What benefit does owning multiple basses give you?

[45acp]

Multiple tunings. Our band plays Eb (sometimes dropped D Eb whatever you call that) and most of the songs we cover are standard tuning. If i need to work on a new song and have it ready for band practice... or tighten up a current song, i can just grab an E bass and play along with the original.

[carvinbassplyr]

Owning multiple basses happened for me because I didn't have the heart to let old ones go when new ones came along. Since my dad was a bass player, I got to learn on his Leo Fender made MusicMan and when I started really gigging/getting serious, he helped me pick out a good bass for me to have as my own. So, I never went through having to own a cheap clunker bass that I wanted to get rid of. While I only use 1 main bass, it is nice to have backups as well as fretted and fretless instruments for recording. Plus, looking at my bass collection, for me, is like looking at a history book of my journey as player...a lot of memories.

[kevteop]

I've got two because I keep one strung with flats and one with rounds.

Similarly I've got two double basses, one with steel strings and one with synthetic guts.

I don't have any desire to collect basses, I just have as many as is practical.

[P. Aaron]

I have 2. A 4 and a 5'er along with the occasionally borrowed bass from someone.

If I want inspiration, I play a loaner and it always reminds me why I like my P-Basses so much.

I also have a fretless Indo-Jazz that doesn't get much play.

[troy mcclure]

Benefits:
1) I can leave one in the rehearsal space, lend one to a friend, have one at my gf's, keep one in my band trailer and still have one at home?
2) The more expensive a bass you own makes your d%^k bigger, playing expensive basses in scary bars is risky.
3) Some people collect cars, some comic books, some cameras, some musical gear.

I believe guys who can really play, prefer different basses for different situations.
a Fretless, a 5 or 6 er, a hollow body with flats.

I am speculating about the last statement, as I can't really play. I just like buying things with strings and showing them off to my friends as they roll their eyes and say now what did you buy.

[Avezzano]

let's face it: having love affairs with multiple women might result very complicate, unfair and much more expensive. So, the second choice, but a very good one, for the libido, is to have multiple basses!

They don't complain when you drink much beer, or when you look at or embrace another one; they don't burn credit cards, they don't just... you know, talk too much etc......



P.S: personally I am at 15 now..........

[Baird6869]

4 string, 5 string, flats, rounds, passive, active, modern sounding, old school tone, drop D, 440, EbAbDbGb, B-G, E-C..... Etc.

Lots of reasons to have multiple basses, but nothing wrong with having 1 or 2 either!

[GBassNorth]

I have a lot off basses and guitars and amps and other related stuff. I rarely gig due to the amount of travel I used to do for work so my bass playing was for the most part hobby. That said, I did decide a long time ago to buy what I could afford while I could afford it and when I can't afford to buy any more I'll just sell off the ones I don't use as much and get down to something around 4 to 8 basses and 2 rigs.
Right now my go to basses are a USA Spector NS2J an Alembic Dragon Wing, a Jazz body P/MM bass I made and a Pedullas frettless. Throw in a little Dano Longhorn and a Kala hollow body Ubass for those times when something really different is desired. Of course I still have GAS and would like to find an Ampeg flip top and a Spectorcore 5 string but for now I can get by without them.

[Astroman]

I am a total gear head up to 11 basses now, from midprice to high-end, 4,5 & 6's. Playing in several bands they definitely come in handy, having a variety of sounds to choose from for everything from blues, folk, alternative, classic and modern rock. I often bring a 4,5, and a fretless 6 to most gigs. I could definitely get by with just three, but all the sonic options and looks are just too darn fun!

