What to do, not inspired.

[spencer]

I used to love playing bass, I would play it all day whenever I got the chance after school or after work. I always had new gear coming in and old going out. But all that changed when I lost my job for 7 months... I quit at this restaurant where I was making 300-400 a week. I figured I would find another job, got sick of serving. I also had just got a girlfriend at the time and she lost her job too. She was living with me. So we pretty much stayed home everyday trying not to spend money, I would go out and look for a job and always come up short. I had a little bit of a credit card balance about 800 so I sold a few things to pay for it, one was my amp and the other was my laptop.

Since then I havent been able to play bass since I had no amp. I also was pushed away from my church for my girlfriend living with me which I don't agree with, but she has no place to go and im trying to move out now to go live with a friend, untill I marry her. So I have no reason to play anymore since I can't play at the church. Also so much time has gone by that I have lost alot of it, I still remember notes but don't remember chords or scales or keys, I lost my ability to improvise and Im not so quick with my ears anymore.

Im now working construction making 1000 a week after taxes. I work 60 hours a week so I don't have much time to play, Im gone from 5 in the morning to 5 at night, and then I have to take care of something and be ready for the next day by 9:00 when I go to sleep. Im only off on sundays and thats when I go to church.

I tried playing but im not as good as I once was, plus I don't find enjoyment in playing bass too much unless its jazz and im not so good with that. I have been playing drums alot lately since its the only thing I couldn't sell since it wasn't mine and I think its pretty fun.

I need to decide what to do because I can sell my bass as I really need the money..

Im in debt 4,000 and am trying to buy my girlfriend a car as a surprise, she has never had a car. I could use the money from my bass and thought I would miss it I don't know if I would have time to play it.

Any imput?

 

[JimB52]

Times change, people change, wants and needs and desires change. I stopped playing bass for 6 or 7 years, but never sold my bass. When I was ready to play again, there it was.

 

[fidooda]

Times change, people change, wants and needs and desires change. I stopped playing bass for 6 or 7 years, but never sold my bass. When I was ready to play again, there it was.

+1 inspiration can come back anytime. Personnaly i try to never sell music gear (especially basses) that doesn't lose value for anything that will lose tons of value over time (cars, computers or other technology related things).

good luck, i hope things get better for you real quick.

 

[MrMusashi]

sometimes you have to sacrifice some to stay floating, seems like the bass is the victim this time..

i would recommend you not to sell your bass.. esp to fund another money guzzler. like its been said, when you are ready again the bass will be there

MrM

ps: this church thing.. perhaps god wouldnt be mad at you if you stayed home on sunday and rest instead? a 60 hour week with hard labour sounds like it needs a pause to recover before doing it all over again..

 

[adouglas]

The real question is, how special is your bass? If it's a 30th as is suggested by your avatar, then I'd say KEEP IT because when the urge strikes again (and it will), you're not going to find another.

Having said that...basses are mere objects. It's just STUFF and you should never let it rule your life.

If you really, truly are hard up for cash right now, then you can always get another bass. I'm only recommending hanging onto a 30th because it's such a special instrument.

But consider...that car is going to last what, five years? That bass will last a lifetime. Which is the better use of your resources? Take the long view.

And...recognizing that playing music is a positive, creative activity, something that is personally enriching and rewarding, and that can spread enjoyment to others, is a sign of maturity and responsibility. Keeping something like that in your life will make a good impression on your GF, and her parents.

Regarding inspiration...it will return. Someday you will want to play again. It might not happen in months, or even years. It might take decades. But once you've done it, and enjoyed yourself...you'll be back. Count on it.

Similar story: Back in high school I was on the rifle team. I was pretty good, too. Came in second in the state one year, and had a really fine (Olympic-quality) target rifle. But after I got married it just got parked in the attic, where it stayed for over 20 years. Different priorities.

Earlier this year I realized that I missed the precision and skill of target shooting, so I pulled it out, cleaned it up and have been having a great time ever since. I'm glad I never got rid of it. I would have, too...I was planning on donating it to the school. But political correctness killed the rifle team.

I literally didn't think about the thing for years on end. But sure enough...I came back to it.

 

[spencer]

Well its not a 30th, its a sparkle red stingray which I love, also I wouldnt be selling it to pay for the car, As I already have the down payment for that and am waiting on the loan for the rest today. My problem is this 4,000$ of debt, I want it gone. I make 1000 a week and dont have many bills but it I want it gone now... And I don't play this bass too much anymore.... Im gonna go try right now we'll see.

Also, I don't feel like it makes God happy when I go to church, I know better, its not something that I do for him and he most likely couldnt care less, its just something I need in my life and what I base my life around and I need the community.

 

[adouglas]

Sparkles are even more rare than 30ths!

$4k in debt isn't all that much. Focus on it, change your lifestyle for a while and it'll go away fast.

When I got laid off a few years back I was in the hole WAY deeper than that. I simply made it my number-one priority to kill that debt, and I did...a lot sooner than I would have thought possible. Every time I got even twenty bucks to spare, it went to the debt so I couldn't spend it on anything else. I called it "Whack-A-Mole" after the arcade game.

