Ready to be ridiculed...

[two fingers]

I hate that in your twenties you're already in the habit of going into debt because you like "nice things". That's the only problem here.

Other than that, you're good. You don't have to "deserve" a quality bass.

Please be careful with that credit card. I say this from experience. I was 29 when my first wife and I divorced. MY PART of our debt was over $25 K. 1) We really didn't have much ti show for our debt. 2) Back then (late 90s) $50K of debt was a lot.

So you got a bass. If you really love it, keep it. But pay it off as quickly as you can and don't go posting on the stereo forum about your new receiver you just had to have so you financed it... or on the off road forum about the new Jeep you had to have so you financed it. (You get the picture.)

 

[EXCAV8]

The rules of Talkbass forbid me from saying what I really think about a 23 year old who admittedly isn't a great bass player, blowing multiple thousands of dollars on a musical instrument, purchased on a payment plan.

 

[gtirard]

Shame and regrets are useless.

Go out, meet people, play music with friends, feel and share music emotions.

 

[George Dennis]

Jaco said “pics or it didn’t happen “.

I didn't believe you ... then I found this on the internet!

 

[el murdoque]

First of all, that bass is gorgeous.

I like it a lot. Can you name the brand? I want one too, now ;-)

My prediction for a best case scenario:
This bass makes you fall in love with itself and bass playing. You will explore every new aspect this offers.
And because you will play a lot, you will progress. Everything you like and dislike at the moment makes up what is the perfect bass for you. The problem with that is that it is a snapshot of right now. When you progress, some things that are less important now might become more important in the future.
When you've progressed enough, there will be another bass that is a better fit. At this point it is a question of mind set. You can either take the standpoint of "I own a good enough bass, I'll make it work" or you let GAS get the better of you and go shopping again.

Those people that have been playing their one bass for 40+ years have mostly done so because they come from a Generation where some things were different.
When you bought a musical instrument back in the day, you expected it to last longer than you. There was no rich choice of super cheap to super luxurious, Instruments were a serious business.
WWII was still in living memory, and you did not spend excessive amounts of cash for things you don't really needed (unless filthy rich). You had a good enough bass? You played that.
Having played one instrument for decades (for whatever reasons) creates a bond that is not easily broken by something new.

 

[sxaxsx]

When I started playing bass internet was provided by AOL disks you got from the grocery store, the speed sucked and no one could talk on the phone while you were using it. So when I got my first bass it was all that was available to me and I didn't know there were other basses that sounded different or felt different. I had no money because I was 15. Because of that I spent more time playing than shopping for gear. I think that worked out better. There is probably a lesson here for young people dating also. Our great great grand fathers just married one of the ten women they knew in their small town, now you can get online and see thousands of beautiful women and never be happy. Where does it get you.

 

[Alper Yilmaz]

I have not had the chance to read the whole thread, so if my suggestion has already been said, I apologize...

Here is how I think... Now that you have a bass which looks great and will most probably play great as well, it is time to slow down and only think about how you can put this bass into good use. Most probably, the reason you kept on buying and selling a bunch of instruments without thinking twice is not because those instruments were not good, but maybe you did not have the formation and technique to push the instruments to their limits and see whether they were really good and up to the task or not. From my earlier days I remember that each time I got into a musician block situation I looked for a new instrument or gear to inspire me and get to start creating again. That only gave me satisfaction in the short run, yet I ended up feeling blocked again after a while. The day I started focusing on developing my musical vocabulary, the instrument and other gear were pushed back a bit and it was not that important any more.

Do not get me wrong please; every one needs a good instrument to be inspired and play comfortably and happily, and the search (or GAS) goes forever but it should stop or at least slow down at one point.

I cannot comment on you buying the bass on credit; it is a personal choice and I do not see myself in a position to criticize that move. But you need to focus on music, now, as a bass player and forget about the gear in your hand. Studying with a good bass/theory teacher would be a good start. You might like to take some online courses from institutions like Berklee as well. The bass will not play itself, man! You gotta make it sing!

Beautiful color by the way! Good taste!!!

