Local fella was selling a bass for £1. I had £1.
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Your First Electric Bass-What Inspired You?
- Thread starter Gabe Lamog
- Start date
My bestie's older brother had a Kramer metal neck. I thought it was so cool. Bought for $125 sold for $300 3 months later. Living Colour was also my motivation, but back in the Muzz days. So I added a string in my mind, and never looked back.
My first bass was a Hondo Explorer because it was inexpensive. My inspiration was three guys James Rodriguez, bassist from China White', Bobby Title, bassist from Shattered Faith and Steve McDonald bassist from Red Cross (Redd Kross). This was early to Mid 80's. Then I was introduced to my Guild Pilot..best bass I have ever used. If anybody would like to trade something for a 4 string Guild Pilot PM me...had to throw that in...
I started playing bass when I was in the navy. They were set up in the marching band's practice hall. I was talking to the BL who was complaining about not being able to find anyone who could play electric bass. I'd never even heard of one. This was 1963 and I was brought up around classical and jazz. I asked what it was like, a guitar or an upright. He told me. I had putzed with my dad's upright, but couldn't really play it and I knew a few chords on guitar I learned from my aunt.
It sounded like fun to me, so I asked him if I got a bass and maybe he could help me learn it and if I got good enough, I could eventually be the bass player. He said, "You show up with a bass, you're the bass player." So, I spent what was a month's salary for a navy E2 for a Dano short horn. I don't have pictures any more. A couple of months later, I played my first gig. I think we know about 12 songs and it was a freebee at the USO club in Memphis.
It sounded like fun to me, so I asked him if I got a bass and maybe he could help me learn it and if I got good enough, I could eventually be the bass player. He said, "You show up with a bass, you're the bass player." So, I spent what was a month's salary for a navy E2 for a Dano short horn. I don't have pictures any more. A couple of months later, I played my first gig. I think we know about 12 songs and it was a freebee at the USO club in Memphis.
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On my 13th birthday, I got my first stereo. The first album I got shortly after that was the recently-released Beatles "Red" album (Greatest Hits 1962/1966). A neighbor girl gave me an old electric guitar a year later. When I was sixteen, I got my first bass (which I still have):
Since everybody played guitar, I knew if I went with drums or bass, I'd always be able to get in a band. Bass seemed a lot easier to transport, and since I was left-handed, an obvious choice. I got this bass from either the Sears or Alden catalog.
Since everybody played guitar, I knew if I went with drums or bass, I'd always be able to get in a band. Bass seemed a lot easier to transport, and since I was left-handed, an obvious choice. I got this bass from either the Sears or Alden catalog.
I was inspired to buy my Asian-made short-scale piece of garbage because it was CHEAP AND USED!
Always liked the looks of the Thinderbird, especially in white.
Finally bought one four or five months ago.
Finally bought one four or five months ago.
my first bass was a cheap used p bass copy. I got that because that was all I could afford at the time, but you can't go wrong with a p anyway 
I can relate! My first electric guitar was a red Kalamazoo, probably the 6-string counterpart to your bass. My third bass was a Gibson EB-0 (similar body style and pickup as your Kalamazoo), and IT had its headstock snapped off! (blown over by the wind at an outdoor gig - bought my 4001 not long after).
The Beatles inspired me to take up electric guitar, but nothing really inspired me to play bass. My first bass was a $10 piece of junk a friend sold me. I found it was pretty easy to play compared with guitar, and since none of my friends played bass, it was a lot easier to find guys to play with. Graduated to a Fender Musicmaster soon after, then the EB-0 after that.
My story almost exactly, except I spent several years struggling with guitar before moving to bass. I play guitar WAY better now then before I took up the bass.
Combination of the music that was popular at the time and playing in band at school. My high school had a jazz band which came to my junior high to play for us. I ended up playing in the high school jazz band for a couple years first year on Trumpet and second year on bass.
Early influences were bands like Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains. RATM, Tool, Metallica, Pantera, sublime, and RHCP.
Me at 14
I've had more Warwicks than any other brand and have always been a fan of a lot of the players they endorse. At the time I got my first I was really into 311 even played the same SWR amp as P-nut.
Then Mudvayne came out and I tried thumb basses and they've have been the main basses I've played over the last 15 years.
Just after my 16th birthday in September 1977 I bought an early 70's Kingston short scale bass. My influences were Mel Schacher, Gene Simmons and Dee Murray. Before my first gig in early December I'd bought a used Gibson G-3.
