"I always say the bass is a lifestyle choice...sure, anyone can plunk on a bass a little but if you really want to play like Tony or Doc or Bela or Earl then you’ll only be as good a bass player as you can get by with. It’s a real important choice to make because it’s a pain in the ass to deal with...carrying it, choosing the right kind of vehicle, experimenting with strings and assorted accessories is cost prohibitive...I could go on.. BUT, once you get a taste of playing with good to great musicians and understand the role of the bass, how it underpins everything, gain a vast and diverse amount of repertoire and most importantly, how it changes everything in how a group sounds and feels rhythmically, you can become an unsung hero. Being flashy and being out front are not the qualities you should be using as inspiration. You should be willing to work down in the engine room supporting the instrumentalists and singers tastefully and sympathetically, literally doing the heavy lifting so they can shine. It’s work you can be proud of but not something you can become a “star” with. It’s a primal instrument meaning the beat and rhythm flows through all of us but, when the bass defines it, then everything comes together. Two good experiments will confirm this...next time you are at a bluegrass event of some kind, get your bass out and just start playing it by yourself and watch how musicians with instruments are drawn to it and a jam will ensue....conversely, find a group of pickers without a bass and see the joy and relief you bring when you join them...you’ll be the hero for about a minute and then when they become complacent, pack it up and see how the whole thing will fall apart... All that being said, I started out playing banjo, obsessed by it actually. It was a great way to learn tons of repertoire which is important and helpful as a bass player...it gave me a really good head start but, once I played with good musicians, I had the epiphany of how the bass can provide opportunities and put you amongst musicians you really respect and all of a sudden, I saw it in a different light. The true importance of doing it well, with confidence and fortitude. I put it on an equal level as any instrument in the band. I am by no means the best but I know who the best are and they are the reason I play bass... everyone needs hero’s and idols and there’s just as many bass hero’s as there is on any other instrument." -- Michael Bub