As a pro trombonist, playing with some really great bassists. I'm grateful to them for planting the seeds for my present pleasure as a hobby bassist, whereas my trombone days ended decades ago.
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What changed your life(bass related only please:))
- Thread starter Jack Butler
- Start date
This is going to sound weird...but it's frets that changed my life in the bass realm.
I started out as a kid with what my dad had...and that was a fretless '77/'80 Music Man hybrid. This was circa 1987/88. I played that bass until he got me my own as a birthday/X-Mas gift near the end of high school. That bass was just about the closest thing possible to the Music Man, other than another Music Man: an L-2000, also fretless, same body wood, same fretboard wood, same finish (natural gloss).
I didn't own another bass until he died in 2007. Then I inherited his '76 Musicmaster (which he had always had, but I never really played much at all because it seemed like a toy and has roundwounds, which I hated), and a Frankenstein P-Bass (MIJ reissue body, MIA reissue neck).
About a year later, I said what the hell, and started playing the fretted basses. My mind was blown, and I fell in love. The feel, the tone...it was as if it was suddenly perfect, and it very much affected the way I approach the instrument. I kind of learned all over again. I, quite literally, have not played fretless since.
I feel like I wasted 20 years of my bass playing life NOT playing fretted basses. Ugh! The fretless tone is just so...just plain bad to me. I just didn't know any better at the time.
I still play nothing but flats, though. But I am planning a few builds that use rounds, hoping to blow/expand my own mind again.
I started out as a kid with what my dad had...and that was a fretless '77/'80 Music Man hybrid. This was circa 1987/88. I played that bass until he got me my own as a birthday/X-Mas gift near the end of high school. That bass was just about the closest thing possible to the Music Man, other than another Music Man: an L-2000, also fretless, same body wood, same fretboard wood, same finish (natural gloss).
I didn't own another bass until he died in 2007. Then I inherited his '76 Musicmaster (which he had always had, but I never really played much at all because it seemed like a toy and has roundwounds, which I hated), and a Frankenstein P-Bass (MIJ reissue body, MIA reissue neck).
About a year later, I said what the hell, and started playing the fretted basses. My mind was blown, and I fell in love. The feel, the tone...it was as if it was suddenly perfect, and it very much affected the way I approach the instrument. I kind of learned all over again. I, quite literally, have not played fretless since.
I feel like I wasted 20 years of my bass playing life NOT playing fretted basses. Ugh! The fretless tone is just so...just plain bad to me. I just didn't know any better at the time.
I still play nothing but flats, though. But I am planning a few builds that use rounds, hoping to blow/expand my own mind again.
Being at the right spot at the right time.
I was a member of the percussion ensemble of a professional Brazil Latin Jazz band. When the bass player left, I convinced the band leader to give me an audition chance as a bass player. All went well, and it became the first pro band where I played the bass. Kinda raised my league one step higher in my humble musical career.
I was a member of the percussion ensemble of a professional Brazil Latin Jazz band. When the bass player left, I convinced the band leader to give me an audition chance as a bass player. All went well, and it became the first pro band where I played the bass. Kinda raised my league one step higher in my humble musical career.
Seeing Cheap Trick in '78.... Tom had his Hamer Quad, and that roaring octave string sound made a mark.
One day around 1990, finally getting how Drop D works and being able to use it. I figured out Spoonman and a bunch of King's and Alice in Chains that week, and I still use it often.
One day around 1990, finally getting how Drop D works and being able to use it. I figured out Spoonman and a bunch of King's and Alice in Chains that week, and I still use it often.
Punk rock. Got me off the guitar god hero worship and emulation and into discovering bass. Found likeminded musicians at 15 and we had the balls and audacity to start bands, write songs and play out in front of people instead of noodling in our bedrooms. Learned how to play and perform by doing. Had some of the best and worst experiences of my life and wouldn't change a thing. That was a loooooong time ago and I still gig regularly with a great band never really losing that spirit and edge. I still play hard but no longer tape a pick into my thumb and forefinger. I can also afford nice equipment theses days.
I started playing bass when my dad's classic rock cover band couldn't find a bass player. The drummer owned a bass and at first I used a stereo hifi amp and speakers for amplification and soon bought a Marshall 150 watt 15 inch combo.
About three years later I played with another band at a Venue called Cselley Mühle. The organizer told us not to bring a bass amp.
