It may be time to be done...

[Neveragain55]

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't see myself gigging in the future. Late nights playing the worn 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?

My instructor is "sort of" where you are but not quite so I understand where your coming from.

The guy I'm currently taking lessons from to improve my skills is an absolutely amazing bass player and he could easily be in any top ten band touring the world making globs of money.

The music scene where we live is pretty much dead, and everyone is into the folksy, 60's hippie thing at the moment which isn't his thing.

He keeps active by doing lessons and listening to bassists audition tapes to help them where they me be off key or out of step.

I would advise that you definitely "not" give up all of your bass guitars and I would suggest that you try to find some like minded souls such as yourself to form something that would keep you excited.

Or you could just challenge your self by trying to learn new things, new types of music, and see what direction that talks you in.

And please, whatever you do......get back the 24 fret bass so you can have that full range again so that you can explore that portion of the neck more and possibly get into some really cool intricate stuff or even tapping.

Hang in there bro.......................stay in the family....

 

[JackANSI]

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't see myself gigging in the future. Late nights playing the worn 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?

Do not sell your fretted one if you do not have anything better still to replace it. Sounds like it is a pretty good bass that will be hard to replace.

 

[Brother Goose]

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't see myself gigging in the future. Late nights playing the worn 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?

It sounds like you've leveled out your expectations and are looking to streamline/simplify.

Music can be so rewarding or frustrating and I'll bet you'll find yourself in good situations in the future.

I've taken time off from playing- either conciously or as
a result of a busy schedule and have found my personal growth almost always bring me back to the Bass: with newfound enthusiasm and the humility needed to be a supportive player and create great music

 

[SteveC]

NOW I have a Skyline Lakland 44-64 (P bass with J pickup) 4 string and I am the happiest with my tone perhaps EVER in 24 years of playing bass. I love the simplicity of the 4 string. It forces you to worry less about the gear and more about what you are playing IMHO.

This is kind of what I meant by my initial post. I suppose that as others have said there is a certain ebb and flow to life; I suppose that there could be a situation in the future where the perfect gig pops up and calls for a 5 string and/or fretless; I suppose in that case I'd be sorry I sold my basses.

 

[SteveC]

You are one of the biggest Roscoe fanboys I have seen on TB. And I mean that as a complement. You don't post how your latest acquisition is the last bass you will ever buy or post "OMG, OMG this is the bestest bass in the world" and sell it a month later.

I am a huge fanboy. I have always been treated with unmatched respect and professionalism from everyone associated with Roscoe, even though I am a nobody from North Dakota. That will never change. I used to do OMG, OMG posts and sell a month later, but it's been a few years since those days - finally and thankfully!

 

[Baird6869]

I am a huge fanboy. I have always been treated with unmatched respect and professionalism from everyone associated with Roscoe, even though I am a nobody from North Dakota. That will never change. I used to do OMG, OMG posts and sell a month later, but it's been a few years since those days - finally and thankfully!

Gard, Keith and the gang are absolutely amazing to deal with. I loved my Roscoes but I am a 33"/34" scale guy. Only reason I don't still have them.

 

[SteveC]

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.

I agree. The entire band has top line gear. Nord, Yamaha, Roland, PRS, DW, Taylor, etc. It's a NEED Vs. WANT/LIKE thing. I'm pretty sure I could show up with anything and it would sound fine. My Roscoe actually sounds best/sits best in this setting when I roll to the neck pup and roll off the treble a bit and go for a more "P" type tone. Go figure.

 

[SteveC]

Used my fretless for the "acoustic" trio rehearsal last night....sounded amazing.

 

[engedi1]

My Roscoe actually sounds best/sits best in this setting when I roll to the neck pup and roll off the treble a bit and go for a more "P" type tone. Go figure.

This was my experience with my Sadowsky Modern 24. I always used the Front pickup soloed and in passive mode. My idea of tone has drifted over the last few years from 'bass boosted mid scoop' that most modern active electronics seems to provide, to a much more midrange focused and punchy tone. I find I am cutting through the mix better and on sessions it works better. I think this tone works GREAT in a worship band setting and the best bass tone I have heard in a church since I moved to Nashville was a guy playing a vintage P. That's not to say Roscoe's aren't amazing, I would love the fretless myself. But if your tonal goals have changed, there is nothing wrong with adapting your gear to fit.

 

[SteveC]

This was my experience with my Sadowsky Modern 24. I always used the Front pickup soloed and in passive mode. I think this tone works GREAT in a worship band setting and the best bass tone I have heard in a church since I moved to Nashville was a guy playing a vintage P. That's not to say Roscoe's aren't amazing, but if your tonal goals have changed, there is nothing wrong with adapting your gear to fit.

