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Going to one

davec

davec

Supporting Member
May 4, 2006
1,891
879
Fort Wayne Indiana
Disclosures
Owner; Cody Electric Basses ( Now Closed) sales @ Sweetwater
#1
I think I’m going to actually do it.
I recently bought a PRS employee guitar, built for a Private Stock builder, that he built for himself.
Absolutely amazing, I got rid of my Les Paul, my Strat and my import PRS.
It’s the ONE, and made more progress on guitar than I had in several years.
And it got me thinking
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Should I do the same for bass…
I started with the pedals, I got rid on everything, picked up a quad cortex.
I don’t think it is quite as good, but it’s more than capable and travels nice.

Should I do it?
My thought process is to go to my home build and a backup that I built years ago.
Get rid of my Schack bass get rid of my Spector Doug Wimbish Limited.

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#3
Don't you fear Ken Smith sues you ? :smug: (Sorry just one more Fender type joke)
So yes ! Your main is gorgeous ! and your pals too 👍
I'm in the same boat: recently converted to short-scales basses. i've two of them, the main and the backup/work horse. And if it was me, i would sell my 34" basses. But as it is gifts from my wife on 40 and 50 birthdays, it's forbidden ! :rage: So they take dust.. But one day they will gone :whistle:
 
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#4
I didn’t get to one bass, albeit I tried several times. I need a backup in case of my main axe will need a fret job or something like that (I don’t do it myself, so it’s several days without a bass). I have two at the moment.

if you’re not short on money right now, just stash the basses in question for half a year after getting your new number one. after the honeymoon will end, you’d be able to tell, which one you’ll miss the most.
 
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#5
davec said:
I think I’m going to actually do it.
I recently bought a PRS employee guitar, built for a Private Stock builder, that he built for himself.
Absolutely amazing, I got rid of my Les Paul, my Strat and my import PRS.
It’s the ONE, and made more progress on guitar than I had in several years.
And it got me thinking View attachment 7522277

Should I do the same for bass…
I started with the pedals, I got rid on everything, picked up a quad cortex.
I don’t think it is quite as good, but it’s more than capable and travels nice.

Should I do it?
My thought process is to go to my home build and a backup that I built years ago.
Get rid of my Schack bass get rid of my Spector Doug Wimbish Limited.

View attachment 7522281View attachment 7522282View attachment 7522283View attachment 7522284View attachment 7522285
Click to expand...
Keep the Ken Smith! You can do basically everything with a P/J setup. Plus.... it's a Ken Smith.
 
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#7
I say go for it! Sounds like you have the right mindset for it.

Some are inspired by a variety of instruments in their stable, and that’s fine! But me personally, I find the micro adjustments to different ergonomics, and the tone twiddling, to be mentally taxing and distracting. I like the comfort of just plugging in and getting straight to playing.

Obviously a back up is comforting, and a good idea. I play more guitar than bass these days but I’m down to 2 electric guitars (both Strat style) and one P bass. Never been happier!
 
#10
When I started, most everyone played a single bass. I bought a spare after experiencing a string breakage and had other players drooling over thosr 2 EB3's so much, I felt guilty and sold one to a bud as he couldn't find a 60's version anywhere by then.

My original single EB3 got stolen and Instill haven't got over it 50 years later. I miss it terribly. You learn its feel, tones, playing positions strings, which we never changed, everything aboutnit was you.

It's a painful loss a replacement just cannot fill. I have an even older version now which is a keeper, but its not "that" bass.

The replacement I bought nearly 50 years ago has become my closest bass love since, but I rarely take it out, fearing another theft on a 60 year old pal would be the end of it all as well as anyone who attempted to take it.
 
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#12
Put the other basses away for 6 months. If you only play the one and feel continuously inspired to play it then yes. The one bass kinda tells you. This process works for me for most things, not just bass related.

If I had built that awesome home build and it felt and sounded as good as it looked, I certainly would!
 
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#14
davec said:
I think I’m going to actually do it.
I recently bought a PRS employee guitar, built for a Private Stock builder, that he built for himself.
Absolutely amazing, I got rid of my Les Paul, my Strat and my import PRS.
It’s the ONE, and made more progress on guitar than I had in several years.
And it got me thinking View attachment 7522277

Should I do the same for bass…
I started with the pedals, I got rid on everything, picked up a quad cortex.
I don’t think it is quite as good, but it’s more than capable and travels nice.

Should I do it?
My thought process is to go to my home build and a backup that I built years ago.
Get rid of my Schack bass get rid of my Spector Doug Wimbish Limited.

View attachment 7522281View attachment 7522282View attachment 7522283View attachment 7522284View attachment 7522285
Click to expand...

That photo collection is full of bass superstars. Where were you that day?

Nice bass too. Definitely thought it was a Ken Smith at first glance.
 
#15
Personally I think this is something you can only answer for yourself. I have spent plenty of time owning either only one bass, or owning one bass and a backup I really never played unless the main bass was out of commission briefly, and have also spent plenty of time owning multiple basses... and, to me, the concept that owning only one bass would inspire me more makes absolutely zero sense to me. Even as someone who has a decades-old "No. 1" bass that has never lost its slot for more than a few months at a time at most, having other instruments as a change of pace has been extremely inspiring for me, and each of the ones I now keep around in my permanent "stable" has something specific that makes me go back to it from time to time.

That being said, there are plenty of people who find restrictions to be inspirational, and I can understand that to some degree (although not to the degree of selling all my other basses), so if you are one of those folks then by all means give it a shot. You might consider trying a test first, like pretending your other basses don't exist and only allowing yourself to play the one or two you plan to keep for an extended period, and seeing how it goes.

I do want to note though that the entire above discussion is based upon the concept of intermediate or experienced bassists who have already developed a strong base of skill. I understand there are many who believe that using only one bass during the more developmental stage is good for various reasons, and while I do think there are some pros and cons to that concept as well, I do think it makes more sense during the earlier stages than later on.
 
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#16
Aussie Player said:
When I started, most everyone played a single bass.
Click to expand...
Same here. I spent the first 20years playing bass owning just one bass.
That was normal back then: there was no internet and we just spent our time playing music and not on talkbass.

So, yes, we know it is possible: it has been done before 😉

But on the other hand, having several basses can be so much fun…
 
#17
davec said:
Should I do it?
My thought process is to go to my home build and a backup that I built years ago.
Get rid of my Schack bass get rid of my Spector Doug Wimbish Limited.
Click to expand...
Seems like you have your heart set on playing your main, building a backup, and selling the rest.

overit said:
Put the other basses away for 6 months. If you only play the one and feel continuously inspired to play it then yes. The one bass kinda tells you.
Click to expand...
But I would do this and figure it out. You will know by the holidays in 6 months.
 
#20

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