I am curious as what all instruments you played before finding the one that you enjoy the most?
Me, I started on guitar, then switched to bass. I dabbled in things like Drums (which I would love to learn how to play better), and keyboard. But with bass, I am finding that I enjoying it more. It is more fun than guitar, and kicks me better (It must be that punch you get from the low end).. Now if I could only play like some of you guys, I would have something ..
How about you guys?
How many instruments did you play before finding the one?
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f.sciarrillo
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i started playing guitar, dabbled in playing bass a lil bit but it never stuck. tried the banjo, didn't like it. i always gravitated back to guitar. it was shortly after i had started that i saw someone locally playing guitar and was like ya, i wanna do that. i've been dedicated to playing guitar ever since.
- kayla.
- kayla.
`( f e n d e r)`
I started out taking drum lessons and played drums and percussion in my early performances. In 1969, I started to play guitar and was in a band playing very simple guitar parts. When the bass player quit, I was elected to switch to bass in 1970 and have never regretted that decision as I have never been out of work since then. I took violin lessons for six years and while I got half decent, I never played it in a band. I also played keyboards for awhile but never played them in a band either.
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metalchurch
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A couple, but every guitar that I currently own is 'The One' and I love them all for what they each offer individually, and they all have their own personality and tone which is awesome because I have a full pallet of colors to paint with.
My fav guitar is my 93 KV2 though (which I built from parts that I sourced from ebay and the Jackson Forum and it cost me almost $800 but I built it to exactly what I wanted. My Charvel Fake E. Lee is probably my #2 especially since I ditched the EMG-81 for a Seymour Duncan AH1B Allen Holdsworth humbucker. That really livened that thing up a hell of alot.
I was EMG all the way, and I had either an '81 or an '85 in every guitar that I had, but lately I've been slowly converting them to passives, so I have a shit load of EMG's in a box that I m not using at the moment.
I guess my playing style has changed a little bit over the years, so what I used to think was the ultimate metal sound isnt so much like that anymore.
I've actually backed my gain off quite a bit and added more mids than what I was using, and it's really added alot of punch and clarity to my overall sound. I'm still in Eb predominately, but I have 2 guitars in standard 440, as well as one in D, and one in C#, so I guess I have most everything covered as far as what I play.
That's a great topic actually. Ask me the same thing in a few years and i'll prob have a completely different answer. LOL
I've yet to pick up a guitar and have it be what I want or sound how i want, so thats mainly why I opt to build my own, or mod whats already there, so in essence I create 'The One' everytime. LOL
My fav guitar is my 93 KV2 though (which I built from parts that I sourced from ebay and the Jackson Forum and it cost me almost $800 but I built it to exactly what I wanted. My Charvel Fake E. Lee is probably my #2 especially since I ditched the EMG-81 for a Seymour Duncan AH1B Allen Holdsworth humbucker. That really livened that thing up a hell of alot.
I was EMG all the way, and I had either an '81 or an '85 in every guitar that I had, but lately I've been slowly converting them to passives, so I have a shit load of EMG's in a box that I m not using at the moment.
I guess my playing style has changed a little bit over the years, so what I used to think was the ultimate metal sound isnt so much like that anymore.
I've actually backed my gain off quite a bit and added more mids than what I was using, and it's really added alot of punch and clarity to my overall sound. I'm still in Eb predominately, but I have 2 guitars in standard 440, as well as one in D, and one in C#, so I guess I have most everything covered as far as what I play.
That's a great topic actually. Ask me the same thing in a few years and i'll prob have a completely different answer. LOL
I've yet to pick up a guitar and have it be what I want or sound how i want, so thats mainly why I opt to build my own, or mod whats already there, so in essence I create 'The One' everytime. LOL
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metalchurch
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Perhaps I misinterpreted what your topic was about. I thought you meant how many guitars (or a given instrument) that you've played before finding 'the one'
If I may recant what I posted, and reply to your topic as I think you meant it, I'll just say that I havent played anything else but guitar. Thats what I started playing and thats what I stuck with.
If I had a good voice and vocal range, I would much rather be a vocalist to be honest with you.
Like Halford, Geoff Tate, Ripper Owens, you know the 80's screamer style.
Maybe someday, they will have a vocal effect with a Halford preset or something...til then I guess i'll just jam out with my clam out in my bedroom. Where it's safe.
If I may recant what I posted, and reply to your topic as I think you meant it, I'll just say that I havent played anything else but guitar. Thats what I started playing and thats what I stuck with.
If I had a good voice and vocal range, I would much rather be a vocalist to be honest with you.
Like Halford, Geoff Tate, Ripper Owens, you know the 80's screamer style.
