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A bass player with only one bass...

#61
Thunderthumbs73 said:
"Odd", eh?

:eyebrow:

Would there be any allowance for bassists who record, and at any one recording session or frelance/sub gigs to have a number of different-sounding basses at their disposal so that their sound may be most appropriate for the wishes of the band, artist, producer, etc, etc, etc...????????????

Or is this the proverbial "if you can't do it with a Precision bass, then why bother" argument??????
Click to expand...

No not the p-bass argument. It's the "your sound is in the fingers argument". I'm advocating 3 in my post anyways, not one. Feel free to have 20, it ain't my money.
 
#65
An epiphone Thunderbird IV works fine for everything I do, harmonics scream out of it, can get a nice 70's sound, and is comfortable (for me), so I don't really ever see getting another bass, it has been the one for me since I first came across one.
Besides, I take all my GAS out on my tattoo gear, no need to double down on my bass, it don't pay the bills
 
#66
professional musicians really need atleast a backup bass. i own a fretted 6, fretless 6, a passive fender p/j, and an upright- all are absolutely neccesary for certain gigs.

that being said, if i wasent getting paid to perform (and part of that requires having reliable gear..) and just a hobbyist, i'd have no reason to own any other instrument that my fretted 6 (well, and the upright of course.)
 
#67
I only want one bass. Really. I don't want to bring more than one to a gig. I don't want to switch mid set. I like "really knowing" my bass. I have tried to replace my cheap old Yamaha BB605 MANY times, but I always come back. I tried again last night on a gig. Didn't work. I know where every note is on that neck. I never have to look. I know how it will sound - even though I try to tell myself I don't like how it sounds any more or am tired of it and want something different.

It's has a small body, the neck feels great, it's light, looks nice enough, has nice electronics (Bartolini pups and pre) and no one has ever really complained about it - except me. It covers all my gigs just fine. I don't know why I look. Well, I do, but you know what I mean.

I'm turning my attention to my amp. I think I need more than my combo to get the sound I want - without PA support. I sound great through a PA.
 
#68
dhomer said:
I'm in the one-bass-only camp. Practicality is the guiding force in nearly everything I do. I sold a cheaper fiver and my 4-string when I got my USA Peavey Millenium fiver. It does everything I need to do.. A couple weeks back I turned down an opportunity to snag a neck-thru 5-string Carvin... $150 w/case at a local thrift shop.. Reality is, I don't need it! There is only one scenario of which I would buy another bass... If I rejoin my bud's 50's showband, I'd have to get a Fender...
Click to expand...

Do you happen to know if that Carvin is still available?? :hiding:
 
#69
perfektspace6 said:
No not the p-bass argument. It's the "your sound is in the fingers argument". I'm advocating 3 in my post anyways, not one. Feel free to have 20, it ain't my money.
Click to expand...

How do you reconcile that to the artist/producer/band that wants something that the three that you have DON'T give? Do you tell them "it's in the fingers" and they don't need the bass/sound they were asking for? I'm asking, because it's my business in certain circumstances, as much as possible, to give people the tone they want, and regardless of "the fingers". Precision bass with the common style single pickup will NOT do the Jazz bass bridge pickup sound, for instance. And if you don't have one of those, then it's still "in the fingers" and don't worry about not having a Jazz bass?

I'm just trying to understand how your approach that says 7-10 basses are "odd", and how that relates or should relate to those who interested in being able to say "yes" when producers, artists, engineer, etc... ask if you have X or Y sound or even instruments. All studio bassists are "odd"?

I have gotten work because yes, I DO have an upright, and yes, I DO also have a fretless electric bass (among others). This, in addition to the more common Precision bass and Jazz bass....
 
#70
Thunderthumbs73 said:
I have gotten work because yes, I DO have an upright, and yes, I DO also have a fretless electric bass (among others). This, in addition to the more common Precision bass and Jazz bass....
Click to expand...
ya, if you want to get studio calls and work for a lot of different people in different situations, it wouldn't hurt to put together 4 or 5 basses that do different things. i'd say a fender, a 5 or 6, a fretless, a hollowbody...but for most folks, it's not so necessary. i've heard lots of bassists who have only one sound that totally kick it. and really, there isn't anyone of us who couldn't play only one bass if we were forced to have only one. lucky for us nobody's forcing us ;)
 
#73
I played just one bass for years and years, then it got stolen and I HAD to gig on another bass. I realized I could, and actually enjoyed the sound of the G&L I had borrowed. Then I recovered the stolen bass (a 77 Jazz) and went another 10 years before I actually bought a new bass- a SSD (Stuart Spector Design) Czech bass. Now the SSD is my primary bass, and I own four basses total, although the SSD and the Jazz are really what get played.
 
