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Originally Posted by Ken Smith
Do you do this for 20 years without stopping? How do you expect to excel the aging process with all these gimmicks?
Remember the song? "Breaking- in Is Hard To Do" .. 
My method? I just buy old Basses and get them fixed up, period. My 3/4 Shen is 10 years old and my 7/8ths is about 6. The Lionhead from Jeff is about 3 1/2 etc.. They all sound their age. My Martini is 88 and Gilkes is 193 and they both sound their age as well despite their young looks.
Being smart and having experience is two different things. Doing the right thing to vibrate your Bass is fine if you can live long enough to witness the change.
If you can afford a House or Car and/or hobbies and vices, then adjust your priorities and try to get an older investment grade Bass. I don't see it happening any other way. |
I have one Ken- and it sounds great. I am not telling him that a "new" bass will sound anything but "new".
I believe that each bass, where it is in its own progression has a maximum volume and tone production capability. What I am suggesting is how to get the most out of that instrument at that particular time in its progression. However, if you don't believe me- try it. Try it on one of your 200 year old English Basses. Do it for one week solid, about 5-10 minutes a day. Make it part of your practice routine, as long tones.
Your bow arm will improve, and your tone production on that instrument will improve. I also think that the amount of vibrations you are producing will positively affect the sound- in the long run. There is no instant fix.
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Being smart and having experience is two different things. Doing the right thing to vibrate your Bass is fine if you can live long enough to witness the change.
I have both, as well as you. Some of us are younger, Ken. We may see the difference in our lifetimes.
Also, some of us keep a bass for 30 or 40 years without buying and selling. (or at least plan to)
As I said, give it a whirl.
Brian