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Just as the topic line says, who made you pick up the bass in the first place-if anyone? I looked around a bit and couldn't find a topic like this, but if there is one I'm sorry for missing it and being repetitive.

But anyway, the question. A lot of bassists, myself included, though perhaps not all, were inspired by one particular person. Some didn't know who that person was, but that usually applies to older bassists that grew up listening to James Jamerson and Carol Kay, etc. without knowing who they were. Then there are those who know exactly who it was. Geezer Butler for instance said he was a rhythm guitarist until he saw Jack Bruce of Cream play, and then realized what a bass could DO!

So, my question to all of you is: who was it that you heard playing and thought "wow, I want to do THAT!" or something similar? Who made you pick up the bass instead of some other instrument? It doesn't necessarily have to be an artist, this is just the framework of the topic-and I know some people probably just thought it would be cool to play bass instead of something else.

For me, it was Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath without question. He's not necessarily my favorite bassist now, though he's up there, but it was his playing that made me think I wanted to play bass. I can't really explain how profound of an impact he had on me when I was starting out. There are a lot of bassists who have inspired me over the years, but Geezer was the first.

Now, who was your's? If it's more than one equally, that's fine too-I'm just curious.

yeah, probably Les.

And a few random others.

mic todd for coheed and cambria helped XD

Well, when i first started my Nirvana obbsession, it was Krist Novoselic. I just heard Sliver and Stay Away and Hairspray Queen and they all had awsome bass lines and i just though how awsome it would be to play and so i did razz If it wasnt for Nirvana and their simple fun awesome bass lines, i dont think i ever would have played bass smile

my high school music teacher actually, and like

alot of my friends saying... yeh, play bass

cos i was really tall, my friends thought it would suit me

and i went into high thinking playing in a band would be the bomb

and i said, i'll play guitar

cos i didnt know much

and my music teacher was like

play bass

theres a desperate need for bassists

and it seemed like i'd play in a band easier if i played bass

so i thought about it

then my guitar teacher tol dme my fingers were too big for most guitars

then brought in his American vintage 70's P bass

i had a play of it

and i fell in love

he showed me how to play a twelve bar blues on it and stuff

and i had been saving for an electric guitar

but i went out and got my first bass

i picked up the cheapest bass they had, cos i wanted an amp aswell

but it was a lefty... and i didnt realise

then he showed me the two cheapest he had left

(it was like a 60% off sale so not many were left)

they were two monterey Jazz bass's, one had a stained pice neck and a pale pine body

the other stained pine body and neck, so i picked that one

the guy had a play of it

said... wow, didnt know they made em that good, and the only problem i've ever had with it, is

it wieghed like, 10 kilos. (thats about... 20ish punds. or more)

now i have a Fender Jag, its like, half the weight

much easier to play

and gets me the perfect sound

next thing i want is either

an Envelope filter, an Ampeg SVT Classic or a Re-issue head, or a Musicman Stingray 4

cool

been playing a little over two years now

Geddy Lee.

Flea, Les Claypool, Geezer Butler, and all the random artists you find when you search "slap bass" on YouTube.

Justin Chancellor, Cliff Burton, and Toshiya

Fieldy from korn inspired me to pick up a bass, but Troy Sanders inspires me to be better.