At soundcheck I discovered an old beat up 4x10 cab and an even more beat up huge old amp. I plugged my bass in, turned up the volume a quarter and just plucked the a string. That moment I knew that that's how an electric bass should sound like.
I went to the sound guy and asked him what amp that was. He replied:
That my young friend is a 70s blackface Ampeg SVT, the big daddy of bass amps.
Life was never the same again...
About three years later I played with another band at a Venue called Cselley Mühle. The organizer told us not to bring a bass amp.
At soundcheck I discovered an old beat up 4x10 cab and an even more beat up huge old amp. I plugged my bass in, turned up the volume a quarter and just plucked the a string. That moment I knew that that's how an electric bass should sound like.
I went to the sound guy and asked him what amp that was. He replied:
That my young friend is a 70s blackface Ampeg SVT, the big daddy of bass amps.
Life was never the same again...
This has been a fascinating thread. I can't believe that no one has said "lighter amplification". Bass amps that you can carry on your own, and DIs, have made bass playing in my more advanced years a practical possibility for me.
The other great step forward was when I realised that you only need one bass. It's fun to have more, and pros may need a variety for different gigs, but you really only actually need one in order to play bass. And having too many basses stops you learning. If you go down the gas road you will spend your playing time comparing basses looking for that "lost chord" rather than learning how to play music on them. It becomes all about the bass and not about the music.
The other great step forward was when I realised that you only need one bass. It's fun to have more, and pros may need a variety for different gigs, but you really only actually need one in order to play bass. And having too many basses stops you learning. If you go down the gas road you will spend your playing time comparing basses looking for that "lost chord" rather than learning how to play music on them. It becomes all about the bass and not about the music.
My first studio job changed me in that I learned how my approach to bass would solidify over the years. I had only played about three before I was hired, but it blazed the trail ahead for years to come. Simple, slightly spicy with a focus on a solid lock-in.
I may need to steal this for signature purposes.
I may need to steal this for signature purposes.
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tabs and just about every song i'd want to learn to play being available on youtube.
Getting an SVT, my first tube amp.
Had always owned fairly decent amps but this changed everything. I imagine my experience of first plugging in and playing through it was similar to these videos you see of young children who are deaf and get given a hearing aid and can hear for the first time. Opened up a new world.
Had always owned fairly decent amps but this changed everything. I imagine my experience of first plugging in and playing through it was similar to these videos you see of young children who are deaf and get given a hearing aid and can hear for the first time. Opened up a new world.
Wish you were here 1979, Playing my first bass in Navy school listening to Zep's live Song Remains the Same in 1981 (went to sea right after and didn't play again for many years), Watching Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii video in the 80s studying Roger Waters on bass, Joining my first bands in 1988, my first dead show later that year, my last pro gig in 1998 with a blues band that led to music life after bass, and now, coming home to the 5 string compliments of an old graphite builder for the Dead, I have an audition with another old time military veteran rock star wanna be, just like my first experience with a Nam vet back in 1988 long ago and far away. Circle gets the square.
1981 Gibson EB0-two weeks in a barracks in San Diego CA-sold
1987 Peavey 5 string foundation (why 5?)
1989 Steinberger 5 string (my lead guitar player had one and lived in NY)
1999 Plywood upright bass-one semester (gave it up, did other music stuff)
2002 Sold the steinberger to the bass player in a band I played alto sax in)
2019 Bass resurrection? 1990 Jerry Dorsch GGS Modulus prototype 5 string
Bass.
1981 Gibson EB0-two weeks in a barracks in San Diego CA-sold
1987 Peavey 5 string foundation (why 5?)
1989 Steinberger 5 string (my lead guitar player had one and lived in NY)
1999 Plywood upright bass-one semester (gave it up, did other music stuff)
2002 Sold the steinberger to the bass player in a band I played alto sax in)
2019 Bass resurrection? 1990 Jerry Dorsch GGS Modulus prototype 5 string
Bass.
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about to blow your mind: you probably have two of themrealizing I have a pinky finger
(Mentioned already by few, but anyway.)
Fender Jazz Bass.
I played only cheap P-bass copies for the first four or five years of my playing history. While playing in punk and hard core bands this was no problem, but when my playing skills got better and we started dabbling through Rush pieces I just couldn't get the sound I wanted. No matter what strings or amp/EQ settings I tweaked, the bass didn't deliver that certain, more nasal, clear cutting growl I wanted to achieve. This was pre-Internet time, so information was scarce and in addition, there weren't knowledgeable people around I could ask questions about this stuff.
