Filling Bass Gaps vs Buying One You Enjoy

[rarbass]

I'm looking at expanding my collection over the next few years. I went into a store looking at the P basses they have, but from the selection I actually found myself enjoying a Jazz Bass that I picked up the most. Just play feel and everything was great. It was an American Professional Classic Jazz Bass, and it was really smooth to play.

I currently own a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, which I like but it's been in dire need of a setup for awhile. As it is, I find it hard to get some of the tones I want out of it and have been thinking there might be a spot for another Jazz Bass in my arsenal. Particularly one with a rosewood fingerboard instead of the Maple on the Geddy Lee.

On top of that, I own an Ibanez SR305, my only 5 string.

So right now I'm in a spot trying to decide - should I get another Fender Jazz when I already have the perfectly good Geddy Lee? Is that wasteful?

But that itself isn't the main question, as "should I buy a bass" is of course only a question I can answer. But what do you think of filling in your line-up? Do you consider it wasteful to have much overlap, or do you just buy basses you like regardless? (and if you WANT to say whether you'd buy another Fender Jazz in my situation definitely welcome those opinions haha)

 

[Zooberwerx]

"Is that wasteful?" >> blasphemy! I buy stuff I like but it has to be conducive to my physical limitations....weight, balance, scale, etc. This is an ever-evolving dynamic. I have a couple of really nice pieces that were perfect for me 10 years ago but will probably go on the block for-cheap.

Riis

 

[Plectrum72]

First I filled my bass arsenal with the different tones I wanted (P, T-bird, Hollow body, etc.), then I continued with ones I just liked regardless of sonic overlap. If you have the funds to do so without incurring debt, go for it.

 

[JakobT]

I'm looking at expanding my collection over the next few years. I went into a store looking at the P basses they have, but from the selection I actually found myself enjoying a Jazz Bass that I picked up the most. Just play feel and everything was great. It was an American Professional Classic Jazz Bass, and it was really smooth to play.

I currently own a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, which I like but it's been in dire need of a setup for awhile. As it is, I find it hard to get some of the tones I want out of it and have been thinking there might be a spot for another Jazz Bass in my arsenal. Particularly one with a rosewood fingerboard instead of the Maple on the Geddy Lee.

On top of that, I own an Ibanez SR305, my only 5 string.

So right now I'm in a spot trying to decide - should I get another Fender Jazz when I already have the perfectly good Geddy Lee? Is that wasteful?

But that itself isn't the main question, as "should I buy a bass" is of course only a question I can answer. But what do you think of filling in your line-up? Do you consider it wasteful to have much overlap, or do you just buy basses you like regardless? (and if you WANT to say whether you'd buy another Fender Jazz in my situation definitely welcome those opinions haha)

Get the bass you enjoy. Never mind filling gaps, most of them don't need to be filled anyway.

 

[gln1955]

Buy the Jazz. If the Geddy ends up redundant and not played, sell it.

 

[hvymetallurgist]

Unless you're doing studio work with someone fussy, I think there's a bit of a myth around needing to fill out a line-up or have a specific bass. Honestly there has never been a gig I've run into that couldn't be filled with any mid-tier bass with a common pickup config. Other band members and the audience just really don't care that much about the nuances and idiosyncrasies of tone like we tend to. Hard (but freeing) truth. I think a lot of the discourse around the topic is overblown/misconstrued to be a justification for wanting to collect gear.

Collecting gear can be fun - you're allowed to have nice things and have fun just because it makes you happy. You don't need to justify it beyond that. Just don't get so many that the maintenance:fun/play time ratio tips in the wrong direction.

 

[brianrost]

Do you consider it wasteful to have much overlap, or do you just buy basses you like regardless?

I do find it wasteful to have overlap. I'm down to six bass guitars from owning well over a dozen at one point and I'm actually thinking about selling two of the six and one of my DBs as well.

I consider it overlap when two basses can do the same job. I had four P basses for a period of about two decades. I sold off two because they weren't being used on gigs much. The two I kept can do what's needed. None of the four sounded identical, but they all had that P sound so it didn't matter a lot which one I used.

Right now I also own a J5 rewired with the pickups in series, making it sound very P-like. I may be selling it soon because I'm not gigging it…it's been out maybe 3 or 4 times since I bought it pre-pandemic.

The other overlap is between a 4 string Steinberger and a 5 string NS Radius which is a Steinberger in all but name (Gibson owns the name, not Ned). The 4 string hasn't been on a gig since I got the 5 8 years ago.

Unless you're doing studio work with someone fussy, I think there's a bit of a myth around needing to fill out a line-up or have a specific bass. Honestly there has never been a gig I've run into that couldn't be filled with any mid-tier bass with a common pickup config.

I agree with that. I was just talking with my cousin the other day, he's an ex-pro bassist who has owned the same P bass since 1978 and the same DB since he got it. He had a few other basses before he found the P but has never owned more than one at a time. When he was out on the road, he never even carried a spare.

 

[JRA]

i'd never heard/considered the idea of a different ax for different genres/purposes ("filling gaps") until TB --- you only need one, and it should be a joy to play!

if you want more than one, cool: so now both/all should all be a joy to play!

period

dot!

 

[BGroovy]

if you love it and bonded with it and have the cash, grab it. Then play it for a few months side by side with the geddy and decide who gets to stay.