That's a little bit of my thinking when I started this thread. I know a pretty die hard Roscoe guy who now plays passive P style basses. Of course, others would say if I can get that kind of tone by adjusting my pan and eq, why not keep the Roscoe and have the ability to do both a more old school tone and a modern tone.

 

[engedi1]

That's a little bit of my thinking when I started this thread. I know a pretty die hard Roscoe guy who now plays passive P style basses. Of course, others would say if I can get that kind of tone by adjusting my pan and eq, why not keep the Roscoe and have the ability to do both a more old school tone and a modern tone.

Sure thing, if its possible. You can't beat the quality of the Roscoe. IME, however, the pickups themselves have a certain baked in tone, and the electronics more so. Nothing else really sounds like a passive P bass. Perhaps you could borrow a P bass for a few weeks and experiment with it. I would love to have a Warwick Thumb because sometimes I really want that modern snappy tone. However, my next bass will probably be another Lakland 44-64 just so I can have a P bass with Flats, which to me is a quintessential tone that you need in the toolbox. I would buy a Fender P but I love the Lakland neck so much I can't see being happy with a chunky P neck.

 

[Thumper]

Exactly Steve! I find my Roscoe really does the Pbass on steroids, you have a bass that can do it all, can't say that about a P4, and yes I have them both. If I had to chose one it would be the Roscoe.

 

[SteveC]

You can't beat the quality of the Roscoe. IME, however, the pickups themselves have a certain baked in tone, and the electronics more so. Nothing else really sounds like a passive P bass. I would buy a Fender P but I love the Lakland neck so much I can't see being happy with a chunky P neck.

This is true. Roscoe does have a "baked in" tone, and nothing sounds like a passive P except that, and nothing sounds like an upright except that, but I can get in the "tone neighborhood" with my fretted rolled to the neck and my fretless played with a certain touch. Not exactly, but close enough for what I'm doing so that makes it hard to think about parting with them.

Exactly Steve! I find my Roscoe really does the Pbass on steroids, you have a bass that can do it all, can't say that about a P4, and yes I have them both. If I had to chose one it would be the Roscoe.

Which is why I tend to hold on pretty tightly to both these basses. It's overkill to have $6,000 of bass to play twice a month in church, but there isn't a person who hears or sees them that doesn't comment on them.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

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't see myself gigging in the future. Late nights playing the worn 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?

If you were truly content, you would play your Roscoes as much or as little as you wanted, and we would not be hearing from you. This talk about getting more simple with a P-bass is just rationalizing GAS. You need to accept that GAS is just part of who you are, and start a fund for occasional purchases.

 

[Thumper]

Not overkill at all, most players would be happy to be in your shoes. Look at it this way, you deserve them and your wife supports you, you (and I) are very lucky and blessed. When I sold the last of my 4 Roscoes, I was miserable until I got ananother. I can tell you this, I will never be without one again!!!

 

[engedi1]

If you were truly content, you would play your Roscoes as much or as little as you wanted, and we would not be hearing from you. This talk about getting more simple with a P-bass is just rationalizing GAS. You need to accept that GAS is just part of who you are, and start a fund for occasional purchases.

This. I can see why he is DOCTOR Cheese and not simply MISTER Cheese.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

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.

God bless you.

 

[SteveC]

If you were truly content, you would play your Roscoes as much or as little as you wanted, and we would not be hearing from you. This talk about getting more simple with a P-bass is just rationalizing GAS. You need to accept that GAS is just part of who you are, and start a fund for occasional purchases.

Maybe. I don't know that I'd play a P bass as I have had/tried them in the past and they never seemed to work for me. I guess I was thinking (or overthinking ) that I maybe don't need to have all this stuff to play a couple Sundays a month at church where I play mostly roots between the 1st and 15th fret on the E, A, and D strings.

Honestly, I haven't looked at the classifieds for a long time; I am on the forum less than I used to be; I have tried every bass that I care to. Obviously I can "live" with a pair of Roscoes. I think maybe this lull in my playing career/interest had me wondering if less would be enough in my situation.

 

[engedi1]

Here ya go Steve. Here is a pretty cheap entry into P bass territory and you can certainly sell it right back without losing money if you don't like it. Fender Japan '62 Reissue Precision Bass PB62 US 3TS Duncan Pickup | eBay

 

[Thumper]

Steve, lulls can unexpectedly end