How many of you gigging bassists own only one bass?

[Lichtaffen]

Think about some of the greats from back in the 60's and 70's, they only had one bass most of the time: James Jamerson (Precision), Jerry Jemmott (Jazz), Chuck Rainey (Precision), Duck Dunn (Precision), Jaco (Jazz), Marcus Miller (Jazz).

[Duckwater]

I just have my Minarik as of right now, my other 3 basses are being indefinitely lent to some bass-less bassist friends. Haven't had any problems yet.

[Foamy]

I can't even consider not having a backup. If I were truly "gigging" and getting some cash, my first couple gigs' pay would (at the very least) go toward an SX or used Squier.
You can maintain all you want, but you can't always prevent stupid things from happening:
Bass falling over or off stand
Stepping on cord and ripping out the jack
Smacking any part of it accidentally - tuner, neck, headstock
A lot of things I can think of that you won't prevent by maintenance.

[stratovani]

I own two basses, a Squier Affinity P-Bass, and a Hofner Icon. My P-Bass is my gigging bass, and it's never let me down. Sits in the mix beautifully, has tons of thump, and is very playable. It's the M1A1 Abrams Tank of basses! The Hofner stays home for just general fooling around.

[theevilplankton]

This is a club I'm now in!

One US Precision - been down to one for a couple of months now, and what the P does is enough for now. Nothing grabs me, as nothing seems to come close.

At the moment I'm in 2 bands - 1 originals, 1 covers....gigging, but not massively, but recording as well....never had a backup before.

I think I just got a bit fed up after years of experimenting, selling, bad QC....it's just quite comforting to just play, and get to know an instrument inside out....and if it was good enough for Jaco, Chuck, JJ....!

[JimmyM]

I have 8 electrics but take only one to my gigs 95% of the time. Some gigs are fly gigs where I can only take one, but most of the time I just don't want to be bothered. If there's one thing I hate, it's switching basses during a gig.

[gunlak]

I do and I gig 2-3 times a week.

Sometimes I session for a well known local band that is tuned 1 step down, so I have to set it up to compensate for the tension.. If ever I get the means, I'd duplicate my current bass just for this. Everything spec to spec.

[jmclearnon]

I only bring 2 basses when i want to use tenor tuning and wouldn't have time to re-tune my bass all the time. Plus i use different strings on my tenor.

Apart from that i only need one. The only bad thing that happened was a batter dying in my active .... That's why i bring spares with me, 5 minutes and it was fixed no problem.

Jaco had two different basses and no back ups. Enough said lol

[wolfmancharlie]

OK , I'll play too.played a Univox jazz bass copy in the 70's, a Gibson Victory Custom in the 80's ,a MIM Fender P Bass in the 90's, my Westone Thunder One in the 2000's,and my USA Fender JP 90, with my Westone Pantera as back up in this decade.i have only used a backup for about 6 years and never used it except for a change up for a few different songs.for about 30 of those years I only needed 1 bass and only owned 1 bass. I found Talk Bass and owned around 14 basses at my high tide. I'm currently down to 7 basses and am working on thinning the herd by a couple more.i also started a guitar collection ,leftover TB GAS am currently down to 7 electrics, 5 acoustics, and 1 banjo .i mainly play just one bass,electric guitars ,depends on my mood but generally one of 3 , all of my acoustic guitars and my one banjo.I'm in the process of giving my JP90 a facelift ,then it will be my go to bass.

[Kmonk]

I usually bring 2 basses because I want different tone for different songs. I also feel better about having 2 because that way I always have a backup in case I ever have a problem with one of the basses.

[Kirk Bryant]

I own 19 basses. I have 2 go to basses for "everyday gigs" which means 80+ % of all the gigs I do. The other 10% are either Upright or frettless gigs. The 2 go to's are a 62' Fender P body with a Jazz neck and an Audere 4 band pre in Shell Pink and Gold !!!!!!!! and a 80's Fender P-Bass Lyte with Bart PJ Pu's, and Fodera 3 band Preamp.

