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Playing bass for one year - anything wrong having already 8 instruments?
- Thread starter mitzache
- Start date
If you mean me, I am not sure I know how to hate another bass player. In fact, the OP graciously thanked me for my input. Heck, I wish somebody gave me that advice one year in. I do thank my dad, however, for getting me a one hundred dollar Memphis P-bass, rather than that American made BC Rich or American Fender. Until I knew what I was doing. Just sayin.
That bass in my profile pic is a five grand bass. But the last couple years, I have heavily gigged my Squier and my Ibanez ATK.and a couple home made basses.
Peace guys,
Sean
My first bass was a hand-me-down Memphis P-bass that seemed to weigh 15lbs! Loved that thing, it taught me how to connect with an instrument.
I don't think that collecting instruments is necessarily a bad thing but I do think that the OP is missing out on the path many musicians take in totally connecting with an instrument to a point where you'd be lost without it.
If I had 10 basses at my disposal as a 12 year old kid growing up I probably would have been overwhelmed. If you think collecting basses turns on the creativity switch then power to you but that's just not the case for me.
A low end Fodera though
I live in NYC and their shop is 20 min from my place. Is an amazing bass but in spite of that my '75 precision sounds better. Many of my friends with tens of years more experience have said that as well. interesting fact to never discount an old craft.
You really should have let us know how much money you had to blow before buying all them basses and no amp.... The whole TB community collaborating on a rig where money is no object? You would have to most killer setup before playing your first note!! 
You really should have let us know how much money you had to blow before buying all them basses and no amp.... The whole TB community collaborating on a rig where money is no object? You would have to most killer setup before playing your first note!!
Agreed. I meet with my band in several professionally set up studios. Home however, for rehearsal, wont matter too much I think since I live in an apt. building where cranking up the amp is just a dream.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Once you have enough instruments, then it's time to start loading up on amps. That's fun, too, and the next thing you know, you have a bunch of 'em and they are all different.
First off, what you are doing in purchasing basses is normal for you and there is nothing wrong with you owning one or many basses. If we were all the same, music and life would get pretty boring.
Some people collect
Some people play
Some people play and collect
All are normal. I've been playing for over 30 yrs and only have 3 electrics and 1 acoustic all are very nice bases.
I made the decision that if I buy a bass, the bass has to earn its keep and be a useful tool. That said, I helped my nephew, who is a hobbyist, build a pro rig and find some good basses. My nephew collects more that he plays, but he has a great time (my nephew also asked me this same question). So, where ever you fall in the playing or collecting spectrum is normal for you.
20 yrs ago, I was trying out a nice acoustic and the guy I was with told me that I did not play well enough to own a bass of that quality. At the time, I could not make the purchase, so I decided that I would do the very best that I could with the double bass that I had and spent a year working on pitch and articulation as my main focus. A year later I found a double bass that was better and cost less than the one I was, "Not a good enough player to own".
I'm still playing and sitting principal for a local Symphony. So, what other people think does not matter in this case.
I would like to offer some advice to improve playing.
Pick one bass and stick with it for at least couple of months before switching. I would choose your best playing bass, follow Marcus Miller advise and learn to fully use the equipment you have before switching/purchasing more equipment (I'm thinking Miller plays more than he collects). Here is why:
1. A better instrument is always easier to learn on.
2. This will give you time to gain more knowledge as to what the bass can and cannot do as far as play ability and sound production.
3. You will gain a solid comparison reference point when you switch to or try a different bass and the higher the bench mark, the better.
When practicing:
1. Find a good teacher and record your lessons for review and practice.
2. Use a metronome when you practice.
3. Buy a tascam or zoom recorder and record a bass only run through to really hear how well you are playing. To this day I find my recorded run throughs sobering.
4. Take time and listen closely to the tone of the bass you're covering and then try to emulate that tone on your chosen bass. Some tones you will be able to reproduce and some you will not be able to reproduce. This will give you a good starting tonal reference point win you do switch to a different bass.
I hope that this helps and comments are welcome.
Dimitrius
