How many basses do you ACTUALLY use?

[Keger Jupit]

Just finished (almost) an 8 song "demo", used 3 basses. They all serve a purpose...& I want more!

 

[dab12ax7ef]

I rotate what I play, based on what I modded last. But it probably doesn’t matter all that much. Us bass players who make sure the chosen bass is style appropriate is more of an intangible that makes you good and aware, but don’t be surprised if no one notices your attention to detail.

To the OP, ska screams for EBMM sound. Play what you want but the StingRay sound kills for that.

 

[bluesblaster]

I have a few but find myself using a jazz bass most of the time, one with flats , one with rounds. If I need a P bass sound I just solo the front PU. they are a versatile instrument.

 

[Nick Danger]

For gigs I use either my Fender MIJ '62 Reissue Jazz or Schecter Baron-H Vintage as my main bass depending on my mood. Our classic rock band plays a Beatles mini-set so I use my Hofner for that at every gig.

 

[kesslari]

One.
Well actually... one gets 99+% of the use.
I have a fretted that I may want to use sometimes, but I don't have the need yet. I do practice on it every now and then.
And to be honest, I have a headless (cheap Hohner steinie copy that somehow plays and sounds great) that I take for airplane travel (which is to say, a few times a year).
Taking it to Knoxville next week.

 

[Dabndug]

I choose a bass to suit the gig:
Upright and either J, P, or Mosrite for swing/funk project.
Bass vi for indie alt-folk/rock project.
Longhorn, Mosrite or 4001 for songwriting demos.

 

[mikewalker]

It took almost 45 years, but I've finally got the working stable down to 4 basses:

'81 Kramer Vanguard, nickle rounds - all purpose gigging bass
'84 Kramer Duke, stainless rounds - super bright recording bass that doubles as backup to take to gigs
'19 Famous-P, various flatwounds (recording only)
'19 Famous-J, tapewounds (recording only)

 

[Jscriv]

Looks pretty stock, but it has two separate and discrete preamps, with a Nordstand 4 coil alnico pickup split into two separate pickups. Each bank feeds one preamp with its own 2 band eq and volume control. The selector switch allows you to use either bank separately or together. Makes for a very versatile bass and it's easy to use.
View attachment 3398739

That's an awesome idea. Also, that's the exact color/fretboard combo I've been gassing for!! It's beautiful.

 

[Jscriv]

I rotate what I play, based on what I modded last. But it probably doesn’t matter all that much. Us bass players who make sure the chosen bass is style appropriate is more of an intangible that makes you good and aware, but don’t be surprised if no one notices your attention to detail.

To the OP, ska screams for EBMM sound. Play what you want but the StingRay sound kills for that.

That why I love playing my sterling. I'd play my ray but I prefer the slimmer neck. One of my favorite ska bass players actually does play a Pbass and it's what made me wanna find a tone with the P bass. And I've gotten a really awesome sound going with it but it does have the same umph the EBMMs do. I'm on the prowl for a best up EBMM to play at venues when being ran into is a real possibility. Been knocked over my cab a time or two in the last 16 years.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I play the instrument that's appropriate and/or necessary for the gig. Up to and including (but not necessarily limited to): US Lakland 4460, vintage 1962 Jazz Bass (sometimes foam under strings), Fender AVRI '62 P bass tuned down a half step, Jack Casady bass with flatwounds (sometimes foam under strings), Lakland five string, and once in a great while fretless jazz bass.

 

[Blueinred]

Good thread. Here's my choice lately:

Lakland 55-60 jazz 5er - 70%
MTD Kingston Heir 5er - 10% (active, for modern "Bartolini burp" tunes)
Alvarez Acoustic/elec. 4 - 15% (mostly church and khum-by-ahhh jams)
'82 Kramer Pioneer Imperial (PJ) - 5% (my baby, records outstanding, exceptional Pbass tone)

Lately just take the Lakland for most gigs, take a backup for the MTD, when I chose it, because it doesn't have an active to passive bypass.

Love 'em all.

 

[DaveAceofBass]

I play out a time or two a month in a ska/punk band. If youre not familiar with the genre, the bass very heavily drives the sound. Think reggae, but mixed with swing and get your tone way up and out of the mud. I've been pretty heavily complimented by other musicians on my tone. But I kind of use of a Hodge podge of basses live depending on venue and my mood. I sometime will take out my jazz, but I generally use my EBMM sterling (my personal preffered bass) or I play a Pbass that I slapped a geddy Lee neck on. Pretty different sounds, and of course I have a different EQ for both. Does anyone else do stuff like this? Is this all carrots?

Edited for awful grammar supplied by spell check!

If you only play twice a month I don’t see the point to have many instruments. On a slow week I play twice. I usually am gigging 3-4 times a week on average, and I teach music full time so I can justify the 12 basses I own. I play most of them out, depending on the music and the gig.

 

[Tommy V]

when i had 8, i gigged with 1... so i recently sold all but the 1, and a month later i have 2, with a 3rd on the way, and already planning on a 4th... go figure.

 

[Davbassdude]

I own 4 basses, but would typically only gig with 2 of them: The 1980 Ric 4003 and the 74/75 Fender Jazz. I'm considering buying an EBMM Sub bass as an alternate.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

I have nails at home and no one throws beer around. I can also afford a gold plated hammer and other basses for "playing out".

Some people have pristine hot rods that never see redline or smoke a tire but that still bring them joy. I’m not totally knocking that...whatever makes a person happy has value I guess. I’m just saying I don’t really understand having something and never ever using it to its full potential. Granted it’s been a long time since I played anywhere I’m getting hit with beer. But if I did somehow find the desire and patience to play those kinda places again the only basses I might leave home would be the Ribbecke archtops. Hey, I’m not suggesting anyone abandon all common sense and take a delicate irreplaceable instrument into a bottom feeder free-fire zone. But if I never got to play those beautiful basses out on any gig because I was a complete chicken **** that would make me very very sad.

One of my pet peaves is the time bands take between songs, especially when they change instruments and then tune. BB King had the bass line going between songs while he chatted with the audience. His bassist didn't stop from the first note 'till the end of the set. Made me tired, but impressed.

Between making a living as a player and as a lighting guy I’ve participated in many hundreds of live music shows. I can say with complete conviction that if a band can’t change instruments while keeping an audience engaged the problem isn’t that they’re changing instruments. The problem is they haven’t learned to keep an audience engaged. BB was as good at engaging an audience as he was at playing the guitar.

 

[Ggaa]

Got 3, use 'em all at the same gig usually. 2 Warwicks, one with rounds, one with flats, Epiphone El Capitan fretless.

 

[TonyP-]

Basses that I gig live with: 10 but 7 of them get most of the work.

Basses that I use for studio and rehersal: 15-20 (that number is always in flux).

 

[1bassplayinfool]

I rotate all of mine depending on the gig... active/passive rounds/flats they all have their place.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Q: How many basses do you ACTUALLY use?

A: At a time?

 

[dukey donkey]

I usually have a main and a backup...those rotate from time to time...curr currently its a dual p bc rich and a Jackson kelly p/j...