What year did you start playing bass?

[48thStreetCustom]

1985

 

[foolforthecity]

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

'71, 13

 

[Jakedog]

1986. I was 13.

 

[kjp360]

1981ish. Bass player for dad's smokey drunken country hootenanny night didn't show up. I had just taken up guitar lessons and was conscripted. 3 chord root notes all night...until I figured out root - V sounded good too.

 

[SLO Surfer]

1990, 12 years old. Switching from a year on guitar first.

 

[GWGuitar]

16 years old, 1976.

 

[Pauly 4001]

Cool bass in your avatar - what is it?

That's a Hohner/Bartell bass that I became obsessed with right around 1973 or so when I saw it hanging in Bandstand East in Bellevue WA.
I was talked out of buying it as my 2nd or 3rd main bass by a wise friend but then couldn't stop thinking about it. I found another about 10 years ago and it definitely looks better than it sounds plugged in.
I do still think it's beautiful and should try some different strings and tweaking the setup but I'm not sure it will ever sound like a Jazz bass with roundwounds with the neck pickup slightly backed off.
https://colemusic.co/blogs/news/meet-the-bartell-bass
Basses – Bartell Guitars and Basses

 

[Rjb1101]

2020, I was 32

 

[joelns]

I honestly don't remember. It may have been around 1980, give or take a year.

 

[spiritbass]

That's a Hohner/Bartell bass that I became obsessed with right around 1973 or so when I saw it hanging in Bandstand East in Bellevue WA.
I was talked out of buying it as my 2nd or 3rd main bass by a wise friend but then couldn't stop thinking about it. I found another about 10 years ago and it definitely looks better than it sounds plugged in.
I do still think it's beautiful and should try some different strings and tweaking the setup but I'm not sure it will ever sound like a Jazz bass with roundwounds with the neck pickup slightly backed off.
https://colemusic.co/blogs/news/meet-the-bartell-bass
Basses – Bartell Guitars and Basses

View attachment 4533675 View attachment 4533674 View attachment 4533673 View attachment 4533672 View attachment 4533671

It's still a looker. The checking really adds character.

 

[Stewie]

Something like 1973 or 4, that would have made me around 14.

 

[Chris Y]

Late 79, 16 years old

 

[Rjb1101]

That's a Hohner/Bartell bass that I became obsessed with right around 1973 or so when I saw it hanging in Bandstand East in Bellevue WA.
I was talked out of buying it as my 2nd or 3rd main bass by a wise friend but then couldn't stop thinking about it. I found another about 10 years ago and it definitely looks better than it sounds plugged in.
I do still think it's beautiful and should try some different strings and tweaking the setup but I'm not sure it will ever sound like a Jazz bass with roundwounds with the neck pickup slightly backed off.
https://colemusic.co/blogs/news/meet-the-bartell-bass
Basses – Bartell Guitars and Basses

View attachment 4533675 View attachment 4533674 View attachment 4533673 View attachment 4533672 View attachment 4533671

Have you ever been to Mike Lull's shop in Bellevue? I went the other day and played a P bass there. Best bass I've ever played.

 

[Pauly 4001]

I was out there quite a few years ago and Mike himself was manning the counter at the time. He swapped pickups and modified my Hamer 12 string Chaparral.
I also competed against Mr Lull in a Lawyerpalooza battle of the bands where our band mopped the floor against his band "The Neon Lips".
May he rest in peace.

 

[bass.slinger]

1986, age 14.

 

[Snibborwocky]

1990 for me as well, although it was roughly around late 1989 when I got interested in the idea of wanting to learn electric bass.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

None of your damn business.

 

[Wesley R]

1967 or 1968

 

[braud357]

1968 - I was 14

 

[BarfanyShart]

1994, 12 years old. Got the bass for Christmas because the neighbor kid I wanted to start a grudge band with got the electric guitar for his birthday the prior month.