How many basses does a pro need?

[Johnny Fingers]

One and a spare I never needed or played until recently when I started teaching my daughter one on one.

 

[TonyP-]

Interesting responses...

First setting up a define number is really not practical. Professionals vary to a degree.

Is it

- A Nashville sessions guy who brings a boat in with 6-7 for day of work
Or
- The iconic follow who is known for just 1 or 2
Or
- Or the fellow that works for a few different acts and has different basses for each one.

Saying what a pro needs is like saying everyone has the same dietary needs.

I’m usually in the low teens but that is just me.

 

[Fun Size Nick]

I once saw the Meters... in the middle of a song, George Porter Jr. broke a string. He kept playing until he found a spot, stepped to the side of the stage while the band was jamming, changed his string, then got back on stage and finished the song.

I was going to say something along these lines...most touring players are changing their own damn strings!

 

[Ken Morgan]

There’s the notion of buying, then keeping the ones you had ‘just in case’…

That said, for recording I’ll use the one that fits the song best to my ears

 

[mikewalker]

"ONE TO RULE THEM ALL"...​

But in my world it's three: One for Rounds, One for Flats, and One for Tapewounds

 

[AlexanderB]

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

Nice history behind that parts PBass.

If you play electric bass, one of each:
Precision
Jazz
Jazz five string (active?)
Jazz fretless

For some genres, the below types are needed:
Hollowbody, like Ibanez, Dusenberg, Gretsch etc
Short scale with thumpier sound, like Höfner, Danelectro etc
Modern five/six string like Dingwall, Spector, MTD etc

All IMHO...

 

[Les Fret]

Two. One to play and one in reserve for mechanical failures.

This. And a fretless and a five string.
So essentially that is a total of three as a minimum for a pro. Since you don’t really need a 4 string if you have a five string.

 

[twinjet]

Back when Anthony Jackson wrote a column for Bass Player, he talked about how he once used three basses for a while, a Jazz, a fretless Rickenbacker, and another bass, but eventually settled on using his Jazz only. He wrote his column in response to a Randy Jackson column where he listed several basses he used for sessions. I guess the answer depends on the bassist and why people hire her or him. Some folks fill in and are expected to get whatever sound they are told. Others are hired to because they have distinctive sound.

I don't suppose there was mention of fretless AJ tracks? That would be something worth checking out.

 

[Fun Size Nick]

Interesting responses...

First setting up a define number is really not practical. Professionals vary to a degree.

Is it

- A Nashville sessions guy who brings a boat in with 6-7 for day of work
Or
- The iconic follow who is known for just 1 or 2
- Or the fellow that works for a few different acts and has different basses for each one.

Saying what a pro needs is like saying everyone has the same dietary needs.

I’m usually in the low teens but that is just me.

Agreed. When I was a working musician, I had one or two (and one acoustic guitar), but I only really needed one.

 

[user362432]

Thank God, I am not a pro. I can have as much as I can afford.

 

[bassbrad]

When I went pro I had 3 basses 67 Fender Precision, 82 Carvin LB50 Koa and a Pan fretless modified Jazz Bass copy. Over the next 12 years I went through probably 100 basses but those three always stayed with me to the end of the run. When I needed a string bass one could always be rented.

 

[2112]

bout tree fiddy

 

[Lenny JG]

As many gets the job done

 

[AlexanderB]

This. And a fretless and a five string.
So essentially that is a total of three as a minimum for a pro. Since you don’t really need a 4 string if you have a five string.

I have NEVER heard a five string that sounds like the four string version + a B-string. Never.
And I have been playing since 1996...

There might be some that do, but the regular Fenders, Ibanezes, Peavey, Yamaha etc, not really.

 

[ryan pate]

I have always used one or more Fender Precision Basses.Rounds,flats or fretless and the tone knob.I’m not sure if I’m a pro though,they call me so many different names who can keep track?

 

[Les Fret]

I have NEVER heard a five string that sounds like the four string version + a B-string. Never.
And I have been playing since 1996...

There might be some that do, but the regular Fenders, Ibanezes, Peavey, Yamaha etc, not really.

Maybe so, but what is the problem if the 5 string version doesn't sound exactly as the 4 string equivalent? Does it have to be the same? I don't think 5 stringers sound worse than 4 stringers in general. I own two six string basses and they don't sound worse than my passive or active four string basses.

 

[AlexanderB]

Maybe so, but what is the problem if the 5 string version doesn't sound exactly as the 4 string equivalent? Does it have to be the same? I don't think 5 stringers sound worse than 4 stringers in general. I own two six string basses and they don't sound worse than my passive or active four string basses.

I do not know if you are professional bass player (I am not), but for hired guns, you probably bring what the BL asks for? Many, many top (on stage!)!players still only bring out the fiver or drop tuned four string one for a handful of specific songs.
For pros in a pit, I guess it is what the BL says "OK" to.

 

[Les Fret]

I do not know if you are professional bass player (I am not), but for hired guns, you probably bring what the BL asks for? Many, many top (on stage!)!players still only bring out the fiver or drop tuned four string one for a handful of specific songs.
For pros in a pit, I guess it is what the BL says "OK" to.

I don't agree. If you are a hired gun (studio or stage) you need a five string. Many modern studio productions ask for a five string and also many top 40 gigs and especially musical gigs require a 5 string.
If you are a pro and only play your own music then it's a different story.

But the question was makes a 5 string sound worse than a 4 string in your opinion?

 

[AlexanderB]

I don't agree. If you are a hired gun (studio or stage) you need a five string. Many modern studio productions ask for a five string and also many top 40 gigs and especially musical gigs require a 5 string.
If you are a pro and only play your own music then it's a different story.

But the question was makes a 5 string sound worse than a 4 string in your opinion.

I do not say it is worse, it is different, and it is not an opinion. There is more mass and a larger cross section to the neck on a five string. Because of the higher string pull, the truss rod and stabilizing bars (if used) might be sturdier as well. These things will move the bolt on fiver closer to the neck through basses.
More compressed sound, less responsiveness and resonance, and with less bottom end to the lowest E string notes, vs on a four.

Then the effects of a different pickup design, as well as bridge and the (typically) larger body.

There will be exceptions, but the kind of basses I have tried play and sound differently with that extra string.

Edit: the changes in proprtion of neck vs strings are similar to the effect of putting on a different gauge of strings, and I think nobody here says THAT change will not affect sound or feel.

 

[A9X]

I do not say it is worse, it is different, and it is not an opinion.

It is an opinion.

There is more mass and a larger cross section to the neck on a five string.

What compared to what? Some of the old baseball bat 4 string necks compared to my Ibanez SR 5? The latter probably has less neck mass.

These things will move the bolt on fiver closer to the neck through basses.

How is that? Still not a contiguous piece like an NT.

More compressed sound, less responsiveness and resonance, and with less bottom end to the lowest E string notes, vs on a four.

In all the dozens of 5 and 6 string basses I've owned, I have never found this to be the case. And they've varied markedly in construction.
As for a 5 body being larger, maybe comparing a 4 FSO to a 5 FSO, but my BTB 6 is smaller than a Jazz.