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Basses that every player should have in their toolbox:

Nobody NEEDS any particular basses IMO. In fact, I think people are too tied to particular brands and models. I'm not trying to be contrary, just trying to give another view on things. :)

I think there are certain tones associated with certain situations and certain basses get those tones. There are other ways to get close, but I think that the basses I listed are relatively necessary to hit the majority of needed tones.

I do think I should have added a Ric to the original list.
 
As for the question posed in the thread, I think it depends on a player's goals as a bassist. I'm into solo stuff (like Michael) and for me, a Fender just wouldn't cut it. Also, if you want to play jazz (and I mean jazz jazz, not fusion) you would probably need more clarity (and range) than most Fenders (or Stingrays or Rics...) offer (particularly if you're into chord melodies a la Todd Johnson).
 
For any of the pay studio jobs I have had. The Eng will generally ask for his in house Fender which is fine with me. On occasion Ill rip out the MM Fretless if the song needs but again nothing sits in the mix better than a Fender. IMO
 
For me, I think you could break it down to a simple 3 basses--a P of some kind, a J of some kind, and then a short scale hollow or semi-hollow with flats (and either the P or J with flats too, the other with rounds). Covers anything I'd ever need to do short of upright.
 
fender sucks

+111111111111111111111111:bassist::bassist:

What a great thread this has become :rollno:

Because no topic can go more than 2 pages without it becoming a Fender argument, a Jeff Berlin flamefest, an active vs. passive war, etc.

Seriously. Nobody wants to hear these opinions. Negativity brings this whole forum down. Positivity is what makes it the pleasant, useful resource that it is.

I'm sure everybody here would appreciate if you helped to keep it that way.