Hi, Joe.
I had a friend in college named Al who idolized Paul McCartney and played bass. He was tortured by his limitations and by the obvious fact that he would never have McCartney’s musicality, fluidity, creativity, spontaneity, or tone. He could not enjoy just playing the lines and having them come out sounding like Al.
Me, I’m a lifelong intermediate. I know music but I don’t read music close to fluidly. I sporadically produce sublime tone inside expressive lines, but I never get through a song without mistakes, or at least without a squeak, missed note, or badly strummed chord.
But I’m OK with that. The minority of the time that I play “well” is enough to put up with all the rest. I play for myself.
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1952 Martin 0-18
1977 Gurian S3R3H with Nashville strings
2018 Martin HD-28E, Fishman Aura VT Enhance
2019 Martin D-18, LR Baggs Element VTC
2021 Gibson 50s J-45 Original, LR Baggs Element VTC
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1981 Ovation Magnum III bass
2012 Höfner Ignition violin ("Beatle") bass
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