Do you ever actually NEED more than one bass?

[Newer Dave]

I know it's a little late in this thread's life but I would enjoy the addition of a "How many basses do you need?" poll very much. I'd say please if I thought it'd help.

 

[Ric5]

4, 5, 6, fretted, fretless, active, passive, short scale, long scale, P and J, also Ric, and Stingray …

No way one bass can do all of that

 

[Bunk McNulty]

How often has that happened? Genuinely curious - not a wind up.

Breaking a string in the middle of a set. It only has to happen once, then you understand.

 

[Newer Dave]

4, 5, 6, fretted, fretless, active, passive, short scale, long scale, P and J, also Ric, and Stingray …

No way one bass can do all of that

What do you do on a four that you can't do on a five or a six?

 

[JGbassman]

If he'd been any good he wouldn't have needed all that extra kit.

I smell troll.

 

[Newer Dave]

I smell troll.

My God Holmes. I don't know how you do it.

I smell sense of humour failure.

And then there was this....

Did John Entwistle ever actually need all 100 ( or whatever the final count was) basses?

I didn't realise I was supposed to take it seriously.

 

[TomB]

EDIT: I can understand if you're creating very different sounds, like an electric bass with brass wounds and an acoustic with nylon flatwounds, but in the ordinary course of rock 'n' roll......

Yes, am creating many very different sounds - that's why 3-5. If only 1 gig, then only one bass (well, if it's a steady gig then maybe a backup).

 

[JGbassman]

My God Holmes. I don't know how you do it.

I smell sense of humour failure.

And then there was this....



I didn't realise I was supposed to take it seriously.

You obviously didn't catch my humor either. I saw your humor and raised you one.

 

[pbassnut]

EDIT: I can understand if you're creating very different sounds, like an electric bass with brass wounds and an acoustic with nylon flatwounds, but in the ordinary course of rock 'n' roll......

I don't _need_ any more than two (a primary and a backup), but I "suffer" * from obsessive compulsive disorder along with an unnatural love of Fender and Fender-esc Precisions (and Jazz basses to a lesser extent) which leads me to own WAY more basses than could ever possibly be necessary.

* Not a bad way to "suffer" in the overall scheme of things. ;^)

 

[Newer Dave]

You obviously didn't catch my humor either. I saw your humor and raised you one.

Oh.

Ho ho ho.

 

[gt96g]

Nope, I certainly don't but their nice to have.

 

[fermata]

I have two basses. In contrast to all the people who want one more bass, I think I'd like one fewer. I find it very satisfying to have an instrument that's an extension of my musical mind. I quite like both of my basses, but one of them in particular really clicks with me and lets me create music as I hear it in my head. When I play it, I wonder why I need the other one.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

I went through a phase of acquiring basses. I have six basses. A 2013 Gibson Thunderbird, a 2015 CS Fender Jazz bass, a 58 AVRI P bass, a 63 AVRI P bass, a parts P bass, and a 2015 Rickenbacker 4003. I love all of them. I probably didn’t need them all. Currently, one is on a stand in my house, one is in my closet, and 4 are in a storage locker. I would probably be fine with just the Rick.

 

[retslock]

So a pro player might want a backup. How often do you need to take your guitar to the shop for tweaking. Once a year and leave it for a day or maybe two? Twice a year. Once every five years?

Don't get me wrong. I've just started playing the bass and I want to have a houseful. I know I can only play one at a time and that some of them will probably get a bit neglected but I still want them. I don't even really know why, but I do.

EDIT: Not "a bit neglected". More likely "unused".

You have found your true family. Don’t ask why.

 

[Altitude]

If you get paid to play, possibly

+1. If you're a freelance bass player, it's a good idea to have a jazz bass, a precision bass, and a 5-string bass if neither the P nor J are.

With those 2 or 3, you'll have the bass that gets requested of you 95% of the time a bass gets requested of you.

If you love none of those and only have them as tools, maybe you have one more that you use when it's strictly your choice.

 

[DuluthDank]

If you can do your own repairs you only need one. If you need to drop it off at the shop for a few days and want/need to keep playing, you need two.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I've said it before. I gigged one bass for two decades (rock bands, jazz bands, pit bands). No one ever told me I had to get another bass to be complete. Plenty of great bassist played one bass.

Do we like toys and assorted shiny things? Yes. Do we need them? Of course not.

 

[Uncle Hanky]

I *personally* could probably get by with just my five, but damn it, some songs just feel right on a four.

 

[Newer Dave]

+1. If you're a freelance bass player, it's a good idea to have a jazz bass, a precision bass, and a 5-string bass if neither the P nor J are.

With those 2 or 3, you'll have the bass that gets requested of you 95% of the time a bass gets requested of you.

If you love none of those and only have them as tools, maybe you have one more that you use when it's strictly your choice.

Do people actually request a specific model of bass? How often does this happen? What happens if you say you don't have a Precision, just a Jazz or, God forbid, a Yamaha?

I'd just turn up with a bit of tape over the manufacturer's name or say that Fender have a new P model out called the Yamaha and they wouldn't notice the difference.

 

[retslock]

If you had to carry on with zero basses, I think you would survive. The answer is you need zero basses.

The thought correctors will be visiting you presently. Do not struggle. It will be swift and painless, you will not feel anything. Afterwards, you will be at peace.