Do you have the one that could be, your ONLY one?

[MYLOWFREQ]

Honestly, I can do with any of my basses. That raises the question of justifying the others which I don't want to dive into..

 

[Pings Bass]

Ah, the once a month TB question. My monthly answer:

Yes.

 

[JSpradBass]

Yes, G&L M2500

 

[sotua]

In my case, it's my very early USA Lakland Glaub. I could have no other basses ever again, and be happy, AND covered as far as what I need a bass to do.

I have a 90's MIJ JBass (the infamous "squier series" Fenders with one-ply pickguard and strat knobs) that has been my only one a few times in my career. I guess I could get rid of the others and string the JBass with mellow rounds and cover most of everything that way. It's so nice to play, and sounds so good, ugly as it is.

 

[Bill Murray]

I've worked on building my collection over the last couple of years to a bunch of basses that I truly love pretty much equally but I would be very happy with any one of them if I had to narrow down to just 1. I have 5 fretted and 1 fretless that I regularly use. On any given night I will use at least 3 of them during my practice session. If I had to pick just 1, it would probably be this one as it is just a bit extra special to me:

View attachment 4256941

This is doooooope!
Must look absolutely stunning on stage

 

[Bill Murray]

I'm surprised by the lack of love for MusicMan here, I have a hard time playing anything besides my special now. It rules in the studio (pretty convincing p with flats and nails the jazz tone), live it looks incredible, sounds great, and it's easy on the shoulder.

Lots of amazing basses and rigs here though! The best choice is all personal preference anyways, way too many variables for one bass to rule them all.

 

[Bill Murray]

Had this Ultra PJ a year and a half now and it's still rocking my world. Can't get over how good it sounds. Thinking of buying another as a spare!View attachment 4257082

i just sold mine (I need that low B) but these are absolutely amazing and total workhorses.

 

[punchdrunk]

Yes.."could" be.

 

[lfmn16]

I typically play one bass, even though I have more than one, so yes. What I'll never have is a "forever" bass because my tastes keep changing.

 

[N4860]

This is doooooope!
Must look absolutely stunning on stage

Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to play it on a stage yet due to Covid but I expect that you are right. Yours must also look nice under the lights. Nothing quite like the Music Man sparkle finishes.

 

[jonnybass1]

Ah the question that showed up every week or so. Yes I have my one bass that I could use as my only bass. 2004 Warwick Corvette Short Scale
Link Removed

 

[fhm555]

My #1 is still my #1 but time and life have forced me to move to a 30" scale and completely relearn my left hand after being forced to accept I can no longer cover four frets with four fingers on my 34" #1. I can play simple stuff but my little finger on my left hand can hold down a string or stretch away from the rest of my fingers, but it can no longer do both things at once. Fortunately it does not have to do both to work on a 30" scale, but i'm learning to no longer assume the same will be true down the road so I'm adapting to only using three fingers on my left hand.
i'll keep my #1 and will continue to work on my left hand, and if I ever get to where i can play well enough that way, i'll go back to my 34" bass, but for now i'm a 30" scale guy whenever i'm called to play.

 

[JimB52]

Finish and couch pose combo reminded me or your, that's all

Negatory, @JimB52. Should it?

 

[dan1952]

I recently bought a friend's 63 Precision that he's owned the whole time I've known him (45+ years). I have other basses, but this may be the only one I play from now on.

 

[dalkowski]

Finish and couch pose combo reminded me or your, that's all

*derp* -- your fine staging, wasted on me! Thanks for the much-needed chuckle!

 

[dalkowski]

I was a big fan of the Kramers in the day - this is my late 70's DMZ 5000. Had a ton of knobs and switches (sorry, my arm's covering most of them) and despite that, it was still a passive bass. Beautiful, high grade black walnut body, this thing roared through my older Acoustic 370/SVT 8-10" rig. It just has a presence and punch that's hard to explain. I also owned a DMZ 4000, which had a single DiMarzio ,and active. Now that was a real beast, by far the most powerful preamp I've ever experienced - you flipped the active toggle switch and it sound like bass pedals being turned on! Regretfully sold that. But yeah, despite being a heavy bass, this is my nostalgic favorite.View attachment 4257068

Proudly owned one in my young adult years. Stupidly jettisoned because young adult.

 

[CallMeAl]

I have three that could be the one,
a 2004 Lakland JO,
a 1966 Jazz neck on a 70 P body and
a 1972 Jazz neck on a 2001 P body.
The last one look familiar mr dalkowski?
View attachment 4257093

Gorgeous! Stop by the club:
J Neck P Bass Club

 

[Funkster]

I indeed do. My 1963 birth year Precision Bass.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

Of the 6 basses I own, the one that I would have to pick to be my only one would be a parts Jazz bass that I put together with some nice parts like a beefy stable neck, Kluson high mass bridge, Custom Shop 60's pickups. Sounds and looks amazing.

 

[SumOne]

Sandberg California TM5 SL is my only Bass and it's difficult to justify really needing anything else, I've owned 5 basses (including Fender, Dingwall, Ibanez) and this one is the best at doing everything well. It's versatile with the J/MM pickups (and the MM humbucker can be switched to single coil), active/passive, low action and good balanced tones across the strings, it's comfortable and enjoyable to play and very light too. It can do a good Motown Thump, heavy Reggae Bass, decent slap/pop, and good output and sustain for using distortion/fuzz pedals. The only thing I think it's missing is an active Mid EQ control.

.......saying that though, I am going to make it more specifically set up for Reggae/Dub with Flatwounds and a higher action so I expect I'll then be tempted to get a 4 string with low action and light & bright Roundwound strings for Funk/Slap.