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How long before you found "The One?"

#21
All of my basses are the "ones". Seriously, I never buy a bass without serious thought. My first bass, my 1992 Fender Jazz Plus V, is still my main bass. I love all three of my StingRay fretless basses, but it just took a couple of iterations to get the electronics I really wanted (3eq+piezo), and my custom Corvette Proline plays like a dream--I just think maybe should swap out the electronics for passive units from a Corvette Standard...I'm on this passive pickup thing lately (yes, even though all my basses are active...probably just a passing phase).
 
#22
I've personally not come across "the one", but i have to say that when I was at a music store the other day and I tryed out an HH Bongo 5, I fell in love right away! It just shocked me because it was the first time that I've ever sat down and really played a 5 string before, and it just felt "like 'budda" So I think that's gonna be my next bass for sure.
 
#24
I started playing in a band in 1959, so with that in mind:
IMHO, as time goes by and things continue changing, so go the days of our lives (:rolleyes:
I came upon this forum as a result of a search. I bought my first PBass in '60. It was a '59 issue Fender. (That was the only PBass available, thank God, and Leo was making them in Fullerton. No other choice. (Again, thanks!)
I have bought and sold about 12 basses and 8-9 guitars. I sold that pristine P Bass. I sold my Telecaster from the early 50's, ser # 000075x!! Saw one in the 1200's on the wall at a Sam Ashe for $30K about 3 years ago.
There are no real regrets, as at the time I always made a good (?) profit, and moved into an axe I 'wanted more' than the one I had. Different than today, I usually never kept more than 2 guitars, and SOMETIMES 2 basses. (usually one!)

Now comes today. I will probably end up with two, maybe three basses, and keep my new Tele US Ash forever. (Unless I have to throw it into the deal on my next bass??? See what I mean??) I'm looking into getting a Kenny Lawrence fretless, and I'm thinking that I might need to sell a this or that to afford it. Well see. Anyway, I think of the instruments I own and have owned as fluid. I work, I earn, I spend. I ALWAYS, at the time, have the axe I want to have. (At That Time!:p )

Now, you tell ME what the hell that means?!:confused:
 
#26
Although I've played guitar for over 30 years, I picked up bass only 5 years ago. Started with a G&L El Toro. Played it for a few months but couldn't get used to the small body (eventually gave it to my son). Picked up a G&L P bass - but it didn't speak to me and away it went. Got a US Fender Jazz 5 string in a trade, but traded it away for a guitar. Rescued a 73 Fender P from a pawn shop. Plays good but is it ever heavy! Rescued a Ric CS from a different pawn shop. Really like it but don't want to risk gigging with it on any regular basis. Picked up a Warwick Fortress One and really liked it...until I got a great deal on a Modulus Quantum 4. Its been my main bass for about two years now, but.... my Roscoe SKB 3005 should be shipping sometime next week.

Still have most of these mentioned, as well as a few others (fretless Warwick Streamer 5 string, Gibby EB2) that were 'special use instruments' when purchased, and I know that I've forgotten some (had another 70s P bass and another G&L back there somewhere)...

And so I'd have to second the position that there isn't 'the one' for me...there are many. While I tend to gig with the same one generally, not exclusively. And they all rotate thru practice time. :bassist:
 
#27
i noticed that one of the most mentioned names on this thread was "warwick". as a low budget bass player i instantly serched for the least expensive warwick and found that its the warwick rockbass. would this be worth the cash? or should i stick with my Epi TBird? i still dont think the tbird is exactly my style.
 
#29
:cool:
I've played bass for over 20 years, and have owned too many basses.
Some were great, all were good.
But my 1966 percision is just the one.
Feel, sound, that something you can't describe.
 
#30
Red701 said:
i noticed that one of the most mentioned names on this thread was "warwick". as a low budget bass player i instantly serched for the least expensive warwick and found that its the warwick rockbass. would this be worth the cash? or should i stick with my Epi TBird? i still dont think the tbird is exactly my style.
Click to expand...

