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Been here before...going on a hiatus?

AndyTravis

By AndyTravis,
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Al Krow Grand Master

Al Krow

Posted
Posted
28 minutes ago, AndyTravis said:

Maybe I’m having a “start all over again”

this time next week I’ll be clumsily fumbling through Blood Sugar Sex Magic and getting a pink Mohawk 

Face it; it's in the blood. You love it. I love it. We love it. We're bass players.

Sounds like the very thought of having a break from being in the groove was sufficiently cathartic.

Which is a good word (although clearly not as good as otiose or discombobulate).

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Newfoundfreedom Grand Master

Newfoundfreedom

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Posted

Hi Andy.

I'm fairly new to this forum so I don't know you and I'm not familiar with your posts, but the "tone" (for want of a better word) of this posts is very familiar to me.

It sounds like you're burned out (with life in general, not the music) and possibly suffering a bite from the black dog.

I've been there many times. So maybe the advice I would give goes a little against the grain from a musicians standpoint. Stop putting pressure on yourself and sell up. The more you look at the gear and the more you think about it the worse you will feel. 

Stuff is just stuff. Everything can be replaced. Take it from someone who has lost everything twice over and literally walked away with the clothes on my back. Clearing everything out is actually quite cathartic. 

The most important thing you will ever have is your family and your health, both physical and mental.

Take the money. Slow down, book that holiday and spend some quality time with your family. 

If, at a later date things change, it's always fun buying new gear. 

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Al Krow Grand Master

Al Krow

Posted
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, Newfoundfreedom said:

Clearing everything out is actually quite cathartic. 

Ah, that excellent word again.

Definitely not otiose here although it may have a tendency to discombobulate 

If Andy is looking to get a Yammy BB, he's clearly changed his mind about quitting, has rediscovered excellent value for money bass-taste and is back in the game!

Although I AM going to remind him of this thread next time he posts he's thinking about calling it a day 😂

Edited by Al Krow
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eude Veteran

eude

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Posted

Hey @AndyTravis, similar(ish) boat to you in that work and family life have completely killed any opportunity for me to play with others.

Prior to moving to London, getting married and having kids, I played live, rehearsed, jammed, recorded constantly, and I still miss it, even though it's been 8 years now.
I had a brief spell playing with a local bunch doing originals, but they were a little older, with older kids, and a Friday night rehearsal was their night out, but for me, I had a 1 year that didn't sleep (and didn't till she was 4.5!) and I needed to be in bed by 22:00 at the latest as I knew I was going to be woken up several times before sunrise, so it just didn't fit with my new life.

I've accumulated a fair amount of basses too, although my little rig is giggable, it doesn't take up much room packed away in the loft in bags under my desk.

I play when I can, but it tends to be a noodle here and there when the wife is off doing yoga and the kids are in bed. I'm not doing it for anyone other than myself, but I know that when the opportunity arises, I'll get back into it.
My kids are 5 and 1, I'm nearly 40, I've "identified as a bass player" since I was 12, and I expect I'll be back playing, with others, in another 5 years or so, and that seems to be enough to keep me sane.
If you look around the forum, you'll see a lot of people on here who are gigging and playing a lot, who are in their mid to late 40's and older, having had kids and a similar hiatus as a result.

My advice to you would be, don't do anything rash, keep the instruments and gear you love, and if there's anything you feel a bit meh about, just move it on. If you've got a lot of money invested in an amp, and it's not a collectable, just bin it off and get something small, but decent, that can easily hide away when necessary.

I think if you got rid of everything, you might find yourself at a loose end plopped on the couch and think, wow, I wish there was a bass I could plug away on right now. That prospect is a pretty sad one in my opinion.

All the best mate,
Eude

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Huge Hands Experienced

Huge Hands

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Posted

Hi Andy, I guess I'm a bit the opposite of you.  I was gigging a lot until early last year when I got sick.  Nothing life threatening, but enough that I had to drop out of my various bands.

I can manage about an hour and a half with the bass, then I get too sore/tired.  Lugging gear around is hard because I've spent so long housebound, my back muscles can't cope.  

I keep hearing little projects that I could get involved in, but I'm not well enough and they pass me by and fizzle out.

I keep looking at my gear and wondering if I should move some on, but I'm desperate to get back into it!   I've just been referred to a new hospital/specialist, so I'm hoping my problems will get better soon!

I recently  tried to be a good person and permanent loan a friend's teenage son my old gigging Squier bass (the one I used before I got my Sire).  I wasn't using even when I was well, and should be happy it's being used, but when I see photos of it on his Facebook, I get reminded of the gigs I played on it, and want it back!  How silly, I know! 

 

 

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AndyTravis Grand Master

AndyTravis

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Posted (edited)

Well. The Guild acoustic has sold.

Not really a great feeling but after an odd day, it’s time to either play more or pack up.

The White Jazz and the other two are staying though.

Mrs Travis says she’ll divorce me if I sell the White Jazz. So...she’s right, it must stay.

Edited by AndyTravis
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Bridgehouse Grand Master

Bridgehouse

Posted
Posted
6 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

Well. The Guild acoustic has sold.

Not really a great feeling but after an odd day, it’s time to either play more or pack up.

The White Jazz and the other two are staying though.

Mrs Travis says she’ll divorce me if I sell the White Jazz. So...she’s right, it must stay.

Buy my old Precision, grow yer hair long and join a rock band. Innit.

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LukeFRC Grand Master

LukeFRC

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Posted
13 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

Well. The Guild acoustic has sold.

Not really a great feeling but after an odd day, it’s time to either play more or pack up.

The White Jazz and the other two are staying though.

Mrs Travis says she’ll divorce me if I sell the White Jazz. So...she’s right, it must stay.

So the first time years ago when you were wanting to pack it all in you sold me a very nice blue jazz. Always felt a bit bad taking that off you. 

Keep the white jazz, and keep the prototypes if you want, stop feeling the need to play - you can have a break and that’s fine. That’s good - but don’t sell the jazz. 

So that’s one thing- but why you wanting a Yamaha? Stop the gas, stop looking, stop bass foruming and stop buying stuff too

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AndyTravis Grand Master

AndyTravis

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1 minute ago, LukeFRC said:

So the first time years ago when you were wanting to pack it all in you sold me a very nice blue jazz. Always felt a bit bad taking that off you. 

Keep the white jazz, and keep the prototypes if you want, stop feeling the need to play - you can have a break and that’s fine. That’s good - but don’t sell the jazz. 

So that’s one thing- but why you wanting a Yamaha? Stop the gas, stop looking, stop bass foruming and stop buying stuff too

Ok dad 😉

the great big bass sell off of 2010 was more to do with my ex’s leaving gift of huge debt...

think id sold all but 1 bass to get us out of the poop. She then buggered off...

And when I realised that I’d gone through all of that and had only scratched the surface...well, that’s when the fun really began.

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Woodinblack Grand Master

Woodinblack

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Posted
10 minutes ago, LukeFRC said:

I’m serious about the danger of gas - not playing but having nice basses is ok if you can afford it - it’s crap if you spend more time talking about basses online than you do playing 

Not if that is what you want to do. There were a few periods of life where I didn't touch an instrument - its not compulsory and sometimes the desire just isn't there.

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thepurpleblob Proficient

thepurpleblob

Posted
Posted

Trying to do too much means stress. And stress causes all sorts of illnesses that you don't want. 

You have to recognise when it's all too much and be prepared to let stuff go. You have to say 'No'.  Do what you need to do to maintain a balanced life. I'm assuming you're not ancient. You can always come back to music if your circumstances change. 

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