It may be time to be done...

[Bigskybassguy]

I'm feeling your angst. I'm 61, and I was totally burnt, too.

A year ago, the docs discovered my metastatic melanoma, and put me on interferon. Screwed me up like nothing else; exhausted, dingie, no memory, no energy, hair falling out.
I told the band to please find another bass mook, I can't do it anymore on this poison. They found a great bass substitute. Relieved, I let them know I'm probably done with loud classic rock.

My interferon was useless, didn't work, it moved to my lungs, so they took me off of that crap, and my brain's cleared up a little.

Last night the band came over and I had my first rehearsal in 8 months. It was all still there, stored in my brain, waiting for me, and I had a blast.

Playing music is the only exciting thing we have to look forward to, so take a good break, but don't sell your stuff, and don't give it up until you're sub-sod. At that point maybe pass it to your kids -- or your church. Whomever, they'll cherish it.

 

[DrThumpenstein]

A few thoughts:

1. Never sell a bass your wife says to keep! Keep them both, at least for now, until you're sure you're done with them.

2. Life, like any good groove, has ebbs and flows, and it's ok to go with the flow. Taking a break gives you a chance to gain perspective. It's real easy to get into a pattern/rut/routine and do something because you always have. Getting away for a bit gives you a chance to see if you really miss something. Has it run its course, or is it still a something that gives you enjoyment?

3. This is a personal question to which should feel no obligation to answer on an internet forum, but are you feeling the same way about other interests? I ask because there's a hint of sadness in your post, and losing interest in things that once gave you pleasure can be a sign of mood disorder. So if there are more pervasive feelings about other areas of your life, it could be worth a visit with your doc.

4. May you never wee yourself gigging in the future!

 

[Rogatien022]

Take a break from it all. Do other stuff with the wife.

 

[HolmeBass]

I wouldn't sell both Roscoes, that's for sure. Just take a little break. No need to "rage quit", although that's not exactly it. No need to "ennui quit". Haha, not sure exactly what word captures it, but I would wait a good long while before unloading the Roscoes. They'll do the job at church, there's no crime in not playing much on the low or high end of the bass, but if you get a P bass and find yourself in a situation where you wish you had 24 frets again that won't be too cool. Just because you have the frets or the strings now doesn't mean you have to use them. It's nice to keep them in reserve.

 

[Ajapses]

NNNooooo!!!! Don't sell anything.




Nobody has concerns for your future well-being.

 

[REMBO]

don't quit....nobody likes A quitter!!!

 

[David A. Davis]

I haven't played much in the last 5 months. I'm not selling anything. I've finally gotten over all my gas. When the time is right , I'll get back at it. Maybe even harder than before.

 

[JustForSport]

Maybe I posted to get talked out of it. They were built to be the last fretted/fretless I'd ever need.

Best answer yet- ride it out, that expression to need the low notes and upper register will manifest again with the next wave...

 

[RED J]

We could start a club. I remember when I used to lust after the gear I have now. I was gigging 6 nights a week then.

Heh heh ain't that the troot. I would have gone T-total batscat crazy when I was 20 if I had the stuff I do now. However I see no need to get rid of anything, I always regret when I get rid of things. Somebody else cane have it all when I croak.

 

[buldog5151bass]

If you sell, you will take a huge $$$. If you like the basses, keep 'em. Nothing wrong with some time off.

When the itch, or the right project, comes along, you'll be there.

 

[mellowinman]

DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER THIS. BAD IDEA. CHILL FOR THREE MONTHS AND THEN CHECK BACK IN HERE!!!!

Sorry, I had to shout it.

 

[Turnaround]

I understand the situation. I recommend you keep at least one fine bass. You've earned it. Whether you need it or not is not the issue. Unless you need the bucks, but I don't hear that as an issue.

 

[MrLenny1]

Take a break, KEEP the Roscoes! Don't forget, a 5 string is a great thumbrest if you don't go low.
I am in a slump too. No gigs, just jam sessions.
I own 2 Tobias basses, they sit around a lot. I've had the urge to sell them and keep my beater
but it took a long time to find them.
Mount them on the wall. they are beautiful art.

