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It Was 50 Years Ago Today...

McG

McG

Goat Hill Gamblers
Oct 6, 2010
3,775
15,313
Costa Mesa, CA
#1
I'm putting this on the Humor and Gig Stories section even though it's humorous only because you would think I'd be better by now. :laugh:

And it's not a gig story except if it hadn't happened I wouldn't have gig stories to share. :woot:

So what momentous, life changing event happened 50 years ago today? :wideyed:

I got my first bass! :) A cheap hollow body from Sears that was a Guild Starfire knockoff. :D

It took three years for that oh-so-excited 17 year old kid to work up the nerve to play with other people. I'm sure he would be happy and probably amazed that a half a century later he would still be playing. :cool:

So that's basically 3/4 of my life with a bass in my hands. Wow. Yeah, I really should be better by now. ;)
 
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#4
mwbonsall said:
Grant, most of wish we were better after all these years including me. But, we are playing and have been for years, for the most part enjoying every moment of playing bass and making music. You sound great, I love your band and glad you share moments with us. Happy 50th Anniversary!

Mark
Click to expand...

Thanks Mark! Those of us who are still playing 60 and beyond validate my long held belief that music keeps you young. :thumbsup:

I'm not complaining (too much ;)) that I'm not a world class bassist. I AM so thankful to have a creative hobby I love and the opportunity to play with some amazing musicians. :cool:

Oddly said:
Happy Anniversary!
That's quite the achievement...remembering stuff like that at your age.:D
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Ha! The old memory is getting more Swiss cheese like as time goes on :woot: I'm glad that memory stuck. Must be the sheer magnitude of it :cool:

I do need to look at my driver license regularly just to remember my age :laugh:
 
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#7
McG said:
I'm putting this on the Humor and Gig Stories section even though it's humorous only because you would think I'd be better by now. :laugh:

And it's not a gig story except if it hadn't happened I wouldn't have gig stories to share. :woot:

So what momentous, life changing event happened 50 years ago today? :wideyed:

I got my first bass! :) A cheap hollow body from Sears that was a Guild Starfire knockoff. :D

It took three years for that oh-so-excited 17 year old kid to work up the nerve to play with other people. I'm sure he would be happy and probably amazed that a half a century later he would still be playing. :cool:

So that's basically 3/4 of my life with a bass in my hands. Wow. Yeah, I really should be better by now. ;)
Click to expand...
Grant I hope when I reach your age i will be able to speak so fondly about my bass as i do with my burgers. ;)
 
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#8
Jimmy4string said:
pics of the Starfire knock off!
Sounds like something from Starship Troopers...
Click to expand...

No pics of that bass exist. It really was a cheap, crappy instrument that I played through a cheap, crappy amp. However it looked almost exactly like this.

p1_umzzpx1oc_ss.jpg


bassbrad said:
Happy 50th. I had mine earlier this year but it was a budget guitar for my 7th birthday, followed by listening to Sgt Peppers and being hooked for life with my music addiction. I worked odd jobs all summer to get a real guitar a Gibson LG.
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Happy 50th to you Brad! I got my first guitar at 13, shortly after seeing the Beatles first appearance on Ed Sullivan, which inspired me, as so many others, to want to play. After a while I found myself spending more time figuring out bass lines of songs than the chords so I begged for a bass for my birthday. The cheapie got me started and I never looked back. I spent a year busing tables and washing dishes to earn money for my first real rig. A Gibson EB-0 and Quilter Big Bertha amp.

dbase said:
Grant I hope when I reach your age i will be able to speak so fondly about my bass as i do with my burgers. ;)
Click to expand...

Ah, you young pups... ;)
 
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#9
I was hooked on guitar and singing at first but had learned the bass lines to teach it to the bass player. In school I played cello but I got caught messing around on a string bass in school. It was the first day of school sixth grade when the teacher was late. I was playing bass lines to popular songs and having the class guess the title. He made me stay on bass as "punishment" as there was no bass player and he had too many cellos. It worked out well in the end.
 
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#10
McG said:
No pics of that bass exist. It really was a cheap, crappy instrument that I played through a cheap, crappy amp. However it looked almost exactly like this.

View attachment 2635296



Happy 50th to you Brad! I got my first guitar at 13, shortly after seeing the Beatles first appearance on Ed Sullivan, which inspired me, as so many others, to want to play. After a while I found myself spending more time figuring out bass lines of songs than the chords so I begged for a bass for my birthday. The cheapie got me started and I never looked back. I spent a year busing tables and washing dishes to earn money for my first real rig. A Gibson EB-0 and Quilter Big Bertha amp.



Ah, you young pups... ;)
Click to expand...


Just kidding .. I'm 71 older than you. ;)
 
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#12
My notable 50th anniversary is coming up in two days; the first Monday in September 1967 I walked into my first grown-up job - or at least as grown up as an engineering apprentice gets. After saving hard for six months I bought a mid-priced acoustic guitar and then a bass about a year after that (an Epiphone Rivoli made in Kalamazoo, Michigan) that I kept for decades then foolishly sold about 20 years ago. As far as the dexterous side of playing goes I reached a plateau some time in my twenties but we can always try to improve in tastefulness can't we? Please say yes.
 
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#18
Happy 50th, Grant! What a memorable milestone. The fact that you remember the exact date shows just how much this meant to you.

Your post made me realize it's been 40 years for me. Instead of buying a car with the first real money I had earned, I bought a brand new black Fender MusicMaster Bass & matching tube amp in 1977. My older brother played bass (which is partially what inspired me,) but he never let me touch his gear ($&@!?&$!!) It was nice to finally have my own gear so I could play with my buddies.

I'm still playing today with those same buddies. :)

McG said:
I know Bill. That's one of the things I like about you. You'll always be older than me ;)
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HA! I think you walked right into that one, dbase.

...behave yourself, Grant!
 
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#19
nixdad said:
Happy 50th, Grant! What a memorable milestone. The fact that you remember the exact date shows just how much this meant to you.

Your post made me realize it's been 40 years for me. Instead of buying a car with the first real money I had earned, I bought a brand new black Fender MusicMaster Bass & matching tube amp in 1977. My older brother played bass (which is partially what inspired me,) but he never let me touch his gear ($&@!?&$!!) It was nice to finally have my own gear so I could play with my buddies.

I'm still playing today with those same buddies. :)



HA! I think you walked right into that one, dbase.

...behave yourself, Grant!
Click to expand...

Yeah, but in married years, I'm just a youngster, I've only been married for 19 yrs.... I'll never catch up with Grant ;)
 
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