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Playing Your First Bass ...Years later?

F

FreshTrooperXBL

Guest
Jul 24, 2011
172
6
Riverside
#1
Quick Question / Thought Question: Am I doing myself a disservice by playing my first bass for years (7 to be exact) without consciously wanting to upgrade? I get the feeling that I should have upgraded to a bass sometime ago that reflects my progress on bass and music in general.

I'm a college age, have been a musician for 9 years, a bassist as 7, in an originals band (many members have invested in nicer gear), and many bassists I talk to tell me I'm rather musical underneath the few simple chords our band plays. The bass I've come to love (even tho its absurdly cheap) is the Ibanez "starter bass package", the one that ...yeah you know comes in the bass packages at ... well, you know those GC shops (GSR 190 is the sticker name it had on it at one point). Should I have gravitated towards nicer basses by now? I've played many basses but none of them really have that seem to do it for me. Is it typical to stay with your starter for longer periods of time?

What are your thoughts?
 
#2
I personally dont think you should let status dictate what you do or play, I guess if when your first starting you buy a $50.00 Bass and now 7 Yrs. later your playing paying gigs yea maybe you should but that doesn't seem to be the case, If your comfortable with your Orig. then keep it or put a few bucks into it..
 
#4
Play what you love. I have a nice Peavey and a nice Fender, but I still play my Squier as much as the other two combined,because I love it, it's the bass I really learned on (its my second bass, but my first one didn't work too well), and it's sound is right in between the pet Peave and fender.
 
#6
If you are happy with it, don't try any others. You might find one you want, and spend money, sell your current bass, and regret it a few years later. Stay happy with what you have, and enjoy having what all the boutique guys here have - the perfect bass for you -but having spent $30,000 less than they did to get it.
 
#7
I'd say you're a reasonably well-grounded person for spending time playing instead of idly lusting after gear. My first (and only) bass is a 15 year old MIM Jazz, so I'm clearly biased. (To remove this bias, I should probably go buy that five string I've wanted for the last decade...)

If it sings, why cry?
 
#9
I upgraded mine. I think I play it more now than when I first bought it. The feel is what gets me going back to it. My first bass is very similar to yours. Ibanez EX series. Passive p/j. Mine's shaped like an RG series guitar instead of the soundgear shape.
 
#10
I really wish I had kept my first bass - a mid '60s Fender Precision Bass. Now, 45ish years later, I've bought a reissue '62 P bass. From what I recall, it's pretty close to my first bass. John Entwhistle, who had a very large collection of basses, once said that you usually don't get what your used bass is worth to you if you trade or sell it, so it's best to just keep them all if you can afford it.

I really wish I still had my 2nd and 3rd basses, too - a Hagstrom 8-string and a Fender Bass VI. The Hagstrom was stolen. I stupidly traded the Bass VI to get a 4 string bass; a 1980's Fender Jazz Bass Special. It was never very special, and I never really liked it.

My recommendation is that if you like your first bass, and you can afford to keep it, then keep it. When you can afford a second bass, buy it.

LeNi
 
#11
I've only been playing for a year and half and I already have 3 basses. My first was an Ibanez Mikro, if that's what your first was. If so, maybe you like short scales. May I suggest a Fender Mustang? 2" taller, but you will still get the short scale "feel".

If not, then try other Ibanezes. Look at a BUNCH of basses. Fenders never did anything for me, too.
 

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