My wife is pretty good. She knows I seem to only like 5's so when I start looking at 4's she asks why. Unfortunately, she also knows gear - like she can identify it. I am notorious for swapping and GAS so we have a "you can only have it twice" rule and she knows. We go to concerts or watch videos and she can name basses, DI's, amps, etc. Tough to sneak one by her.
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Wives, girlfriends, kids and basses!
- Thread starter Lo end PUNCH
- Start date
My girlfriend likes my ATK (white body, black pickguard) WAY more than my all black SRX390. She still doesn't think either one is "pretty".
I HAVE totally thought of geting a Seafoam bass just because it's her favorite color...
I HAVE totally thought of geting a Seafoam bass just because it's her favorite color...
I put my Charvel on consignment once because we were tight for money and just had our first child. She went back to the store and got it back for me because she knew how much it meant to me. I always thought that was so cool.
My 12 year old son has apparently picked up on my love for bursts (he plays trumpet, not bass ..... yet 
). The only one of my four basses he doesn't like is my Jazz Deluxe Fretless - black, rosewood, white pearl pickguard. It's actually a very nice looking bass but it's a departure from what I usually buy. My Stingray, my Precision, even my SX are all bursts and he doesn't think I should ever get rid of any of them. Neither do I (well two of them, anyway ... 
).
Come to think of it, my wife gave me a hard time about my sunburst, rosewood, and tort Precision when I bought it. However, even though she's non-rocking classically-trained clarinetist, she still looked at it and said "Wow, now that's classy looking. That's what I think of when you say 'bass guitar'."
). The only one of my four basses he doesn't like is my Jazz Deluxe Fretless - black, rosewood, white pearl pickguard. It's actually a very nice looking bass but it's a departure from what I usually buy. My Stingray, my Precision, even my SX are all bursts and he doesn't think I should ever get rid of any of them. Neither do I (well two of them, anyway ... ).Come to think of it, my wife gave me a hard time about my sunburst, rosewood, and tort Precision when I bought it. However, even though she's non-rocking classically-trained clarinetist, she still looked at it and said "Wow, now that's classy looking. That's what I think of when you say 'bass guitar'."
I had a girlfriend smash one up one time, but it wasn't the bass she was torqued about. She felt bad about it, and since it was my first bass (a Gilbert knock-off of a '75 Fender jazz, only short scale, beat up, worn out), and I never played it, she thought I'd never notice, which would maybe have been true had I not found a tuning key from the carnage under the couch (always be helpful and help clean...you never know what you'll find...or find out!). So, me understanding, that didn't ruin us. It was that other guy...!
While bass shopping several years ago I found a used Fender P that just said "take me home". Well, I didn't that day, but went home and told my wife how well it played, not a bad price, etc etc.
Anyway, the next day her and the kids slipped back to the store and bought it for me. She absolutely loved the color (Fender MIM midnight blue, but sometimes it's more of a purple), and I'll be honest, I've have gotten *way* more compliments on the looks/color of that bass than any of my others.
And in contrast there's my old bass, that my dearest wife would refer to as "sorta weird looking".
No, I don't have it anymore.
Coincidence?
Anyway, the next day her and the kids slipped back to the store and bought it for me. She absolutely loved the color (Fender MIM midnight blue, but sometimes it's more of a purple), and I'll be honest, I've have gotten *way* more compliments on the looks/color of that bass than any of my others.
And in contrast there's my old bass, that my dearest wife would refer to as "sorta weird looking".
No, I don't have it anymore.
Coincidence?
I hear ya'. Actually, I've held onto a bass that I got from my mom years ago. It's just got that sentimental value.
I snagged a nice 96 MIA Jazz 5 for $425 a few years ago, and at first wasn't terribly into it, but the wife(and 99% of those who hear it)has always dug it big-time. There was also a sweet little fretless Stambaugh 4; she loved it but I dumped it because I *wasn't playing 4s much* REGRET/REMORSE/KICKING ONESELF
Oh yeah- she kinda hates my Warwick- we half-jokingly call it the *divorce bass* or the *other woman...*
Oh yeah- she kinda hates my Warwick- we half-jokingly call it the *divorce bass* or the *other woman...*
Not really. When I was having an ebony board made to replace the worn out rosewood on my fretless, I was going to go with lined because my buddy already had a slotted ebony board so it was going to be cheaper. But my (ex)wife (The Red Head Who Used To Live At My House) said I should spend the little extra money on an unlined one because she thought the lines would look funny.
Years later when I was talking to the FMIC district sales rep at a store about the new Guild production in Corona, and admiring the Bluesbird guitars, he said he could offer me a very good price on one. I thanked him, but said I didn't really need another electric guitar and wasn't in the position to spend real money on one. As an aside, almost more of a joke, I said "But if it was a Starfire IV, I'd be interested." He said he had one at his house, his sales sample. It was one of the last Rhode Island ones, and he figured a price for me. Just then The Red Head Who Used To Live At My House walked by with her usual guitar store mantra of "No". Then she saw the price, and said "You've wanted one of those since you were 15! We can't pass up a deal like that!". Since she was the banker at our house, we got the SF IV.
