How many basses do you WANT versus NEED?

[Starrchild]

3

 

[gary mitchell]

Believe it or not I have all I need. I have a nice Lakland 3TBS hollow body , a Nice okoume Fender Jazz bass, a Fender P bass. Just got rid of my Fender Fretless Jazz bass. I am 67 years old and want to enjoy playing and not worrying about the next new thing or old thing.

 

[ArtechnikA]

I have gigs and studio projects that specifically call for fretted, fretless and electric upright basses. One instrument can't make all three of those sounds.

Exact same for me. I need those three.
I have the 7-string just because I want it...

 

[CallMeAl]

Do double bass players bring a backup?

 

[devnulljp]

Do double bass players bring a backup?

Actually, I usually bring my EUB too just in case.

 

[CallMeAl]

Actually, I usually bring my EUB too just in case.

And that was an honest question

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

Need: less than I have
Want: more
I do play them all though!

 

[Artman]

I own two basses. A fretless 4-string that had been my only bass for many years, and now a fretted 4-string. I also have an electric guitar that I am considering selling in order to make space for a fretted 5-string bass. Want vs. need? I got by for years and through many gigs with just that one fretless 4-string, so I guess I really only need one, but I have altered and expanded my playing styles since then. If I had to give up one of the 4-stringers in order to acquire a fiver, it would be the fretted one.

 

[Crusher47]

I only need 2 but own 20+.... why? 'murica!!

 

[selowitch]

I struggle with this. I own three (plus a 27.7"-scale baritone guitar). I only need one. I want about a dozen.
But I don't care to store, encase, provide strings for, adjust, maintain, accessorize, and protect from theft twelve separate basses. I simply do not have the time.
I keep telling myself that if I took all the time I spend lusting after and searching for gear on practicing instead, I'd be a much better player than I currently am.

 

[IamBuzzy]

All I really need would be 3. Yet I own 4. Weight is an issue for me. All my basses are four string.
#1 Ibanez TMB600. Gives me my P and J tones, active or passive.
#2 Ibanez SR300E. My backup. Eventually I will replace this with an SR Prestige.
#3 Ibanez AEB20E. I live in the Appalachian mountains so an acoustic bass is a necessity.
#4 Ibanez Gsr100ex. Setup as a BEAD bass.
Yeah, I know... the brand loyalty thing. But I’ve found Ibanez to be pretty consistent so, what can I say? I’m not interested in owning any more basses. However, the Prestige could be considered a “want” I suppose. Instead I’m GASsing for amps and cabinets these days ha ha.

 

[grimjim]

I would think you only "need" one. You can't very well play bass if you don't have one. The rest are "wants". Whether it's different types ie, fretless, extended range, or to have different tunings or styles......

 

[baileyboy]

Want: 2
Need: 1
Have: 2

 

[JohnnyBottom]

My Red Jack Casady for my Jefferson Airplane Band
My Alembic 5 String for my Grateful Dead Band
My Fender Classic 50's P for my Jerry Garcia Band
My Ibanez 924 Musician well, thats my first bass
My Gold Jack Casady Bass to back up my Red Jack Casady Bass
My 5 String Warmoth double P to back up my 5 String Alembic and Fender P
My 5 String Steinberger spirit, to work stuff out sitting in front of the PC
So Im not that nuts
If I was in a Yes band Id definitely have a Rick.

 

[Holdsg]

Need 3 for the bands I regularly play with. Including the upright.
But I like trying different things, and so the merry go round continues. I’m keeping Fedex in business.

 

[benthughes]

I'd be good with 1 or 2 basses. If I were to pick one it would be my G&L L-2500. I took a hiatus from Talkbass for a couple years and was relatively GAS free (plus just didn't have time) . This fall I got back on Talkbass, started GASsing for and acquired a Dingwall NG3, Alpha Omega Ultra, Hyper Luminal and a Southampton Indie Dream. In my day I've owned Benaventes, Lowend, MTD, Warwick, Spector, Zon, Elrick, Roscoe... They're all great but I keep coming back to Fender Style basses. After substantially thinning the herd I've been playing my Ibanez ATK 805 a lot and , honestly, it stands up to some of the nicest basses I've played. Some of the fit and finish isn't there but at 1/4 the price its very, very good. I was quite happy with my ATK until I started seeing what I didn't have...then it started. At 6 basses I have more than I play on a regular basis and due to that none of them really feel like "home" except my G&L. It's nice to have a stable of nice basses but if I were gigging on the reg I'd get 2 of the same bass and stick to that for everything.

 

[geesharp]

I think..no, I'm sure I only need one bass...currently I have 3 basses. Want? I want one more bass, a Gibson bass, any Gibson bass will do

 

[TheReceder]

All I need...is the ashtray, the matches and the remote control... and the paddle ball...

 

[pappabass]

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 arge created equal,

One thing about a bass is that they are not high maintenance like a boat or jet ski. Owning several basses OK. Especially if they are different. I don't see the point of owning 5 fender p basses. I do admit of owning 3. But they are all different. Each selected for different situations. I have a ESP LTD 5 string I use(d) for church, a Fender p 4 string for oldies/classic gig, a LTD D4 for a modern bass sound. It works good for small venues plus its comfortable to play

 

[FingerDub]

I need about 10. I want 50 plus.