i think it's over

i think it's over

I'm forty-seven and I've been playing the bass since I was twelve. I've
studied with some good players: Rene Worst, Tom Hazlitt, Rick Kilburn,
David Friesen, and two lessons with Ray Brown. I've gotten to play with
some good players and make some music I'm proud of. I have pretty much
distilled my gear down to a few excellent items that don't get in the
way of my musical voice.

For the last six months I haven't had much fun playing. Years of manual
labor working in the bush, as a stagehand and recreational abuse seem to
have taken their toll and the knuckles in my right hand are never
without pain anymore. Lately my left has been getting worse too. Rather
than struggle to retain only a glimmer of my former facility I'm giving
up the bass. I've talked to doctors and I could take painkillers but
I've been down that road and think I'm better off leaving them alone.

I'm in the process of packing to move onto a boat and just now as I was
putting my Azola Deco into it's case it occurred to me I would probably
never take it out to play it again. It will kill me to have it sit in
storage.. . it needs to be played. I think it's time to pass it on but I'm
not sure how to do that. It's been the only bass I've ever truly loved
and I need to find someone who will love it like I do...I can't just put
it up on ebay. I'm at a loss here.

Re: i think it's over

On Apr 21, 9:02 pm, jeffb <rig...@shaw.c> wrote:
> I'm forty-seven and I've been playing the bass since I was twelve. I've
> studied with some good players: Rene Worst, Tom Hazlitt, Rick Kilburn,
> David Friesen, and two lessons with Ray Brown. I've gotten to play with
> some good players and make some music I'm proud of. I have pretty much
> distilled my gear down to a few excellent items that don't get in the
> way of my musical voice.
>
> For the last six months I haven't had much fun playing. Years of manual
> labor working in the bush, as a stagehand and recreational abuse seem to
> have taken their toll and the knuckles in my right hand are never
> without pain anymore. Lately my left has been getting worse too. Rather
> than struggle to retain only a glimmer of my former facility I'm giving
> up the bass. I've talked to doctors and I could take painkillers but
> I've been down that road and think I'm better off leaving them alone.
>
> I'm in the process of packing to move onto a boat and just now as I was
> putting my Azola Deco into it's case it occurred to me I would probably
> never take it out to play it again. It will kill me to have it sit in
> storage.. . it needs to be played. I think it's time to pass it on but I'm
> not sure how to do that. It's been the only bass I've ever truly loved
> and I need to find someone who will love it like I do...I can't just put
> it up on ebay. I'm at a loss here.

I have no idea of the physical condition of your hands so all I can
say is take some time off, 3 months, 6 months. Let things drift,
perculate, ferment, rot, etc. Stay mindful as things change, heal,
are missed, mourned, regenerate, return. While you are doing that buy
some CosaminDS.

Re: i think it's over

On Apr 21, 5:02 pm, jeffb <rig...@shaw.c> wrote:
> I'm forty-seven and I've been playing the bass since I was twelve. I've
> studied with some good players: Rene Worst, Tom Hazlitt, Rick Kilburn,
> David Friesen, and two lessons with Ray Brown. I've gotten to play with
> some good players and make some music I'm proud of. I have pretty much
> distilled my gear down to a few excellent items that don't get in the
> way of my musical voice.
>
> For the last six months I haven't had much fun playing. Years of manual
> labor working in the bush, as a stagehand and recreational abuse seem to
> have taken their toll and the knuckles in my right hand are never
> without pain anymore. Lately my left has been getting worse too. Rather
> than struggle to retain only a glimmer of my former facility I'm giving
> up the bass. I've talked to doctors and I could take painkillers but
> I've been down that road and think I'm better off leaving them alone.
>
> I'm in the process of packing to move onto a boat and just now as I was
> putting my Azola Deco into it's case it occurred to me I would probably
> never take it out to play it again. It will kill me to have it sit in
> storage.. . it needs to be played. I think it's time to pass it on but I'm
> not sure how to do that. It's been the only bass I've ever truly loved
> and I need to find someone who will love it like I do...I can't just put
> it up on ebay. I'm at a loss here.