But never opted to buy or not buy something because someone else either objected or supported the choice. It was always based on me- and most often the keepers were just that particular instrument speaking to me.
jte
Years later when I was talking to the FMIC district sales rep at a store about the new Guild production in Corona, and admiring the Bluesbird guitars, he said he could offer me a very good price on one. I thanked him, but said I didn't really need another electric guitar and wasn't in the position to spend real money on one. As an aside, almost more of a joke, I said "But if it was a Starfire IV, I'd be interested." He said he had one at his house, his sales sample. It was one of the last Rhode Island ones, and he figured a price for me. Just then The Red Head Who Used To Live At My House walked by with her usual guitar store mantra of "No". Then she saw the price, and said "You've wanted one of those since you were 15! We can't pass up a deal like that!". Since she was the banker at our house, we got the SF IV.
But never opted to buy or not buy something because someone else either objected or supported the choice. It was always based on me- and most often the keepers were just that particular instrument speaking to me.
jte
Rule #1. No family member or girlfriend/spouse is allowed to buy me any form of gear without the full understanding that I may sell it at a later date.
That said, my gf thinks all basses look the same. As long as its a pretty color, and does not show any wood grain she usualy says its nice.
That said, my gf thinks all basses look the same. As long as its a pretty color, and does not show any wood grain she usualy says its nice.
My 6 year old daughter has showed plenty of interest in my bass. She has tried to play it since she was 3.
But, go figure, she's left handed. (no wonder she couldn't find a way to hold it comfortably)
The poor thing won't be inheriting any of my basses.
I've been kicking around the idea of getting her a short scale left handed bass from Rondo. Hey, they're pretty inexpensive.
So it won't be a huge loss if she decides that the bass is not something she wants to do.
I'll let her pick out her own color.
But, go figure, she's left handed. (no wonder she couldn't find a way to hold it comfortably)
The poor thing won't be inheriting any of my basses.
I've been kicking around the idea of getting her a short scale left handed bass from Rondo. Hey, they're pretty inexpensive.
So it won't be a huge loss if she decides that the bass is not something she wants to do.
I'll let her pick out her own color.
Ahh yes...kids and Basses.My first child used to love to join in while I was picking up the latest tunes...They call it "Classic Rock" now.
They do grow up fast..but if you raise them right they become Bass players themselves.
please overlook the 80's shorts..they are long since retired.
Cheers.
They do grow up fast..but if you raise them right they become Bass players themselves.
please overlook the 80's shorts..they are long since retired.
Cheers.
Engine207
Losing faith in humanity...one call at a time.
Ahh yes...kids and Basses.My first child used to love to join in while I was picking up the latest tunes...They call it "Classic Rock" now.
They do grow up fast..but if you raise them right they become Bass players themselves.
please overlook the 80's shorts..they are long since retired.
Cheers.
That is my all-time favorite post on TB. That photo shows how wonderfully close you and your daughter must be.
My 12 year-old son is starting bass this summer now that he's out of school. I'm gonna get him an SX PJ and we're gonna take a photo just like that one.
By the way...nice choice of fabric on the new sofa...
Women seem to really like these.My current #1,.....my wife actually picked out...
I went in to my local Mom and Pop store to buy some drum stuff for my son....she beat me to the bass room and when i walked in she siad i like this one...it's very pretty.....
i had been looking at Traben on line and thought the bridge was too cheesy for me, but when i took it off the wall and plugged it in....wow I was hooked.....put it on lay-a-way that day and paid it off a few weeks later....
so short answer Yes!
You bet. I was shopping for a bass and the sea foam green thunderbird was not only shot down, but my wife (then girlfriend) asked my roommate to help convince me that it was too feminine. Yes, I thought it was punk and awesome, but my view changed.
Fast forward to the next time I was bass shopping (I'm GAS free, by the grace of God, so I only shop when I don't own a bass), and my wife's opinion of natural wood helped cement my purchase. She's thoughtful about things like, 'that'd look good when you are wearing a tux, or when you're in rockstar clothes'.
Fast forward to the next time I was bass shopping (I'm GAS free, by the grace of God, so I only shop when I don't own a bass), and my wife's opinion of natural wood helped cement my purchase. She's thoughtful about things like, 'that'd look good when you are wearing a tux, or when you're in rockstar clothes'.
My ex-wife made a similar comment. I blame Toni Braxton and that 'Spanish Guitar' song of hers that came out right before my ex started getting funny that way. My daughter, OTOH, doesn't seem to feel threatened by my basses. Oh, that's right; she knows she owns me; therefore the basses are technically hers.
My wife helped me to buy little mark and to make my EUB last year. But now I had to sell my perfect japanese Tune Zi 3-5 and buy old used p-bass copy by Greco to pay her dentist bills. Anyway, I like this greco P much better than any bass before (MM ray and sterling, MIA jazz 08, Moon Jazz, Pedulla Pentabuzz) so it was the trade of the century
)
And I know that if I will have a REAL GAS she will always help me to cure it...
)And I know that if I will have a REAL GAS she will always help me to cure it...
My ex-wife made a similar comment. I blame Toni Braxton and that 'Spanish Guitar' song of hers that came out right before my ex started getting funny that way. My daughter, OTOH, doesn't seem to feel threatened by my basses. Oh, that's right; she knows she owns me; therefore the basses are technically hers.
ALL basses are the "other woman" my friend, I have learned to live with this most of my bass playing years!