 

[JRA]

for some reason I haven't loved any one bass to where I feel so attached to it that I cant let it go.

i hope you're not blaming the instruments for that!

sounds to me like you haven't spent enough money on an instrument yet. sancho panza is your friend...and your squire!* good luck!


*sancho could be your squier, too!

 

[MtManiac]

Ok,
So through out 2021, nearly 10 bass guitars have come in and out of my possession. at this point all of my childhood "dream" basses have been through my hands and I don't own any of them anymore. a few hit the spot but they also left my possession for one reason or another. Im talking Rickenbackers, American Ernie Balls, Euro, and USA Spectors (probably my favorites of all), as well as Status Graphite.

I don't want to be that guy with 20 basses, i would really like to be that guy that bought a certain bass when he was a young man, and that's still what he's playing in his 60s if God allows me to live that long. but for some reason I haven't loved any one bass to where I feel so attached to it that I cant let it go.

Now, a bass that is seemingly the amalgamation of all the good parts of the best basses I have owned has come into the picture, and as a 23 year old with no business doing this, I just bought it through a payment plan. And its expensive, like, VERY expensive. south of $9k but north of $5k. I cant believe I've done it, but I'm just tired of this endless buying and selling cause no bass quite hits the spot. this one IN THEORY, should offer the best of all my favorite basses in the past. As much as I hate to admit it I've really been spoiled rotten by some of the higher end basses I've owned.

Here's the kicker, I SUCK. I am not a good bassist by any stretch. I barely know any theory, I am *alright* in terms of technique but don't have the musical knowledge to put it to any good use. I've been "playing" bass since I was 12, but didn't really take any seriousness and passion to it until recently. I love music and adore bass, I love to listen to the best musicians out there from prog rock to jazz, and marvel at their mastery in technique and tasteful musicality. I just like nice things (though this is a few jumps over "nice"), and to me, few material things are more awesome than a finely crafted instrument, made with amazing dedication and attention to detail. You feel it when you hold them, and it makes you want to play.

Of course this isn't to say that I wont make an effort to become better at the bass. in fact I want this bass to be my trusty tool in the process of learning more than I ever have. It just feels funny, that for a long while, this bass made to the highest caliber of quality will be played by someone who hasn't even scratched the surface yet.

I am selling my other basses save for one beat up Ken Smith copy that I will use when I'm not comfortable taking a multi thousand dollar instrument somewhere.
Of course theres always the chance I get the bass in hand and decide I don't like it, which is why I bought it new from a reputable shop with a return policy. I wouldn't feel very good doing it, but its the only smart thing to do if you buy such an expensive bass and don't like it.

Not sure I want to say what bass it is I bought because maybe someone here was eyeing it and will be angry it went my way haha.

Sell them all, buy a 2003 Mexican P bass with stock pickups and a 300 watt Traynor or Peavey combo, and use nothing else for ten more years. Play with as many bands as possible, especially some “old” guys and gals if you can find some looking for a bass player, like late 30s and up. Learn as many country, blues, and older rock tunes as you can - if possible learn them only by having the guitar player show you the chords seconds before playing them with a band, not by listening to the original recording. There are basically three rhythm patterns to learn - the boom-chick-boom-chick, the da-de-dah (and it’s variations the da-de-da-da and the da-de-da-de), and the dum dum dum dum (and it’s variation the dumdumdumdumdumdumdumdum). The drummer’s kick, high hat, and snare will tell you which one.

In ten years you’ll learn that the only thing that matters is getting people on the dance floor and selling beer. Suck to decent is only a matter of hours playing. Gear doesn’t matter at all.

 

[Artman]

I had a similar problem when I was playing guitar. I finally decided that there was nothing wrong with my guitars, it was my practice habits. I eventually settled on one guitar, and focused on my lessons for a couple years, and began to get pretty good before finally deciding that playing guitar just doesn’t move my soul or my heart the way playing bass does.

Had I not stopped the instrument roulette game and just played for a while, I never would have understood that I just don’t enjoy playing guitar as much as I enjoy playing bass while listening to someone else playing guitar.