Sorry to hear that. Have been thinking about similar issues,
especially how to pass on a valued instrument. Two options have come
to me:
1) Pass it along to a good friend--maybe not local, but somebody you
know will take care of it and give it the type of home you would;

2) Check out the local high school bands, talk to the instructors and
see if there's a deserving student who's unable to afford a quality
instrument. You could at least get a tax write-off for that.

hth, and best of luck,
bds

Re: i think it's over

On 21 Apr, 18:02, jeffb <rig...@shaw.c> wrote:
> I'm forty-seven and I've been playing the bass since I was twelve. I've
> studied with some good players: Rene Worst, Tom Hazlitt, Rick Kilburn,
> David Friesen, and two lessons with Ray Brown. I've gotten to play with
> some good players and make some music I'm proud of. I have pretty much
> distilled my gear down to a few excellent items that don't get in the
> way of my musical voice.
>
> For the last six months I haven't had much fun playing. Years of manual
> labor working in the bush, as a stagehand and recreational abuse seem to
> have taken their toll and the knuckles in my right hand are never
> without pain anymore. Lately my left has been getting worse too. Rather
> than struggle to retain only a glimmer of my former facility I'm giving
> up the bass. I've talked to doctors and I could take painkillers but
> I've been down that road and think I'm better off leaving them alone.
>
> I'm in the process of packing to move onto a boat and just now as I was
> putting my Azola Deco into it's case it occurred to me I would probably
> never take it out to play it again. It will kill me to have it sit in
> storage.. . it needs to be played. I think it's time to pass it on but I'm
> not sure how to do that. It's been the only bass I've ever truly loved
> and I need to find someone who will love it like I do...I can't just put
> it up on ebay. I'm at a loss here.

That's a sad thought indeed. All the more so because I'm not much
younger than you. I injured my wrist lately, and that came as one of
the occasional slaps upside the head that sidelining injuries will
come more frequently, not less.

The good news: You'll be living on a boat, in one of the world's great
cities, and your hands are still plenty good enough (assuming you're
into this kind of thing) to handle that wheel (or tiller?) to take you
out to the Inside Passage, or the Gulf Islands, or the San Juans, or
to Victoria, or down to Seattle, or... yeah, I'm a bit jealous of
that.

I wish I could take that bass off your hands, but I don't deserve it.
I'm sure you'll find a good home for her. And I'm glad you spent some
time here.

Best,

-jb

Re: i think it's over

jeffb <rigger@shaw.c> wrote:
> I'm forty-seven and I've been playing the bass since I was twelve.
> I've studied with some good players: Rene Worst, Tom Hazlitt, Rick
> Kilburn, David Friesen, and two lessons with Ray Brown. I've gotten
> to play with some good players and make some music I'm proud of. I
> have pretty much distilled my gear down to a few excellent items that
> don't get in the way of my musical voice.
>
> For the last six months I haven't had much fun playing. Years of
> manual labor working in the bush, as a stagehand and recreational
> abuse seem to have taken their toll and the knuckles in my right hand
> are never without pain anymore. Lately my left has been getting worse
> too. Rather than struggle to retain only a glimmer of my former
> facility I'm giving up the bass. I've talked to doctors and I could
> take painkillers but I've been down that road and think I'm better
> off leaving them alone.
>
> I'm in the process of packing to move onto a boat and just now as I
> was putting my Azola Deco into it's case it occurred to me I would
> probably never take it out to play it again. It will kill me to have
> it sit in storage.. . it needs to be played. I think it's time to pass
> it on but I'm not sure how to do that. It's been the only bass I've
> ever truly loved and I need to find someone who will love it like I
> do...I can't just put it up on ebay. I'm at a loss here.

Hang onto the bass for at least a few months.

I'm almost 60, and there was a time several years ago where I thought I
was in the same situation you are. As it turns out, either the pain has
lessened or my brain has rewired itself so that the sensation of pain is
mostly shoved to the background. If I think about it I'll notice it
when I'm playing, but mostly I don't think about it anymore. The
exception is certain chord forms on guitar; if I'm playing a song with a
lot of them, that pain will come back in my left hand. (Susan can vouch
for this if she's reading [see: "Long Train Running"].)

Anyway, I don't mean to minimize what you're going through, but unless
you're certain that it's progressive, I wouldn't act rashly.

Re: i think it's over

Dear Jeff,
I have been where you are at a couple of times, so if you don't mind,
I would like to pass on a little advice. Don't get rid of your prized
bass just yet.. If you are like me, amps, cabs, and all the peripheral
that goes with it, are expendable and easily replaced. But that one
(or in my case few) basses or guitars that hold special meaning are
not easily replaceable. If it comes down to economics, and you need to
sell, then that's the choice you make. But if you're not needing cash,
or the extra room, why not hold on to your prized possession a while
longer. There is nothing wrong about feeling sentimental about an
object that has brought you happiness. If nothing else, consider it an
art object that will only appreciate in value. If, down the road, you
still feel your playing days are over, the right person will somehow
come along that you can "pass the torch" so to speak.
Just my two cents worth and nothing more.
Cc

