Committing to one bass

[embellisher]

Life is too short to play just one bass...Let's hear it from the GAS filled TBers I'm sure I'm not alone here

+1!

Although I am almost GAS free, it took a long time to get there. And a lot of money and basses, too.

I am mainly a five stringer, but it is nice to be able to have a couple of sixes and a twelve to mess around with, and even use on a few songs. And they all get played from time to time at church or with the band.

And since I played 4 stringers for 20 years, I have to keep a P, a Jazz, and a few with sentimental value around.

I have graduated from bass GAS to cabinet and pedal GAS.

 

[keb]

I've pretty much played my trusty Rickenbacker 4003 nearly exclusively for over a decade. Sure, I'd get GAS for something or another after trying it out at a store, but then I'd get home and plug in my Rick, and I'd mutter "ohhh yeah...!" and the GAS would dissipate. I guess it's saved me some money over the years!

Lately, however, I've put 99% of my time into my new fretless. In fact, I've gone as far as to rewrite and rearrange some of the songs I've been working on to incorporate its particular sound, as opposed to the more aggressive, grindy sound of the Rick.

But all in all, I'm not the kind of player who will ever own a million different basses. It would just distress me. I'm a chronic tweaker: I have to force myself to keep things simplified, or I'll be forever trying out different combinations of things to see how they sound. If I had 8 basses, I would have to try all 8 basses on each song I wrote, and then try different EQ and pickup blends on each one to see how they fit in the mix... and then completely change my mind the next day... and you can see how I would never get anything done.

 

[southpaw]

Sadowsky! I've had mine for the past 80 gigs (one year) and can't imagine playing anything else.

 

[abngourmet]

For me, I own 17 basses of different makes and types. I don't have to make a living with them, so a "consistent" sound is not an issue. I love all of them for different reasons.

Because I don't have to commit, I love can say the following: Ripper - it's a beast, and it's great for playing '70's stuff. Thunderbird - best bass Gibson ever made, and it looks cool. '79 Stingray - Leo made it, and it's got that vibe the new Stingrays lack. '76 Rickenbacker - nothing on God's green earth, regardless of price, sounds like one. Gibson RD77 - Gibson's response to Alembic, and unique. Fenders - old reliable. Ovation Acoustic-Electric - bought in Korea, cheap, and actually sounds pretty good. Godin A4 - Upright sound in a guitar package. Peavey Dyna Bass Unity Series - Underrated, and mine has a Kahler Tremelo; Pedulla MVP 4 - damn, what a fine instrument, and love the barts and electronics!; Alembics - finest basses on the planet, period, IMHO.

If I had to commit, however, it would be my '73 Jazz. Not because it sounds the best, but because it feels the best physically. It feels like an old shoe - comfortable. I can get many more sounds out of my Alembics (which I absolutely love), but they're not as comfortable. Then again, they're not CUSTOM Alembics, which would be made to my specs. This being said, my '73 Jazz comes pretty close to being what I'd want cosmetically.

So, if it's about commitment .. I'll take them all.

Alan

 

[lump]

I always like this topic, because I am definitely monogamous when it comes to musical instruments. I play several instruments, and can also sing passably. Just as I only have one singing voice, I am only interested in one axe being my "voice" on that particular instrument. When I find the right one, I stick to it. I hate the process of buying things, and I find owning a bunch of crap claustrophobic. I hate dicking with amps and knobs and crap, and have very little patience for recording. But I can practice scales for hours on end and not get bored. I just want to play (not that I do it particularly well). It's just the way my brain is wired.

Same goes for cars, computers, power tools, whatever. I'm definitely the alpha male type, but I'm missing the "guy" bone that digs gear or fixing stuff. Here's 25 bucks. You change my frickin' oil. I'll be in the lobby.

 

[oldfclefer]

I have 3. A solid body vintage Kramer. A semi hollow Jerry Jones Loghorn. An Acoustic-electric Dean Performer. I like variety and the ability to get sounds from one bass that the others won't get. And yes, I too am a basswhore.

 

[Showdown]

I'm commited to passive basses, but that's as far as I'll go. Basses are sorta like clothes to me.. I take a look at what's available and pick something out depending on what kind of mood I'm in. I have a gig in two days and I have no idea which bass I'm going to play. I'll just decide when the time comes. They all play great and sound great, so it's just a matter of which one's speaking to me.

I'm the same way, I have trouble deciding what to play. Having a lot of basses to choose from isn't really a bad position to be in though...

 

[incubus2432]

I've played Rickenbackers exclusively for the last 10 years. I can get any tone that I need out of them and they play like nothing else so there isn't much need for me to change. There are plenty of other basses that I like and appreciate but nothing more than what I have.

 

[Ed Goode]

I can't commit to one, but I can commit to two ... one fretted and one fretless, both 6ers. Over the past 6 months I have drastically thinned the herd down to four basses, the 2 6ers plus one '86 Fender 4 and a vintage '68 Goya J-copy that is actually my current project bass. All of the 5's are gone, along with the miscellaneous 4's.

If forced to choose, the fretless 6 would be the keeper, although loosing the '86 Fender would just break my heart

 

[Nedmundo]

As a victim of chronic GAS, I've found it impossible to commit to one bass (I have four).

But after some unsatisfying trysts with active basses, I've become committed to more old-school tones. These range from the darker, woody thump of my Precision with rosewood board, to the brighter punch of my maple fretboard Jazz, to the unique resonance and power of my DiPinto Belvedere semi-hollow body. I recently added a maple board Precision for good measure (modded with DiMarzio Model P), and I'm considering a Roscoe Beck IV to have several classic tones available from one bass.

The DiPinto has loads of character, and while I'm not accomplished enough to claim a signature sound or style, I enjoy having an unusual bass that's in the vintage spectrum, but doesn't look or sound like anything else. It definitely gets noticed by other players, and it sounds killer. I'm firmly committed to keeping it in the stable, and it's my main gigging bass.

 

[lowphatbass]

*******WARNING-LONG RAMBLING-WARNING************
I have always been a "one main bass" kind of guy with a back-up bass on the side. In over 20 years of playing I can almost count the number of basses I have owned on one hand. I have had the benefit of using alot of "demo" basses for studio and live situations and I must admit it has helped me vent-off gas harmlessly over the years. What makes me a one bass guy?
I guess I buy into the "your bass is your sound" thing somewhat, but for me it is mainly feel. Yes, I too have my very own sound no matter what bass I pick-up, but it is about consistancy. To me, playing bass is about doing hard, precise work with no room for error, and I like to have a VERY close relationship with the tools I am using to achieve that work. My basses have been "universal" enough to get me through most any of the different musical situations I have been thrown-in over the years.

I know there are some players that need to use more than one bass due to there musical needs, and some who just prefer to use and go through alot of different basses, and sound darn good doing it!! On the other extreme, I have known "players" who's seemed to gain more satisfaction from GAS than from actually playing, it's always, "ooh, look at this" or "wait till you see my next axe!!"...That's a nice looking guitar, now can you make it sound as good as it looks?!?!