Lets just say, Im "older" lol. Been playing bass for around 40 years. I should be better than I am but its always just been a hobby of sorts. Ive been in and out of working bands almost from the beginning. My primary instrument was trumpet. Sold that after high school. In junior high they had a drum kit and a bass and combo amp in storage basically so I checked them out and brought them home to play. Almost right away was asked to play drums for a band at the state fair. But I was drawn to the bass. The bass I was playing at that time was Fender P with finger rest on bottom. In high school I had to buy one myself. I think it was an Aria. The price fit my budget. All three years of high school we basically stayed hooked up with the same group and played the whole time doing free stuff and an occasional dance.
There was a long pause in performing after I joined military then attending graduate school. Played here and there mostly at some jam sessions. Once I landed at a more permanent location I stumbled into a jam session that led to a long term working band.
Ok so now I thought I need some upgrades. Picked up American J 4 string and played that for a few years through Ampeg 410 with SWR head. I had a 218 that I could use depending on how we set up, I would slide it behind drummer so we could stay tight. Most places there wasnt room for it. Going into a guitar center I played with a 5 string and saw how it opened up a lot of alternate fingering further up the neck. So then traded the 4 for a Fender j American 5 string. I will say that I was thinking I made a bad move because it took a minute for my fingers to find the strings again. Since I didnt have any other bass, it just forced me to get it figured out and Im glad I did. We played some really cool venues and did wedding receptions ect besides our house band deal. The lead guitar player that taught me red barcheta back in junior high actually came up and sat in with us for one gig. Very cool of him to do that. We would have had to cancel a reception too late to find a replacement.
Life happened and had to sell everything and move. I also owned all the live sound gear. It was disgusting how little I got for all of it but we needed to fund a move and Playing was not my source of income.
I hated not having a bass at all and went down to the local shop and picked up an Ibanez 5 string and a micro amp. I put them both in the closet after a few weeks and that is where they stayed for 15 years. I didnt have time for a band etc. Well some things happened in last year. I keep running into friends in different circles that played and now Im getting the bug again. I always put ibanez on "cheap" rack and wasnt very proud of my bass at the time that I got it. Now that was way back before internet was as good as it is today. I only recently found out what specific model it is. It apparently was a decent bass for its time so I am going to play it. Its SR885.
So I put new strings on and picked up an ampeg micro.
First thing I noticed right off bat is that I was terrible. My fingers didnt know where the strings were again. 15 years took a huge toll. With a new set of strings that "cheap" bass sounded really good. Now I was looking at the btb 745. In fact I found a trade in on line for a really good price so I let my wife know she doesnt need to worry about a xmas present for me anymore. It is still in the box. Initially I said I would sell the other bass to help pay for this one. Who am I kidding. Thats not going to happen. Bought another stand and strap.
Now Im going to go through the "I suck" faze again because of the string spread. Im mentally prepared lol. Because I already have my sights on the BTB 1835. I decided if Im still playing basically every day ish then yep the premium btb will be sitting on another stand!!
I know how to read music but never got that deep into bass. Ive just recently heard people saying things like "patterns". That is exactly how I learned to play. I noticed there were repetition of patterns everywhere and then if its a cover tune I learn it as performed. I decided Im going to "learn" more. Back when I was working w a band I sat in with several others and could hold down the bass line just fine. But that was instinct that is kind of gone lol. I havent played in 15 years but I've still been listening. I still have been picking out patterns on songs Ive never played. Now I have to see where on the neck it fits. I listen to bass in all songs and in my head its "up a half step, down two up octave" etc
Sorry for being so long on this. Its kind of the first time ive really thought about it all.
I used to be an American fender snob but who would have thought there are other really nice basses out there .
There was a long pause in performing after I joined military then attending graduate school. Played here and there mostly at some jam sessions. Once I landed at a more permanent location I stumbled into a jam session that led to a long term working band.
Ok so now I thought I need some upgrades. Picked up American J 4 string and played that for a few years through Ampeg 410 with SWR head. I had a 218 that I could use depending on how we set up, I would slide it behind drummer so we could stay tight. Most places there wasnt room for it. Going into a guitar center I played with a 5 string and saw how it opened up a lot of alternate fingering further up the neck. So then traded the 4 for a Fender j American 5 string. I will say that I was thinking I made a bad move because it took a minute for my fingers to find the strings again. Since I didnt have any other bass, it just forced me to get it figured out and Im glad I did. We played some really cool venues and did wedding receptions ect besides our house band deal. The lead guitar player that taught me red barcheta back in junior high actually came up and sat in with us for one gig. Very cool of him to do that. We would have had to cancel a reception too late to find a replacement.
Life happened and had to sell everything and move. I also owned all the live sound gear. It was disgusting how little I got for all of it but we needed to fund a move and Playing was not my source of income.
I hated not having a bass at all and went down to the local shop and picked up an Ibanez 5 string and a micro amp. I put them both in the closet after a few weeks and that is where they stayed for 15 years. I didnt have time for a band etc. Well some things happened in last year. I keep running into friends in different circles that played and now Im getting the bug again. I always put ibanez on "cheap" rack and wasnt very proud of my bass at the time that I got it. Now that was way back before internet was as good as it is today. I only recently found out what specific model it is. It apparently was a decent bass for its time so I am going to play it. Its SR885.
So I put new strings on and picked up an ampeg micro.
First thing I noticed right off bat is that I was terrible. My fingers didnt know where the strings were again. 15 years took a huge toll. With a new set of strings that "cheap" bass sounded really good. Now I was looking at the btb 745. In fact I found a trade in on line for a really good price so I let my wife know she doesnt need to worry about a xmas present for me anymore. It is still in the box. Initially I said I would sell the other bass to help pay for this one. Who am I kidding. Thats not going to happen. Bought another stand and strap.
Now Im going to go through the "I suck" faze again because of the string spread. Im mentally prepared lol. Because I already have my sights on the BTB 1835. I decided if Im still playing basically every day ish then yep the premium btb will be sitting on another stand!!
I know how to read music but never got that deep into bass. Ive just recently heard people saying things like "patterns". That is exactly how I learned to play. I noticed there were repetition of patterns everywhere and then if its a cover tune I learn it as performed. I decided Im going to "learn" more. Back when I was working w a band I sat in with several others and could hold down the bass line just fine. But that was instinct that is kind of gone lol. I havent played in 15 years but I've still been listening. I still have been picking out patterns on songs Ive never played. Now I have to see where on the neck it fits. I listen to bass in all songs and in my head its "up a half step, down two up octave" etc
Sorry for being so long on this. Its kind of the first time ive really thought about it all.
I used to be an American fender snob but who would have thought there are other really nice basses out there .
that's the first thing i notice at the beginning of every practice session! 
