I starting playing bass in 1994. It was a big part of my identity as a teenager. I was in a BAND. You know the feeling? I played in the folk group and choir in high school. It was a badge of honor to lug my bass and amp down the hallway in the morning once a week, to the awe of the cool kids who thought all I could do was make weird art and not suck at gym in the baseball unit. I met two of my best friends through playing (through another friend who introduced us) in bands, and I met my wife in 1997 at a party we played at. This used to be something very very important to me.
But my playing has dropped off a lot lately, largely due to the whole apartment living thing. I mean, you can’t just grab an electric bass and giant amp (and my amp is very very very loud), tune it and play like a mandolin in an apartment in the city. Not unless you hate your neighbors. And unplugged electric basses are no fun at all. I picked up mandolin in 2001 when I started grad school. I thought I’d play quietly and still be able to enjoy making music. But I’ve honestly never put the effort into learning it well enough to be able to really jam. I mean, with D, P and I, we can pick a key and jam for an hour without stopping. I could never do that on a mandolin — only on bass.
I’ve always wanted an acoustic bass. But they were either pieces of crap (i.e., acoustic guitars with longer necks) or mega-expensive. This is still largely the case, and obviously, an AmeriCorps/grad student/expectant dad can’t drop $2,000 on an acoustic bass guitar. There are some relatively affordable acoustic basses on the market these days, ones that are designed to be basses from the start. And I have a bit of birthday money that I’d rather not just spend on bike tires and coffee and beer.
Plus, there’s the impending little one. Will Daddy play “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Say It Ain’t So” on a mandolin that he doesn’t really play for Baby, or will Daddy compose soft music for baby on an instrument that he’s moderately proficient at? I mean, I don’t mean to toot toot too my own horn, but I think I was a pretty good bass player. I mean, sharing whatever modest talent I have with Baby would be magical. I don’t have the time, energy or motivation to master a mandolin in the next eight months.
Plus, we don’t get to have dudely music nights anymore. With acoustics, this could be become a delicious reality again.
Look around to see if you can find a used Tacoma acoustic bass. They are really good instruments. The older ones made before Fender purchased the Tacoma Guitar Co. are professional grade instruments. Made of solic woods, not laminates.
Congratulations on deciding to buy an acoustic bass. Tacoma ABG’s are quality instruments and there are some good deals to be found for sure. I run a forum for acoustic bass guitars: htttp://www.octavebelow.com There is a lot of good info about various bass manufactures. Happy ABG hunting.