JohnKenn
 
 
Was also toying with the idea of getting a set of strings for a 6 string bass and stringing a regular guitar. Would probably have to modify the nut and make some adjustments

 
Did that when I was 14, with my oldest brother's Trutone electric. We had a set of bass machines lying around so we decided to make a bass.
Worked okay, but the farther up the neck you went, the more out-of-tune it became.

John Etheridge has a Tele-a-like with the lowest couple of strings replaced with bass ones. Not entirely sure what he tunes them to - I think E and A - but they let him add a good bass-line into some of his solo guitar stuff. It probably helps that he's a seriously good jazz guitarist.

Oh, and I mostly play guitar with fingers and bass with a pick. Usually a 1.2mm nylon Dunlop pick. Well, it worked for Lemmy....

Hi John-i picked up a Fender Precision Lyte,active with onboard eq,at Sam Ash`s in the 90`s-played all they had and this one just slotted in and it`s still my go to bass for gigs-beautiful thin neck,not unlike a Strat.(the sexist pig of a salesman said it was a "girls" bass-(tell that to Suzy Quattro)-had to replace the original bridge pickup straight away with a Fender Lace Custom as the original was so noisy but it`s still the lightest,most comfortable bass i have ever played.they are about and pretty cheap....
cheers 
 

JohnKenn
...the curse of a guitar player trying to play a bass and not screw up everything because the mental approach is still playing a 6 string, and not remotely in tune with the concept of what it takes to play a bass correctly...

 
This may or may not be helpful, but I have a particular way in which I visualise the role of bass guitar in any song's arrangement. I see the song as a road vehicle on a journey, with the rhythm (usually provided by the drums) as the engine, with the bass providing the vehicle's suspension. Each note played on the bass represents a bump in the road. The size of the bump depends on the pitch; the lower the note, the bigger the bump. The shorter the notes, the rougher the terrain and the bumpier the ride. Long high notes represent a smooth ride, maybe freewheeling. Smoothest of all are those sections without any bass playing (unless some other instrument is playing a similar role). Maybe this all seems a bit quirky, but it works for me.

Kev, webbs, tlw,
 
Thank you for sharing. Rough road ahead is getting more clear. I really hate hard work. Got to get rid of my lazy guitar indiscretions if I am ever to play a credible bass line. Almost as much mind set as strength in the hands, maybe more.
 
@ Mesh, the Rodney Dangerfield pix reminded me of my favorite line of his.
 
"I gets no respect. I was six years old before I realized that Alpo doesn't make kid food."
 
John

JohnKenn
Rough road ahead is getting more clear. I really hate hard work. Got to get rid of my lazy guitar indiscretions if I am ever to play a credible bass line. Almost as much mind set as strength in the hands, maybe more.
 

 
I'm assuming you're talking about motivating yourself for practice?  Do you watch any TV?  I tend to find the couch an hour or so before bedtime, watch some TV with the lady...with my guitar or bass in my lap.  Just fiddling with it mostly, and then during commercial breaks (which are generally several minutes) really work on it - scales, or some riff, or whatever you're trying to practice and strengthen.  When the program comes back on, relax until the next commercial break.  
 
Just an idea.  I hate for things to feel like work and I'm not real motivated to sit down for an hour straight and work on scales or something, but I find it no problem at all to practice for 5 minutes or so at a time, over and over, throughout the evening. YMMV.  
 
 

Voda,
Good advice to get past the grunge work. Don't watch TV, but shorter burst a good idea, then build up from there. Thank you. Hands starting to ache already.
John

In a Flea video he says, with practice comes comfort and strength, and comfort and strength is what you need to become a good musician. I try to pick up the bass everyday, and really notice it in my tone when I have left it for a while.
 
I iike this guy for his focus on vocabulary and laid back approach
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTLM0C5Acp-0xi4ZEb-mSQg
 
This guy for his enthusiasm and encouragement, and pushing technique without becoming overwhelming (he als reminds me of my best friend in ways who as plays bass very well), I particularly liked this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgle3nd2gOc
 
I find Scott's lessons often above my level, but I imagine if I subscribed to his courses he would have lads of good content. I keep returning to this video and agree with his sentiment abut the value of walking bass lines in progressing in playing non waiking basslines. I know I need to focus more on chord tones, and this will help get them under my fingers,  and it also helps with including chromatic approach notes in a meaningful way. (He does seem t plug his courses more and more which is a becoming annoying)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ilh4uMAdss8
 
I'm on the fence with this channel, partly because I find his shimmying of his shoulders like a school girl flirting with my older brother a bit distracting. 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFaQQPCAUkyG3kcTP0TeGag