Are you a one bass for all guy or...?

[Richaf66]

For gigging I use either my Ric 4003 or my Aria Pro II SB Elite.
At home I always reach for the Fender P.
I just picked up a 79 Guild B-301. I have to see where that fits in the mix.

 

[Warpeg]

One fretted and one fretless for me.

 

[Mike Sorr]

I have become a one bass guy. I used to have one bass for just about every situation I might encounter. I sold almost everything and now play my Sterling 4H with a bass extender key for just about everything. I do miss owning a 5 string and am thinking about adding one again...I miss owning one, not necessarily playing one.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I have ten or twelve. Maybe more, I don't count.

But I have a go-to for recording, a P that is exceedingly "even" string to string. And a Modded J that works with my amps and triggers my synth unit predictably for playing live.

I can and have used all of them in different situations, but those two are my "security blanket" basses.

 

[Gizmot]

I'm lucky enough to own several nice basses (no Fenders). I can't honestly say that I switch basses for each gig I play but I swap them every 6 - 8 weeks. Doing that keeps my playing fresh and gives me a different look and sound.

 

[AngelsBassBall]

I have 3 Fender American Standard Jazz basses, rosewood neck and maple neck with rounds and one with a Tony Franklin Fretless neck with flats. Simple, reliable, and they always sound good. I primarily gig with the rw neck but every once in a while I take the Fretless for fun.

So yes, one bass (for me) does it all.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I own many basses. I am currently gigging one exclusively.

 

[Nickweissmusic]

Are you a 1 bass type of guy. I don't mean you only own 1 bass. I mean do you always use your number 1 bass for nearly everything, every situation?

Or, do you use a different bass for every different situation?

Personally, I'm a 1 bass guy. I own 3 basses, but I use my Jazz 5 for everything.

Jaco was a one bass guy, used the bass of doom for everything.
Sean Hurley uses different basses for everything.

I have 3 bass. Round, flat, upright. Work good.

 

[IJBurns]

Haha

 

[mikeswals]

Jaco was a one bass guy, used the bass of doom for everything.

No he didn't. He nearly always had a matching pair of fretted and fretless Jazzes on his gigs, and you can usually see in pictures next to his amp. And he seemed to use it especially on Birdland, which was Weather Reports 'pop' song.

 

[Rabidhamster]

Full BLOWN BASS Polygamy

 

[AztecViking]

I own 4 basses but have only ever taken one to a gig. I like my fretless 5 the best but still trying to configure it so it'll also be my "go to" slap instrument. The fretted Stingray 5 still has that particular honor.

 

[AshInAmsterdam]

I'm a one bass kinda guy. I have a broken backup that I'm saving to replace but that is the purpose - backup. It will be a Squier Precision with Chromes to serve as emergency spare for my Fender Precision with Chromes.

I don't subscribe to the "bass X with Y-wound strings for Z genre" ideals. I use my P in a stoner doom band with loots of overdrive and / or fuzz, and in a punk band mostly clean. I also play a lot of blues and metal with it at home and not once have a thought "hmmm a Jazz 5 with Rounds would really benefit me here".

 

[TrustRod]

I tend to use only one bass per show, but I do like a little variety so I'll rotate them in and out occasionally.

That's how I do it. I have about 10 in rotation. I use 1 per rehearsal or gig but rarely play the same one twice in a row and they all become my favorite every now and then.

I can play any of them for any gig and get the sound I need.

 

[Element Zero]

Own a fretted 5, a fretless 5 and a 4 fretted Jazz. I'm good. But I still want that Lakland DJ5 drool

 

[AshInAmsterdam]

Own a fretted 5, a fretless 5 and a 4 fretted Jazz. I'm good. But I still want that Lakland DJ5 drool

It seems a bit limiting to have only 4 frets.

 

[Element Zero]

It seems a bit limiting to have only 4 frets.

Really only need E to B. All in one position.

 

[TwentyHz]

I've gotten to the point that I use a different bass and rig for each band. I feel like it encourages me to find my sound and play a little differently for each one, to fit the music.

 

[BPortas92]

I use my Fender P special for literally everything. I have a cheap Jazz copy as backup and an Aria FEB acoustic for jamming and playing at home, but for anything live/studio it will be the P.

 

[baileyboy]

I have 3 basses, but never gig with my FBB fretless. I use either my P or J, contingent on nothing more than which I'd rather gig with at that time.