Dedicating yourself to only 1 Bass

[phillipkregg]

Those of you who have dedicated yourself to one particular bass, what impact - if any - do you feel like it has had on your playing?

I remember watching a video with Joe Hubbard where he talks about how it's better to have 1 instrument and become intimately acquainted with it.

And if you think about it, a lot of well known bassists have one bass they are known for. Like Marcus Miller's Fender, Jaco's "bass of doom", Victor's Fodera, Stanley Clarke and his alembic, Flea and the Music Man (or Modulus), Chris Squire's Rickenbacker's, Geddy's jazz bass, Billy Sheehan and his Fender P Bass - later the Yamaha which was modeled after that Precision.... the list can go on and on.

Of course, at times these bassists also played other instruments, but for the most part seem to be known for one bass (or at least one similar style of bass).

Personally, I tend to be a GASoholic and swap basses out pretty regularly. Although, I know that it's not the bass that matters so much as the musicianship.

So what do ya'll think? Have you noticed a difference when you are monogamous to 1 bass?

 

[Picton]

No.

I play each of my basses differently. I love them for different reasons. And I’d be bored with just one.

Full disclosure, they’re three very different basses (Jazz, Rick, JP90). I’m not one of these guys that owns three or four of the same model.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Also no.

I have two basses.
A fretted and a fretless six stringer.

I will tap,slap,use a pick and play chords on my fretted.

Whereas I don't on my fretless.
Which I tend to play in a melodic singing way.

 

[pcake]

No.

I play each of my basses differently. I love them for different reasons.

exactly this!

 

[StyleOverShow]

Yup what Picton said. Also fretless, 6 string, Active and Passive attributes.

 

[MynameisMe]

No. I have basses of all different configurations and shapes. All unique to me.
I play them all different. I get different sounds and have purposes for each of them.

 

[Afc70]

No, I don’t believe it’s important to focus on one particular bass, especially for advanced/ pro players, who’ve been playing for many years. Gary Willis, for example, could probably pickup any bass & absolutely play incredible stuff. I do think a structured daily practice regimen is vital though. I currently own 5 basses & I play them all very frequently, & they all are set up very similarly with low action. I strive to play cleanly & use a very light touch. My technique will be very consistent from bass to bass.

 

[bwildt]

I am not a virtuoso-level musician, so I see no requirement to become intimately familiar with just one bass. I also play in a few different groups of various genres. Different basses fit better within specific groups. I enjoy being a generalist. I have never and doubt that I will ever find "just that one" bass. Sometimes I just enjoy swapping instruments for the fun of it. I have a small collection of basses. They are all different and none are duplicates. Vive la difference.

 

[Chip Stewart]

I've tried different basses over the years but have settled on the Hamer SB4. I only play folk/americana music and the Hamer SB4 is perfect for that. If I was trying to make a living as a sideman then multiple basses would be required, but since I only play part time and can chose the genre a stable of basses is not required.

 

[iwearpumas]

I wish I only had 1 bass.

 

[Bassheart365]

As your list of virtuoso players demonstrates, I think there is a lot to be said for focusing on a single instrument. Muscle memory and mastery of instrument tone are very important. The problem for me is deciding on which one! But I think I"m heading in that direction.

 

[hintz]

I own 8 basses ATM, but I gotta say that moving into a smaller place and having to keep most of them stashed away really makes you prioritize.

I naturally find myself gravitating towards just one of these two:

/\For metal, my Bich

/\My mockingbird for anything else(the electronics should be repaired soon here). The others mostly sit in their cases.

If I absolutely had to pick just one it'd be the Bich, but then I wouldn't expect to get any pop gigs either

 

[srcTW]

I recently saw an old interview with Jaco where he said he practiced with a bass with a thick neck because that made him faster when he performed on his bass with a thinner neck.

 

[two fingers]

Those of you who have dedicated yourself to one particular bass, what impact - if any - do you feel like it has had on your playing?