Maybe someday, they will have a vocal effect with a Halford preset or something...til then I guess i'll just jam out with my clam out in my bedroom. Where it's safe.
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f.sciarrillo
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I'm the first to admit I stink at guitar, despite having put thousands upon thousands of hours into it, since 1976. My hands were small to begin with, and I smashed my left index fingertip off once (they re-attached it, but there's not much feeling in it), so I'm never going to be much better than I am.
I started playing harmonica in '87, basically because I was looking for something not alot of others played, so I could compete. I put a LOT of hours in it, too, but it's mostly heart and soul, instead of technique.
Lap steel/dobro was kind of the same deal, I wanted to play something few others did. I'm not a technical whiz at it, either, but I like it alot.
Good thread!
I started playing harmonica in '87, basically because I was looking for something not alot of others played, so I could compete. I put a LOT of hours in it, too, but it's mostly heart and soul, instead of technique.
Lap steel/dobro was kind of the same deal, I wanted to play something few others did. I'm not a technical whiz at it, either, but I like it alot.
Good thread!
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bassist_25
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I played trumpet in school band, became a classically trained pianist (albeit, I'm very rusty at the keys), and also can play some guitar. Bass seemed to be the instrument that I exceled at, so that's been my primary instrument for the past 15 years. Plus, my father was a bass player, so I had my own personal in-house teacher growing up.
As far as finding "The One" actual instrument - Up until my early 20s, I had been playing a lot of mid-level instruments - stuff like Ibanez Soundgears. I eventually bought a used Carvin LB75 off of Ebay. Ironically, the gentleman whom I bought it off of was actually from Lancaster...very nice guy. It's just one of those instruments that has mojo from the moment you pick it up. I'd describe the tone as a cross between a Jazz Bass and a Spector. It has the lean punch of a Jazz, but also has the pianoesque quality of a Spector. People who have played it have then offered to buy it off of me because they dig it so much. I played it all throughout college and eventually bought some other basses, including other Carvins, but nothing quite has the mojo as this one. Aside from a very small imperfection on the headstock, it was pristine (or cherry
) when I bought it. Now, it has backbuckle rash all over the back, dings on the headstock, oxidation on parts of the bridge from my sweat, finish warmping on the back contour from a specific guitar stand, and words on the back that I've personally carved into there. That ain't no factory relic model. That's from seeing the stage hundreds of times. It's one of the most consistently good sounding basses I've ever played too. I've plugged it into everything from hifi transparent rack systems to vintage tube amps to DIs straight to the desk, and it always sounds good.
I know it sounds like I'm bragging or gushing here, but I've never been a materialistic person. This instrument is the only material possession in the world that I care about.
From a gig a few weeks ago:
I honestly believe that, regardless of how many instruments you own, every instrumentalist needs a specific piece that is their "Number One."
As far as finding "The One" actual instrument - Up until my early 20s, I had been playing a lot of mid-level instruments - stuff like Ibanez Soundgears. I eventually bought a used Carvin LB75 off of Ebay. Ironically, the gentleman whom I bought it off of was actually from Lancaster...very nice guy. It's just one of those instruments that has mojo from the moment you pick it up. I'd describe the tone as a cross between a Jazz Bass and a Spector. It has the lean punch of a Jazz, but also has the pianoesque quality of a Spector. People who have played it have then offered to buy it off of me because they dig it so much. I played it all throughout college and eventually bought some other basses, including other Carvins, but nothing quite has the mojo as this one. Aside from a very small imperfection on the headstock, it was pristine (or cherry
) when I bought it. Now, it has backbuckle rash all over the back, dings on the headstock, oxidation on parts of the bridge from my sweat, finish warmping on the back contour from a specific guitar stand, and words on the back that I've personally carved into there. That ain't no factory relic model. That's from seeing the stage hundreds of times. It's one of the most consistently good sounding basses I've ever played too. I've plugged it into everything from hifi transparent rack systems to vintage tube amps to DIs straight to the desk, and it always sounds good. I know it sounds like I'm bragging or gushing here, but I've never been a materialistic person. This instrument is the only material possession in the world that I care about.
From a gig a few weeks ago:
I honestly believe that, regardless of how many instruments you own, every instrumentalist needs a specific piece that is their "Number One."
"He's the electric horseman, you better back off!" - old sKool making a reference to the culturally relevant 1979 film.
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MistValkyrie
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Agreed with Paul. It really seems that there's always one instrument out of all the others that will speak to (and then speak for, to loosely quote SRV) every musician...sometimes to the chagrin of that musician.
