Sarah AJ Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Hi All, I'm Sarah and I play bass. Sounds like an introduction to an AA meeting, but without the guilt! You don't want to know how old I am or any of that boring stuff, but if you are curious I'm sure you can Google me and find out. I started playing bass when I was about 13, after my Dad bought a Beatles greatest hits album (the red one, 1962 - 66), and I was blown away by McCartney's bass sound and the way bass made the song 'whole'. After a lot of nagging I persuaded my Dad to get me a bass for Christmas; he got if off his mate who had been in a band years before and since stopped playing. It was a 1965 Hofner Violin bass, which I dearly wish I still had, but I sold it years ago for a ridiculously small sum. Anyway, I joined a band and had a ton of fun. Not long after that, we broke up and other life things happened; marriage, kids, house moves .... all the things that happen during a lifetime. I stopped playing and didn't touch a bass for around 20 years, until my current partner surprised me with a bass and a little amp for Christmas in 2009. That started me off again and I started from the beginning, teaching myself to play the thing properly this time. I soon sold that bass and started trading up; I went from the Agros 'Starcaster' Jazz bass to a Vintage V940, then to a Peavey International, a Washburn Taurus T25 and then made the jump to a Mexican Fender P bass. I wasn't much impressed with the Fender, so I traded that for an Ibanez SR300, which I kept for about 4 years. During this time I started making bass cover videos on Youtube, which earned me a bit of a 'following' both in the UK and around the world, notably in South America for some reason. I still do the videos when I get time and the inclination hits me, and the videos I already have online (about 70) still get comments and views on a daily basis. These are almost entirely 1970's pop hits; there are a couple of 60's and 80's songs in there as well, but I've just chosen to cover songs that appeal to me or mean something to me. Then, about 4 years ago I fancied joining a band, so I advertised myself on Joinmyband.co.uk and got no serious offers, just a few time-wasters so I quickly shelved that idea. Then, 2 years later someone unearthed my advert and contacted me to say that their bassist was leaving their band, and would I like to join? I sent them some links to my Youtube stuff, we met, chatted, jammed and before long I was in! So the first thing I did was upgrade my bass (again) and I bought a beautiful Ibanez SR1200 Premium. Not long after that, things started to get serious and I bought and Ibanez SR 5000 Prestige as well! Realising I was spending far too much on basses, I sold the SR 300, the SR 1200 and my SR 300 DXF ( did I mention I had one of those as well - lovely fretless bass!), and spent the lot on a Rickenbacker 4003s! So those are the basses I have now, the SR5000, the Ricky.... and a Fender American Standard Jazz bass which my partner and I decided to go halves on about a year ago. I'm not buying any more now (unless a Rickenbacker 4001 comes up at the right price!), I'm just keeping what I've got as investments and for the gigs we play now. My band plays pubs around the Leigh / Atherton areas of Greater Manchester; we do covers of 60's 70's and 80's pop hits, a little bit or rock and generally feel-good drinking music! People seem to like us and we have a lot of fun doing what we do and entertaining people. So that's me. probably more than you need to know, but what can I say... I talk too much ! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Good afternoon, Sarah, and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Welcome Sarah. 1 hour ago, Sarah AJ said: I'm not buying any more now (unless a Rickenbacker 4001 comes up at the right price!), Yes. We call it GAS round these parts. You'll find yourself in good company. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oopsdabassist Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 hey there...helluva resumé! Welcome..post long and often 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josie Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Welcome Sarah! Thank you for the story, another good example of "it's never too late" 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWH Posted August 26, 2018 Share Posted August 26, 2018 Hello Sarah, I briefly played bass in my dad's dance band mid teens, your looking at a gap of nearly fifty years here for a re-start , you've already achieved more than I ever will band-wise, well done ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted August 26, 2018 Share Posted August 26, 2018 Wow! And Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebigyin Posted August 27, 2018 Share Posted August 27, 2018 Welcome aboard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.