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Quitting Bass

T

todd_freeride

May 8, 2006
50
0
#1
Hey everyone, like the title says ... I'm quitting bass :crying: . I've got 5 basses right now, I used to be really hard core into playing bass, I loved funk and jazz ... but it seems like ...my passion for playing has kind of just ...well ...died :(

I dont want to force myself to play, because with me that just makes me hate something more. I think I've just picked up other passions, like computers. all my extra cash goes into my mountain bikes anyway. Speaking of extra cash ....that is something that would be really nice to have right now :p

Sooo ... my question is. I might go back to bass, how many should I keep? ( I have excuses for each )

IMG_3285.jpg



So yea, I think I want to sell 3 of my basses ... I just dont know which ones : \ well ... I do ... hmm ... I want to sell the ibeanez and the vintage modified. the one I'm having trouble deciding if I'm going to keep it or not is (MIM and the P are staying) the red Affinity J-Bass. I love the sound it produces, the neck finish is really great on it. it plays nice, its clean ...its metallic red :hyper:

Sorry for the complex post ... I've got kinda mixed emotions about the whole thing. bass took up like 3 years of my life, now I just hate picking up my basses, I hate playing them. maybe its because music doesnt change like mountain biking and technology. I always found I liked working on basses more than playing them at times. I dunno ... I dont want to sell everything though, I might get back into it someday, I dont want to start all over. but I highly doubt between mountain biking, college and a part time job, that I'm even going to have time to play anymore.

makes me sad to part with them. but I guess my ultimate question is, "Should I sell that red affinity despite how nice it plays?"

thanks and sorry it took me so long to get to this part :p I dunno...have you ever felt like quitting bass? did it ever sicken you when you would see your basses sitting there, knowing that if you sold them, you could put the money to good use? what did you do in this situation?

Thanks so much for your help, again, sorry it took so long to get too this point :rolleyes:
 
#4
why sell any of them? they dont eat anything so they arent costing you any money. i quit playing for several years and im just now getting back into it. i still have my bass i bought in 1980. a cheap electra....60th anniversary model for slm. brings back alot of memories picking it up now. if you really need money then thats a different story but im glad i kept mine. good luck. hope you start playing again someday.
 
#6
What amp/s are U using-are U gigging- I s'pose not... But I felt a little that way a few yrs ago- I was gigging, but the band personnel I was sick of...etc & My amps tone I was sick of & therefore my inspiration was lost. I borrowed a mates amp........started looking at new ones, sold my old one........Now I'm into it more than ever!! But I'll have the VM J if U like I'll PM U my address to send it to! ;-)
 
#10
I was super passionate and absorbed with playing for 10 years. Then the realisation that I wasn't getting any money/younger etc mixed with the attitude of the other players in the bands I was in (hey they forgot to get paid on occasion! Hippies never trust 'em) just sapped all my will to play and even my love of playing.

I got into computers, I'm a project manager for a financial software house now, and literally didn't touch my bass for three years.

But I sold 90% of my amps etc, my PA gear went everything but my bass and my BP8 just in case.

I recently got back into it, and have to live with the fact that I doubt I will be able to get as good as I was before (practise at one time was all I wanted to do, now I have a job and two kids and a partner, practise is all I want to do, I just don't get to any more). Having said that I am eternally thankful that I didnt get rid of my bass. It's not the flashiest instrument, it isn't boutique in any way (well I did put EMGs in it, but that is it), however it still remains the nicest feeling bass I have ever played since it has a sublime (to me) neck.

I guess I'm saying only get rid of the ones that you really can replace. Anything that in anyway stands out to you is a keeper, if nothing else hang it on the wall and enjoy what it looks like for now.

One other thing, walk away from music fully for a while (even a few weeks). Really, don't even listen to anything. Consider it a music enema. You will find that after a few weeks either you are gagging to listen/play and have a million new ideas, or you are making the right decision now. I wish I had.

Whatever happens, good luck!
 
#13
About 3 years ago I pretty much took a break for about 2 years and picked it up again almost a year ago. At the time, I had 3 basses and did sell one of them to buy a guitar. I do not regret selling the one bass.The break was really good for me. I am now back into it full force and absolutely cannot get enough. I have actually since sold the guitar I bought in order to get more basses. I am back up to 5 now! :)

Do not write if off forever but a break could be good.
 
#14
Don't sell any! You WILL regret it! Trust me. Like mentioned earlier in this thread, take a break. Let your bass juices rejuvenate.

Back in the late 80's I did three years of hard touring. Playing 5-6 days a week.

When it was over I did not even want to look at a bass! So I took some time off, 3-4 months from what I remember. And you know what, after that time when I did finally pick up a bass again....WOW! The mojo was back! The creative juices were flowing!

So it may take longer for you....but give it a rest for awhile and just put those basses in a closet somewhere. BUT KEEP THEM!
 
#17
Sometimes trying something new can get you out of a rut. Could be a set of flatwounds, different settings on the amp, or getting a CD with a killer bass player on it that gets you back into playing. Sometimes taking a break is great,too (you know,absence makes the heart grow fonder).
If you must sell, keep the nicest jazz bass out of the bunch or the nicest jazz and p-bass.
 
#18
just pack em up & put em in the closet.. then say in a year if you're still not felling it,, sell the ones that are easily replaceable.

if in like 20 years you're still not into it, sell them then, vintage instruments always sell for more than what you paid for them, reguardless of what vintage that they are.

i still know some older dudes that have like 57' les pauls & old byrdlands in their closets, just waiting for that rainy day to cash in

but if you're like most players here, you'll be thumpin some fat low notes, after a nice healthy break :bassist:

good luck to ya
 
#20
You'll be back.....they all come back...they all float down here Richie! Opp, skip that last part....:D

Seriously, sell what you want but be sure to keep one or two, I like the idea of hanging onto a P and a J....In time (I know from past experience) you will want to play again, and if you sell them all, you will kick yourself)

That being said, I'd be interested in the Affinity Jazz, for the right price.......Um, maybe I shouldn't have said that...........but I would take it off yerhands.......
:bassist: (see even the little yellow internet goober likes playing red basses)
 

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