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Does anyone have "the one", yet you keep searching?
- Thread starter CaptainWally
- Start date
Burwabit
Likes guitars that tune good and firm feelin women
No bass can do everything. I have a #1 that won’t be usurped but it’s still fun to look. Luckily, I’m pretty set now on basses. Time for more practice.
My #1 is an NYC Sadowsky PJ5 Ultra Vintage
My #1 is an NYC Sadowsky PJ5 Ultra Vintage
#1 from ‘81
It took time to become that due to having other basses and needs (5-string mostly) but once I didn’t need the five I started playing this exclusively and eventually sold the 3 other basses I owned - two 5s and just the other day, a 4 which I thought would be equally played for different sounds. However that didn’t work, so now my mindset is less about searching to replace my #1 but more for a less expensive backup. In the past when I’ve done that I always end up selling the cheapie bass cause it hardly gets played. I guess we’ll see how that goes.
It took time to become that due to having other basses and needs (5-string mostly) but once I didn’t need the five I started playing this exclusively and eventually sold the 3 other basses I owned - two 5s and just the other day, a 4 which I thought would be equally played for different sounds. However that didn’t work, so now my mindset is less about searching to replace my #1 but more for a less expensive backup. In the past when I’ve done that I always end up selling the cheapie bass cause it hardly gets played. I guess we’ll see how that goes.
i use my basses to earn a living -
so, i have my "high grade" reliable instruments that play and sound exactly as needed.
but, i still love basses. so if i see a cool lawsuit era ibanez, or a p bass with a great look and feel, or a peavey 6 string that just looks so damn tasty.... i may or may not buy one.
i tend to buy and sell somewhat regularly those "others," but my primary "i use this for work every day" basses have stayed in the collection permanently.
so, i have my "high grade" reliable instruments that play and sound exactly as needed.
but, i still love basses. so if i see a cool lawsuit era ibanez, or a p bass with a great look and feel, or a peavey 6 string that just looks so damn tasty.... i may or may not buy one.
i tend to buy and sell somewhat regularly those "others," but my primary "i use this for work every day" basses have stayed in the collection permanently.
Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
- Sep 5, 2014
- 5,455
- 4,234
- Disclosures
- None
Yes and no. I have a number one, but not the one. Of course we are speaking of basses here.
My #1 is an SX Ursa 1. It plays awesome but lacks a J pickup. I have an Ursa 3, one is fretted, the other is fretless. I love them, but the Ursa 1 just plays like butter...
My #1 is an SX Ursa 1. It plays awesome but lacks a J pickup. I have an Ursa 3, one is fretted, the other is fretless. I love them, but the Ursa 1 just plays like butter...
Yes. For me, "the one" is my Peavey G-V. Comfy body, graphite neck, 35" scale, spacing that I prefer, active VFL pickups, three band EQ in the preamp. My main one(of five) has the millennium preamp, so it's got a swept mid. I could get rid of all my other basses, and be perfectly happy playing nothing but the G-V for the rest of my days. That being said.....
- Sep 4, 2010
- 3,304
- 2,730
- Disclosures
- Endorsing: Martin Keith Guitars
I have “the one” 5 or 6 times over. Any one of them could be my one and only lifetime bass. But, I still chase other great basses.
1952 Fender Precision
1954 Fender Precision
1963 Fender Precision
1968 Fender Telecaster Bass
1969 Fender Telecaster Bass
1967 Guild Starfire Bass
Plus, a few second tier basses that could be my number one - 1971 Telecaster Bass neck with a 1969 Precision body, 1975 Fender Precision, 2010 Gibson Thunderbird, 2004 Rickenbacker 4003, 1996 Fender “Paisley” Precision MIJ.
Damn, I am one spoiled MOFO.
1952 Fender Precision
1954 Fender Precision
1963 Fender Precision
1968 Fender Telecaster Bass
1969 Fender Telecaster Bass
1967 Guild Starfire Bass
Plus, a few second tier basses that could be my number one - 1971 Telecaster Bass neck with a 1969 Precision body, 1975 Fender Precision, 2010 Gibson Thunderbird, 2004 Rickenbacker 4003, 1996 Fender “Paisley” Precision MIJ.
Damn, I am one spoiled MOFO.
Yes. Can't help myself. The one in my avatar. Stambaugh single course 8-stringLet me qualify "the one" by defining it as a bass that meets your needs and preferences so well, that finding another that fits you as well is very statistically improbable.
So who has this instrument.....loves it to pieces....yet still snoops around for something new?
If you're a "need a bag of golf clubs" person, i.e. different tools for different situations, clearly this won't apply to you. But if you're a hobbyist that is really happiest playing said "one", I'd be interested to know whether you still search.
EDIT: If you have a "one", then please tell us what it is!
For me, there can't really be a single "the one" - maybe a "top one in each category" - but I have lots of categories. For example, this is my "the one" for my "fretless 5 string with tapes" category:
Kania (Poland) custom copy of a Viellette Mark V semi-hollow.
Kania (Poland) custom copy of a Viellette Mark V semi-hollow.
I've had that bass for at least two times.
Both are still great instruments and whenever I pick up one of them, I can feel why I've bought them and played them so much and preferred them over others. The problem is that there is one thing which is subject to change: Me.
My style of playing still evolves and my abilities change and with them, some of my preferences and/or priorities can change, too. So there is 'the one' for me now - but I can't guarantee that it'll be the one for me next year.
Unless I start to stagnate at some point or I got so good that I stop evolving because there are no more goals to pursue, 'the one bass' is a temporary construct which will change over time.
Both are still great instruments and whenever I pick up one of them, I can feel why I've bought them and played them so much and preferred them over others. The problem is that there is one thing which is subject to change: Me.
My style of playing still evolves and my abilities change and with them, some of my preferences and/or priorities can change, too. So there is 'the one' for me now - but I can't guarantee that it'll be the one for me next year.
Unless I start to stagnate at some point or I got so good that I stop evolving because there are no more goals to pursue, 'the one bass' is a temporary construct which will change over time.
Absolutely!
My Birdsong Cbass (profile picture) is everything I could ever want from an instrument. Yet I still keep looking for a solid second bass. Do I get an equally high end bass that may not get played out as much, or a cheaper back up for those "just in case" scenarios? If I go for the less expensive bass, would I even want to play it?
Decisions, decisions...
My Birdsong Cbass (profile picture) is everything I could ever want from an instrument. Yet I still keep looking for a solid second bass. Do I get an equally high end bass that may not get played out as much, or a cheaper back up for those "just in case" scenarios? If I go for the less expensive bass, would I even want to play it?
Decisions, decisions...
If you're a "need a bag of golf clubs" person, i.e. different tools for different situations, clearly this won't apply to you. But if you're a hobbyist that is really happiest playing said "one", I'd be interested to know whether you still search.
I need a bag o' clubs, so this doesn't apply to me; only responding for statistical purposes