This photo is from my second band in October 1978.
This photo is from my second band in October 1978.
The "2112" in my username says it all - I was inspired by Rush & their 2112 album.
I received a Silvertone bass & amp for Christmas that year, played them for 2 years as I saved all my pennies, and bought my 1st real bass, an Ibanez MC-924, and a Peavey Mark IV head & 2x15 cab.
I played that rig for about 4 years, and at that point GAS took over & I've been through mountains of gear over the past 25 years.
I received a Silvertone bass & amp for Christmas that year, played them for 2 years as I saved all my pennies, and bought my 1st real bass, an Ibanez MC-924, and a Peavey Mark IV head & 2x15 cab.
I played that rig for about 4 years, and at that point GAS took over & I've been through mountains of gear over the past 25 years.
Dude! I picked up bass while my twin went with guitar! he saw the light later though.
My first bass was a made in Japan Memphis J bass clone. It had good tone but it was really heavy. The only inspiration was it was the best used bass available at the time. Back in the early 80s the only way to find used instruments was through the newspaper classified ads, so there wasn't that much to chose from
I was in high school band playing tuba, and I was really getting into various rock bands, in particular Boston and Led Zeppelin among others. I was pretty jealous of the guys in high school who were playing in rock bands, but not really sure how to make the move. Then one of the other tuba players said he had an electric bass he had to sell because he'd never be able to play it as a tendon in his left-hand ring finger had been severed and he could fret notes with that finger.
My dad was kind enough to buy that bass and the accompanying Peavey amp for me for Christmas that year. That bass is the '77 Jazz in my avatar.
What really sealed the deal though, was when I made the break to teach myself. I was taking lessons, as I had for piano and for tuba, and really bummed out about learning "Mary Had A Little Lamb" again, this time on bass. My teacher was good, but I was impatient and young. I asked a friend who played piano in the high school jazz band and he told me to buy some Pink Floyd albums, especially Dark Side of the Moon, since the bass parts were "simple but still good". I started to learn those songs by ear and that's what really set the hook.
My dad was kind enough to buy that bass and the accompanying Peavey amp for me for Christmas that year. That bass is the '77 Jazz in my avatar.
What really sealed the deal though, was when I made the break to teach myself. I was taking lessons, as I had for piano and for tuba, and really bummed out about learning "Mary Had A Little Lamb" again, this time on bass. My teacher was good, but I was impatient and young. I asked a friend who played piano in the high school jazz band and he told me to buy some Pink Floyd albums, especially Dark Side of the Moon, since the bass parts were "simple but still good". I started to learn those songs by ear and that's what really set the hook.
1960 at a park Called Freedom Land in Port Chester NY. Mary Wells and the Temptations double billed. No stage, the band set up right on the park grounds. I could walk right over and touch them. The bass player had a PBass , the image burned into my memory. I saw him him pick up the bass, tune it , play a few lines and then wait for the rest of the band to get it together. I was mesmerized.
My first experience with live music. It blew me away.
My first experience with live music. It blew me away.
I was writing and recording songs at home and less than satisfied using either a guitar with octaver or synth for bass, so went and bought the second cheapest bass in the shop - an Ibanez Jet King marked down to about a quarter of its original price as it was a slightly faded, dusty floor model. I could have saved £20 and for a Stagg but....
Of course it made my recordings better but I was doing nothing more interesting than following the guitar for the most part.
Two years ago I decided it was time to get into a band again so I placed an ad as a guitarist, with a footnote that at a stretch I could play bass. Had a call asking me about playing bass and now I'm two years into a crazy ride learning a new instrument and all it entails, getting some small recognition locally for my playing despite a total of zero gigs played with the five bands I've been part of. Which is nice.
Incidentally I haven't played guitar more than a few leisurely minutes since I switched to bass. Bass sings to me.
Of course it made my recordings better but I was doing nothing more interesting than following the guitar for the most part.
Two years ago I decided it was time to get into a band again so I placed an ad as a guitarist, with a footnote that at a stretch I could play bass. Had a call asking me about playing bass and now I'm two years into a crazy ride learning a new instrument and all it entails, getting some small recognition locally for my playing despite a total of zero gigs played with the five bands I've been part of. Which is nice.
Incidentally I haven't played guitar more than a few leisurely minutes since I switched to bass. Bass sings to me.
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