• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Older Bass Player Needs New Bass Recommendation

#21
Mrjim,

I'm 56, play an old '65 jazz, Turner Ren fretless, Fender A/E Precision fretless (all 3 are rather lightweight) and an old '39 Kay upright. I have been playing continuously since I was 13, played full-time (or as near as a musician gets) for a number of years, and now it is a serious avocation for me. My gigs nowadays are almost 100% theater or jazz orchestra so this may not apply to your situation, but don't discount sitting down on a chair or a stool! I set my strap so that my bass is in the same position whether I am sitting or standing. One of the benefits that age, and not having to depend on playing for a living, can bring is that you can play more for the music and less for the R&R posturing, unless that is what you want to do. I've seen many top notch players play high energy music with low kinetic output! Something to think about anyway.

Good luck on re-entering the wonderful world of bass.
Cheer,
Dennis
 
#22
I've had back surgery and I'm 6'2"...

I'll wear a 10 lb bass if I like the sound.... If my body weight fluctuates a few pounds I can handle the weight of a bass.

GO SCHROEDER on the CABINET!!! 1212L = 40 lbs!!!
Choose a lightweight amp carefully!!! Look for RELIABILITY AND POWER!!!
 
#23
If you have any inclination toward a Fender design (and a few bucks to spend), I would go with a Mike Lull P or J with a J neck. My alder bodied PJ4 is incredibly light and the balance is about as good as it gets. Mike's basses are very consistent, too. You should be able to find a used one for about $1500, give or take a few bucks. The Lakland Skylines are nice and en excellent value, but in my experience they can be a bit heavier than the Lulls.

I would stick with alder or swamp ash for the body and ultralite tuners. A lot of shoulder problems can be caused by neck dive, and the ultralite tuners solve a lot of those issues.
 
#24
If you liked the Ripper and not the Jazz, you're like me. I'm 59 and took almost 15 years off from playing, last having owned a Ripper & a Steinberger L2. Unfortunately, I sold both. If you want 4 strings, I'd go with a Lakland 44-01 Skyline or the Bob Glaub P bass clone. If it's a 5er, the Lakland 5501 or 5502. If they are out of your price a range, the Fender MIM series is quite good. In lightweight amps & cabs, I'd look at the Genz Benz Shuttle series.
 
#25
Hey man I'm 61 and still jamming. Some good advice going on here but one thing I'll say is how much I love my Markbass combo, especially when it's time to carry it. Play whatever bass you enjoy, but the new lightweight amps and cabs are great for us geezers!
 
#28
mrjim123 said:
I'm new here and apologize for the double post (the following also posted in Bassists). Slap me, I won't do it again.

I'm 57, but don't look it, and I still have that creative fire (growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional).

I last played professionally in 1979, mostly rock and top 40. Then I went to college, got a "real" job, had kids, lived the American dream. Now it's my time (yes, honey, I'm coming).

I've been practicing a lot lately, and am as good as I ever was - it's amazing how much I retained - technique, remembering entire songs). Of course, playing 4 sets would probably kill my fingers - need a little more strength and better callouses on my right hand (I pick), but that will come.

Anyways, I'm looking for a new bass before I advertise myself. I'm thinking maybe lighter is better. Are there any older players who have experienced shoulder/back problems slinging a heavy bass for 4 hours? Any suggestions related to that?

What about the neck? I'm thinking maybe a narrower neck is better. My Gibson Ripper has somewhat of a wide neck (1 5/8" nut, I believe), and I'm thinking maybe narrower is better in case arthritis sets in, or if my fingers lose some of their flexibility. I played a Fender Jazz in a music store many years ago and did not like it. I did the same thing a week ago and thought, "man, this feels good". So, maybe a narrower neck is the way to go (I don't plan on doing any slapping).

Are there any other tips that would benefit an older player like me? And how do I convince my wife I'm not in it for the groupies?
Click to expand...

Try one of the new Fender American Standard Precisions. Don't worry about arthritis until you get it! :) The new ones are quite light and very well built - positive reviews all around. Check out the three-tone Sunburst - tort guard, rosewood neck. Lots to love!
 
#30
I recommend:
Lakland Skyline Duck Dunn (or Bob Glaub or Darryl Jones)
Fender American Deluxe Jazz
EB Musicman Sterling
Reverend Rumblefish (no longer in production).
Why? I'm "older" too, and these all have modest weight, friendly necks, and great sound. You guessed it- I own all of these. :D
 
#31
I'm 56. My LightWave is about 7.5lbs, but the Warwick is closer to ten.

- Use a padded strap;

- Consider a few smaller cabs instead of a single large one. (For example, a pair of 210 cabs instead of a 410.) Then you can bring as many as needed for the gig, and each one is a fairly easy carry. I've got Eden 210 and 112 cabs. I plan to get another 112 so I can have any combination I need;

- Get one of those $30 luggage carts; they hold over 200lbs and they fold.
 
#32
Welcome aboard Mr Jim. I've never played professionally but besides that our situations are similar. (Yes dear, in a munute :p)

I played a bass with a 1 3/4 inch neck in my previous life. When I started playing again a few years ago I sold that and picked up a Jazz bass with a 1 1/2 inch neck and i never looked back. There are many good basses with nice slim 1 1/2 necks.

Weight is not too much of an issue but lighter is better.

I've had elbow and shoulder problems so I advise warming up and not overdoing it. If it hurts stop. Ice is your friend.

