How many basses do you WANT versus NEED?

[Marko 1]

I want four 5-stringers (all wear Rounds, no desire for flats or fretless), passive P, J, PJ, and active MM pickup configurations. As for “need”, I need them to be happy/satisfied, and I don't think four is too many. I can honestly say I have zero GAS for any more or others. I do also have one 4-string P for sentimental reasons, justifying that I should have one in my home studio.

 

[cavtrpr]

I could possibly get by with two but I own many more. Occasionally I just feel like playing something different.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Maybe the title post question actually defines G.A.S.. At least anyone who answers this question, you’re doing some self reflection. Please answer honestly.

I was once told an interesting phrase once which is “be careful with the things you own because one day they could end up owning you.”

A bass guitar at the end of the day is a tool to create music. I justify my bass needs / wants by the fact that not all basses are created equal, so having a bunch is like a painters pallet of colours. But how many colours does one need? What if just one bass is the only pallet you really need?

I think the battle of needs and wants is what makes life interesting. I’ve had up to 13 basses in my house at one time but knew a few were on their way out. It’s crazy how much money and time one can spend on this battle.
At the moment, I’ve got a closet I use to gauge what “too many” basses is to me. If the closet is full or there are basses sitting outside of it because they can’t fit...time to re-evaluate.

I’ve even thought of limiting myself to one bass per brand, but I seem to be stuck at two at the moment. At this point in time I have 5 incredible instruments that have taken me 7 years to find. Some you might know that I’ve done a tone of buying, trading, and selling on this site. The Classified section on this site has been my bain at times! LOL

Anyway, enough about me for now...let’s hear from others!
Why do you own the basses that you have?

I have a Fender P-Bass Deluxe I use for music made before 1985 as it is the definitive electric bass sound of that era. I have an active 5 string German made Warwick Corvette for more modern music that requires a five string and updated tone possibilities.

I only have these two, don’t plan on buying any more. Further, only having two has not kept me from being in demand as a player. In fact, only having one didn’t keep me from being in demand for over 40 years.

The longer I’ve been playing it’s become less about what you play than how well you play it.

 

[nostatic]

A bass guitar at the end of the day is a tool to create music. I justify my bass needs / wants by the fact that not all basses are created equal, so having a bunch is like a painters pallet of colours. But how many colours does one need? What if just one bass is the only pallet you really need?

Actually your assumption is somewhat flawed out of the gate. A bass guitar isn't just a "tool to create music" - it depends on the person. By the broadest definition, it is a physical object. It can be used to make music. It can be viewed as sculpture. It can serve as an investment. While the original design was to make music, like all objects, it can serve multiple uses.

That assumption aside, since you ask about needs, perhaps we should invoke Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs:

The bottom represents the critical human needs, and "Psychological" refers to survival needs - food, water, shelter, sleep, sex. Not clear a bass falls into that level of "need" unless you're *really* friendly with your bass.

The second level refers to security (personal, emotional, financial) and health. I could argue that playing bass is good for my health, and that it is a security blanket, but when push comes to shove there probably are other objects that are more mission-critical.

The next two levels are probably the true sweet spot of need concerning basses - social belonging and esteem. If you're on TB posting about basses, then you're fulfilling these two levels of Maslow's hierarchy.

The self-actualization level is where many aspire to, playing music to realize our inner goals and needs. Above that, I aspire to transcendence, but it is elusive. Thankfully it isn't that necessary according to Maslow.

 

[vegas532]

I can get everything I need out of a couple of P Basses in different tunings but I also love have a semi-hollow around for the tonal difference.

 

[Marko 1]

When you finally get a music room but can’t sit in there because it’s stuffed full of music gear.

Yes, that's a problem. You definitely need a bigger music room.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

How many do I want? All of them!

How many do I need? One. Well, maybe fretted and fretless. Aaannnnd maybe an electric upright and a... dang it! There I go again!

 

[madbass6]

Maybe the title post question actually defines G.A.S.. At least anyone who answers this question, you’re doing some self reflection. Please answer honestly.

I was once told an interesting phrase once which is “be careful with the things you own because one day they could end up owning you.”

A bass guitar at the end of the day is a tool to create music. I justify my bass needs / wants by the fact that not all basses are created equal, so having a bunch is like a painters pallet of colours. But how many colours does one need? What if just one bass is the only pallet you really need?

I think the battle of needs and wants is what makes life interesting. I’ve had up to 13 basses in my house at one time but knew a few were on their way out. It’s crazy how much money and time one can spend on this battle.
At the moment, I’ve got a closet I use to gauge what “too many” basses is to me. If the closet is full or there are basses sitting outside of it because they can’t fit...time to re-evaluate.

I’ve even thought of limiting myself to one bass per brand, but I seem to be stuck at two at the moment. At this point in time I have 5 incredible instruments that have taken me 7 years to find. Some you might know that I’ve done a tone of buying, trading, and selling on this site. The Classified section on this site has been my bain at times! LOL

Anyway, enough about me for now...let’s hear from others!
Why do you own the basses that you have?