I would say stick with the Tbird until you can afford an actual Warwick. Rockbass is Warwick's "Epiphone" from what I understand so I don't know if it would be that big of a jump from what you have already.
 
#31
IotaNet said:
Most of us have a number of basses -- I'm curious how long it took you to find "the one."

I'm talking about the bass that you'd grab if the house was burning down -- the one that "speaks to you" -- the one feels like an extension of your hands -- the one that just "feels right."

After a year (and more basses than I care to talk about), I've found mine: My Yamaha BB415.

It's not the most expensive one I own, nor is it the most finely-crafted (although it isn't bad -- not by a longshot) but there is just something about this bass that I "connect" to. If it were a woman, I'd say, "She understands me." ;)

I'm sure I will continue to buy/sell/trade basses, but this one is a keeper.

Anyone else found theirs?
Click to expand...

27 years...but I found it.:hyper:
 
#32
I think that every time I bought another bass, THAT one was the one! But until now, (35+years...), I hadn't met that "Warwick"! FNA Jazzman 5-string Fretless wonder. Active/Passive, and a look and feel to make you want to just hold it 24/7. I'd probably make a bee-line for that one!
th_NewFNAJazzman.jpg

:hyper:
 
#35
syciprider said:
The One does not exist. This is why we GAS.
Click to expand...

Your post has made me think...

Is yours a true statement? Do we chase the ideal because we think that finding the "one" will make us better or do we chase the "one" because there are no limits to our choices?

50 years ago there was only one - now we think there has to be a "one".

We live in a world where you can not only change the bass you play, but yourself as well. You can alter your education, life status, even the way you look - nothing is out of reach. Our only limitations are financial.

Look at the postings, some are blissfully happy with their SX basses, some with a Fodera. It's all about choice. The fact that we have choices will always lead us to search out what we don't already have. This is true in life, not just in our TB world.

I know that there are many people out there who have an alder body bass and an ash body bass...maybe some like the tone of mahogany. We need different tools for different types of music. We play fretted and fretless, 4 - 5 - even 11 string basses. How can we be expected to choose one when the menu is so large?

At times, my GAS is frustrating. This is the reason I am really making an effort to stop with the seemingly endless cycle of buying-selling-trading. I have 2 on the way and am really making an effort to stop my own insanity.

I am going to have the "three", not the "one".
 
#37
west*coast*bass said:
... We need different tools for different types of music. ... How can we be expected to choose one when the menu is so large? ...At times, my GAS is frustrating.
Click to expand...
Hmmmm -

I would respectfully disagree.

Quite often, we don't "need" different tools -- we WANT them. And we should learn how to be okay with that.

I believe that different people get into playing music for different reasons. Some of us want to be rock stars -- some of us want to play in church -- some of us want to play alone at home. But it's all good.

Same as with gear. Some of us are happy with one axe. Some of us are on an endless search for perfection. Some of us like collecting toys. But it's still all good.

The key is that you have to move past needing to justify your preferences to anyone. If you're one of those folks who likes the shiny, pretty toys that Basses are and want to try (buy/sell/trade) lots of 'em, ain't a daggone thing wrong with that! If you can afford it, go for it! (EMBRACE your GAS, don't fight it! ;) )

To my way of thinking, this is why we go to work every day -- to be able to afford the things that give us pleasure.

Question: "Why did you buy ANOTHER Bass?"
Answer: "Because I liked it and could afford it."

Works for me!
 
#39
"The One" (el numero uno) Is the bass you love the way it looks, you really enjoy its PLAYABILITY and it helps to get your best SOUNDING possible. Usually the sentimental value is too hight, so you don't really care about "The One" resale value. This is more than a simple GAS attack.
 
#40
I've been playing for close to 10 years and after a breif period of no bass playing and selling all my bass gear then getting back to playing, the first bass I bought felt like the one and still feels like the one....the MIJ Pbass I bought also feels like the one too, but it just has a bit different sound and feel on the neck. I could honestly never see myself selling either one of these basses, they are here for the long haul.
 

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