Getting back into it

[Afterimage]

It's been YEARS since I played my bass guitars. Sold my Rickenbacker 4003 a few years ago and regretted it soon after so my Natural wood coloured Warwick Corvette rock bass sat in the basement unused and collected major dust.

A few weeks ago decided it was time to brush off the rustiness of not playing the instrument all these years and get back into it. Yes I am super rusty + not playing the Warwick meant it needed a refresh (and a major dust off). I also wanted something else to replace the Ric that I had so 1 week and a bit ago I bought another bass, a red Steinberger XT-2 spirit.

I've always liked the Steinberger basses when they first came out in the 80's and lots of my favorite bassists played one back then, they are now owned by Gibson and being made of wood now (instead of the carbon polymer body that the originals had) made them quite affordable. Took the Warwick in when I went to Long & McQuade to pick up the new one and had the W set up with new strings and everything and now both basses sound great.

I also bought a used 15W Fender practice bass amp so I can play upstairs and not be in the basement all the time and have started to relearn the songs I used to know all those years ago...........still rusty but with more practice and time I'll get it back. Once I get A LOT better I want to go wireless so I'm not attached via cords that's so old school.

Tony

 

[Murray20c8]

It's been YEARS since I played my bass guitars. Sold my Rickenbacker 4003 a few years ago and regretted it soon after so my Natural wood coloured Warwick Corvette rock bass sat in the basement unused and collected major dust.

A few weeks ago decided it was time to brush off the rustiness of not playing the instrument all these years and get back into it. Yes I am super rusty + not playing the Warwick meant it needed a refresh (and a major dust off). I also wanted something else to replace the Ric that I had so 1 week and a bit ago I bought another bass, a red Steinberger XT-2 spirit.

I've always liked the Steinberger basses when they first came out in the 80's and lots of my favorite bassists played one back then, they are now owned by Gibson and being made of wood now (instead of the carbon polymer body that the originals had) made them quite affordable. Took the Warwick in when I went to Long & McQuade to pick up the new one and had the W set up with new strings and everything and now both basses sound great.

I also bought a used 15W Fender practice bass amp so I can play upstairs and not be in the basement all the time and have started to relearn the songs I used to know all those years ago...........still rusty but with more practice and time I'll get it back. Once I get A LOT better I want to go wireless so I'm not attached via cords that so old school.

Tony

Pardon my ignorance, but can you not play them without anything? My brother used to play his electric guitar without plugging it in. I wish I could plug in my drums! LOL

 

[Afterimage]

Sure I can play them without plugging into the amp but you wouldn't hear anything.

 

[Murray20c8]

Sure I can play them without plugging into the amp but you wouldn't hear anything.

You can't hear them? Really? Interesting. I could hear the lead guitar when my brother played it.

 

[Afterimage]

ok, let me rephrase. If I don't plug in and I just pluck the strings I can hear something but it's not really that loud. An electric guitar with the higher octave notes can be heard much easier not plugged in than a bass guitar. If I'm playing a song I want to learn I won't hear what I'm playing if I'm not plugged into an amp. If I use a pick it's a little louder without an amp but still not the same as plugging in.

It's not like drums where you hit a drum head or cymbal and it's decently loud without micing it.

 

[Murray20c8]

It's not like drums where you hit a drum head or cymbal and it's decently loud without micing it.

I was joking about plugging in the drums. They are so loud I need a good set of earbuds and a good mp3 player to hear what I'm drumming to. I'm sure my neighbours over the years would rather I had electric drums.

 

[Afterimage]

I see this in your future (go for it):

DWe | Drum Workshop Inc.

DWe's handcrafted acoustic-electronic convertible wireless drums represents a breakthrough in design, allowing you to express yourself in ways previously unimagined.

www.dwdrums.com

Eventually I want to get this and not be tied down to being corded:

BOSS - WL-60 | Wireless System

WL-60: Wireless System - Wireless Freedom, Easy Visual Set Up

www.boss.info

 

[Rruuff Day]

I see this in your future (go for it):

DWe | Drum Workshop Inc.

DWe's handcrafted acoustic-electronic convertible wireless drums represents a breakthrough in design, allowing you to express yourself in ways previously unimagined.

www.dwdrums.com

Eventually I want to get this and not be tied down to being corded:

BOSS - WL-60 | Wireless System

WL-60: Wireless System - Wireless Freedom, Easy Visual Set Up

www.boss.info

I have had several electric guitars in including a Fender Mustang, and a couple of Strats and I can't hear very much out of any of them without an Amp. I have sold all my electrics except a couple of electric/acoustics and also sold my 1980 Musicman HD150 Piggy Back and my 4-12 Fender cabinet. Just recently sold my 68 B45 Gibson 12 String. That was hard to let go after owning it for 55 years. I'm down to 9 guitars and a 67 Hofner Mandolin now.
Can't believe you didn't go with the white Steinberger Tony to match your ZR1....

 

[Afterimage]

U still have a cool collection of instruments.

I considered a white one but L&M only had the red and black in stock everything else was a 6+ month wait and didn't want black (the original bass I bought when I started out playing eons ago was black) so went for the red one, was also $50 more for it.

 

[Dave91TM]

I have a '72 Framus acoustic and an '82 Washburn Eagle. Back then to learn a tune you had to pick it up by ear or pay for sheet music, which in my case didn't do much good because I can't read music. Today, just go to the internet, google "how to play" then find a backing track. No need for a band and nobody calls you out for a wrong note(LOL). Even after all these years I still find a new riff every time I play.

 

[Murray20c8]

I have a '72 Framus acoustic and an '82 Washburn Eagle. Back then to learn a tune you had to pick it up by ear or pay for sheet music, which in my case didn't do much good because I can't read music.

I can read music, but by the time I've read the first note the rest of the band has moved on to the second verse!
When I was a kid experimenting with music I learned C, F and G7 (If memory serves) and could attempt to play many songs. lol

As for you old geezers with bad hearing. If you wanted to play a guitar in the house without mom screaming at you to turn it down, you practiced without an amp.
My mother was so eager for us to learn an instrument, but when we went to play them it was always "Do you have to play that now?" lol

 

[Afterimage]

Reading sheet music, another thing I have get used to attempting again.

Tabs are much easier.

 

[Dave91TM]

Reading sheet music, another thing I have get used to attempting again.

Tabs are much easier.

Yes tabs are ok, but , like any engine , if yer timing is out, it just won't sound right.