Need ? if you're a studio musician,
in my opinion 3-4 !
1. P. Bass
1. Jazz bass
1. 5 string
1. acoustic / uprite or EUB !
if you're a weekend warrior depending on your gig
1 or 2
1. jazz Bass
1. P Bass
& Depending on gig,
1. 5 string.
as to how many you want,
Well it's up to you and your state of mind! after all it's your time, your money /your space / your buissnes!

 

[bassfran]

I used to have a few too many and I got tired of dragging them around with me every time I'd move. I realized that if I had one I didn't use to earn $ then it was no longer useful to me.
Realistically, I could survive with one db and a P-bass and that would cover most gigs but back-ups/insurance= peace of mind.

 

[Nunovsky]

Honestly, I could cover every need with 4 basses: 1 p-bass, 1 j-bass, a 5 strings and a fretless.

Right now I have 11 basses but I just need one more (Fender Mustang JMJ) to finish my colection.

Maybe by the end of this year...

 

[songwriter21]

Luckily, my US Peaveys have pretty much kept me to that brand now, as I "only" have three, buuuuut am eyeing two more (big maybe). I could very easily could die with only two of those current basses, so G.A.S. isn't a big deal for me anymore (been like that for about a year and a half, thank God).

 

[Leonid Nidis]

Need 1 P bass(pj).want them all.

 

[Inara]

With the different genres I play, occasional studio calls, and the fact that I specialize in fretless but still play and get calls for fretted work, here's what I feel I "need":

1. 5 string fretless
2. 4 string passive P with flats
3. 4 string passive P/J with rounds
4. 5 string modern / active fretted

For these, I have:

1. Ibanez Portamento 5 string fretless with upgraded USA Bartolini pickups and preamp
2. Parts P with Geezer Butler pickup
3. EBMM Caprice
4. Ibanez SR505

Since I love 4 strings the most, I also have a 4 string fretless (Pedulla Buzz). The only other things I really want are a Pentabuzz, one of the shell pink relic'd Flea Jazz Basses, and a Nate Mendel P bass. Oh and I guess I'd love to have a Zon Hyperbass if I won the lottery lol.

 

[Pet Sounds]

I bought a Fender Precision Bass in 1995 (first year for the American Standard series) and have owned, er, many basses since then. But honestly I could have stopped with that first Fender and the '96 AmStd Jazz I bought new the following year.

 

[Marko 1]

I could possibly get by with two but I own many more. Occasionally I just feel like playing something different.

Very important to me. I keep my four somewhat-different basses on the wall in my music room, and love switching off. Keeps it fresh, and helps stave off GAS.

 

[scuzzy]

Want: all
Need: 0-1

I think I will keep breathing and the world will keep spinning if I have 0, but would really like at least one.

 

[FishDub]

Maybe the title post question actually defines G.A.S.. At least anyone who answers this question, you’re doing some self reflection. Please answer honestly.

I was once told an interesting phrase once which is “be careful with the things you own because one day they could end up owning you.”

A bass guitar at the end of the day is a tool to create music. I justify my bass needs / wants by the fact that not all basses are created equal, so having a bunch is like a painters pallet of colours. But how many colours does one need? What if just one bass is the only pallet you really need?

I think the battle of needs and wants is what makes life interesting. I’ve had up to 13 basses in my house at one time but knew a few were on their way out. It’s crazy how much money and time one can spend on this battle.
At the moment, I’ve got a closet I use to gauge what “too many” basses is to me. If the closet is full or there are basses sitting outside of it because they can’t fit...time to re-evaluate.

I’ve even thought of limiting myself to one bass per brand, but I seem to be stuck at two at the moment. At this point in time I have 5 incredible instruments that have taken me 7 years to find. Some you might know that I’ve done a tone of buying, trading, and selling on this site. The Classified section on this site has been my bain at times! LOL

Anyway, enough about me for now...let’s hear from others!
Why do you own the basses that you have?

Currently own 4 but do I need them?.. hell no especially since I don't gig and not in a band. Trust me, I have debated many times in selling all but one and then I get gas for another-then the buying, trading and selling happens. I have 2 Jazz style basses, Pbass and a Steinberger so what more do I need? None!

 

[TheLowDown33]

I gig and record regularly. I found 3 basses are the optimum amount for me. It covers a lot of ground without being redundant.

1. 6 string with nickel rounds. Covers pretty much everything.

2. 5 string fretless PJ with pressurewounds. Plenty of versatility there as well, just fretless.

3. Jazz bass with humcancelling pickups and flats, for the flats thing.

I also use a midi keyboard and a bunch of softsynths for other bass-related sounds. Very useful for my top 40 cover band situation.

 

[WhenTheDrumsStops]

I really need just 1, but more would be helpful. Besides from the main bass (fretted 4 string) it would help having a good fretless, a 5 string and duplicate 4 string with piccolo setup.

 

[6Bass101]

For what what I do, I only NEED one. But I WANT all of the basses. Not just all of MY basses, but ALL of the basses.