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How does one justify owning several basses?
- Thread starter dan.ablett
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I own a couple of five'ers obviously for more of a range....they are also Active....
I own a few Passive four stringers as well...mainly because i started out playing these one has personal value as my dad bought it for me (my first personal bass away from school jazz band)
as my playing and tastes progressed i needed to upgrade...not to mention electronics have changed in the past 25 years....
this thread cracks me up...
hey Mr. Monk do you eat the same thing for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner every day? If you lived out in the country off of a paved road would you still drive a small car with no ground clearance or would you want to upgrade to a truck (maybe even a 4x4 truck?) How many cabinet makers do you know that only have one saw? how many carpenters do you know that have only one hammer? How many mechanics do you know that have only 1 wrench? I could go on and on and on....
How about this....I own three amps...one to practice on (very small 40 watts) one for medium gigs and recording (150 watts) ond one for when i want to break windows (750 watts) not to mention several cabs including a (4 x 10"), a (15"), and an (18") all used for different applications
you sir are just an A$$
I own a few Passive four stringers as well...mainly because i started out playing these one has personal value as my dad bought it for me (my first personal bass away from school jazz band)
as my playing and tastes progressed i needed to upgrade...not to mention electronics have changed in the past 25 years....
this thread cracks me up...
hey Mr. Monk do you eat the same thing for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner every day? If you lived out in the country off of a paved road would you still drive a small car with no ground clearance or would you want to upgrade to a truck (maybe even a 4x4 truck?) How many cabinet makers do you know that only have one saw? how many carpenters do you know that have only one hammer? How many mechanics do you know that have only 1 wrench? I could go on and on and on....
How about this....I own three amps...one to practice on (very small 40 watts) one for medium gigs and recording (150 watts) ond one for when i want to break windows (750 watts) not to mention several cabs including a (4 x 10"), a (15"), and an (18") all used for different applications
you sir are just an A$$
FM, is playing bass your sole "trade" in supporting yourself and/or your family? If it's not, then having even one bass isn't a "tool", it's a plaything, and your argument doesn't hold water.
And while art is certainly uplifting and noble, it isn't necessary. Don't think so? Go visit you local public school.
We've all been blessed with different things. Some have been blessed with more than others. It's extremely judgmental to call someone a glutton for spending their spare money on a hobby. How do you know they aren't doing other things to help others with the rest of their money? And what about guys like Sheldon Dingwall, Roger Sadowsky, Dan Lakin, and Nino Valenti? None of them would be anything if people weren't willing to go out and spend money on their basses.
I'll be buying my second Dingwall in January - that's about $4000 in resell value alone. You know what else I do with my "spare" money? I help support a family of 9 in Bolivia.
Am I a glutton? In some ways, yes. Do I have the right to charge others with that same crime? No.
I'll be buying my second Dingwall in January - that's about $4000 in resell value alone. You know what else I do with my "spare" money? I help support a family of 9 in Bolivia.
Am I a glutton? In some ways, yes. Do I have the right to charge others with that same crime? No.
Public school has nothing to do with the necessity of art. The role of public school is to teach kids the basic skills and backgrounds of our culture (math, reading & writing, history,) so they can function better in it.
I submit to you all that art IS necessary. Why do we work, pay bills, raise families, etc, if not to achieve love and joy? And how do we express love and joy (and other emotions?) Through art.
I think it was Eisenhower who said "I study war, so my son can study business, so his son can study art." I think he was on to it.
Or, here's another way to look at it. The music we play brings people happiness, and a rest of their other cares. Is that not of value to society?
Because most of us Americans are gluttonous, materialistic, competetive, self-indulgent pigs who are spoiled with large incomes, square footage, we waste energy, and we eat too much.
The beautiful part is.... we also develop a skill in giving convincing, articulate justifications for all of the above.
There. That being said, I own 2.
The beautiful part is.... we also develop a skill in giving convincing, articulate justifications for all of the above.
There. That being said, I own 2.
Well, three of my basses have a specific reason/need for owning:
1. My Warwick Thumb NT is a 4-string fretted with a very distinct tone. It was also my dream bass that I thought I'd never be able to afford to own. It's now my workhorse and could never be replaced.
2. My Warwick Corvette Std 4-string fretless is, well, a fretless, so it has a place the others don't - and the fretless is a favorite at my church gig. It also has a gorgeous tigerstripe ebony fingerboard and bubinga body that I could not resist. Cost me money I wasn't ready to spend, but I am glad I took the plunge and now I could never part with it either.
3. My Warwick Corvette $$ 5-string fretted gives me versatile tones and the 5th string bottom and when I first tried it, it fit and felt so good I had to add it to the family!
My two other basses are another Warwick Corvette Std. fretless 4 and a Squire Vintage Modified Jazz fretted 4. Those two are excessive and will probably be sold off eventually. The 'Vette was my first Warwick, but I like the tigerstripe fingerboard one so much better. If only I had seen it first... The Squire was a nice affordable way to get a Marcus Miller-looking vibe for some old school funk.
Eventually I want to sell both of those and find a nice old or Custom Shop Warwick Streamer Stage 1 with a P/J setup in all blonde (maple body, neck, and fingerboard). That way, I keep the GAS coming.
1. My Warwick Thumb NT is a 4-string fretted with a very distinct tone. It was also my dream bass that I thought I'd never be able to afford to own. It's now my workhorse and could never be replaced.
2. My Warwick Corvette Std 4-string fretless is, well, a fretless, so it has a place the others don't - and the fretless is a favorite at my church gig. It also has a gorgeous tigerstripe ebony fingerboard and bubinga body that I could not resist. Cost me money I wasn't ready to spend, but I am glad I took the plunge and now I could never part with it either.