 

[stringthrough]

When it stops being fun take a break. I've had periods lasting months when I'd only play guitar, and in the privacy of my man-cave. If you don't need the money don't sell your basses. You will regret it. They are more than musical instruments you express yourself with, they are physical artifacts from another time in your life... So take a break. If the urge to play more returns you'll be all set to resume playing. Another thing, staying away from you bass for a while is a good way to "forget" some bad playing habits you might have picked up over the years, cliche's etc. you just might come back to the bass with some fresh ideas.

 

[SteveC]

Ok. Some good advice. I'll hang on to both for a while. Maybe I'll spend some time researching stuff for my new to me 2006 Mustang GT.

 

[BahamasSteve]

The bassist that has been playing at my folks church switches between his Fender 62 jazz and Alembic, nothing wrong with having nice gear in a church setting.

 

[GKon]

Well, after many years of chasing tone, buying and selling, searching for "the" bass and finding them, I may be ready to dial it all back. My wife says no, but I'm not as convinced. I used to play quite a bit. I chose to quit my regular bands once we had kids. I continue to play at church 1-2 times a month. I don' twee myself gigging in the future. Late nights playing the worm out tunes is just not for me. If I could play "good" music that is interesting early in the evening for a crowd that cared, I'd be up for it.

I have been using my Roscoe 5 for church. It's an amazing bass. I even bought a fretless to "match" it. I don't use the fretless as much as I thought I would. I don't use the B string as much as I used to. I don't even use the full range (24 frets) like I used to. I am seriously looking at selling the fretless. I am also debating selling the fretted. All I really need for church is a good 4 string bass. Maybe a P. maybe a J, Maybe a Ray, anything along those lines in the sub $700 range would be fine.

I don't spend time on the forum like I used to. I still love to play at church, but I don't actively practice or work to get better any more.

Thoughts?

Life is cyclical, in my experience. There are things we LOVE LOVE LOVE, Can't Get Enough Of! etc.

And then, at some point. That changes. We need something else to occupy us to keep us happy.

But, in time, we come back to those things we love.

So now, maybe you don't need a million bells and whistles, countless hours spent on TB, searching out the holy grail of basses and tone.
Just play what you want, as much as you want, the amount that makes you feel happy NOW.

Who knows how you'll feel in one minute, one hour, one day, one year...

 

[Eilif]

No reason you couldn't take a vacation from it and resume at some later time, maybe months or even years from now. I've done it. Interests/career/commitments change. Just don't sell all your stuff. Keep some. No big deal, IMO/IME.

THis is pretty much my view as well. I put music mostly on hold for about 4 years when my son was born. Except for one summer with a klesmer/gypsy group, it was no playing out, little practice and even less talkbass. 4 years goes by FAST and now I'm dipping my toe back in the water again. Taking a break in no way means that you can't come back or that you won't at some point get the passion for back.

As for what gear to keep and sell, that's up to you. If you still love your Roscoes, then don't feel guilted into selling just because you aren't playing. The music instrument industry would fall apart if every bedroom rocker sold off his pro-level gear because he wasn't playing out. My advice (worth exactly what you're paying for it...) would be to sell the fretless and buy a cheaper fretless (or fretted if you're done with fretless). Play it for a while and see if you enjoy playing a $700 bass as much as your fretted Roscoe. Maybe you'll find you do, and maybe you'll decide that you really love your Roscoe. Either way you won't be acting too hastily.

 

[Timmy-Watts]

I took 3 years off. Was mentally burned out, uninspired, wife at the time hated it, had temdonitis... came back to it and the music and playing is better than ever. If it's not fun, stop. Keep your favorite bass or its replacement around, and do it when you want. If it's meant to be, it'll come back.

 

[nutdog]

Wasn't the fretted for sale last year and you were thinking jazz 4? Then you kept it and ordered a custom fretless? Now you want to sell it all? The money you lose selling the roscoes will offset anything you save buying a cheaper 4. Keep your basses, get your meds checked and start practicing.