A Different Kind of String

Speaking of bucket lists, and not waiting to have fun... wanna meet my new love?

An Ibanez SR500PB with Bartolini pickups... yes, its still a little Greek to me too, but I can't begin to tell you how much fun I'm having learning to play him/it/her.

Apparently, in any language that assigns gender to words, standard guitars are female and bass guitars are male. So there are people out there that have written page after page of comments in guitar forums stating their opinions on what type of names are appropriate to give your stringed instrument.

Yes, I do plan on naming my guitar.

My car is named "The Smoke Monster" (not because it smokes, but as a tip-of-the-hat to one of my all-time favorite TV shows), and I used to name all of my houseplants, so why not name my bass as well?

For now, I'm referring to it as "My Precious".

Who knows, that name might stick. Although I'm also considering "Mabel", contrary to the opinions of the guitar-gender-police, as well as a short list of a few other names.

I'm still a total beginner, but had so much fun with the borrowed bass that I just knew I needed to take the next step and get my own gear. I walked into the Guitar Center that day thinking I was just going to look around but make no decisions. I should have known. It was love at first sight.

I completely avoided getting it down because it was in a different price bracket than I had anticipated, but when the store employee came over to help and suggested that very one (I swear I wasn't even looking in that direction, so he had no clue), then proceeded to tell me all the reasons he would buy it himself if he was in the market... well, it was all the nudging I needed.

Now I have to work really hard to become a bassist worthy of her instrument.

P.S. that great guitar strap was found on etsy.