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How many bass guitars do you need?

#103
I have been playing bass and performing for over 30 years... For almost all of those years, I was playing 7-8 gigs a week and I have only ever took one bass to my gigs. I do own 2 basses just in case of an emergency. I have never needed more than that. As an added note. I have only ever owned 1 bass amp at a time. I have never had a back up or spare and never felt the need for the extra clutter and expense... There you go!
 
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#104
As many as you want and can afford!

Everybody needs a J, P and MM. Then you can add a P/J. J/MM, Ric, hollowbody, fretless, 5-string, 6-string and 7-string. But wait! S*** happens, so you need matching backup basses. Then there's active vs. passive, maple vs. rosewood vs. wenge vs. ebony, neck-through vs. bolt-on, short vs. medium vs. long-scale, and on it goes...
 
#110
3HitKO said:
Honestly, here's what a bassist would need, genre and cost notwithstanding:

  • A bass with roundwounds installed (active or passive)
  • A bass with flatwounds installed (active or passive)
  • A fretless
  • A 5 or 6-string bass
  • A beater bass to practice on

Just my $.02 :hiding:
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I don't think you need the beater, but we always seem to have one around, don't we?

I think that's a pretty comprehensive list of a bare minimum that studio guys might want to have with them. However, most of us aren't studio guys and don't need the depth. For example, I've played one gig in 5 years that I thought required a 5-string, and when I got there, they asked me not to bother with the 5-string because the writer of the chart didn't know what he was doing. And there was one time in my life I was ever asked about fretless, I said I didn't have one but I would play it if they rented me one, and they said fretted would be fine ;)
 
#111
tekdiver500ft said:
No matter how many basses you own, if you don't have a P Bass, you need one more. If you can't swing a U.S. made bass, then skip over the Mexican basses and get a Squier CV '60s P Bass. That bass is better than most MIM basses, and really captures the essence of the P Bass. With that being said, there is nothing like a good MIA P Bass. Save if you have to, but get one, they are the standard by which all else is measured (and most fail to achieve).
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What is it with folks always preaching to get a P?
 
#115
I have a "go to" bass for recording, a "go to" bass for live, and a few that I built for myself, a few frankenstein parts basses and a couple of vintage pieces... so, eight or ten, I'd guess, I haven't really counted recently.

I NEED one (at a time). I ENJOY owning several others.
 
#120
Stewie26 said:
I have 7 basses. I mainly play two of them and the rest have been getting dusty. I was actually thinking of selling a few.
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:cool:
Same here.
I could get by with my P-Bass, fretless Jazz, and Lakland Hollowbody.
I'm selling two 5-strings, and a fretted Jazz. Also a 1960 EBO.
The Gibson is wonderful, but is never used anymore.
 

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