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Things you've changed your mind about over time...

#84
I used to not be a grumpy old man. :)

Awake.jpg I-Had-Fun-Once-It-Was-Awful.jpg
 
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#87

Active/passive electronics. Strictly a passive guy for over 30 years, as of this year it's active for me.

Finished/matching headstock or back of neck. At one time a deal breaker. Now I love a black (ala Spector) or matching headstock. And now I'm looking for a neck thru with finished matching neck. Go figure.

One bass only. Most my life till just this last year, what was I thinking. It's nice to have a little variety.
 
#88
Lotta the same as the OP, but I'd also add playing with a pick to my list. I was super against it because all the annoying emo band kids did it when I was in high school and I wanted no part. Since guys like Les Claypool, Geddy Lee, and Ryan Martinie didn't do it...I didn't need to either (even though Justin Chancellor did...).

I'll also add EMGs to the list, I got the JX's for an Ibanez 5'er and they sound great, very good pickups.
 
#89
Never wanted to own a P, or any Fender----just didn't feel right. Now I own a Squier P5 and love it. (because I've been playing a EUB for the past 15 yrs, love the feel)---- still wouldn't want the single pickup P to be my only ax.

Loved Rics------- no use for the sound or skinny neck anymore.

Once I got my 1st active bass (Stingray in 1976 or 77), ran away from passive basses. Now I love passive basses, but still enjoy my active ones too.

Hated picks----now, after hearing some great stuff from pic players, I'm working on my picking technique. Maybe I'll be able to play like Bobby Vega one day.
 
#91
The classic 4x10 or 4x10 + 1x15 configuration.

Never really liked the sound but thought I must be the problem until I tried other setups.

First I built a vertical 2x10 and used that on its own, now I use 2 1x15 cabs vertically stacked or a single 15.
 
#94
My mind changes over which bass is the most ideal for me. I guess it's a battle between my dream bass and my practical bass.

Singlecut basses with exotic tonewood.
I used to love Singlecut bass with fancy tonewood. I also love the fact that it is heavy because it feels solid. I still do love it but I imagine I won't bring them to stage a lot because it is heavy and looks too pretentious. I would rather stick to a P-bass or a J-bass style instrument and possibly chambered body for lighter weight. It's all about being practical.

Warwick
Used to love warwick after I played it several times. I love that growl. Then overtime, I can sort of emulate that growl on a Jazz. And when I play the warwick again, the neck feels just too heavy for me.

a Jazz bass
Have been admiring a Jazz Bass and wanted to feel how a jazz neck pickup sound. Finally gotten a Jazz but turns out I still like my P-bass sound. The Jazz is not bad, just that I love that thump on P.

Tone or no Tone
Used to love that deep beefy bass sound with tone knob rolled off. Now I like some tone added to it to cut through mix and to add some grit.

Fender
I wanted a Fender for quite some time. But after playing it, I don't know if I like it. My Fender bass look-alike instrument made from local manufacturer that cost about half to quarter of a real Fender does the job quite well. At the end of the day I know I actually just want a fender look a like cheap instrument which I can jupgrade easily. So basically a beat up bass that works and does the job.
 
#96
10cc said:
I hear ya. But go done to pit and tell the musicians that you think they are a group of highly trained dedicated cover musicians. I'm sure it would really make them feel accomplished. Really.
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Hey even better I can go down into the pit and ask them to compose something of their own. Shouldn't be too difficult they know Theory and they have obtain the classical techniques of the Master they have a good grasp of how and why the music written works. write your own Symphony No. 7 or even better Rondo in B minor should be easy. ( I study music theory in school I given Frantz Schubert as the composer to study :)
 
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#98
Time, experience, and age changes a lot of stuff. Some of my changes:

Technique snobbery-- I used to look down on pick playing, and also thought of slap as an unmusical gimmick. Both have their place, though I am still primarily a fingers player. Versatility of technique is a good thing.

Precision basses-- I used to think of them as Neaderthal instruments. I still use primarily Jazz style basses, but appreciate the value of a P bass. In some contexts, for its particular tone, it's a necessity.

Pedals-- used to think they were gimmicks to cover bad technique. I still rarely use them, but they have a place when used appropriately. Still not a "pedal board" guy, but in the right context, judiciously used effects can be a good thing.

General music snobbery-- I used to have kinds of music that I really kind of hated-- but have come to appreciate that virtually every genre has good and bad in it. When I was 16, I passed up a chance to see Johnny Cash play at my high school, because it was "country". Later, I came to regret that. Even among styles that are not my favorite-- metal, country, etc-- there are examples of really, really good stuff.

Playing Top 40 -- this used to be the worst sin... then I became a professional playing for a living; I learned a few things about being professional, doing what the situation demands. Playing Top40 and other styles not in my wheelhouse forced me to expand my technical skills.

Capo's for guitar--- not really cheating, after all.

There are plenty more, these are just the ones that come to mind first.
 
#99
rtslinger said:
Hey even better I can go down into the pit and ask them to compose something of their own. Shouldn't be too difficult they know Theory and they have obtain the classical techniques of the Master they have a good grasp of how and why the music written works. write your own Symphony No. 7 or even better Rondo in B minor should be easy. ( I study music theory in school I given Frantz Schubert as the composer to study :)
Click to expand...
I think you'd be surprised.
 
#100
Joe Nerve said:
I was going to limit this to things bass related, but thought it could get interesting if I just left it open despite the fact that the things I'm going to list, are bass related.

There are a handful of things that I was pretty big mouthed about 10-15 years ago, that time has changed my opinion about.

The topics that keep presenting themselves here on Talkbass most are:

Pay to Play - used to get infuriated about it, and at times refused to do it. Today I'm realizing I got to play a lot of awesome shows paying to play, and bands that I know who never had any issues with it - are still playing the most awesome venues around.

Active and passive basses - always played active basses because I felt the tonal options and tweak-ability were absolutely necessary. Finding out only in the past couple of years that with most passive basses, those tonal options aren't necessary. My passive basses sit well in the mix no matter how I dial in the tone.

Fender - Hate, hate, hated Fender. Don't love them yet as I still think they're hit or miss, but my #2 most played bass these days is my Jazz.

And ah hem... uhh.... feel like the Fonz trying to say I was wrrooo.... wr.... OK...

Weight - I used to be very vocal about people just manning up, hitting the gym, and not crying over a 2 lb. difference in weight. That's what I did, dammit! And while I still do that, I have started to experience some lower back pain at times (which I am determined to and WILL heal). Running around a stage with a 7 lb bass for 2 hours is much, MUCH, different than running around with a 9 lb bass if yer back is messing with you.

There. I fessed up. It's a bit freeing, and humbling at the same time :).

Your turn.
Click to expand...
I'll do pay to play pretty much only opening for a band that I like and would pay to go see anyways. So I'm not totally against it. I won't do it for "exposure" but if it means getting in without buying tickets to a big show and being able to hang out and chat with some musicians I look up to. Sure. But that's pretty much the only exception.

I play active basses mostly. To be honest I always keep all my basses set totally flat. I think most onboard EQs are junk and the basses sound better flat. There's been a couple where I cut. On my Warwick thumb nt5 I rolled the treble back a little but I mostly just touch the volume knob.

Still hate fender lol

Weight wise I think I found my limits lol. Had a 7 string that I enjoyed playing at home but it sucked to play standing for our high energy rock shows or for hours at rehearsal. Still not a crybaby about weight but I think I'll be sticking to 5s for a while at least for gigs I do standing up.
 

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