I try to minimize the overlap in similar basses. Sometimes what I like/hear/feel in the store doesn't translate perfectly to rehearsal or recording or whatever I had in my mind. I'd bring your Geddy to the store to A/B compare.

 

[MCS4]

Unless you're doing studio work with someone fussy, I think there's a bit of a myth around needing to fill out a line-up or have a specific bass.

Exactly what I was going to say. For myself, when looking at potentially getting a new instrument my only real question is, "Will this get played enough when I already have basses I enjoy that cover my actual gigging needs?" All that really matters is whether the answer is "yes" or "no." It is true that a bass filling a "gap" in my lineup can be one reason why the bass might get played, but only if the gap is something with relevance to my personal musical life... the technical fact that I don't already have X style of bass that many people recommend you have is not very meaningful if I am not called upon to use that style of bass or don't have a specific itch to play it.

 

[Slade N]

Its wasteful moneywise (something you dont need) its gainful option wise (something you can use), you have to sus out the value econonics

Di you have more than one pair of shoes or pants? Same idea, just more expensive and less day to day practical

 

[nic_lowend]

I'm looking at expanding my collection over the next few years. I went into a store looking at the P basses they have, but from the selection I actually found myself enjoying a Jazz Bass that I picked up the most. Just play feel and everything was great. It was an American Professional Classic Jazz Bass, and it was really smooth to play.

I currently own a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, which I like but it's been in dire need of a setup for awhile. As it is, I find it hard to get some of the tones I want out of it and have been thinking there might be a spot for another Jazz Bass in my arsenal. Particularly one with a rosewood fingerboard instead of the Maple on the Geddy Lee.

On top of that, I own an Ibanez SR305, my only 5 string.

So right now I'm in a spot trying to decide - should I get another Fender Jazz when I already have the perfectly good Geddy Lee? Is that wasteful?

But that itself isn't the main question, as "should I buy a bass" is of course only a question I can answer. But what do you think of filling in your line-up? Do you consider it wasteful to have much overlap, or do you just buy basses you like regardless? (and if you WANT to say whether you'd buy another Fender Jazz in my situation definitely welcome those opinions haha)

I have a question. What is your arsenal? The jazz bass geddy Lee and the Ibanez?

How about checking a 5 string jazz bass. You will cover a wide range with a fender player mod ii 5 string. Solid instrument and active, with noiseless pickups.... That is a good bass... And then send the Geddy for a set up.

 

[Mastermold]

Instruments are tools to make music. If you like it or need or want more and can afford it, get it. Don't let other people tell you what bass you should or shouldn't play.

 

[mambo4]

only buy basses you enjoy

 

[Aberdumbie]

Being solidly in the "old guy" camp now I have rather moved on from my bass collector persona..... However one day last year I walked into the music store to score some strings and such and a butterscotch P-bass was in the window just screaming at me to go home. It's the only bass I have played since she followed me home...... I recount this for one reason. I gigged hard for a decade and made every excuse under the sun to buy a new bass those years. I reasoned that it was my livelihood, but really it was just vanity. Most were purchased and forgotten about. In my fifty years of playing only 4-5 basses were played hard by me... And it was always the bass that I didn't see coming at first. I think a new bass should happen when it happens.

 

[Wasnex]

IMHO the primary limiting factors are your interest/desire, your ability to pay without incurring unacceptable opportunity costs, available storage space, and possibly the concerns of significant others. If none of these are concerns, you are free to buy as many basses as you can stand .

I am at the point where available storage space is the biggest limiter for some of my collections . My basement is full of amps and my garage is full of motorcycles and bicycles. Not bad problems to have IMHO .

Only time will tell if your potential acquisition is a better J than what you have. If you buy the jazz, keep both basses for an extended time. You have to get through the honeymoon before you can really be objective. Ultimately you may decide to keep both, or you may eventually wind up selling both. Neither option is a problem or concern. You are likely to incur some regrets along the way, but that is just part of life.

 

[Jugghaid]

Get a proper setup on your Geddy and then decide.

 

[overit]

I'm not a collector of things and generally can't stand things not being used, basses included. If you really liked that jazz you tried and may like it better than your Geddy than buy it and get rid of the Geddy and use that money for the right P-Bass.

 

[tpaul]

Buy the Jazz bass, get the Geddy set up properly, A/B them and if you don't need both, keep the one you like best and flip the other one to finance a Precision bass.

In my experience it's easier to find a great P than a great J.

 

[bwildt]

Unless you're doing studio work with someone fussy, I think there's a bit of a myth around needing to fill out a line-up or have a specific bass. Honestly there has never been a gig I've run into that couldn't be filled with any mid-tier bass with a common pickup config.

I agree. I like having different instruments, but try not to have a bunch of duplicates. I'm OK spending a little money on an instrument configuration that I like, but if it's just to cover an instrument config I don't have, I'm willing to go for a cheaper version. To the point, my Jazz is really a Yamaha BBG5. I have a Cort Action PJ so I have a P with rounds (2 other P's with flats). This Cort has an excellent sounding P pickup. These were both under $300 new, and I bought them used. I've had good luck with Squiers.

I find that for playing a live band situation, cheaper models can sound just as good in a mix as an expensive one. I don't care what the headstock says. The only people that even notice is the stray bass player in the audience. That said, I have had bass players compliment me on my sound when playing more inexpensive models.