How many basses does a pro need?

[RocknRollNeverForgets]

A pro? Probably doesn’t need very many, as noted in other posts.

Most of TB, however (myself included), needs n + 1, where n is the number currently owned.

Wait - noted in your signature. There is a Texas Bassist Club? How do I join?

 

[Durham52]

He’s got at stack of basses, these are just his main working ones.
But yeah, it depends on you and your gig. There are no rules.

And the question from the OP was how many basses does a pro need. Lee's answer was, he needs 3 to cover pretty much everything he does, his 'Frankenstein', his Dingwall and his Warwick. (even the jazz mentioned in the clip, doesn't get mentioned as one of his working basses)

Plenty of famous bassists and guitarists have big collections, but few of their instruments regularly see a stage or recording studio, most stay in storage and a few old faithful's get regular use. (For example, Keith Richards is rarely seen with anything other that a couple of Telecasters and a couple of Gibson's, though he has a container full of guitars he's collected over the years.)

How many basses anyone wants, is often quite different to what they might realistically need.

 

[SunByrne]

Wait - noted in your signature. There is a Texas Bassist Club? How do I join?

Texas Bassist Club!

 

[garrett77]

If you listen, he owns at least 4: his original Jazz Bass, the Frankenstein, the signature Warwick, and the signature Dingwall.

He says he uses (needs) 3. It’s great that he knew better to keep the Jazz, but it seems it’s not used professionally.

 

[alembicguy]

Really nobody’s business

 

[fauxtoe]

Whatever it takes to get the job done. I've rarely recorded, but even when I went into the studio I brought a couple different basses and sometimes the one I didn't expect worked in the mix better than the one I had been planning to use.

For the live gigs I choose what's right for the song(s) we're playing. One of my favorite pro bassists has upped his usual 2-3 that he would switch off throughout a setlist to now at least 5 that I've seen.

 

[Grinderman]

I recently read a Carol Kaye interview in which she said when she bought her own first Fender Precision for session work she left the store with three. After that, because she was so busy and she was getting paid so much, she bought a new Fender or Fenders (yes, plural, again) whenever the strings got too old or a string broke or something else needed a repair.

I can think of at least one pro, that I knew personally in the '90s, who had just one bass; it was a Memphis lawsuit Jazz bass.

 

[bmusic]

If I was a pro, I would want to be the guy that walks in with his case that holds The Bass that I'm always seen playing, whenever I'm seen playing. Not "So, Mike, what did you bring?" but rather, people gathering around for a look at that bass. I would want to be known for doing what I do with that one bass, and when you hire me, you get my sound, which comes from me playing that bass.

But then I'm not a pro, actually, so I have no idea what the reality is.

 

[Meaculpa]

Im not a pro but i play on serious gigs with big numbers and i only need 2. One to play the songs and another if i break a string.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

Lee Sklar only needs these 3. They all bring something different to the table.

Nice history behind that parts PBass.

WHAT?!! According to Sklar I am a gearmhore. I thought I had to sell something to be a mhore...

 

[Mastermold]

If you listen, he owns at least 4: his original Jazz Bass, the Frankenstein, the signature Warwick, and the signature Dingwall.

I think he has a lot more than that.

 

[cxcxcx]

I think he has a lot more than that.

I’ve seen him play at least 10 to 15 different instruments over the last 25-30 years. Pre-internet, he was on Carson, Arsenio, MTV, and Public TV backing up name artists all the time and constantly in print media advertising. Appearing with all those axes doesn’t always mean ownership, but it certainly means he tries things as his tastes change.

From what I recall I’ve seen with many various 4 and 5 string models of Yamaha basses, a Steinberger, a Hofner Beatle bass, a Sadowsky Modern 5, a number of Warwick hollowbodies, a number of Dingwalls, his Frankenstein, and a Washburn acoustic. He’s sold vintage Fenders in his collection before and likely has more in his stash, among other instruments. He also mentions still owning one of the first Jazz Basses he ever bought in the video.

He could easily do all his work on three basses but he obviously owns more than that. I don’t know if Scott’s Click Bait actually stated or inferred that, but they’ve been factually wrong many times before.

 

[selowitch]

It depends on the circumstances, really. I own six or seven basses but I generally take only one to each gig, rehearsal, or recording session.

I think I brought two basses on perhaps one occasion because I wanted to try out a fretless in a rock band. I wasn’t happy with how the fretless sounded in that context so I went back to the fretted fairly quickly. The fretless came in handy for another jam session in which I was the only amplified instrument.

 

[Eon Sky]

Simple TalkBass math: X+1, where X is the amount you currently own.

 

[Davbassdude]

I would always bring 2 to gigs. My Ric and a Fender. The Ric is the main bass and the fender is plugged into the second channel, in caseof any broken string or other issue, with the Ric. I've only had to use the alternate maybe twice in 30 years, but came in handy!

 

[kmd88]

I recently read a Carol Kaye interview in which she said when she bought her own first Fender Precision for session work she left the store with three. After that, because she was so busy and she was getting paid so much, she bought a new Fender or Fenders (yes, plural, again) whenever the strings got too old or a string broke or something else needed a repair.

I can think of at least one pro, that I knew personally in the '90s, who had just one bass; it was a Memphis lawsuit Jazz bass.

David Sims?

 

[Fernando Costa]

5

 

[jamro217]

Define "need". If you are searching for a certain feel or tone that allows you to perform your best at the time, that's a need. Even if you own 50 P basses, the one that has that special quality you're looking for at the time is the one you choose. Inspiration to play at your peak. At different times it may come from different instruments. Before a gig I decide what basses will make the night the best by which ones makes me want to play them the most. The others stay home. Maybe that's some bizarre form of G.A.S. manifesting itself. I dunno. This may also only apply to hacks like me and not the real pros. Hope this helps.

 

[selowitch]

These days I am increasingly drawn to relatively lightweight basses for playing while standing: 8lbs. 8oz. is about ideal for Precision Bass; 8lbs. 10oz. for a Jazz Bass; and 9.0lbs. for a StingRay. It can take a while to find a good example of each at those weights but that’s what I am focused on in terms of new gear.

The pursuit of lighter basses has added to my total inventory recently.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Professionals only need one.

The rest of us hacks need one of each.

I am a professional bass player and I need more than one bass (not to mention my double basses) so do i olnly need a P or J? Nope Sir.