Hi I’m Rob and I’m in Yorkshire. 46 years old and I’ve always wanted to play guitar. Tried to play bass about 10 years ago and just couldn’t get past the initial stage, it was just too hard.
Wanted to try again and a good friend lent me his 4 string (not even sure of the make) active bass and a little Fender rumble practice amp. Both of them hum and rattle like crazy but as I’m a newbie I don’t care! Anything’s better than nothing right?
Anyway I have started to try and play my favourite music - American punk (offspring/bad religion etc) and am finding it’s harder than I thought BUT there’s loads of YouTube videos which I am learning some basics from which have been really helpful and I think I might be hooked already.
Been out looking for my first bass for myself and I’m set on a Precision Bass as anything else leaves me cold - you’ve got to be excited to pick it up haven’t you? I did try a few different types first in shops but as soon as I plugged in a PB and hit a note I knew it was the one for me! Not pulled the trigger on one yet but a player series PB in tide pool blue has been sitting in a few online baskets on my PC already - I will buy from a local shop though (shout out to Peter at Rich Tone in Sheffield who was super helpful - I will be back to buy from there).
i know some might say get a cheaper instrument than a Fender - I know a player series isn’t £400 better than a Squire - but I can just about get the Fender so why not? I’m not getting any younger, may as well get what I really want.
Looking for an amp - Fender and Ashdown ones I have tried so far have been my favourite - may go 2nd hand on the amp, I have a close friend who owns a back line rental company who can fix things if I get a problem.
So far have learnt that my fingers are too short (I’m not tall myself anyway), it’s harder getting an even rhythm and tone than I thought but turning even that little amp up is addictive - even when I sound so bad!!
I am insisting on practising standing up, it’s just more fun to me and it doesn’t hurt me even after an hour or so. While I’m playing with a pick (the sound I prefer) which suits the music I love I want to play a bit of everything eventually so trying all sorts - managing to play along to a simpler song (Maggie Roger’s Leave a light on) quite well was a wonderful experience.
Anyway, hope I can pick up some tips and encouragement on here, have a great day y’all.