• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

How many basses is it acceptable to have....

#104
if your only using one tuning, you only need two. one for a backup when you break a string ect. i could probably buy all the basses on ebay at once with my credit card, but i would rather have 5 chosen favorites and 10 for backups and stage use. the closets get full real quick lol. johnny a - staind
 
#109
Well this is a pretty open ended question. But my thinking is, you need to find the right bass for your band. So if your band changes, you may want to change your bass. If your playing classic rock, chances are you will want a Fender P sound. If your doing metal you may like a Warwick or a darker sounding bass.

What I am trying to achieve is having all basses covered HA!!! So I have a dark sounding 5 string Ibanez, a blonde Lakland 55-02, which can cover the MusicMan and Fender Jazz sound. After that I would like to add a fret-less and a Fender P bass.

I know people that are more of hobbyists then road warriors. And they usually have the nicer gear, because they don't let it leave the house to often. I can't blame touring bassists for playing GC, middle of the road basses. I would not want to travel with a Wal or Alembic.
 
#110
Billy Low said:
Why? They all sound the same and do the same thing!

(Runs and hides...but not in the closet; not enough space from all of the instruments):cool:
Click to expand...

HAHAHA! Funny!
First bass is an incredible prewar Epiphone strung with whackers, the second is a crappy chinese bass strung with Lambert Deluxe strings I use as a "stunt double" for the first bass (I stand on it, throw it in the air, slide it across the floor, etc) and the third is a nice carved bass I have setup with steel strings for jazz.
 
#111
As a fellow talentless noob, but in a band (as I think I remember you are), I have two, each around $500 value. Actually, they were both gifts: I've bought myself cheaper basses, but sold them when I was given these. To me, more than that would be a luxury. But I want more anyway... if I had the money to experiment, I could see getting one or two more.

As far as the value goes, I don't think that has anything to do with talent or whatever, just what you can afford. There's no reason you have to learn to drive in a broken-down jalopy, and no reason you have to learn bass on a cheap instrument. If you can afford it and it's worth the investment to you, then get a more upscale instrument.
 
#115
staindbass said:
if your only using one tuning, you only need two. one for a backup when you break a string ect. i could probably buy all the basses on ebay at once with my credit card, but i would rather have 5 chosen favorites and 10 for backups and stage use. the closets get full real quick lol. johnny a - staind
Click to expand...

I only use 2 tunings really... EADG and BEAD, but I only have two basses. which of course leaves me with no backup.

But - I have ordered a cheap P-bass copy from a guy on the UK forum. A lot of people own these and say they're as good if not better than any squier they have played... we'll see. I'll review it when it arrives next week haha

But Johnny. Why would you keep your basses in a closet? Hang 'em on the wall man!
 
#117
My father-in-law has a 5 gallon bucket filled with bayonetts (must be 50 in there).
Yes the kind that go on the end of rifles used to kill people. About 16" each at least.

I asked him one day "Don, how many freakin' bayonetts do you need??!?!"
His reply:
"As many as it takes".........
I think his reply applies to answer the OP question......as many as it takes.
 
#118
Two years ago I had one bass, my trusty Ibanez TRB-100 (bought new in 1994).

Now i have 5.

new additions are:

1. Peavey International Series 5-string.
2. Jedson Tele-Bass
3. Fender BG-29 Acoustic
4. Ibanez GSR-190
(this was bought 2nd-hand as a backup, just in case..)
 
#119
I have come to a point in life that I have promise myself that I will never get rid of another instrument, barring extreme financial hardship, or giving one to either of my bass playing children. I have sold/lost instruments that I wish like hell that I could get back! While I could always get more, sometimes its hard to regain what you may have lost.
 
#120
GreggBummer said:
Wrong question.

It isn't WHO... it is WHEN. I know the answer to that. AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME.


A back up bass is a good idea.


G
Click to expand...

BEST ADVISE BY FAR :bassist: I always take my two workhorse stingrays to a gig cause $hit happens when you least expect it. It looks way more pro unplugging one bass and plugging in another than changing strings onstage. plus

but really get as many as you can before you die! I'm back down to 11 from 14 basses. I keep going to sell some of them but when I get them out to take pics I start playing them and I just can't sell em. I really do wish I never sold my first bass. They guy who has it will not sell it back to me.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back