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How many basses do you WANT versus NEED?

#121
birminghambass said:
Excellent point! Selling all the basses I no longer need. And my car, I can always take the bus. Oh and my house too, I can stay at an efficiency apartment near my office. All these years I'd been confusing want with need, but no more! I'm finally free!
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Although this might have been meant as tongue in cheek, the truth is-- younger people are starting to re-evaluate what they do need in their lives. Many are not going into hock with 500,000 homes. Many are taking public transportation. Many are buying Tiny Houses with vehicles that double as transportation and tow rig. Times they are a changing. I can't remember how many posts I've seen where the bass player living in NYC exactly says he lives in an apartment, takes his amp and bass on a bus or on the back of his motor scooter.
 
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#123
Judge Nickels said:
For my avocation as a bassist, I need one bass. I actually use one bass for the majority of any recording and gigging I do.

For my hobby as a bass guitar collector, I need a great many more. I have no illusions that success at this hobby has any real impact on the other one.

Like chocolate and peanut butter, these two hobbies go together delightfully but neither is technically required for the enjoyment of the other.
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i have 5 basses my 6 string is my fave :bassist: i love bass guitars have done since i was a kid thinking of getting a 6 string fretless soon :hyper:
 
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#126
Part of what I do is optimize - I'm an Engineer, I can't turn that completely off. For that reason (you need to be able to compare one with a certain mod, and one without to see if you've made progress), and for the purpose of backup, and alternate tuning (I keep one bass in D standard), and... a fretless, I need a few. But not a lot.

One is out of the question.
 
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#128
bassballs27 said:
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?
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I WANT to have 1 bass. But I seem to have an issue of playing basses at a local shop and falling in love.

I currently have a RIC 4003s and a MIM Jazz. I don't need another bass.

I recently made the mistake of playing an Epiphone Embassy Pro and a Reverend the other day. I will probably buy one of them, even though I dont need it. But they were really nice.
 
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#129
micguy said:
Part of what I do is optimize - I'm an Engineer, I can't turn that completely off. For that reason (you need to be able to compare one with a certain mod, and one without to see if you've made progress), and for the purpose of backup, and alternate tuning (I keep one bass in D standard), and... a fretless, I need a few. But not a lot.

One is out of the question.
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yes one is out of the question i agree.:bassist: and i also play bass to make things shake :hyper:
 
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#130
Hounddog409 said:
I WANT to have 1 bass. But I seem to have an issue of playing basses at a local shop and falling in love.

I currently have a RIC 4003s and a MIM Jazz. I don't need another bass.

I recently made the mistake of playing an Epiphone Embassy Pro and a Reverend the other day. I will probably buy one of them, even though I dont need it. But they were really nice.
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playing basses in the shop and falling in love with them ITS ALOWED :bassist: :hyper: :thumbsup:
 
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#132
Hounddog409 said:
I WANT to have 1 bass. But I seem to have an issue of playing basses at a local shop and falling in love.

I currently have a RIC 4003s and a MIM Jazz. I don't need another bass.

I recently made the mistake of playing an Epiphone Embassy Pro and a Reverend the other day. I will probably buy one of them, even though I dont need it. But they were really nice.
Click to expand...
Lol! Go back 10 times and play that bass you’ve been gassing for! If you still want it and it’s still there, buy it! Also, I want you to boil potatoes for a week drink the water and throw the potatoes away! 7 Days!!
 
#134
Simple, need 1, want, well I could break it down to about 4 or 5, but that could go up to 8 easy. I have two. Can't fully justify the need for two, but thems the breaks and I guess I'll just have to find a way to live with it. I can see the need increasing in number as your gigs, bands, and music styles grow and change. Either for tone, style, range, backup, or even look.
 
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#135
Remoman said:
Simple, need 1, want, well I could break it down to about 4 or 5, but that could go up to 8 easy. I have two. Can't fully justify the need for two, but thems the breaks and I guess I'll just have to find a way to live with it. I can see the need increasing in number as your gigs, bands, and music styles grow and change. Either for tone, style, range, backup, or even look.
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at the end of the day who only wants one bass:bassist: :thumbsup:
 
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#136
Remoman said:
Simple, need 1, want, well I could break it down to about 4 or 5, but that could go up to 8 easy. I have two. Can't fully justify the need for two, but thems the breaks and I guess I'll just have to find a way to live with it. I can see the need increasing in number as your gigs, bands, and music styles grow and change. Either for tone, style, range, backup, or even look.
Click to expand...
at the end of the day who only wants one bass:bassist: :thumbsup:
 
#140
alaskaleftybass said:
Although this might have been meant as tongue in cheek, the truth is-- younger people are starting to re-evaluate what they do need in their lives. Many are not going into hock with 500,000 homes. Many are taking public transportation. Many are buying Tiny Houses with vehicles that double as transportation and tow rig. Times they are a changing. I can't remember how many posts I've seen where the bass player living in NYC exactly says he lives in an apartment, takes his amp and bass on a bus or on the back of his motor scooter.
Click to expand...
man i would take my bass and amp on a motor scooter if i have to but there again i am an old git:laugh: :bassist: :hyper:
 
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