What year did you start playing bass?

[theduke1]

June 1963, I was 18 - Played Jimmy Reed, Johnny Rivers, Tommy Tucker, Beach Boys, etc. First tune I learned, Aug 1963, with the band ; Ram-Bunk-Shush (Ventures). Dabbled on guitar starting in 1960 so knew my way around the fingerboard.

The Snake by Johnny Rivers is one of my favorites to play
Duke

 

[oddeotek]

1966, I was 14 years old and had been playing keyboards for 2 years in a band. Watching Paul McCartney on Ed Sullivan made me want to change instruments so I saved up my paper route money and bought a bass guitar.

 

[jglunt]

1966, I was 14 years old and had been playing keyboards for 2 years in a band. Watching Paul McCartney on Ed Sullivan made me want to change instruments so I saved up my paper route money and bought a bass guitar.View attachment 4541670

The jacket I recognize, I think. (Is it a Nehru jacket?) The bass I don't. What kind of bass is that?

 

[Frank Vozak]

1967. I bugged my parents for two years about getting a bass----My mom never liked the bass and first bought me a Kay electric and amp with Raleigh coupons. But my dad won her over and he talked with friends at the music store that serviced his and my violins and they suggested a 67 Fender Mustang Bass and a 50 watt 2 10" speaker Kalamazoo bass amp. It was a great birthday present.

 

[Johnny Fingers]

High school jazz band, 1972.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

1996!

 

[Fernando Costa]

Guitar: 1973 when I was 12, organ: 1979, bass: 2007 when I was 46 yo.

 

[OBBM]

1962

 

[CaptSlide]

2018 - I started taking Bass lessons over Skype at the age of 70.
Will be starting my fifth year with the same teacher in March. I have a Zon Sonus.

 

[13bass]

After 12 years of guitar and itching to try bass for the last 4-5 years of that (I thought I would just mess with it on the side) I got my first bass, a TMB30, December 1 of 2019.
Now I play bass 90% of the time and I have sold most of my guitars and last I'm going to be selling both of my Warmoth teles and likely just keeping my carbon fiber Rainsong acoustic.
I have 2 Warmoth short scale basses and kick myself as to why I didn't start bass earlier….

 

[gvbassman]

I started dabbling with a Klira violin bass in 1965 then some years later i bought my first Gibson Ripper 1978 and that was the start of my addiction buying basses and that addiction is still live and well

 

[RICH HAGERTY]

I first picked it up in 1990. I was 16 years old. You?

Back in 1962 with a Danelectro, switched to a used 61 J Bass in 63 and traded up to a new 65 EB3, still have and use regularly

 

[matti777]

Around 2001 when I was 38....later starter. I did own when back in 1980 but never learned to play it.

 

[Orion Boucher]

I received a bass when I was 13, it was a gif for my golden birthday! The year was 2002

 

[DiazRomero]

1975. I was 28 and had never played an instrument before. My friend was moving and didn't want to take his Aria bass with him, so he asked me if I wanted it. I said sure, why not. When I opened the case, it was love at first sight. I bought a Mel Bay book and a small amp the next day and I haven't stopped playing since.

 

[Polfuste]

1996. I was 24 years old. So I've turned 25 years of bass love.

 

[HubbardsFate]

Late 1991, 16/almost 17 years old.

 

[Katoosie]

2020.

 

[fr8ghtrain]

I first picked it up in 1990. I was 16 years old. You?

I started in 1967, when I was 12. Been loving it ever since!

 

[ElectroVibe]

1997. Shortly after college. I had played guitar for over ten years but had never touched a bass. It was for a wedding gig and the regular player was unavailable. I did it with one rehearsal and borrowed equipment. I think the singer chose a lot of popular songs that he knew I would have heard before. 1970s classic rock and country.
I still consider that one of my best gigs, surprisingly.