3. My Warwick Corvette $$ 5-string fretted gives me versatile tones and the 5th string bottom and when I first tried it, it fit and felt so good I had to add it to the family!
My two other basses are another Warwick Corvette Std. fretless 4 and a Squire Vintage Modified Jazz fretted 4. Those two are excessive and will probably be sold off eventually. The 'Vette was my first Warwick, but I like the tigerstripe fingerboard one so much better. If only I had seen it first... The Squire was a nice affordable way to get a Marcus Miller-looking vibe for some old school funk.
Eventually I want to sell both of those and find a nice old or Custom Shop Warwick Streamer Stage 1 with a P/J setup in all blonde (maple body, neck, and fingerboard). That way, I keep the GAS coming.
I love music. Nothing in this world effects me the way that music does. Playing music with others (and alone) allows me to create and express myself in a way that leaves me feeling a complete satisfaction and an indescribable release. That being said I LOVE bass. I love everything about bass. All the variations, different shapes, sizes, and sounds that they make. Bass makes me extremely happy. Every bass that I own involved long periods of saving small amounts of cash at a time.
I play in an originals band and I jam with as many different people as I can and love to write my own music and play others'. I do not earn any real income playing bass and gigging varies between several in a month to several months without a gig (because real life interferes for me and my band mates). So I certainly wouldn't say that I NEED my basses for any other reason than pure love for bass.
I have an affinity for hand-made basses created by master luthiers because of my love for Bass itself. I love the care put into them and the attention to detail that these instruments offer.
I do indeed play all of my basses because each helps me to express myself differently and brings out different things in my playing. Each is a masterful work of functional art. I hope to build my own bass someday when the time and my attention can afford it.
That being said, I own 5 basses (actually 7, but 2 of them aren't worth selling or playing) each very different from the others.
I play in an originals band and I jam with as many different people as I can and love to write my own music and play others'. I do not earn any real income playing bass and gigging varies between several in a month to several months without a gig (because real life interferes for me and my band mates). So I certainly wouldn't say that I NEED my basses for any other reason than pure love for bass.
I have an affinity for hand-made basses created by master luthiers because of my love for Bass itself. I love the care put into them and the attention to detail that these instruments offer.
I do indeed play all of my basses because each helps me to express myself differently and brings out different things in my playing. Each is a masterful work of functional art. I hope to build my own bass someday when the time and my attention can afford it.
That being said, I own 5 basses (actually 7, but 2 of them aren't worth selling or playing) each very different from the others.
While I do enjoy the different tones and feels of the different basses I own, there really is very little justification for it. Most of the professional freelance bassists (the serious cats) that I know own and play one bass (with maybe a backup or an additional old banger that might have some sentimental value). I have not gotten nor lost one gig due to a specific instrument I was playing, or having a J instead of a P, or a modern boutique instead of a lower end instrument.
My owning of multiple instruments is more based on 'the love of bass' than any need.
Tone really is 'in the hands'!
+1, I don't feel like reading the posts, but I think Ken nailed it. Nobody needs 3 or 4 basses, but it sure is fun having the option. The two reasonable exceptions are a backup bass and fretless. Even then, nobody calls a bassist because of her or his cool gear. Nathan East has a million Yamahas because he is a great bassist; having a million Yamahas surely didn't make him great.
The only justification needed is to Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. And your spouse, if applicable.
In other words: all that matters is whether or not you can afford it. If you're happy with just one bass, then be happy. Don't worry about how others choose to spend their money. It's not your place to judge. And I politely suggest that there are other issues that are more worthy of your attention.
For me, owning a dozen basses would be unthinkable. But it doesn't bother me in the least that some have ten, twenty or more instruments (and/or amps). I don't envy them or resent them. I'm happy that they're happy.
In other words: all that matters is whether or not you can afford it. If you're happy with just one bass, then be happy. Don't worry about how others choose to spend their money. It's not your place to judge. And I politely suggest that there are other issues that are more worthy of your attention.
For me, owning a dozen basses would be unthinkable. But it doesn't bother me in the least that some have ten, twenty or more instruments (and/or amps). I don't envy them or resent them. I'm happy that they're happy.
I agree, Dr. C, but my question (to everyone, not just you) is, why is "need" even relevant? If you want 12 basses, and can afford 12 basses, then go buy yourself 12 basses. Doesn't matter how good you are, how often you gig, or even if you're in a band. Some people collect art, others collect cars. What's the big deal about collecting gear?
Example: earlier this year I played a yacht club gig. A member came up and complimented my Sadowsky. He then said his bass collection included a Ritter, a custom Alembic, and a 1959 Fender P-bass. I asked what band he was in and he said he just played at home. If I were a petty person I might've thought he was trying to show me up, but he was just a fellow bassist who wanted to talk shop. He asked me what I thought about my basses, and I asked him about his. He was a nice guy, and it was a fun conversation.
Need is absolutely irrelevant if you have the dough. I was just looking at the 'practical" side of things.
I understand and agree. All I play are fretted fivers, so all I really need is two: one and a backup. More than that is just fun. And we both agree that there's nothing wrong with fun (assuming the $$ are there).
+1
I only own two right now, 1 with a p/j pup configuration, and 1 with 2 j pups. if I had the money, I would own a lot more than that, and I could spend some time talking about how the different basses are used for different sounds, but really, i just like collecting musical instruments and gear.
Can I get some kind of award for "most quoted in signatures in the month of December"?
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