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A bass player with only one bass...

#81
JimmyM said:
i've heard lots of bassists who have only one sound that totally kick it.
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That's what I am trying to go for now - I think. I still have a little noise that I can't figure out, but it's minimal and really only noticeable when it's silent. I think it's totally possible - IMHO - to have one good tone and apply that tone appropriately in various genres. That may not be the case for a touring pro or session guy, but I'm guessing that most of us aren't in that category.

JimmyM said:
and really, there isn't anyone of us who couldn't play only one bass if we were forced to have only one.
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See above.

martybernal said:
You wrote exactly what I tried to say.
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That doesn't happen too often.
 
#82
Well, if you're going to gig with one bass, you'll need a second set of strings handy and if you do break a string at the saddle, you had better have some files on hand to clean up the burrs or you're just pissing into the wind.
And, if you are playing a gig and you break a string or anything else happens to the bass and you have to stop a song to change it or worse yet, stop the gig entirely if something catastrophic happens to that one bass, you'll wish you brought a second bass.
 
#86
I'm with VWbug08' on this. As long as you're being responsible with your finances, family, etc., there are much worse things to be doing with your money!

If I *had* to pick only one bass out of the ten I own, it'd probably be the Tony Franklin Fretless P/J. It's taken quite a bit of practice, but my accuracy has gotten pretty good and I've learned how to EQ it so that it can sound "fretted". It took me a while to realize that, just 'cause I have a fretless, doesn't mean I have to do slides /harmonic slides in EVERY song. If I were to add only one other bass, it'd be the Ibanez SR705... an amazingly versatile 5-string bass AND it's lightweight. I hope to never have to do this, 'cause I really like my Geddy Lee Bass, ICEMAN, Epi Thunderbird IV and Thunderbird V Pro, etc., etc.

I gig out quite a bit and, personally, I enjoy having a variety of basses to choose from. I have a mix of 4, 5, and one 6 string bass to choose from including a Dean Pace EUB. I've tried to avoid "duplicates", varying choices of woods, active/passive, colors, etc.

I have a load of fun switching mid-song between the Dean Pace EUB and a standard, fretted, electric bass. I usually switch my EQ at the same time to something with a little more edge.

Personally, I'd never want to go to a gig without two basses 'cause you never know what might happen. In one case, I had three basses and a bass player who was gigging down the street had broken an E string (HOW THE HECK DO YOU BREAK AN E STRING!?!?!?!?!). Anyway, I sold him the E string off of my 35" scale 6-string bass.

I will confess the easiest to play basses I own are the Ibanez basses and the two Fenders. The Epiphone Thunderbird Pro V has a 2" width at the nut and a thick neck... it's a bit of a bear! My 6-string 35" scale Ibanez is another one.
 
#87
martybernal said:
I have been playing for 30 years and have had the enjoyment of owning many quality and crappy basses over the years. Having done that, I find that I have never been able to play any of them as well as my primary bass. So I go through the cycle of selling them and eventually try some others again later. I was wondering if anyone else here has had this experience. I only own one bass now and have finally convinced myself to stick with it because I can play it to the best of my ability. Any other bass in my hands and I feel like I struggle and fight it.

Marty
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I have been playing for over 30 years also. I went through this a few years ago. I own several basses but mainly play my Alembic.
 
#88
Blah114 said:
I agree and disagree.. I agree that we can have that "one bass" that plays the best.. but to bring only 1 bass to a show is insane, to me.. the day you do that, or I do, I will have a string break mid-set.. etc..

sometimes, the best sounding basses don't play the best.. I think Rickenbackers play horribly.. but I love their sound.. I don't play one anymore, but it sounded amazing.. my Pbass is like playing a baseball bat.. the neck is so thick.. but its sound is amazing.. my highway one Pbass blows everything away for playability, but sounds muddy compared to the american standard P bass I use.. lol.. can't win.
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I've been playing bass for 20 years & played thousands of shows & been on many tours. I've only ever broke a bass string once & it was 10 minutes before we went on stage. I just poped another string on & presto!
 
#89
JimmyM said:
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 ;)
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Most bassists we hear on stage will generally be kicking it (if they kick it) with one bass, and that includes me, with the exception of a rare bass change during a set break. I actually like the notion of kicking it with one bass, and generally prepare to do a gig with one, even if I bring an second one as a backup.
 