A bit later while studying music, I learned about Jaco, jazz and a whole lot of other stuff, I finally realized it was mainly the P-style humbucker PUP that was chaining my sound into the territory I wanted out of. So, after saving some cash (and asking my dad to kindly provide the rest) I managed to purchase a late seventies Fender J. The first time when, plugged in, I rolled the bridge PUP full and started playing, I couldn't stop for hours. That sonic bliss! After years of searching, without any extra tweaking, there was the sound I was after. And I stayed with it for almost two decades.
Granted, later I've learned to re-appreciate the P-sound, and, to be fair, all the classic bass sounds have their places and uses.
Fender Jazz Bass.
I played only cheap P-bass copies for the first four or five years of my playing history. While playing in punk and hard core bands this was no problem, but when my playing skills got better and we started dabbling through Rush pieces I just couldn't get the sound I wanted. No matter what strings or amp/EQ settings I tweaked, the bass didn't deliver that certain, more nasal, clear cutting growl I wanted to achieve. This was pre-Internet time, so information was scarce and in addition, there weren't knowledgeable people around I could ask questions about this stuff.
A bit later while studying music, I learned about Jaco, jazz and a whole lot of other stuff, I finally realized it was mainly the P-style humbucker PUP that was chaining my sound into the territory I wanted out of. So, after saving some cash (and asking my dad to kindly provide the rest) I managed to purchase a late seventies Fender J. The first time when, plugged in, I rolled the bridge PUP full and started playing, I couldn't stop for hours. That sonic bliss! After years of searching, without any extra tweaking, there was the sound I was after. And I stayed with it for almost two decades.
Granted, later I've learned to re-appreciate the P-sound, and, to be fair, all the classic bass sounds have their places and uses.
Changed my life? Bass saved my life.
Between early December 1990 and late January 1991 I was made redundant, had major surgery (that it took me almost nine months to get over properly), had a weird emotional reaction to the anaesthetic (that lasted about a week, where I couldn't give a $#!% about really important things but would burst into tears if I burned the toast), my wife left me, and my mother died. I got seriously depressed. I lived on coffee, pizza, cigarettes and alcohol for a couple of weeks. Too much alcohol, and not enough sleep. There's a lot of cr@p on TV at 2:30am and I think I watched it all. I seriously thought suicide was a good option.
Now, I hadn't played music with other people in almost a decade, but one day a guitarist I'd met a few times socially phoned and asked if I'd sub in his three piece band at some corporate event. He sent me a song list, we had a couple of long rehearsal sessions over one weekend, I polished my parts during the following week, and we did the gig on the Friday. The drummer really liked my playing and talked the guitarist into getting me to join full time, and suddenly I was playing two or three nights a week, had a little income and, most importantly, was getting out of the house and being with people.
It took another month or so before I started picking up some contract work in my day job, and a year before I could ride a bike again and my wife came back. But I don't think I would have had that year if some guy I hardly knew hadn't called me about that pick-up gig.
Between early December 1990 and late January 1991 I was made redundant, had major surgery (that it took me almost nine months to get over properly), had a weird emotional reaction to the anaesthetic (that lasted about a week, where I couldn't give a $#!% about really important things but would burst into tears if I burned the toast), my wife left me, and my mother died. I got seriously depressed. I lived on coffee, pizza, cigarettes and alcohol for a couple of weeks. Too much alcohol, and not enough sleep. There's a lot of cr@p on TV at 2:30am and I think I watched it all. I seriously thought suicide was a good option.
Now, I hadn't played music with other people in almost a decade, but one day a guitarist I'd met a few times socially phoned and asked if I'd sub in his three piece band at some corporate event. He sent me a song list, we had a couple of long rehearsal sessions over one weekend, I polished my parts during the following week, and we did the gig on the Friday. The drummer really liked my playing and talked the guitarist into getting me to join full time, and suddenly I was playing two or three nights a week, had a little income and, most importantly, was getting out of the house and being with people.
It took another month or so before I started picking up some contract work in my day job, and a year before I could ride a bike again and my wife came back. But I don't think I would have had that year if some guy I hardly knew hadn't called me about that pick-up gig.
