Looking for my first Ric

[jps]

Actually it's not my first Ric. I had a 1973 Fireglo 4001 at one time, but it's been a LONG time since I've had that. So it might as well be my first one.

Want another?

[cassius987]

Thin neck, and jetglo...thats my main goal.

Get a used 4001 or a VERY VERY new 4003!

Thats what Im fast learning!! And Ive got my eye on an '81 Jetglo 4001 here that I hope the seller will work with me on time wise. If its meant to be it will happen, if not another will pop up.

...by the way, nice to have lots of female bassists around! Make yourselves known. I think female players are still on the rise. Anyone heard of Tal Wilkenfeld?!?!

Ive never really sat and thought about it but heres a few thoughts that come to mind as to why there are not that many female lowenders. Low bass tones tend to have a more masculine sound/feel to it. Female players perhaps to some degree might be a bit too 'refined' in their approach to the bass or feel they shouldn't play them as there isn't anything that can be 'ladylike' about them??? Just some musings here. Bass is gritty and LOW and harder in tone then I think some women care to deal with??? There are great female bass players and I think the axe is misunderstood by many in both genders that just don't understand the instrument. I will lay it down hard and heavy with some mosh pit slamming riff and then 'in your face' go off on something intricate, soft and mental. Im not afraid to go from one extreme to the other on a bass. And I think some women may not feel like they can get down and sweaty and dirty with 4 strings like we all hear and see or make it work for something soft and intricate.

The bass is the best 'guitar' out there IMO and theres still much uncharted territory with them I think. I also think some women won't consider them because the strings can be heavier and harder and the average sized bass is huge compared to a guitar. A good friend of mine has a daughter thats almost 13 and pretty tall and big for her age. She wants to learn bass or guitar so badly. I handed her my little '92 Peavey Foundation and all she could say was how big the beast was. LOL And its tiny as basses go IMO.

Anyway those are just a few thoughts from this femme lowender. Dunno if other women here will agree with me or not but those are my thoughts. ^_^

Let me repeat two words: TAL WILKENFELD. Go, iTunes, now.

[Starscream]

Let me repeat two words: TAL WILKENFELD. Go, iTunes, now.

I gather she does not fall into my thoughts on why theres not many femme lowenders, eh? I will go check her out. Bet shes awesome!

[EagleMoon]

Actually it's not my first Ric. I had a 1973 Fireglo 4001 at one time, but it's been a LONG time since I've had that. So it might as well be my first one.

Want another?

Not at the moment. I've still got to pay off my 4003.

[EagleMoon]

I think some women are afraid they might appear masculine if they play bass for some reason. Bass is a very strong, aggressive beast but it doesn't take a big man to tame one.

[Starscream]

I think some women are afraid they might appear masculine if they play bass for some reason. Bass is a very strong, aggressive beast but it doesn't take a big man to tame one.

It helps if you are a big man when it comes to a T40 though, especially when you drop said TREE TRUNK on your right, bare, big toe Been there, done that, remember it very well and wish I could forget it. LOL Least the bottom strap button missed the toe!

And which song of TAL WILKENFELD's would anyone recommend? There are 7 listed on iTunes and ooo she does Jazz. YES!!

[kiramdear]

as to why there are not that many female lowenders

Dunno if the shortage is specific to bass players, seems like women instrumentalists (with qualifications to keyboard players) in rock bands are scarce in general. I've been looking at a general dearth of sorority since the mid seventies in my adventures with the guys. We have made, like you say, a rise albeit gradual. Why wouldn't a girl consider the bass if she wanted to get into music? I don't know what pressures a young woman faces these days, exactly anymore. Probably the same as ever, but more complicated like everything. All I know is that my parents were very broad-minded in their way about my creative life and never tried to really impose any kind of ladylike behavior that I didn't feel natural to express. Nobody ever told me I shouldn't play the bass and I wasn't really interested in the writing on the wall ... What I did learn was that if I got good on the bass I could get in a band in a hot minute. There are always a million guitar players but many fewer bassists looking for gigs.

The guys have generally appreciated the company and some even felt it was an asset per se to have me. Occasionally I would meet a guy who would be a little at odds with my participation but his apprehension generally would dissipate after the first number or two. I just treat them all like my red-headed stepbrothers, you know, the ones your Mom warned you about.

