randythoades Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 Hi all, just thought I'd introduce myself, been a while since I have been a bassist so please be kind! My name is Simon. Originally started as a bass player but dreams of rock stardom (and the promise of girls with few morals to be fair) lured me over to fast guitars and pointless widdling... Stardom not really achieved but marriage, family and business took over instead. Arthritis now hit after 20 years of widdling and I had to abandon my guitar duties and picked up my basses again. Back to enjoying music again!! Hoping to get out and do some classic rock in a band again... just for the fun of it this time though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leen2112 Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 Well done you! Mind you in modern tech metal there are a fair few bassists 'widdling' so watch out with that Arthritis. Just for the fun of it, well thats what this place is all about - just don't mention the Beatles Cheers Leen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 Hi Simon, Welcome! No stardom? Hm. You sure you wanna hang out here with the stars then? If you are: enjoy the site! best, bert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 Thanks guys. Hoping just to hang out amongst rock star company, talk the talk, but not necessarily walk the walk... Actually nice, just playing bass again along to the records that brought me into music in the first place, a bit of Kiss, a bit of Def Leppard, a lot of Quo, some rhythm and blues. Trouble is, what with playing the guitar for so long and arthritis in my fingers, I am afraid that it is pick playing all the way for me, which seems both very strange and natural at the same time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 [quote name='randythoades' timestamp='1375769210' post='2165262'] I am afraid that it is pick playing all the way for me [/quote] youve done it now !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 [quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1375774409' post='2165301'] youve done it now !! [/quote] Well, playing the classic rock stuff seems to suit it anyway and I have started using the felt picks that ukele players use for the R+B stuff and it give a really nice sort of muted sound just like my fingers! I find it much easier to keep time with pick which starts to drift with fingers. My mind says they can do it but they don't have the mobility they once did - and they don't hurt!! I don't like popping or slapping anyway, have always been a bit old school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 [quote name='randythoades' timestamp='1375782075' post='2165410'] Well, playing the classic rock stuff seems to suit it anyway and I have started using the felt picks that ukele players use for the R+B stuff and it give a really nice sort of muted sound just like my fingers! I find it much easier to keep time with pick which starts to drift with fingers. My mind says they can do it but they don't have the mobility they once did - and they don't hurt!! I don't like popping or slapping anyway, have always been a bit old school. [/quote] oh dear you said the 'S' word <runs for cover> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 [quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1375784592' post='2165450'] oh dear you said the 'S' word <runs for cover> [/quote] Oh dear... not doing well here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 [quote name='randythoades' timestamp='1375787442' post='2165504'] Oh dear... not doing well here! [/quote] no youre doing great!!! old school is good lots of us are very old on here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leen2112 Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 If your going to be playing classic rock then go with the pick......don't listen to those finger snobs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 [quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1375789656' post='2165561'] no youre doing great!!! old school is good lots of us are very old on here [/quote] That's good! I am definitely old school (and my children consider me to be old, although I consider myself to be middle aged...). A wide generalisation mind, but I half consider any music recorded since 1990 as "new" music. I can hear my father in myself more and more every day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 [quote name='Leen2112' timestamp='1375790857' post='2165593'] If your going to be playing classic rock then go with the pick......don't listen to those finger snobs [/quote] Excellent, cheers! I do like the punchiness of it, and being a guitar player for so long, I'm finding I use a lot of rhythmical muting during my playing. Much less tiring too. Not yet done a band this time around though so will see how prospective band members see it (my experience of guitarists - myself included - is that they are just interested in their own noise and not bothered unless you clash against their solos...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedmanzie Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Pick playing is great. I've also been trying out using my first finger like a pick. The advantage being that I rarely drop it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 [quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1375795370' post='2165685'] Pick playing is great. I've also been trying out using my first finger like a pick. The advantage being that I rarely drop it... [/quote] Good point! I have seen players gaffer tape the pick to their fingers... I have always been pretty good in that regard though and rarely dropped or broke strings until I forgot spare picks and string once to a gig and without my safety net it all went a bit pear shaped! Muddled through although a bit embarrassed. Ended up trying to reconfigure an out floyd rose tremolo with only 5 strings and using a good old 5p piece as a pick in the middle of the gig. I think, at the same gig, several patrons of the working mens club we were playing at walked out muttering "if this is called music, I'd rather be deaf...". Can't win 'em all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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