Re: i think it's over

On Apr 21, 9:02 pm, jeffb <rig...@shaw.c> wrote:
> I'm forty-seven and I've been playing the bass since I was twelve. I've
> studied with some good players: Rene Worst, Tom Hazlitt, Rick Kilburn,
> David Friesen, and two lessons with Ray Brown. I've gotten to play with
> some good players and make some music I'm proud of. I have pretty much
> distilled my gear down to a few excellent items that don't get in the
> way of my musical voice.
>
> For the last six months I haven't had much fun playing. Years of manual
> labor working in the bush, as a stagehand and recreational abuse seem to
> have taken their toll and the knuckles in my right hand are never
> without pain anymore. Lately my left has been getting worse too. Rather
> than struggle to retain only a glimmer of my former facility I'm giving
> up the bass. I've talked to doctors and I could take painkillers but
> I've been down that road and think I'm better off leaving them alone.
>
> I'm in the process of packing to move onto a boat and just now as I was
> putting my Azola Deco into it's case it occurred to me I would probably
> never take it out to play it again. It will kill me to have it sit in
> storage.. . it needs to be played. I think it's time to pass it on but I'm
> not sure how to do that. It's been the only bass I've ever truly loved
> and I need to find someone who will love it like I do...I can't just put
> it up on ebay. I'm at a loss here.

Jeff, I'm stunned, saddened, and speechless.
But I have always said, if it's not fun it's certainly not worth it.

I hope you can find a way to moderate the finality of your current
feelings... To rediscover/reinvent the love...

Re: i think it's over

Just looked at a couple of photos of Deco basses and now I AM
convinced it is fine art!!

Re: i think it's over

On Apr 21, 8:02 pm, jeffb <rig...@shaw.c> wrote:
> I'm forty-seven and I've been playing the bass since I was twelve.

I can't imagine you being a person who gives up.
There are new arthritis meds every day.
You will have to have a doctor who will give you different meds.
I bet one would work.
I got so many things wrong with me that I should never get out of bed
plus I'm old.
I ain't giving up.....ever!

Pt

Re: i think it's over

I've got 2 herniated discs, nerve damage to both arms, a "trick" hip that's
probably gonna need replacement, osteoarthritis in my plucking finger, an
old broken wrist that never set properly, and some joint shit starting in my
LH thumb...and that's just the OUTSIDE stuff...

Not trying to have a "swinging dick" contest; the point is, I understand.
Many here may not believe this, but I've come close to quitting bass several
times myself.

What you need to do is separate your health concerns from the music. If you
really and truly want to play music, then you will either rehabilitate
yourself to the point where you can play, modify your instrument or your
technique, or play another instrument altogether.

You know as well as I that you don't need anyone to tell you how to do
that - Diet, exercise, smarter practice, lighter strings, different musical
genre, etc.

However, if you have reacheda dead end creatively and spiritually, or found
a whole different path altogether, then the weight of "having" to play
becomes an albatross around your neck, and the injuries only make it worse.
Again, you know as well as I that there are as many ways to get out of a
creative rut as there are bass players.

But if this is more than a rut; if you feel like you've reached the end of
your journey as a musician REGARDLESS of your injuries, then perhaps it's
time to let it go.

I would keep your prized bass and a small amp in your closet for a year. If
you haven't pulled it out and used it in a year's time, and/or the desire to
play is still not there, then do what the retired symphony musicians do -
GIVE it to your best student, or someone you know who would benefit from it.
No charge, no trade, no return. You'll feel MUCH better about that than you
will ebaying it.

Good Luck either way.



"jeffb" <rigger@shaw.c> wrote in message
news:qOaPj.210891$pM4.182597@pd7urf1no...
> I'm forty-seven and I've been playing the bass since I was twelve. I've
> studied with some good players: Rene Worst, Tom Hazlitt, Rick Kilburn,
> David Friesen, and two lessons with Ray Brown. I've gotten to play with
> some good players and make some music I'm proud of. I have pretty much
> distilled my gear down to a few excellent items that don't get in the
> way of my musical voice.
>
> For the last six months I haven't had much fun playing. Years of manual
> labor working in the bush, as a stagehand and recreational abuse seem to
> have taken their toll and the knuckles in my right hand are never
> without pain anymore. Lately my left has been getting worse too. Rather
> than struggle to retain only a glimmer of my former facility I'm giving
> up the bass. I've talked to doctors and I could take painkillers but
> I've been down that road and think I'm better off leaving them alone.
>
> I'm in the process of packing to move onto a boat and just now as I was
> putting my Azola Deco into it's case it occurred to me I would probably
> never take it out to play it again. It will kill me to have it sit in
> storage.. . it needs to be played. I think it's time to pass it on but I'm
> not sure how to do that. It's been the only bass I've ever truly loved
> and I need to find someone who will love it like I do...I can't just put
> it up on ebay. I'm at a loss here.