Keep rocking
 
#33
I started back at 50. Went through about 20 basses, then settled on a MIA Fender Jazz with active pups. It will do anything I need it to, and weight is not an issue with a wide comfortable strap. It did take a month or two to get used to wearing any bass, though, as I was not in good shape for that.

+1 on the luggage cart. Has saved my back many a time. Also, I let the young guys in the band do the heavy lifting whenever possible.

Have a great time.
 
#34
mrjim123 said:
I'm new here and apologize for the double post (the following also posted in Bassists). Slap me, I won't do it again.

I'm 57, but don't look it, and I still have that creative fire (growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional).

I last played professionally in 1979, mostly rock and top 40. Then I went to college, got a "real" job, had kids, lived the American dream. Now it's my time (yes, honey, I'm coming).

I've been practicing a lot lately, and am as good as I ever was - it's amazing how much I retained - technique, remembering entire songs). Of course, playing 4 sets would probably kill my fingers - need a little more strength and better callouses on my right hand (I pick), but that will come.

Anyways, I'm looking for a new bass before I advertise myself. I'm thinking maybe lighter is better. Are there any older players who have experienced shoulder/back problems slinging a heavy bass for 4 hours? Any suggestions related to that?

What about the neck? I'm thinking maybe a narrower neck is better. My Gibson Ripper has somewhat of a wide neck (1 5/8" nut, I believe), and I'm thinking maybe narrower is better in case arthritis sets in, or if my fingers lose some of their flexibility. I played a Fender Jazz in a music store many years ago and did not like it. I did the same thing a week ago and thought, "man, this feels good". So, maybe a narrower neck is the way to go (I don't plan on doing any slapping).

Are there any other tips that would benefit an older player like me? And how do I convince my wife I'm not in it for the groupies?
Click to expand...

First of all *welcome back home* to the bass :)

In a lot of ways, you'll find bass hasn't changed since you left it. In other ways things changed a lot. Probably the biggest changes are extended range basses (ie. 5 strings, etc) and active circuitry (a preamplifier in the bass to allow for more tone control at your fingertips). You'll have to decide what is your preference.

My best advice is to try as many instruments as you can in your price range and keep coming here to ask for opinions (of which you will get many)

My next best advice is to stick with the "tried and true". I used to be of the mindset of wanting a sound unique to me. I thought that could only be had with basses nobody else had. I've come around to realize there is a good reason certain basses are popular - they sound good and have passed the test of time (Fender Precision, Fender Jazz, Musicman Stingray, Rickenbacker and some others). I've also realized I can sound unique on a bass everyone else has if necessary, but I've also grown out of that mindset (advanced years are having an effect on me too)

In terms of weight I'd stay away from Musicmans. I love my stingray but it is heavy. I have a Precision that is light but due to its poor balance gives me as much pain as the Stingray after long gigs. Also, do exercises and stretches. My pain has actually gone away with my excercising and stretching.

Keep us up to date
 
#36
Roscoe LG3000 - light and fat - at 8 lbs of hand carved nirvana nothing else even comes close.

If you can hang with 10 lbs go for a Benavente Vintage Vortex 5, like the Roscoe (other than hardware) nothing is outsourced. It has a cool retro vibe and unmatched playability - it is my go to bass.
 
#37
atrapp said:
Roscoe LG3000 - light and fat - at 8 lbs of hand carved nirvana nothing else even comes close.

If you can hang with 10 lbs go for a Benavente Vintage Vortex 5, like the Roscoe (other than hardware) nothing is outsourced. It has a cool retro vibe and unmatched playability - it is my go to bass.
Click to expand...

Hell, if you can hang with 10 lbs, go with an Alembic. Other than tuners, circuit boards (they used to make their own, but don't now - and still have the circuit board machine they used to use), and plated hardware (per customer request - they make the hardware and send it out to be plated), everything is made in house, to include pickups, bridges, tailpieces, etc. Trust me, I've been to the factory and saw it first hand.

Never played a Roscoe - would love to try one sometime.

Alan
 
#38
First I would go with either the “Ultra-Comfort” strap by Levy, item #PM48NP3, or the “Padded Leather” bass strap by Levy, item#M4GF. I use both of those straps and it makes playing a lot easier for me.

I am not as old as you but my body is pretty broken so I am pretty particular about what I use and the weights of everything.

My first choice would be a Roscoe Century standard model. These basses weigh in at around 6-7 pounds and sound incredible. The body material is Ash and everything is hand made, plus did I mention IMO just a great bass sound. Or if you wanted something more traditional you could go with a Sadowsky, they tend to weigh less too. I have had great results with Bass Central and you can call them up and actually have them weigh the bass before they ship it.

And for amps, although pricey, Epifani makes great sounding light equipment.
 
#39
Congratulations - I did exactly the same thing. I found that my basses from the 60's and 70's didn't work any long for today's sounds, even when playing music of the 70's. I ended up selling my Ripper to a collector.

I went though a lot of basses finding something that suited me and the music I play. My current favorites are a "p-bass special" - a P-bass with a jazz neck and P and J pickups, an older Peavey Foundation and an Ibanez SR series (really slim necks)

I also spent a little extra for a little Markbass 12" combo amp. Only 38 lbs you can carry it with one hand and the rest of your stuff in the other, and I used it for a 100 person club last weekend with headroom to spare. It seems that there is no more need for my giant dual 15 cab!

All of the above suggestions are REALLY good, but the best is to play and try everything. Don't be in a hurry.

Have fun! There are a lot of great people here that will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back