I started on the piano at age five and played for many years, due to family problems the piano lessons got nixed. To keep me from going crazy without it, my mother bought me a harmonica to screw around with and I got pretty good at it. All the kids in my school in third grade had to learn the recorder...I don't know if that actually counts though. When I got old enough to start playing in the school band (middle school), my mother bought me the oldest, shittiest trumpet on the planet which I played grudgingly until the end of high school. Thanks to Ford Music, who welded the stupid thing together OUT OF TUNE, high school band was extremely painful and I learned to hate playing the trumpet. Still do. I had wanted to play the bass for many years before I told anyone about it. Finally, senior year of high school, my family all pitched in and got me one for my birthday; it was one of the absolutely happiest days of my life! I played the bass for years, in that time teaching myself the acoustic guitar and violin for a short time (bad idea! lol) and bought myself a keyboard and started playing again. I got carpal tunnel and had to stop playing bass, keys and guitar and bought a drum set off of a friend of mine. I taught myself how to play but it didn't really interest me. Oh, and in college I bought and mastered the tin whistle...not that it's exactly hard..lol. Anyway, long story short. I say I'm a bassist (well, more of a bassist/vocalist but I dont' know if we're counting vocals here)...I want to be a great pianist but -although I'm not bad- it's just not in the cards. The bass just speaks to me, its the one...it fits me, my personality, my style, the fact that I sometimes have hearing problems with upper registers and not the bottom, even my massive man-hands (I'm 5'9", not exactly short). It's sort of like Harry Potter...the wand chooses the wizard.
I started on the piano at age five and played for many years, due to family problems the piano lessons got nixed. To keep me from going crazy without it, my mother bought me a harmonica to screw around with and I got pretty good at it. All the kids in my school in third grade had to learn the recorder...I don't know if that actually counts though. When I got old enough to start playing in the school band (middle school), my mother bought me the oldest, shittiest trumpet on the planet which I played grudgingly until the end of high school. Thanks to Ford Music, who welded the stupid thing together OUT OF TUNE, high school band was extremely painful and I learned to hate playing the trumpet. Still do. I had wanted to play the bass for many years before I told anyone about it. Finally, senior year of high school, my family all pitched in and got me one for my birthday; it was one of the absolutely happiest days of my life! I played the bass for years, in that time teaching myself the acoustic guitar and violin for a short time (bad idea! lol) and bought myself a keyboard and started playing again. I got carpal tunnel and had to stop playing bass, keys and guitar and bought a drum set off of a friend of mine. I taught myself how to play but it didn't really interest me. Oh, and in college I bought and mastered the tin whistle...not that it's exactly hard..lol. Anyway, long story short. I say I'm a bassist (well, more of a bassist/vocalist but I dont' know if we're counting vocals here)...I want to be a great pianist but -although I'm not bad- it's just not in the cards. The bass just speaks to me, its the one...it fits me, my personality, my style, the fact that I sometimes have hearing problems with upper registers and not the bottom, even my massive man-hands (I'm 5'9", not exactly short). It's sort of like Harry Potter...the wand chooses the wizard.
"My bass feels seaworthy"
A lot of interesting responses here. 
When I was a kid, I wanted to play the drums. I used to practice along with songs on Mtv (you know, back when they actually played music) using cardboard boxes and pillows. My mom refused to buy me a drum set, saying the noise would drive her nuts, and she didn't like me touching her piano, so I started messing around with the only other instrument in the house: an old classical guitar my mom bought in Europe a long time ago, which would now be worth a fortune if my uncle hadn't put three cracks in the body. I practiced long enough to persuade her to buy me the usual cheap-ass guitar + 15 watt amp starter kit, but it was enough. I was hooked and later became thoroughly addicted. I've played nearly every day for the past twenty-five years (give or take). If I had my choice, I'd like to play some other instruments especially the violin or viola and sometimes I mess around on the piano, but the guitar will always be number for one for me.
When I was a kid, I wanted to play the drums. I used to practice along with songs on Mtv (you know, back when they actually played music) using cardboard boxes and pillows. My mom refused to buy me a drum set, saying the noise would drive her nuts, and she didn't like me touching her piano, so I started messing around with the only other instrument in the house: an old classical guitar my mom bought in Europe a long time ago, which would now be worth a fortune if my uncle hadn't put three cracks in the body. I practiced long enough to persuade her to buy me the usual cheap-ass guitar + 15 watt amp starter kit, but it was enough. I was hooked and later became thoroughly addicted. I've played nearly every day for the past twenty-five years (give or take). If I had my choice, I'd like to play some other instruments especially the violin or viola and sometimes I mess around on the piano, but the guitar will always be number for one for me.
"This above all: to thine own self be true."
~Polonius, Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'
~Polonius, Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'
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floodcitybrass
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MistValkyrie
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PanzerFaust
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