Re: i think it's over


"jeffb"

> the knuckles in my right hand are never without pain anymore. Lately my
> left has been getting worse too.

I feel your pain - and mine too, same growing problems here.
I think: When i am no longer able to play music i will become a drummer.

I don´t think it´s mentally healthy to stop playing - a compromise could be
better.
Could you play an instrument, that is not so demanding on your hands, eg. a
fretless bassguitar?

Per

Re: i think it's over

Even if you stop playing, you'll still be a musician in your heart, right?
You may find yourself wanting another bass to plunk around on, even if you
can't do it the same as in the old days. You should keep the bass (or keep a
bass of some kind) just in case.

Re: i think it's over

I would look into acupuncture. I was extremely skeptical when I tried
it, but I was facing orthopedic surgery as the alternative, and even
the surgeon I talked to didn't recommend doing surgery except as a
very last resort. My tendinitis was pretty bad in my early twenties -
it's remained under control since.

Take some time off from the bass if you need to, try stretching
exercises, maybe glucosamine pills, possibly modify your eating/
drinking habits. See if you can get a bassist to watch you go through
your day. I had a student develop hand troubles and eventually I
figured out that the way he was working out on a stationary bicycle
was giving him hand trouble.

Maybe it is time - I am 47 myself. I came to upright later than you
after playing cello and electric bass. I love upright but I do notice
it puts a lot of wear and tear on some joints.

Good luck, and if it comes to that, I might be interested in your
Azola bass, although I hope you keep playing it.

Re: i think it's over

Keep the bass for a while, and let your body rest & recuperate, as
others have said. Music is a big part of your life, and the inspiration
and desire will come back. I promise.

I'm 60, and recently switched from mostly playing bass to mostly playing
guitar because the worship band I play in has another bass player but no
guitar player. Within a couple of months I started to feel quite a bit
of pain in my left wrist, which I soon identified as being caused by
playing a lot of barre chords, which seemed to be causing a carpal
tunnel thing. Solution? I'm using the capo a lot more lately so I
don't need them so much. :-) Significant improvement in a couple of
weeks.

The point is that I can't imagine life without making music, and I guess
I'd find a way to do it some other way if I couldn't play my guitar or
bass anymore.

--Steve

Re: i think it's over

If you really want to play you will find ways
round whatever ails you.
There are specialist physios around who help
musicians with such problems which are a lot
more common.. . es pecially amongst classical
players...than you might think.
Me? How about 2 frozen shoulders, both at
once followed by pre-cancerous bone removed
right forearm, graft and metal plate inserted etc etc.
The only time I stopped playing was when recovering from
the surgery...about a month and at no time did I take
the mindfuck painkillers prescribed....I did start playing
the moment the cast came off...good physio.
If you want to make music you will...don't sell the basses!!
I wish you luck.

--
Clive P Norris
Managing Director
Selectron (UK) Ltd
Musical Equipment Distribution.
w w w .skullstrings . com
w w w . es pguitars.co.uk
w w w .emgpickups.co.uk
w w w .tube-shop . com
w w w .coreoneproduct . com
w w w .whirlwindusa . com
w w w . es pshop.co.uk
"They laughed at Newton,
they laughed at Einstein,
but they also laughed at
Bozo the Clown."
Carl Sagan

"jeffb" <rigger@shaw.c> wrote in message
news:qOaPj.210891$pM4.182597@pd7urf1no...
> I'm forty-seven and I've been playing the bass since I was twelve. I've
> studied with some good players: Rene Worst, Tom Hazlitt, Rick Kilburn,
> David Friesen, and two lessons with Ray Brown. I've gotten to play with
> some good players and make some music I'm proud of. I have pretty much
> distilled my gear down to a few excellent items that don't get in the way
> of my musical voice.
>
> For the last six months I haven't had much fun playing. Years of manual
> labor working in the bush, as a stagehand and recreational abuse seem to
> have taken their toll and the knuckles in my right hand are never without
> pain anymore. Lately my left has been getting worse too. Rather than
> struggle to retain only a glimmer of my former facility I'm giving up the
> bass. I've talked to doctors and I could take painkillers but I've been
> down that road and think I'm better off leaving them alone.
>
> I'm in the process of packing to move onto a boat and just now as I was
> putting my Azola Deco into it's case it occurred to me I would probably
> never take it out to play it again. It will kill me to have it sit in
> storage.. . it needs to be played. I think it's time to pass it on but I'm
> not sure how to do that. It's been the only bass I've ever truly loved and
> I need to find someone who will love it like I do...I can't just put it up
> on ebay. I'm at a loss here.