I am not suggesting that you quit playing bass. I just think that your rather large sum of money might be better spent on a single less expensive instrument that balances well and has a reasonably good neck, and pickups that work…..and at least a year of lessons. Set a practice schedule, and remember that playing your band’s songs is not practice. That’s what you do after practicing the material in your lesson plan.

Sometimes, the shopping sprees and g.a.s. are a symptom or side effect of anxiety (stress), or even addiction to something else.
If you or any of your loved ones recognize either of those things in your behavior, don’t be afraid to make an appointment to see a psychologist (notice I did not say psychiatrist…there is a big difference). It’s covered by most halfway decent healthcare plans and even a lot of the crummy ones, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

 

[Bright Midnight]

Well, you'll either bond with this new incoming bass, or you won't - it's that simple. Do you have an idea of what type of neck your hands prefer, body shape, pickups, strings, scale, etc? Buying just 'on sight', because a thing arouses your desire is rarely a guaranty for a match - you could even liken that way of 'buying into something' with stuff like Tinder.... Experience will automatically guide you to the bass that fulfills your needs, and more often than not it takes some time spent with basses that don't fill your need entirely to let your brain figure out what it is your truly desire.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

Here is how I think... Now that you have a bass which looks great and will most probably play great as well, it is time to slow down and only think about how you can put this bass into good use.

Great advice! My first bass was a Samick, a MusicMan copy, that I bought for around EUR 40.- I played it and played it and played it until at one point I felt I had "outgrown" it. But that was after hours and days spent working this bass for more than it was worth.

Then I moved on to a very nice and (to me) expensive Ibanez BTB (roughly EUR 500 at the time) and worked that bass for years. I learned to get different sounds out of it, either from hand placement or working all the knobs.

Only after many years of doing that, did I venture into new bass territory again. My Marcus Miller Jazz 5 was my main bass for roughly 10 years, and now I feel more comfortable on a 4-string fretless Precision.

My point is, get to know this bass. You've invested a lot of money in it (via payment plan, but still) and you owe it to yourself to at least give both yourself and this bass a chance to make it work.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

I am not suggesting that you quit playing bass. I just think that your rather large sum of money might be better spent on a single less expensive instrument that balances well and has a reasonably good neck, and pickups that work…..and at least a year of lessons.

I will go against popular opinion here, but I do not necessarily think a beginner will benefit from taking lessons. Reason being: I was learning stuff on my own when I just started. Then I decided to take lessons. The teacher told me to stop doing what it was I was doing (learning scales, no less) and focus on his teaching plan. But after 10 lessons I was more demotivated than ever and quit his lessons, to do things on my own again. Only thing is, I never got back into learning scales.

It's hard to find a good teacher with whom you have a good connection and who will actually get the best out of you. Took me years and years to find one but like with drummers, I think it takes a pretty darned good teacher to be better than no teacher at all.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Well, I’m not sure if this was clear in the beginning but I just ordered it a few hours before making the post so I wont have it in hand until a few days from now. But here it is. Can y’all guess what it is? It being red played a bigger part in my decision to buy it than I care to admit, but it’s my favorite color, and it imma spend this much on a bass it better be my favorite color haha.

View attachment 4647145

I needed Google Image Search to tell me that it's a MTD USA 635-24 (H35D6) headless with roasted birds eye maple. 35", Eastern Maple body, 9.7 lbs. Advert with many lovely photos here

 

[JamesDeGrandis]

Ok,
So through out 2021, nearly 10 bass guitars have come in and out of my possession. at this point all of my childhood "dream" basses have been through my hands and I don't own any of them anymore. a few hit the spot but they also left my possession for one reason or another. Im talking Rickenbackers, American Ernie Balls, Euro, and USA Spectors (probably my favorites of all), as well as Status Graphite.

I don't want to be that guy with 20 basses, i would really like to be that guy that bought a certain bass when he was a young man, and that's still what he's playing in his 60s if God allows me to live that long. but for some reason I haven't loved any one bass to where I feel so attached to it that I cant let it go.

