What benefit does owning multiple basses give you?
 

I'm genuinely interested here.

I've owned an active Fender Jazz 5 string for about 4 years now and I love it to pieces, with the right amp settings I can get a ton of different sounds out of it. I've got a 4 string acoustic bass knocking around too to keep my hand in at 4 string and for idle practicing but I never use anything apart from the 5 string gigging.

When I've really really desired a different sound whilst recording I've managed to borrow a bass from a friend or my sound engineer has borrowed one from a music shop.

I just wondered what people's reasoning is for owning multiple basses? Is it for dramatically different sounds, a back up for gigs?

It seems there's more worthwhile bass gear to spend my cash on.

(I did a thread search but couldn't find anything)

Simply enough for me, I just enjoy playing different basses. And that normally comes down to mood as each one has it's own voice and vibe. When I gig I always bring my 55-02 (my only 5er) and the 4's rotate. For instance this weekend I brought the p bass with flats I recently finished, last week it was my Spector NS2A. Other weeks it could be my Fortress Masterman or any of a number of others.

Just depends on what I feel like.

How many styles of music do you play?

If you can get the sounds you need out of 1 bass, IMHO, there is no need to own more than 1 (except as backup in cases of loss).
If you play diverse styles, it might become difficult. I play jazz and rock/funk, currently on a PJ bass, however I would love to have another (J-type or modern) bass so that I can string one with flats and one with rounds.

I use a 5 mostly. But i bring my 4-string sometimes, the neck is thinner so i can play faster, also it plays better up high.

And i also sometimes tune it in tenor tuning. + its lighter and is a change in REALLY long sets.

For me, it's a source of inspiration. There are days that (!!!) I'm just not feeling my MIA Fender, or I just want a different tone that a P, so I pick up either my SCPB for a slightly different tone, or my jazz clone for something entirely different.

Different paintbrushes for different strokes. Nothing more.

there is one tone i want and i don't need anything else. currently i'm playing a squier vm jazz with flats and i get a more or less decent tone no matter where or through what i'm playing. that's important to me and until i got funds to buy myself a keeper with monster tone i'll continue playing that heavy piece of ....

Different tone and different tuning available for me

+1 @ Willbassyeah

I hate retuning instruments

This reply is to the question at the head of the thread.... Answer ) not much...lol :)

I have three ... a fretted, a fretless, and an EUB. They handle differently enough that each makes me play differently.

I play in a metal band but we have elements from grunge, ska, punk, folk, classical and everything else.

I also used to be in a Funk band similar to Stevie Wonder or Freak Power.

I found my 5 string Jazz bass worked wonders for all of them.

It goes low enough to play heavy stuff and honestly I don't find it a problem to play songs written in say a drop C tuning on my 5 string. Just requires less open notes.

I was thinking about getting a Stingray at one point but I'm not sure i'd get enough use out of it for it to be worth it.

Owning multiple basses is strictly a hobby for me. I don't play in a band and really don't care to at this stage in my life. I just have fun collecting them.

A good hobby too !

I like to make parts basses, so they just keep multiplying.

I like all different basses, and I like regularly playing them.
I like having different tones available to me. Some gigs I want to use a P, others a J, etc.
I like different looks and color combinations

I use just one, but why should I have to if I don't want to?

I own many basses from many styles and tones.
I like to think I'm like a "bass actor" and my different instruments are like my costumes. :-)

One for each different occasion.

Sometimes I would need a funky 70's JB tone, sometimes a 60's McCartney-ish tone, or an aggressive, active, modern Sadowisky… Whatever I need, I'm covered.

Me too!

I can't be like Jay Leno and own hundreds of cool cars and motorcycles because I'm too poor.

So, I own a bunch of basses!

People just drop them off on my doorstep and I don't have the heart to get rid of them! I only three of my choosing, but I do own more than three total.

I guess the best reason to own multiple basses would be if you're a gigging or recording musician with variable needs.

Because this is 'Murricuh, and I can do what I want...

Seriously, why not? I have multiple for practical and sentimental reasons. Don't judge. People are people and they'll do and think what they want.

After owning a lot of basses over the years, I've narrowed it down to one 4 stringer and one 5er. Usually I'm only bringing one of them to a gig or rehearsal, but in some cases I bring both, if the material we're playing is diverse.

I play in a blues band, an old school country band, and an 80s hair metal band at the moment, so I think it is nice to have at least one 4 and one 5er that I am really happy with playing.