[DuShauh]

They are tools. One can never have too many tools. Different jobs require different tools sometimes. I could probable remove move a screw with a Crescent wrench, but the proper screwdriver sure comes in handy. ;-)

[Perroid]

Hi,

I have a MIM Fender Jazz and an older Ibanez SR900. The reason I bought the second bass was because the band I was playing in used Dropped C tuning. And I really hate switching tunings all the time. I also like the fact that I have a humongous wide variety of tones to choose from. The band I was playing in fell apart and now I have been asked by a respected musician (in my area) to play bass in his jazz band and they play in two different tunings. What I'm getting at is: If I didn't have two basses, it would be a lot harder to play for different bands whilst not messing up my intonation. I hope some of this helps.

P.S. having to switch basses is somehow a bit fun and bad ass, isn't it? :P

[thebass905]

For me, I like to SAY its about tone.... But I like buying new things mmmmmmmm... But jokes aside it is a versatility issue at times. There are certainly situations where showing up to a gig with a MM stingray would get me some funny looks (and usually not the best sound for that situation). I just think its good to have a bit of everything.... And I recently got into 5ers so that's opened up a whole world of possibilities. I'll just HAVE to buy a 5 string counter part to all my 4 string basses.....

[packhowitzer]

none of my basses really sound that much alike so i like the idea of covering a wide tonal spectrum. i use them interchangeably for the same music tho, so it's not like one bass is for one type of music and so on...
there are exceptions to that- i have two p-basses because i was basically building a frankenbass, and ended up with two complete basses (ironically, the bass that was made of the "spare" parts has ended up seeing more playing time lately). And I bought an SX p-j to use as a beater or a loaner or for outdoor gigs (a LOT of bass for $100! btw).

[Rip Topaz]

You know, I used to think I collected basses (and other instruments) out of vanity, that I jut wanted a large collection.

But as I get older, I'm realizing that each bass has its use. I've got my MIA Fender P for when the snobs come out to play (plus its a great bass!!), I've got my SCPB for the times that I want a slightly different P tone, and I've got a Jazz clone for the tones that it offers.

I tried the "flats bass", rounds bass thing. Just ended up with the same strings on all of my basses. So my collection is constantly growing, but every bass has its area of expertise.

And yes. I've got the SX for the shady gigs. Funny thing is that I really love that bass. It's my newest and I'm still tweaking it to my personal setup, but she sounds great and is a definite keeper. Plus, if it gets damaged or ripped off at a gig, who cares? I can buy another with the pay from any one gig!!

[mcm]

None.

[DudeLeap]

I think some collect basses to collect them and others it's a matter of having the ability to get the sound you want for a certain song or band your playing in. I personally would rather have one or two "go to" basses like my MIA P-bass than have a bunch of basses that are collecting dust like my MIM Jazz. Would like to get my hands on a EBMM stingray though...

[Rip Topaz]

ALL of the basses in my collection get played. That's very important to me. I don't understand the people that collect basses only to have them stored in their cases.

To me, that's just keeping great instruments out of the hands of people that will actually play them.

[derylgallant]

For me it's about function.... I have an American pbass fretted.... Jazz fretless...an upright bass... And now a 6 string peavey grind fretless.... They all serve different purposes... On a recent recording project I used all 3 minus the peavey... The songs needed the different basses..

[khutch]

I have one very versatile four string bass that would probably suffice for everything I do if push came to shove. I have a second fretless four so that I can try to learn to be a proper fretless player. I have a five string that I set up to have the fifth string at the next highest pitch from my fours because the higher voice is better for chording, which I am also trying to master. And then I have the four string I bought when I first got back into bass playing after a long absence. It is kinda sentimental for that reason, it is kinda useful because it has rounds instead of flats like the other fours, and I kinda want to sell it because I don't really need it all that badly.

Ken

[Ric5]

Any serious bass player should own at least 2, and take 2 to gigs. What if bass #1 has a malfunction? You need a backup. Also you may want a fretted and fretless, or an 8, or 5, or 6. Then also you can own active and passive, or alternate tunings. Or own a cheap bass for gigs and a nice bass for home ... the options are endless.

I own about a dozen. I like to build my own parts basses and frankenstein / customize other basses. I am always experimenting with pickups and electronics.