I remember watching a video with Joe Hubbard where he talks about how it's better to have 1 instrument and become intimately acquainted with it.

And if you think about it, a lot of well known bassists have one bass they are known for. Like Marcus Miller's Fender, Jaco's "bass of doom", Victor's Fodera, Stanley Clarke and his alembic, Flea and the Music Man (or Modulus), Chris Squire's Rickenbacker's, Geddy's jazz bass, Billy Sheehan and his Fender P Bass - later the Yamaha which was modeled after that Precision.... the list can go on and on.

Of course, at times these bassists also played other instruments, but for the most part seem to be known for one bass (or at least one similar style of bass).

Personally, I tend to be a GASoholic and swap basses out pretty regularly. Although, I know that it's not the bass that matters so much as the musicianship.

So what do ya'll think? Have you noticed a difference when you are monogamous to 1 bass?

Victor doesn't have "a" Fodera. He has lots of them.

Stanley Clark had two main Alembic basses (one red and one brown), but he played and still plays lots of basses. (Interesting trivia. Stabe Bailey and Victor Wooten now own the red and brown Alembic basses).

Flea has been through several different brands. There's no one bass he's associated with anymore.

Geddy went through all kinds of basses. He has hundreds.

Billy Sheehan hasn't played his "wife" much since Talas. And he plays a different Yamaha every time I see him.

I like different basses for different gigs.

 

[Nebula24]

Just have my epi eb0. (Re)playing for almost 2 years after old bass lived in closet. Just a bedroom/living room noodler so dont need anything specific for band/gigs.

For still feeling like a newbie it does help me focus. Just 1 to grab and play though i now fiddle with my amp too much lately [studio40 modeling ].

Its neck has always felt so comfy too me, which is why i got it. Dont feel monogamy makes it more comfy with time.

Am getter better at not staring at where i am on neck and going longer between glances but still hitting right notes. But probably do to practice in general.

Negative is i dont have to adjust to different necks. I do like noodling on other basses at music stores and probably have inbuilt bias that i want it to feel like my eb0s neck.

Do want a second bass one day but havent found it. Want something that is different in tone (hollow or semiH). Maybe a second so can have one with different strings too (play tapes but want to try flats and chromes and...)

Like shorties but locally only see same 4 (eb0, mustang, jr jet, mikro). Do like the jr jet and would probably have gotten it if saw it first. Never seen a jag ss. Would like to try an ignition club or a hiflyer/univox or wattplower (if it had humbucker). Maybe it helps keep my gas low that i never see ones i am interested in.

Not into ordering online an instrument i havent felt. Not in a hurry to find that 2nd one. Also need to declutter my closet. Already crowded with cloths, 2 amps, bass and hiking/camping gear.

 

[Helix]

Ive owned just two basses now for roughly 2 years. The plus side to it is, I never need to look at the fretboard when playing, I know how to dial the eq in on the spot to fit any venue / room without hesitation. I am one with these two basses. I know them inside and out.

The downside is, if / when I play any other bass, i.e. at a music store, or someone letting me play there's, it's awkward and I feel a little uncomfortable, from everything to the string spacing, setting eqs and even tuning it by turning the right tuner

So it has its good sides and bad......for me anyway

 

[baileyboy]

I mainly play my '74 Precision, but also have a Geddy Jazz. Love them both, but I almost always would rather use the P, and if it came down to one, that would be it.

 

[bassicmike]

I cant't imagine a bass that would play as nice as my Lull J. So I don't. It's a perfect instrument.

I do have a P because everyone should. But I haven't played it in 2+ years or more.

 

[jd56hawk]

I remember watching a video with Joe Hubbard where he talks about how it's better to have 1 instrument and become intimately acquainted with it.

Sorry, but that's not exactly what I'd call good advice...unless he's talking about a student just starting to learn bass.
Other than that, nothing more needs to be said.

 

[walking Bass]

During most of my earlier playing years and for year after that I could only afford one bass. Made it easy to be faithful and I got to know it's every nuance.