In the end though, if you want to endure you have to deliver the goods, that's my experience. When they can't see you, which is what music is essentially about, no one can tell you from Adam on bass.

all the best for you

[Starscream]

as to why there are not that many female lowenders

Dunno if the shortage is specific to bass players, seems like women instrumentalists (with qualifications to keyboard players) in rock bands are scarce in general. I've been looking at a general dearth of sorority since the mid seventies in my adventures with the guys. We have made, like you say, a rise albeit gradual. Why wouldn't a girl consider the bass if she wanted to get into music? I don't know what pressures a young woman faces these days, exactly anymore. Probably the same as ever, but more complicated like everything. All I know is that my parents were very broad-minded in their way about my creative life and never tried to really impose any kind of ladylike behavior that I didn't feel natural to express. Nobody ever told me I shouldn't play the bass and I wasn't really interested in the writing on the wall ... What I did learn was that if I got good on the bass I could get in a band in a hot minute. There are always a million guitar players but many fewer bassists looking for gigs.

The guys have generally appreciated the company and some even felt it was an asset per se to have me. Occasionally I would meet a guy who would be a little at odds with my participation but his apprehension generally would dissipate after the first number or two. I just treat them all like my black sheep stepbrothers, you know, the ones your Mom warned you about.

In the end though, if you want to endure you have to deliver the goods, that's my experience. When they can't see you, which is what music is essentially about, no one can tell you from Adam on bass.

all the best for you

I know a guy named Adam that plays bass....seriously...

And thank you for your thoughts. I was probably off base in my thoughts on the matter which is embarrassing since Im a female. I suppose though my view on it is based on my personal experience with it when I first started playing. I went through hell as a female bass player. It wasnt my playing/skill I swear. It was the fact that I was a girl so I was already looked at as being 'not that good' because of that. I also had to deal with the 'well its only got 4 strings so thats why you took it up little girl cause its easier then a guitar' It can also be considered that I some how ended up around a bunch of posers wanting to get a rock band up too. This time around, just as you commented, being a female has actually given me an edge as far as hooking up into a group.

And I too when I was a kid never was forced as far as stereotyped on what I should play and such because I was a girl so I didn't have that predisposed outlook about it, though sure had it tossed in my face when I started out trying to hook up into a band. It was actually part of the reason why I gave up bass (and all music playing period) eventually.

But I'm older, wiser and the hell with what others think, I picked it back up and regret that I ever put it down. Ive had band offers and sooner or later will find the group Im looking for to fit in. ^_^

[kiramdear]

You're never off base when you comment from experience. I'm sorry your formative years in music weren't more sunny for your growth; I do remember how cruel and stupid some young people can act with each other. Personally I couldn't wait to be done with the peer pressure nonsense of youth and start to find my real self.

You guys too seem to have a good attitude about the music and that's great. I encourage you to keep a thick skin, a broad outlook and your eyes on the prize.

[EagleMoon]

You're never off base when you comment from experience. I'm sorry your formative years in music weren't more sunny for your growth; I do remember how cruel and stupid some young people can act with each other. Personally I couldn't wait to be done with the peer pressure nonsense of youth and start to find my real self.

You guys too seem to have a good attitude about the music and that's great. I encourage you to keep a thick skin, a broad outlook and your eyes on the prize.

A new Rickenbacker?

[kiramdear]

+1, an excellent start and a good way to impress the guys that you are serious about bass!

[EagleMoon]

+1, an excellent start and a good way to impress the guys that you are serious about bass!

The he** with impressing them, I'm getting too old to care.

[kiramdear]

absolutely, there's only enough time left nowadays to follow my muse and look neither left nor right

[Starscream]

You're never off base when you comment from experience. I'm sorry your formative years in music weren't more sunny for your growth; I do remember how cruel and stupid some young people can act with each other. Personally I couldn't wait to be done with the peer pressure nonsense of youth and start to find my real self.

You guys too seem to have a good attitude about the music and that's great. I encourage you to keep a thick skin, a broad outlook and your eyes on the prize.

Oh if you only knew the lack of encouragement I got in my formative years when I was first playing bass. I was just in a conversation about that on TB in PMs about that actually. It was not pretty and I guess I was somehow surrounded by 'good ole boys' in the making and that just made it worse. LOL

But this time around I love that I stand out with my style and I do have my eye on the prize be it local gigging or internet or whatever.

And yes got my eyes on a Ric in jetglo too for that matter. LOL

And I have noticed, when you open the case, the bass that lies inside will definitely give an impression on how serious you are. First time I met up with a couple of guitarists a couple months back, I flipped the lid to the case and there sat my 95 Fender P bass Special it got some looks and it showed I was serious. Ive also gotten that same response when I open the case and pull out my T40 too believe it or not. I wonder what it will be like when I open the case and pull out my Ric...thats serious!! And I am very serious this time around!!

[kiramdear]

If that black rick makes you feel more serious and spend more time playing then it's worth its weight in gold. And it doesn't hurt to impress 'em as well, in a business where image means so much, like it or not