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How many basses are too many?

Thought that I would restart this thread.

Two and a half years after my original post I still own the same two basses.

Still thinking that I have one more bass max that I could handle and still play it often enough to feel good about owning it.

I play my two basses equally. I am really happy with both(fender mim jazz with pure nickel rounds and Squier CV 60s P strung with LaBella’s Jamerson set). I do lust for a third though- maybe a jazz with chunky neck and flats.
 
Owning multiple basses isn’t immoral, illegal, or fattening. So available storage space and financial prudence are about the only considerations I need to take into account before buying a bass. I enjoy having multiple basses to play. That’s enough of a rationale for me, if any rationale is called for.
 
No judging by me or anyone else, and this is subjective, but how do you know when you have enough?

I own two -a MIM Fender FSR Jazz and a Squier Classic Vibe 60s Precision. Both have upgraded pickups and strings but are otherwise stock. They cover as much sonic ground as I need to or want to cover. I play each of them equally -trading off just about every other week.

I enjoy following TB and have GAS as much as anyone, but every time I see something I want to buy (and that is often), I question whether it would get enough attention.

I think I have enough room in my stable for maybe one more bass, but it really has to be special - either a 1973 Precision, a nice American Standard, or even something custom (and by custom, it could be a frankenbass).

What is your cutoff?

Thanks for the rant
2 ?? hope by now it is at least 5 !! you need to add a bass with a active preamp bass with humbuckers, 'one you go active you will never go back ' !!
 
Thought that I would restart this thread.

Two and a half years after my original post I still own the same two basses.

Still thinking that I have one more bass max that I could handle and still play it often enough to feel good about owning it.

I play my two basses equally. I am really happy with both(fender mim jazz with pure nickel rounds and Squier CV 60s P strung with LaBella’s Jamerson set). I do lust for a third though- maybe a jazz with chunky neck and flats.
just keep those two.
 
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I have never owned an active bass. Have always thought that a two band stingray might be nice.
Should try one. Look at the LTD basses. All I had was passive for years, About 15 years ago I was a last minute fill in at a church revival. I played the beat up church bass which was a bottom of the line Ibanez with a active preamp. I thought I will bring my Fender Jazz the next night. Yeah,,, the Fender jazz never could match the sound of that Ibanez. So I took the journey of active preamp basses. I circled back to a Fender P a couple of years ago for a little gig we play. Miss the clean punchy sound. I just bought another 4 string LTD with active preamp used from GC. Still have my Fender P, just a classic!. And my 1st LTD 5 string for if I get a chance to play for church again.
 
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For me, my current dozen is probably too many. :whistle:
I think that six or seven are perhaps 'justifiable', based on 'the need' to have a few 'utility basses' on hand at my small studio, but I'm gonna try really hard to thin it down to three or four by early next year. Just waiting on #13 (Status Graphite Streamline, currently being built) to arrive in a couple of months. I'm hoping that one will kick a few of my other favorites to the curb - but ya never know... :)
 
Four bangers..
  • Fretted P/J Frankenbass, Fender 50's body, Warmoth Neck, GOTOH tuners and bridge, Bill Lawerence P/J pups, TORT guard.
  • Fretless P/J Modified late 70's P, Defretted, added Pyramid Guitars of Detroit dual blade in the bridge position, Black and Maple
  • Spirit By Steinberger headless for travel

Five bangers..
  • Fretted Fender MIA P5, 60th Anniversary Stock Candy Cola, Maple
  • Fretted Fender MIA P5 added J, Nordtrand pickups, Black and Maple
  • LTD TL-5 Semi-Hollow body

Realistically could cover all with the 4 sting fretless and the 5 string P/J...but I am down to less than half of my high water mark of 13 that were all 4-stringers....