkling Blue Pearl finish.

1963 Slingerland Artist model 3-ply 5 1/2" x 14" Sparkling Blue Pearl finish.

1970s Slingerland Chrome over Brass 5 1/2" x 14"

1976 Slingerland Buddy Rich model 5 1/2" x 14" Blackrome finish.

1979 Slingerland Model 140 Ribbed Aluminum 5 1/2" x 14"

1990s Slingerland Radio King Solid Maple 6 1/2" x 14" natural lacquer finish with die cast hoops.

2009 Sonor Force 3007 Dark Blue lacquer 5 1/2" x 14".


And I own a bunch of cymbals (80 something)

I have full setups of

Bosphorus Traditionals

Paiste Signatures

Paiste 2002s

Sabian AAXs

Sabian HHXs

Zildjian "K"s

Zildjian K Customs

Zildjian Constantinoples

and about 20 or so Zildjian "A"s.

I have an exensive hand percussion setup featuring Latin Percussion Classic series Congas and Bongos, a Meinl bubinga cajon and a large selection of various shakers etc...


So far bass-wise I have a Peavey USA Dyna, a Peavey USA Fury and a Jackson JS-40. Right now I play through a Peavey TNT 160, but I'm saving up for a VB-2



GAS?


Oh, I know all about GAS!!!


:D
 
#27
drummer5359 said:
"Good for you, as I'm still waiting for this to happen. I've been playing for 10 months, but still feel like a drummer holding a bass. I'm getting better, but it still feels pretty mechanical right now. Damn fingers!"




It's weird how this huge improvement happened so suddenly. I've been practicing a lot and all of the sudden, Bang! It feels good. I understand gas, believe me...


I currently own 8 drum kits

1964 Leedy (from the era that Slingerland owned them) kit with a virgin bass. The 12" tom originally clamped to the bass drum rim. It is in blue sparling pearl finish. It must have spent 40 plus years in cases as it is the cleanest 1960s kit I've ever seen. I picked up a 1958 13" tom on ebay in the same finish.
12", 13", 16", 20".

1973 Slingerland kit in sparkling blue pearl finish.
13", 16", 18", 24".

1975 Slingerland blakrome 7 pc kit with a virgin bass.
12", 13", 14", 16", 18", 22".

1970s Slingerland blakrome kit with a virgin bass
13", 14", 15" concert tom, 18", 24" (I haven't researched the serial numbers for the age yet.)

1981 Gretsch "Drop-G" badge 6 pc kit in walnut lacquer finish.
12", 13", 14", 16", 22".

2005 Gretsch Catalina Birch 6 pc kit in Chestnut fade finish. This is a nice kit, but the one I use as my gig kit as I have a lot less invested in it.
8", 10", 12", 14", 22".

2008 8pc DW Collector's Series kit in Broken Glass finish. I lusted after a set of DWs for 10 years before I took the plunge three years ago.
8", 10", 12", 13", 14", 16", 22".

1980s Remo Legero nesting kit that I bought to carry in our motorhome. They don't sound wonderful, but they are likely the nicest kit at any campground we visit.
10", 12", 14", 20".


My current snare drum arsenal

2007 Ahead Black on Brass 6" x 13"

2009 Ahead Black on Brass 6" x 14"

1990s Ayotte Drumsmith Stainless steel 5 1/2" x 13"

2004 DW Solid Shell Natural Satin 5" x 14"

2008 DW 10 ply maple Broken Glass 5" x 14"

2008 DW Edge Broken Glass 6" x 13"

2009 DW Super Solid Shell Broken Glass 5 1/2" x 14"

2008 Fibes maple White Marine Pearl 5 1/2" x 14"

1970s Gretsch model 4160 Chrome Over Brass 5" x 14"

1981 Gretsch model 4160 Chrome Over Brass 5" x 14"

2006 Gretsch Catalina Birch Chestnut Fade Lacquer 5 1/2" x 14"

2007 Gretsch Nickel over steel 5" x 14"

1990s Legend Maple 6 1/2" x 14" with die cast hoops Natural Lacquer finish.

2000s Ludwig Acrolite 5" x 14" Black Galaxie finish.

2000s Ludwig Classic Maple 3" x 13" Natural Lacquer finish.

2000s Ludwig Classic Maple 6 1/2" x 14" Natural Lacquer.

