How do you know when you find "the One?"

[neo 7]

Do you just know? Do you have to play every bass you see and hope for that magical feeling, or does it become "the one" over time?

Can you pick out that special bass methodically? Like experimenting with different basses, and finding different attributes with different models. Then looking for all those attributes on one bass?

 

[Ben Lesser]

When I ordered my Stambaugh, I did it with the intention of never needing to buy another fretted bass. 5 years later, that's held 100% true. But the feeling of knowing that it was "the one," although planned, probably didn't really set in until after a couple of years.

 

[Timmy-Watts]

...because it is usually that one you picked up and never planned on liking and BOOM! It finds you, speaks tenderly to you and you just know it. My Stingray 5 did that. My current P-Bass did.

 

[Soppy Hat]

Well, hearing the bass tone in Ride's "Leave Them All Behind" set me on the path to a Stingray pretty quick. For me it was a sound thing. I wanted to have a bass with a tone that could be mistaken for distortion.

Having no money, I ended up with a MusicMan SUB bass (the first SUB, not whatever they're coming out with this year). It's basically a passive StingRay, but it sounds fantastic and I still get some nice tone controls with it. It's not The One, but it gives me a good idea of what The One is. I ain't selling it.

When I actually have the money, my Number One will be either a Stingray Classic or a Gibson Grabber, something really growly and scratchy. I can't see myself playing anything else tonewise (a real shame, since Grabbers seem to be frickin' impossible to find in my price range).

HELP. I'm attracted to basses all my bandmates think are ugly.

 

[speeves]

I keep returning to my 2007 Fender American Jazz bass. I even like the S1 switch, and use it often. I knew it was special as soon as I put my hands around it, but it hasn't been until I have played hundreds of basses that I realized that it would be the last bass I would sell. My 2007 Fender American Jazz fretless is a close second.

The bass has to sound right, and resonate right. I have tried MIM basses, and a Squier, but they just don't resonate correctly next to my body. And, it usually has to be a Fender, though I have a Yamaha BB425 that is pretty close.

yum!

 

[speeves]

The bass has to sound right, and resonate right. I have tried MIM basses, and a Squier, but they just don't resonate correctly next to my body. And, it usually has to be a Fender, though I have a Yamaha BB425 that is pretty close.

Clarification that these are my personal preferences that I have developed over time. There are great MIM and Squier basses, as well as basses that are not Fender and Yamaha. Take the time to develop your prefs

 

[Kwesi]

When he stops bullets with his mind, I reckon.

 

[Johnnyburn]

First post for me as a new member! Anyway, have a 2006 mim deluxe jazz bass and a guy wants to trade me for a late 60's frankenbass fretless jazz bass or another offer to trade for a SR 506 that is mint. Only reason I'm getting rid of the 2006 mim is becuase I got a sweet deal on a Marcus miller 4 string. The Miller is so sweet and playable and the frankenfender really is intriguing me to have around as a 2nd axe.

Only thing about the Frankenfender is that the horns are shaved but it retains all original pups and electronics. Body was also stripped down to natural finish and neck appears to be a warmoth.

Frankenfender or Ibanez 506?

Thoughts?

Glad to be on here!

 

[name44]

I'm only a beginner bassist, but been playing guitar for years. When I decided to try bass I looked at and played a lot of basses. After 4 months I ended up with an MTD 5 string korean kingston.
How do I know this is my one keeper I won't sell? I refinished the bugger with a "hell with the resale value" attitude. This one basically is everything I want in a bass. I will buy more basses in time to augment other sounds but this one will always be the fallback I rely on and refinished to my own creative standard.

When you find the "one" its something that keeps pulling you back to it. You may have others, but this is the "one".

 

[Bryann]

First post for me as a new member! Anyway, have a 2006 mim deluxe jazz bass and a guy wants to trade me for a late 60's frankenbass fretless jazz bass or another offer to trade for a SR 506 that is mint. Only reason I'm getting rid of the 2006 mim is becuase I got a sweet deal on a Marcus miller 4 string. The Miller is so sweet and playable and the frankenfender really is intriguing me to have around as a 2nd axe.

Only thing about the Frankenfender is that the horns are shaved but it retains all original pups and electronics. Body was also stripped down to natural finish and neck appears to be a warmoth.

Frankenfender or Ibanez 506?

Thoughts?

Glad to be on here!

Umm.. you are hijacking the thread. Start a new thread instead of disrespecting the OP.

Anyway you will feel it if its the one. Hard to explain but for me I usually am attracted by the sound followed by the looks. If it appeals to u both ways then its The One. Oh wait theres the price tag...

 

[Betrayer_Bass]

I knew mine was the one after playing it for the first time. It was when I first transitioned over to 5 string basses, I just picked it up and was like "Wow.. This is the bass for me!" :
)

 

[chadds]

You know.

 

[LowBSix]

Do you just know? Do you have to play every bass you see and hope for that magical feeling, or does it become "the one" over time?