Try that for awhile and if you get stuck...then sell the bass.

It stinks that your church isn't more open to your choices, because you come across as a good guy with the right priorities. To me, Christianity should be all about inclusiveness and community, not shutting people out. That spirit is all too often lacking.

But that's another thread. No, that's another FORUM.

 

[T-bone]

adouglas is a wise man (much smarter than he looks ). Great advise!

Similar story: Back in high school I was on the rifle team. I was pretty good, too. Came in second in the state one year, and had a really fine (Olympic-quality) target rifle.

note to self - never piss off adouglas.

tbone

 

[adouglas]

adouglas is a wise man (much smarter than he looks ).

Word.

Never be afraid to look the fool. I, being a fool, am very comfortable with this concept.

 

[spencer]

It stinks that your church isn't more open to your choices, because you come across as a good guy with the right priorities. To me, Christianity should be all about inclusiveness and community, not shutting people out. That spirit is all too often lacking.

But that's another thread. No, that's another FORUM.

Thanks for the help, I suppose I may just try that. Also its not so much my churches fault, its a thing between me and my youth pastor, there is some truths to both sides, she could have gone live with them, but she really didn't want to do that, just personal preference. We also both told them at the time we were just talking, that we didn't feel we were ready for a relationship, mainly because of personal preferences and wanting to tell them what we thought they wanted to hear. We weren't actually thinking so much about God as we were just making them and ourselves happy. I would preferred to have had a good income, spent more time getting closer to God and had enough money to build a home before I pursued a relationship, but I suppose this is one of those times where I didn't get what I wanted even though it seems like it would have been more "perfect."

She has had a bad past growing up, always being beat horribly by parents, starved, locked in her roof for weeks at a time. Got her nose broken by her dad numerous times, and been beat till she was unconscious a few times, then had a boyfriend who like most guys are never satisfied with her appearance. Let me tell you this girl is the sweetest and most beautiful girl I have ever met.

As soon as I get her car [plan on flying out to florida thursday to pick it up and surprise her] I plan on moving from my VERY NICE home with music room, inground pool and jacuzzi [lol] to a trailer with my friend, just so I can get my life back on track with God and give us some distance to focus more on him before I marry her.

Thanks for the help guys, Im going to keep the bass and hopefully find another church where I can just start all over.

 

[maddog]

Sounds like you are stressed. Try some new things and find small joys that fit your schedule. Don't worry about not finding the joy you used to unless you find none at all. Be open to change and new things. Ultimately, you have to make your own path. Keep that in mind when people give you advice.

 

[strummer]

Im in debt 4,000 and am trying to buy my girlfriend a car as a surprise, she has never had a car. I could use the money from my bass and thought I would miss it I don't know if I would have time to play it.

Any imput?

I am sorry, but I have to comment on this first. Do not buy a car! A car does not only cost money to buy, it also costs money to maintain, and money is what you are short on at the moment.
If you need the money to eat, sure sell the bass, there's plenty basses around and you can always get another bass. At the same time, playing does not cost any money, and since you like playing jazz who cares if you personally think you suck at it? I play stuff at home I wouldn't even share with my best friend, it stinks so bad, but I enjoy it.
Music can be a great therapy if you just let it.

 

[spencer]

I am sorry, but I have to comment on this first. Do not buy a car! A car does not only cost money to buy, it also costs money to maintain, and money is what you are short on at the moment.
If you need the money to eat, sure sell the bass, there's plenty basses around and you can always get another bass. At the same time, playing does not cost any money, and since you like playing jazz who cares if you personally think you suck at it? I play stuff at home I wouldn't even share with my best friend, it stinks so bad, but I enjoy it.
Music can be a great therapy if you just let it.

The car is for my girlfriend and its neccisary

 

[TNT]

Spencer,

Hang in there buddy!!

The LORD is still your hope!! I love church too, sometimes they make mistakes.

Since we can't get too political etc. . . here, just be determined. Money issues can always be resolved, by hard work (even two jobs if necessary for a short time.)

That bass is a "great goal" and reason to work to hang onto. With the Lord's strength (as I can see you know about) you can do it!!

 

[MrMusashi]

change is not always for the worse
also, it is true that its up to you to forge your future.. our advice might miss just as bad as it does when diagnosing bass problems over the internet..

but be assured, it is given with the best of intentions!

MrM

 

[bovinehost]

Have you considered drinking heavily?

 

[Aussie Mark]

I took a break from bass for 10 years and just did solo acoustic guitar gigs and some songwriting. I got back into bass around 1996 and am enjoying it more than ever now, playing with the best musicians I've ever been involved with. As others pointed out, our priorities in life change from time to time, so go with the flow and come back to bass when you feel ready.

And, if I were $4000 in debt I wouldn't be buying Monster cables

 

[Aussie Mark]

Have you considered drinking heavily?

Or a church that encourages polygamy?

 

[maddog]

would that necessitate multiple cars then?

 

[silverburst]

Have you considered drinking heavily?

My old standby, Jack-o.

I am not even going to comment on your situation. It is truly absurd, and I do not know what it has to do with MusicMan basses.