Now, a bass that is seemingly the amalgamation of all the good parts of the best basses I have owned has come into the picture, and as a 23 year old with no business doing this, I just bought it through a payment plan. And its expensive, like, VERY expensive. south of $9k but north of $5k. I cant believe I've done it, but I'm just tired of this endless buying and selling cause no bass quite hits the spot. this one IN THEORY, should offer the best of all my favorite basses in the past. As much as I hate to admit it I've really been spoiled rotten by some of the higher end basses I've owned.

Here's the kicker, I SUCK. I am not a good bassist by any stretch. I barely know any theory, I am *alright* in terms of technique but don't have the musical knowledge to put it to any good use. I've been "playing" bass since I was 12, but didn't really take any seriousness and passion to it until recently. I love music and adore bass, I love to listen to the best musicians out there from prog rock to jazz, and marvel at their mastery in technique and tasteful musicality. I just like nice things (though this is a few jumps over "nice"), and to me, few material things are more awesome than a finely crafted instrument, made with amazing dedication and attention to detail. You feel it when you hold them, and it makes you want to play.

Of course this isn't to say that I wont make an effort to become better at the bass. in fact I want this bass to be my trusty tool in the process of learning more than I ever have. It just feels funny, that for a long while, this bass made to the highest caliber of quality will be played by someone who hasn't even scratched the surface yet.

I am selling my other basses save for one beat up Ken Smith copy that I will use when I'm not comfortable taking a multi thousand dollar instrument somewhere.
Of course theres always the chance I get the bass in hand and decide I don't like it, which is why I bought it new from a reputable shop with a return policy. I wouldn't feel very good doing it, but its the only smart thing to do if you buy such an expensive bass and don't like it.

Not sure I want to say what bass it is I bought because maybe someone here was eyeing it and will be angry it went my way haha.

Have no fear.
I bought a "many thousand" dollar bass in my early 20s - I still have it... More than 20 years later... And I will have it and play it for another 20.
The problem is...
I also own many other instruments now... They still don't hit the spot... And I return to the expensive bass... Over and over...
You have something called GAS.
Unfortunately, It's incurable and terminal.
You will get the best bass...
Then you will buy more...
Then you will die.

Other things will happen. But you will die with GAS. Maybe not today... Maybe not tomorrow... Maybe not for 65 years...
But you will die...

Good luck with the purchase.

Remember this warning... Once you pay many thousands of dollars for a fine instrument.... you will look at others and say... That's so cheap... I could buy that without thinking after paying $ x000 on a bass...
Then you do it .. and it is great... Then you do it again... And it isn't great... But maybe the next one will be ...

Then... You die.
Happy... Maybe alone...
Unless you get an understanding or independently wealthy and doting spouse who loves bass players and their quirks...

I highly recommend this route.
Again... See you in heaven, where all basses are setup perfectly and are in tune...

 

[JamesDeGrandis]

Our great great grand fathers just married one of the ten women they knew in their small town, now you can get online and see thousands of beautiful women and never be happy. Where does it get you.

Where does it get you?
Happy with a beautiful woman from far away that you probably aren't related to I guess?
I mean...That's where I ended up anyway. YMMV.

 

[lfmn16]

It’s YOUR money. You reap the benefits or pay the consequences of your actions. Don’t let a bunch of judgmental strangers on the internet tell you what to do.

I would suggest however that you take lessons. The more satisfied you are with your playing, the more satisfied you’ll be with the bass.

 

[MrClassicMetal]

Try not to see what Dave Murray bought when he was an unemployed teenager

Dave Murray the Iron Maiden guitarist?

Damn...

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Dave Murray the Iron Maiden guitarist?

View attachment 4647336

View attachment 4647337

Damn...

The British Pound collapsed a lot in 1976, so actually knowing which month he paid for it would be useful. A unskilled young man in mid-70s Britain was very poorly paid. I calculated that that guitar would have been the equivalent to about 8 months wages. And then he replaced the pickups!

 

[jam.majors]

I had a $1200 bass 40 years ago when I was in high school. Enjoy your life. Do as you please

With inflation that’s about $3600. So that tracks with OP