Can you pick out that special bass methodically? Like experimenting with different basses, and finding different attributes with different models. Then looking for all those attributes on one bass?

You will not question it.

 

[Lewis7789]

My story about "the one";

About 8 years ago I went to Sam Ash to upgrade my MIM Fender Jazz to a Geddy Lee Jazz. They didn't have one in stock so the salesman was ordering one on the computer for me and asked if I wanted to try the Marcus Miller they had in stock. I couldn't afford it so I said no thank you. He said "Just play it while I'm making the order here for your Geddy Lee." Oh okay... About 1 minute after playing it I told him not to bother ordering the GL and I'll put this MM in layaway. Haha! It took about 2 weeks to save up the rest of the money and bring her home. I will never ever sell that bass. It's got the perfect tone I was/am looking for. I've since modded it with Nordstrand pups and an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp and tort pickgaurd to make her my own. I've owned many basses (including an Elrick and Pedulla) since buying my MM thinking I'll "upgrade" once again but I just love my MM so much. I even went as far as building my own 5-string Warmoth based off my MM but it still just didn't fit/sound right.

So while it's fun to look at all these super expensive boutique basses I know I won't bother buying one or "upgrading" again since I know my MM is my favorite bass ever. Period.

 

[Woodsbass]

"The One" for me was a complete surprise. I walked in to the local pawn shop (I'm from a small town in New Brunswick, so the local pawn shop had a total of 5-7 guitars and 3-4 basses at any given time) and see a black Fender Jazz bass hanging on the wall. It had a price tag of $400, taxes in. Now, before I played this bass, I didn't like Fender. I hated how they felt and sounded in my hands, but when I plugged this beast in and started to play, it was amazing. I was playing through a 10W guitar amp and it still sounded great.

That isn't the best part of the story. After playing for a bit, I liked the bass but didn't think a Mexican Fender was worth $400. That's when I checked the headstock. Made in USA.



I called up my folks (didn't have $400 until that friday) and they came down and I bought it on the spot. Two years later, and I barely play my other basses. Since then, I've bought a "Black label" P-bass and a custom made by Krappy guitars (which I love) but neither of them get close to the play time my Jazz does.

Tl;dr - "The one" is the one that you connect with. It may not be the most expensive, or the prettiest, but if it feels and sounds perfect to you, then it is the one.

 

[phishaholik]

My Fodera Monarch is the one for me and I've never said that about a bass before. I realized it was the one when I stopped playing all of my other basses and started having zero interest in buying any of the beautiful basses in the classifieds. I've honestly never felt this way about any bass.......feelings I've only had for my wife.


My Fodera just plays better and sounds better than any bass I've ever played and it does it by a wide margin. It just fits me like no other bass. The balance is perfect on strap or sitting, which is very hard to find. I can concentrate on just playing the bass and if I take my hands off, it sits in exactly the same spot. I don't have to waste any energy holding the neck up or pushing the body down. It also does what my other basses specialize in tonally, better than the other basses do. It does vintage P, it does thick humbucker, it does tight midrange and the dual mid preamp just makes it as versatile as a bass could be.


For a while I thought I was going to have to sell the Monarch and I put it away in its case, waiting till the market got better to put it up for sale. I bought a really nice cheaper bass and convinced myself I didn't really need the Fodera and the new bass is almost as good and soooooo much cheaper. I figured my finances out a little better and pulled the Fodera out to give it a whirl and I was just shocked at how easy it was to play and how good it felt in my hands. At that moment I decided I would sell everything else I owned, including my motorcycle and any music gear, before I let that bass go.



Michael

 

[phillybass101]

I know when it makes those sounds I like in my head and I hear it when I play the bass through an amp. Then I know further because I'm not fighting the axe to make those sounds. It's easy for me to play and make those sounds that I like in my head. My sound with the minimum level of effort. Sound and playability is what I would say. However, I do not like ugly basses, so at first it has to look good. I'm shallow that way.

Looks
sound
playbility

 

[paganjack]

...because it is usually that one you picked up and never planned on liking and BOOM! It finds you, speaks tenderly to you and you just know it. My Stingray 5 did that. My current P-Bass did.

This happened with my parents bass and my rickenbacker. I just knew instantly that I could never sell those. It's comforting in a way, I haven't really desired another bass since then.

 

[Rockin Mike]

When you are up all night noodling on it and have to skip work the next day, that's a clue.

 

[oddgrowth]

You just kinda "know".

If everything feels and sounds just how you prefer. It may take a while if you're not sure what you're after.
Gathering attributes that you want compiled from different basses you try may be one way. That may be a hard way though, cos you will not be able to spend any kind of significant time with those basses. The correct amp may also come into play a bit. It's tough road to get there.

It may take some time. I didn't find my "go to" till about 10 years into playing bass.
In 96 I played a 94 Warwick Corvette Proline and just knew it was the one. About 14 years later, I found another "go to": a 76 fender precision.

Never let them go either, cos once they're gone you'll be sorry...and some of the same models of basses just do not play the same.