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05-20-2012, 05:36 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northern Ireland | | | How many bass guitars do you need?
BACKGROUND
I am aged 59 and have been playing for 3 years. Prior to this I played for 10 years up to age 25 and then took the break. I live in Northern Ireland and have just retired and I play a lot - scales and play along to songs etc. I am in 2 bands and would join another if they would take an old fart. I have a Marcus Miller Jazz, a Yamaha 5 string which is brilliant and a Squire fretless with a Gotoh bridge which is also great.
THE PROBLEM
I want an American Fender Precision - just one of the new ones not vintage stuff. I can't sell the Marcus Miller Jazz for personal reasons and although it's a bit Marcus Millerish the Messa walkabout scout can add the necessary bottom. Point is do I need a P bass? I think "yes" because every bass player should have a P bass at one time in their life and I love the thump! And say I die without getting one - what then? I put a pillow over wife's head and she said she would go halfers if I took the pillow off. Thing is I don't think old blue lip's (as I now call her) heart is really in it. Am I being silly? Needless to say with the economy and all, bands here make Jack at gigs but I don't really mind that. I am going to look up mim comments on this site but I really want a US one. Any views on do I need another bass? Of course I can't afford it - goes without saying. Pete |
05-20-2012, 05:39 PM
|  | Registered User
sales geek Portland Music co. | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: portland or | | | How about looking for a used but not "vintage" Pbass? A bit cheaper...... |
05-20-2012, 05:40 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Grand Forks, North Dakota | | | You really only NEED one. Everyone will chime in with this and that, but really, one.
Flame away, but deep down you know I'm right.
__________________
Roscoe Century Standard Plus 5 CB Fretted (E064)
Roscoe Century Standard Plus 5 JB Fretless (E028)
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05-20-2012, 05:41 PM
|  | Talentless Bass Enthusiast | | Join Date: May 2010 Location: Philadelphia | | | Fun answer: More
Un-fun answer: "It's the player, not the bass"
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05-20-2012, 05:43 PM
|  | Registered User
Endorsing artist: Brubaker Guitars | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Gaithersburg, Md | | | If her heart's not really in it, I presonally wouldn't want the help. It might come up later.
I had a recent MIM P bass, Fiesta red, that picked up for around $300. If I were you I'd strongly consider one of them vs. a US model since cost is a factor. I didn't feel like it was a compromise over a US bass. Excellent fit and finish and it played and sounded like a nice P.
I own one P bass type bass and it's a parts bass I picked up for next to nothing. |
05-20-2012, 05:52 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing artist: Brubaker Guitars | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Gaithersburg, Md | | Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveC You really only NEED one. Everyone will chime in with this and that, but really, one.
Flame away, but deep down you know I'm right. | No, you just think you are. It's understandable but everyone is not you. 
No flame, just sincere disagreement. I like and get paid playing fretted AND fretless. I only need one if I'd just stop playing the other. But I'm a musician and IMO that's counterproductive and unecessarily restrictive. So for my needs... 
So if the OP wants a P bass vibe that's what fits. Maybe he does only need one bass but again, everyone is not in the same situation.
Last edited by Brad Johnson : 05-20-2012 at 05:55 PM.
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05-20-2012, 05:56 PM
|  | Registered User
Owner, Premier Bass Guitars | | Join Date: May 2011 Location: Superior, Colorado | | Q: How many basses do you need?
A: One more than you have 
You only live once...get the P.
Dan |
05-20-2012, 05:56 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Missouri | | | So far, I need 3. Fretted, fretless and 12 string... although TB nearly has me brainwashed into thinking I need a P bass with flats too. Oh! and a tort guard! (very important that.) |
05-20-2012, 06:03 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2010 Location: Due West of Groovy, Daddy-O | | | My accountant says I have enough.
My O.C.D. says there is no such thing. |
05-20-2012, 06:06 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Jamestown, NY | | | I like to have a few - I think it's good for the ears and for variations.
I suppose the perfect circle would be a J, P, humbucker-style, Ric, semi-hollow, acoustic, fretless, 5'er, 6'er, active, passive, and 8-string.
__________________ Quote:
Originally Posted by two fingers I imagine playing that thing is like having several girlfriends at once. It probably seemed like fun at first but........ | |
05-20-2012, 06:48 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Redondo Beach, California | | | I have 7 basses. I mainly play two of them and the rest have been getting dusty. I was actually thinking of selling a few. |
05-20-2012, 06:50 PM
|  | Lone Wolf Miner | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minnesota | | | How many basses do I need??
ALL OF THEM! |
05-20-2012, 09:44 PM
|  | You Are Getting Sleepy... | | Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Fort Wayne, IN | | | How many basses do I need?
Well, one, for sure. With less than one, I would have trouble playing bass at all, and there is no way I could play bass in my band. I mean, the guitarist let me borrow his brother's Washburn, but BOY DID THAT SUCK!!
So I definitely need one.
But I kind of need two, because for some songs, I use the five string, plus, having two on stage helps me get more girls. (that's a joke)
So I probably need two.
But both my basses are Fender Jazzes, and I wish I had a Rickenbacker too, just so I do, so I might need three.
I think with three, I'd be good, but a Gibson SG style bass would really add a lot to the collection, plus I've never even played a designer bass, and I've always wanted to get a really beat up one and refinish it, plus I've always wanted to try and build one.
So I think if I had about nine, I might be getting close.
What was the question, again?
__________________ Fender Jazz Bass Club #762 Black N Maple Club #438 There Will Never be a Venue that Charges ME to Play Club #1
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What song is it you wanna hear?
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05-20-2012, 09:50 PM
|  | 6 String Nut | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Santa Barbara, CA | | | I don't need to have any basses, but I like to have them.
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05-20-2012, 09:50 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NYC, Inwood. | | | I have four. I need four. |
05-20-2012, 09:52 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: WI, USA | | | OP: You don't need it; you want it. If you can afford it, get it.
/thread
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05-24-2012, 07:59 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Nashville, TN | | | just one - p with flats baby |
05-24-2012, 08:19 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: West Babylon, New York | | | I have been a Jazz Bass guy forever. I didn't think I needed a P bass until I got one.
My point is YES you need a P LOL. Personally I wouldn't get a new American P bass. They are way overpriced for what you get IMO. I would look at CV Squier P Bass before a new American Fender.
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05-24-2012, 08:29 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH | | I have more than I need and not as many as I want.
As the old saying goes, "when your outgo exceeds your income your upkeep will be your downfall". I have a long way to go before my outgo exceeds my income so for now I'm still buying basses, needed or not.  |
05-24-2012, 09:54 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveC You really only NEED one. Everyone will chime in with this and that, but really, one.
Flame away, but deep down you know I'm right. | You know, when you talk about your average, everyday Joe like myself I couldn't agree with you more. While I'm a decent player I'm no pro and my only gig these days (due to lack of free time) is at church. But I have three basses that I use there. Not all for the same service, but depending on what kind of set or what songs we play determines what bass I'll use.
If I feel a 5 string bass will add to the song(s) then I'll use it. Turns out that this Sunday the songs we're playing really don't need a 5'er so I'm using my P bass. We also play acoustic sets on occasion and for those my fretless bass really seems to hit the spot. All very handy tools to have.
But if forced to pick one? Tough one because I play them all when I can.
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