2009 Ludwig Black Beauty 5" x 14"

2009 Ludwig Supraphonic 5" x 14"

2009 Ludwig Classic Maple 5" x 14" Natural Lacquer.

2009 Mapex Big Cat 8" x 14" blue wrap with "Big Beat" logo signed by Jimmy Chamberlin.

1988 Noble & Cooley 7" x 14" solid shell maple Red Lacquer finish.

2000s Pearl Free Floating Brass Piccolo 3 1/2" x 14"

2007 Pearl Chad Smith 5 1/2" x 14"

1990s Remo Black Piccolo 3" x 13"

1960s Rogers COB Dynasonic 5" x 14"

1958 Slingerland Radio King single ply 5 1/2" x 14" Sparkling blue pearl finish.

1962 Slingerland Artist model single ply 5 1/2" x 14" Sparkling Blue Pearl finish.

1963 Slingerland Artist model 3-ply 5 1/2" x 14" Sparkling Blue Pearl finish.

1970s Slingerland Chrome over Brass 5 1/2" x 14"

1976 Slingerland Buddy Rich model 5 1/2" x 14" Blackrome finish.

1979 Slingerland Model 140 Ribbed Aluminum 5 1/2" x 14"

1990s Slingerland Radio King Solid Maple 6 1/2" x 14" natural lacquer finish with die cast hoops.

2009 Sonor Force 3007 Dark Blue lacquer 5 1/2" x 14".


And I own a bunch of cymbals (80 something)

I have full setups of

Bosphorus Traditionals

Paiste Signatures

Paiste 2002s

Sabian AAXs

Sabian HHXs

Zildjian "K"s

Zildjian K Customs

Zildjian Constantinoples

and about 20 or so Zildjian "A"s.

I have an exensive hand percussion setup featuring Latin Percussion Classic series Congas and Bongos, a Meinl bubinga cajon and a large selection of various shakers etc...


So far bass-wise I have a Peavey USA Dyna, a Peavey USA Fury and a Jackson JS-40. Right now I play through a Peavey TNT 160, but I'm saving up for a VB-2



GAS?


Oh, I know all about GAS!!!


:D
Click to expand...

Beside having no talent on drums, that's the reason why I don't play drums... lol
 
#29
I'm not sure if that point has reached me yet. I don't feel all that uncomfortable with the fretboard anymore, but I can't develop half-decent fills or chops on the fly yet (sometimes I just noodle around in kinda repetitive patterns).

That being said, I've had three said "bass player lightning bolts" (of the small variety) in the past month:
- During the first jam with my first band
- When I started playing a few simple tunes by ear (most of them punk rock, but hey, we all gotta start basic)
- When I sold my ONLY electric guitar to get a long-GASed Squier CV 50's tele bass!!! There I knew just how much fun I'm having as a bass player (enough to not miss my guitar).
 
#31
OMG I thought my drum obsession was bad. I've got nothing on that. I have two basses, two synths, and a big ol' set of drums. Not eight kits, though. And no cymbal and snare vault.

I understand exactly what you say about suddenly realizing that you get it. You can run scales, arpeggios, etc., and play song after song after song perfectly without getting it. But at some point, the instrument just makes sense. You stop thinking about it and it just seems to work. And you can make plenty of mistakes and still get it. I wish it were easier to explain.

I got there on the drums a long time ago (whew!). I feel I'm about there on the bass - recent within the last couple of months. Still waiting on the whole keyboard thing. And I've taken plenty of keyboard lessons, theory classes, etc. I can get my analog to make any sound I want. But I sure don't play like Emerson! After all these years, I realize it's not going to happen like I want it to in that department.

Anyway. It's an understanding that's so hard to explain. But when you get it, you get it. Congratulations! Now go play that bass!
 
#32
Tat, yes you can take me shopping... I know where another cool old used Peavey bass is lurking.


I know a lot of you don't "get" the love some of us have for old USA made Peaveys, but they really feel right to me.


Anyway, Drums have been my main instrument for forty years. I can't even remember not being comfortable behind a kit. (Except after my strokes...)

I'm a pretty serious hand percussionist now, that's what most of my gigs are these days. Now I feel like a bassist. Very cool.
 
#38
I'm totally in the same boat.

I'm a drummer and have been for 20+ years, semi-professionally with a few (very) low profile indie CD releases to my name. I've been noodling around bass for many years and became just proficient enough to play on my own crude "one-man band" recordings. But I never tried to actually do gigs on it.

Well, I really wanted to play in a band with my brother (also a drummer)... he started an 80s band with a keyboard player we know well. They couldn't really find a bass player who was interested. I was noodling with one of the basses in the music store I work at with my family, and my brother says "hey, do YOU want have a go?"

The first month or so was pretty rough for me.... but then suddenly I "got it". I learned how to play Berlin's "The Metro" and said to myself "I can do this". And now I can play "Rio", albeit without a lot of the double finger things (I'm kind of stuck in James Jamerson single-finger mode right now).

Do we have a "drummers who became bassists" club? Maybe we should.
 
#40
You're F'd now!
:)
Glad to hear it.


drummer5359 said:
So...

I've been screwing around with the bass for a while, but I never felt like I REALLY was a bass player. I've always been a drummer/percussionist who fooled around on the bass. I've been taking lessons for a couple of months and seeing improvement.

Last night it just suddenly clicked. Last night and today I've been playing and it has just become easier to make what I want to hear happen. My left hand is becoming comfortable all over the neck. It's like I was hit by the bass player lightning bolt or something.
Click to expand...
 

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