Just One Bass, Ever.

[Bobby B]

A friend who has been playing since the early 80's and used to gig a lot, but now infrequently, bought a 1967 (?) P bass in the mid 1970's (realize they were all over and not expensive at the time). It's the only bass he's ever owned after almost 40 years of playing. GAS attacks are the norm at TB, and I doubt many of us would be reading or posting here if we were "just one bass, ever" people. I'm recovering from my latest GAS attack and wondered how many others like my friend are out there? Not necessarily 40 years of it, but let's say at least 7 or 8 years of "just one bass" to qualify. It doesn't have to be you, could be someone you know.

 

[s_mcsleazy]

well honistly i COULD go with one bass and i know wich one id pick.
the cap'n

 

[kiel83]

My peavey t-20 FL,no jazz has the neck,and no p has the unique sound of super ferrite single coil!

 

[Bobby B]

So kiel83, is that the only bass you've ever owned?

 

[Bobby B]

This isn't about what bass WOULD you have if you could only have one. It's about people who actually own "Just One Bass, Ever".

 

[palmann]

I think this thread will die fast. I had the chance, my first bass was a '76 Fender Precision and it's still one of my favourite basses. But the force is strong...

Gruesse, Pablo

 

[NKBassman]

For my first 5'ish years of playing I had only one bass, a Fender P Lyte Deluxe. Then I bought my first backup bass, and thing have slowly escalated since then...

Fender P Lyte Deluxe
Fender Geddy Lee
Lakland 55-01
Mongrel parts bass that's basically a modding/experimentation platform
Yamaha 270f Fretless

I'm not entirely satisfied with my collection as it stands, but it covers all my basses for now.

 

[LennyPenny]

I own only a Squier VM P and strongly believe I could do several years with it without ever really needing more. I'm a bit apprehensive about buying new gear, as I don't have a lot of money as it is, and I'm always a bit afraid that I wouldn't have needed it after all.
When I bought my second guitar, I was afraid I wouldn't be playing my first one much at all, and I think it's a shame to own several instruments and only use one.

All in all, I try to avoid getting anything new up to the point where what I have is too damaged to be repaired/used any longer.

 

[chadhargis]

Heck, I've only been playing for a short time and I have four basses. But I'm still in my experimentation phase. I know for sure that my G&L will never go unless I decided to give up playing.

I tend to try lots of things and settle on what I like. Basses are cheap. At one point I had four motorcycles, that tied up some cash.

 

[iunno]

I doubt people with only one bass go on the bass guitar forums much, so I don't think you're going to find much here. If I could only have one it would be a Wal Mk II.

 

[WalterBush]

For nearly a decade, the only bass I owned was my Steinberger XM2A. While I wanted an Alembic Series II, I never liked any other bass enough to bother buying one, and I didn't play any basses in stores that I liked better.

Until the day I decided I needed a five string. Now I've got several basses that I rotate through based on the gig.

One of these days, I'll get around to buying a 5-string Steiny, and I'll probably start selling my other basses off.

 

[MattyH]

Bought my 1962 Jazz back in 2005 ish. 6 years later, many basses have come and gone. Probably having another bass no longer than 3 weeks at a time. I'll always go back to my 62, and I could make it work as the only bass for the rest of my life if I had to.

But that may all change when I get my Lakland

 

[David Jayne]

Useless post:

I'm a longtime P guy, for sure. They'll bury me with one, no question. Or maybe a J. Nah, a P, definitely. Maybe both?

I go several years on one, then switch for a couple of years, then back again.

But I suspect I'll die playing my P bass, it speaks to me just a little louder than the J's do.

So no, I don't really qualify. Unless we can have TWO, and only two.

EDIT: Walterbush reminded me that I did play my Modulus exclusively for ten or twelve years.

 

[jetbike]

I had a 1997 60's reissue MIJ Jazz Bass as my solitary bass for 15 years or more. I genuinely never thought I should/could buy another.

 

[troy mcclure]

Simple answer No...lol Your friend was lucky enough to start a really good bass that served his needs. Most of us, if we start in our teens, start with what ever we can afford which back in my teens was a crappy bass with high action, as we get better we realize we need better equipment. Then at some point, we probably would be fine with what we have but we keep searching for better.

 

[Bassmickeyd]

Some men marry their High School sweetheart and stay that way till their final days, some others start that way and end up on death row. ..... Some bassists never evolve much past, well playing the low notes in their whole career. ...... Jaco had the same two J-basses through out his career. ..... Different basses make me play, hear and feel music differently, which I like. ... That includes upright vs electric bass. ..... But, if I had to pick one bass for ever it would be my fretless Jazz bass with ebony board and D-tuner. A bass that can play it all.

 

[Batmensch]

Not me, and not a bass, but I have a guitar player bud who bought a natural/maple Strat new in 1972 (paid $220 for a custom order!), it's still his one electric guitar and he's still gigging with it.

 

[Akshat]

ive just had one bass till now- Aria IGB 35/5 string.Ive had this bass for 8 years now and I very recently got it defretted.

 

[ben12390]

If i had a gun to my head and had to walk into a GC and buy one? a P bass. no doubt.
But i would love to just have a Ric. it's my dream bass through and through. but i've never played one. but all my favorite players played them.
but if i cant get ahold of my ric, then i'd have to say a Peavey T-40

 

[bassfreakah]

I used a roscoe 6er for 8 years on the road, i had a back up but never touched it. I guess when you got the best you dont have to f*c* with the rest.