Opinions/advice requested…

[CoryB]

Since taking lessons seems to be the most popular response here, who are some good online teachers, perhaps preferably from here?

I'm hoping for one-on-one instruction. I've already cruised through many of the youtube lessons and they didn't really do much for me. I've been looking at where to take bass lessons near me and the only things that come up are GuitarCenter or places that specialize in childrens lessons.

I have some peculiar physical limitations that need to be addressed, hence the one-on-one teacher request.

Thanks again for everyone's input so far.

 

[GreyBeard]

I have a Fender American Pro II Pbass, a MIM Jbass, a modified S.U.B. Ray4, and a Ray5. At this point I’m still learning and noodling but hope to sometime soon find some folks to jam with.

With all of the recent talk about the Epi Grabber coming out, I was looking at those plus the original Gibson Grabbers. My dear wife likes the looks of the originals better (natural finish only) and offered to buy one of the Gibsons for me.

I have never played a Grabber, nor heard one other than some YouTube videos and honestly, even through headphones, they don’t sound terribly different in the few online comparisons I’ve found. So, will that give me anything sound wise that I can’t already get? Yes, I’d love to add it to my ‘collection’ but it’s a bunch of money for something that I may or may not need sonically. So I’m asking for the TB shared wisdom base for some advice.

Thank you in advance.

What is most important to you, collecting basses or playing basses? If it is collecting, and there is nothing wrong with that being your main reason, then you just can't have too many and go for it. If however, playing bass is what is most important then your money will better spent on lessons. I keep buying basses trying to find the perfect one only to end up selling them at a loss and buying something else. I have slowed down lately and have accepted that the 6 basses I have now will just have to do for a while. GAS can be a bass players downfall.

 

[jd56hawk]

The Epiphone isn't the real deal and the price is ridiculous.
The Gibson is a different story, but a really nice one is going to cost three times as much, and it's going to be heavy.
You should try one of these instead, lightweight, topnotch quality, and just different enough to make it special.

Other than that, sure, you don't need another bass, but I've seen far more people here telling people the exact opposite...couple recent posts about that very subject.
Other than that, maybe you might want to consider buying a nice battery-powered bass amp instead.
Might come in handy.

 

[Mastiff_5]

The best argument for me as to why buy a new bass isn’t because it’s gonna give you a new sound. I mean, they all sound like bass guitars, and they can all sound great, ok, or bad in the right/wrong hands.

The best argument is “does it look bada$$?” The most important person and most important member of the opposite sex in your life thinks a Gibson Grabber looks bada$$. That’s extremely powerful. Who are you to argue with her??

@CoryB just hasn’t shown her how sexy a Tobias, or a Marusczcyk, or a Modulus is (or any of the other awesome boutique-ey basses we all love so much) He’ll have high-end (high $) GAS if he keeps hanging around here, very soon! Hahaha - maybe he should get the grabber now!

 

[CoryB]

@CoryB just hasn’t shown her how sexy a Tobias, or a Marusczcyk, or a Modulus is (or any of the other awesome boutique-ey basses we all love so much) He’ll have high-end (high $) GAS if he keeps hanging around here, very soon! Hahaha - maybe he should get the grabber now!

Probably not as high end as what you mentioned, but I showed her a Dingwall and she liked it…

But the Grabber is about as high as I’d be willing to spend at this point in my bass journey. FWIW, I do have a few fairly expensive guitars but all of my instrument values combined aren’t as much as she spent just on her grand piano. And, while I doubt you’ve ever priced accordions (who in their right mind would), decent examples of those START at around $5K and she has 12 of those, albeit most were bought used at a lower price.

 

[Mastiff_5]

Probably not as high end as what you mentioned, but I showed her a Dingwall and she liked it…

But the Grabber is about as high as I’d be willing to spend at this point in my bass journey. FWIW, I do have a few fairly expensive guitars but all of my instrument values combined aren’t as much as she spent just on her grand piano. And, while I doubt you’ve ever priced accordions (who in their right mind would), decent examples of those START at around $5K and she has 12 of those, albeit most were bought used at a lower price.

Oh, my comment wasn’t an indictment of your monetary preferences, it was an indictment of how much top-end craziness gets most of the attention at talk bass!!! Be careful my friend, you’ll be itching for Fbass’s or something before you know it! Hahaha