I do break out the Tobias, Ken Smith, Jerzy Drozd etc. as needed. Wish I needed to more often haha. yea I could live with just a P or Jazz but both would really be all you need ......oh yea a frettless Jazz too......just sayin'.....

[wvbass]

I only play one at a time. Nothing wrong with owning one or owning many. I bring two to a gig. I conciously rotate my basses so that I don't become too tied to a single instrument. This way, I can pick up any bass (mine or soebody else's) and suck equally.

[basswave]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I have 8 electrics but take only one to my gigs 95% of the time. Some gigs are fly gigs where I can only take one, but most of the time I just don't want to be bothered. If there's one thing I hate, it's switching basses during a gig.

I actually do that a lot...but it depends on the type of gig I'm doing.

Different tunings and Fretless are the main reasons...

I once worked a Funk revival show where I had to switch a couple of times during the night. I was asked to do the gig partially, because He know I could get some different sounds. I actually enjoyed it, but I'm dorky that way.

[obimark]

I own one and gig one bass currently. a new model American P-Bass. At one point I had up to 3 basses at any given time.
Here is why- 1. I love this bass so much, and its tone.
2. I adjust tone every now and then on my amp.
3. Neck feel, this is a big one for me, because every time I switch to a jazz or Ibanez type neck it doesn't feel right, too narrow at the top and it throws off my licks and chops. If it wasn't for this I would have a Jazz (or jazz type) bass as well.

I have gigged with only one bass (passive Pickups) 10-12 times at least. ANd flame on, I rarely bring any spare strings either, as I don't break them at all.

[rockinrayduke]

Until I got online in the late 90's I only needed one bass and that was a P-Bass. After I got online they started stacking up like firewood in my house. From a high of 15 I'm now down to 8 or 9.

One thing about being in the bass forums since that time, it's enabled me to try different basses that I might not have thought of. It's been educational and really expensive.

Just got a new Am Std P-Bass which if I had to go back to one would be just fine with me.

[bloobass]

I have 3: :Lakland 55-02, Fender Jazz Bass Special, Takamine AEB. I use the Lakland only on 99% of what I do. I usually play weekly across at least 2 different bands along with church. I've done this since I got the Lakland 4 years ago. I'd love to work my fender back into the mix, it was my first bass and I love it, but switching and dealing with the logisitcs just seems to be too much of a PIA. Not to mention, all the situations I play in songs move from one to the other too fast to switch. I don't want to be the one killing the momentum of the show.

[Crazy_Jake]

Just have the one - Lado Solo from the 80's - Love it and it has been my workhorse. I'm thinking about getting a 5 string just for the flexibility but not in a rush for it

[totallywink]

Currently, I bring two - my Jazz and my Jazz. I've been doing this (bringing two basses to gigs) for as long as I can remember and probably 2% of the time, I switched during a gig. Just like knowing that I have a backup.

Because you just don't know......

[HolmeBass]

I gigged for years with only one bass. And by years I mean decades. Sometimes I'd bust an A string, and would have to limp to the set break, or even just make the band take an early break, or play a tune that would go without bass.

I bought a second bass because of starting to play with a band where my old career girl just didn't sound right. Now I always take two basses to a gig, and have had one string break in the past year where the backup came in handy. But it is not needed at all. It doesn't take that long to put on a new string and get to the set break, where you can then change the rest of the strings.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I have 8 electrics but take only one to my gigs 95% of the time. Some gigs are fly gigs where I can only take one, but most of the time I just don't want to be bothered. If there's one thing I hate, it's switching basses during a gig.

Well, I don't have 8, but I also am not a fan of changing basses during a set or even a gig. Good thing all I have is a Geddy Lee Jazz. There is something to be said for having one bass, knowing what it can do and doing it well. I don't do session work or anything where I need to have X bass for this and Y bass for that and Z bass for yet another thing. If I were a big time session guy or had a gig that required that, I'd probably be making enough to afford.justify it.

As it is, I play at church. My Geddy is fine. If I had my way, I'd have 2-3 Roscoe 5er's...maybe someday.