#74
Hmmm :hmm:. I have been wondering about that too. Thanks for posting that . I enjoy hanging with you guys and hearing about other players above me and below me in experience. I have a few more basses since joining TB and I should probably be practicing when I am checking out posts here. You guys are a bad influence! :D

I wonder if I should look at it like we have a limited amount of energy and every extra bass, toy, hobby, pet, resonsibility and interest drains away from our focus to be the better more capable players we want to be? Is only limiting yourself to a couple basses like when supposedly Cortez burned the ships to be comitted to the task at hand? Or is all this :rollno: trivial pablum :rolleyes: and we just need to try be disciplined, set goals and practice regardless of how many basses we presently have? You get out what you put in? :cool:
 
#75
VWbug08' said:
Hmmm :hmm:. I have been wondering about that too. Thanks for posting that . I enjoy hanging with you guys and hearing about other players above me and below me in experience. I have a few more basses since joining TB and I should probably be practicing when I am checking out posts here. You guys are a bad influence! :D

I wonder if I should look at it like we have a limited amount of energy and every extra bass, toy, hobby, pet, resonsibility and interest drains away from our focus to be the better more capable players we want to be? Is only limiting yourself to a couple basses like when supposedly Cortez burned the ships to be comitted to the task at hand? Or is all this :rollno: trivial pablum :rolleyes: and we just need to try be disciplined, set goals and practice regardless of how many basses we presently have? You get out what you put in? :cool:
Click to expand...

I currently own 5 basses, and am seriously considering the purchase of another. Needless to say, I am not getting much done.
 
#76
OK... Not to shoot high and lofty intentions of being a better player down, But you're really enjoying yourself checking into these other basses right? You're being responsible with your finances? Taking care of bussiness on other personal, career and family matters?

If you are attending to those, Maybe dial back the guilt and let yourelf enjoy. Even if I spend every minute practicing I'll never EVER be a John Patatucci (nice guy I met once :D) and having a regular career with benefits that pays the bills has been good! How many of us are going to be stadium good or even if we attain that level how long will it last? Is it all it's cracked up to be?

Couldn't you be screwing up your life doing far worse and destructive things?

Having a good attitude and being supportive and dependable will help get you gigs at whatever level you play at.

We should enjoy!:D

I better go practice now.... :cool:
 
#77
SteveC said:
I only want one bass. Really. I don't want to bring more than one to a gig. I don't want to switch mid set. I like "really knowing" my bass. I have tried to replace my cheap old Yamaha BB605 MANY times, but I always come back. I tried again last night on a gig. Didn't work. I know where every note is on that neck. I never have to look. I know how it will sound - even though I try to tell myself I don't like how it sounds any more or am tired of it and want something different.

It's has a small body, the neck feels great, it's light, looks nice enough, has nice electronics (Bartolini pups and pre) and no one has ever really complained about it - except me. It covers all my gigs just fine. I don't know why I look. Well, I do, but you know what I mean.

I'm turning my attention to my amp. I think I need more than my combo to get the sound I want - without PA support. I sound great through a PA.
Click to expand...

You wrote exactly what I tried to say.
 
#78
Thunderthumbs73 said:
How do you reconcile that to the artist/producer/band that wants something that the three that you have DON'T give? Do you tell them "it's in the fingers" and they don't need the bass/sound they were asking for? I'm asking, because it's my business in certain circumstances, as much as possible, to give people the tone they want, and regardless of "the fingers". Precision bass with the common style single pickup will NOT do the Jazz bass bridge pickup sound, for instance. And if you don't have one of those, then it's still "in the fingers" and don't worry about not having a Jazz bass?

I'm just trying to understand how your approach that says 7-10 basses are "odd", and how that relates or should relate to those who interested in being able to say "yes" when producers, artists, engineer, etc... ask if you have X or Y sound or even instruments. All studio bassists are "odd"?

I have gotten work because yes, I DO have an upright, and yes, I DO also have a fretless electric bass (among others). This, in addition to the more common Precision bass and Jazz bass....
Click to expand...

I don't reconcile. It's what I like.

Overall, I'm sure that's a well thought out argument. Owning one bass per pickup arrangement/string type is a good strategy. Thank you for verifying what all artist/band/producers are looking for. If only I had known!

You should really work on your "fingers".
 
#79
Well I always like to have a cheap but good bass , thats going to be my closeout ATK at 169$ , for band paractice , alot of show work , recording etc.

Then my gibson t bird, thats for shows , not practice as its really a small area and its very awkward to make sure it does not get knock around, also recording

Then my first bass just for looks , sentimental , its barely playable and worth close to nothing and cost close to nothing so yeah.
 
#80
I own two Fenders but not because I'm being frugal. I've had many other instruments come and go simply because I realized that I was consistently drawn to another. Ya know, once the "honeymoon" is over with certain instruments, THEN you really learn what you've got and looks are just not enough...
 

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