#91
tdizzle said:
I must say that the pursuit of many basses is actually a distraction from making music, or at least a shift of focus.
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I think you meant to say many basses COULD be a distraction or shift in focus. And what is "many"? For some, that's more than two. For some, that's more than six. And so on... I think for each person, where having "many" moves from some practical consideration to something more impulse-based, occurs at a different number of basses.

But I agree at SOME point, distraction or shift could occur.
 
#93
I feel fine with my #1 (yes it;s a P) altho I would like to find a squier 5 P that I can rip the frets out of, this would serve two functions; 1-give me a diff sound feel than the fretted, and 2-provide a backup on gigs. I'd deff want it to be familier to my #1 size, scale, both passive, just one would be fretless. I have no need for a diff sounding bass like active-neckthru 24fret vs. passive P. I'm fine with my P. I like the sound / feel and will play any song with it, in any genre, altho I'm not in a top 40 cover band that plays alot of varied material either.
 
#95
I could whittle it down to two if I absolutely had to--a fretted and a fretless. But I could never be without one of each.

Both Rics in that scenario too. If I have more room in the stable I'm sure some Fenders and EBMMs will show up as well, but if I have to cut back they're always going to be the first to go.
 
#96
Like the OP I've been playing for over 30 years and have been through tons of different types of basses. I stopped playing for a few years and now only own one bass, but it's a cheapie and not "The ONE."

I'm looking to get a nice bass again as soon as I can swing it financially.

I believe in having two basses if you are gigging a lot, just to have one as a backup, but ironically, when I was gigging my heaviest (1982-1998) I had only one bass for most of that time (a Tokai P-bass.)

I've gone through fretlesses, 5-strings, 6-strings, active electronics (which I despise), short scales, etc., etc. and have come to realize I'm most at home with a good P or something with a P/J configuration, which is why I am hoping to land a Squier VM Jag bass soon.

I like fretless, but really have no use for one. I personally don't buy the "I need a dozen basses for a huge range of tones" because you can do so much with modeling and effects and changing your playing style, point of attack, etc. But I think it's great if a person wants to own multiple basses. I love the bass and it's none of my business what other people do. I dig seeing peoples' collections here and elsewhere.

But for me, I could definitely get by with just one, and am happy to do so after decades of owning, buying, trading, selling SO much guitar and bass gear.
 
#97
I totally understand the thoughts about playing just one bass (at least most of the time!).

I have been a Marcus Miller fan since I started playing bass and always liked the quote on his website on this subject:
"...the most important thing is to settle on a bass then commit to it. ... Get to know your bass inside and out and play it in every situation you can"

One of my first inspirations was Sting who generally seems to have only really played one bass at a time (certainly in recent years) with his old 50's P bass being the latest.

The best live bass sound I ever heard was Christian McBride and he seems to have stuck with the one main fretless Pensa J Bass for ever!

I suppose it is so much easier now to get hold of decent basses at lower price levels and there is certainly no shortage of things to try, but, to me anyway, there is an honesty about sticking to an old favourite and making it work for you regardless of the gig.

I think the idea of committing to one bass is a commendable one and after a fair bit of trading I have recently been pretty much exclusively playing a great NYC Sadowsky Jazz bass with a drop D Tuner. This bass just seems so versatile and sounds good (to me at least) in any situation I take it to. Plus it always feels good and has a classic J bass look (sunburst, tort gaurd and rosewood fingerboard). I can take it anywhere and absolutely know that it will be reliable.

I have tried different stuff (and would not think of getting rid of my US 57 Re-issue P Bass) but I am as happy right now as I have been probably ever in terms of gear.

It feels good to say that...!
 
#99
I have two basses and two amps now, and will probably sell one of each soon. Its too difficult for me to switch back and forth, and there are clear winners. If I had tons of cash, I'd never sell anything, just i case I'd want it later. Unfortunately, I am on a very, very fixed budget. My gig money goes to gear AND other expenses, depending on cash is that month. My main bass and amp are very expensive for my budget, and I cannot have any more money tied up in gear.

Not really moral arguments, but some practical considerations, I guess.
 
#100
I gig a lot and I have a bunch of basses. That said I've been playing my main one since I started out (82 Fender P-bass) which I bought used back in 2000-2001. I use it in all sorts of styles and its currently strung with DR Hi-Beams.

When I bring a back up its usually another P-bass with rounds or a P-bass with flats depending on the band. Bringing a backup isn't too bad either since the advent of double gig bags.

I also own two active jazzes, a fretless P/J, and an acoustic bass guitar. I'll be getting rid of one of the active Jazz basses soon enough and I keep the ABG to bring around town and mess around with since it was a free Carlo Robelli.
 

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