How Many Basses...

[Paula Warren]

Saw this article/video in Bass Musician Magazine regarding how many basses one would need. It mentioned total of 4 full scale, short scale cannot remember the other two. Thought I would bring up the question here...what do you all think. Thanks in advance for your response

 

[bholder]

as many as it takes.

 

[SteveC]

I’ve been pretty happy with just this one for a while now...

 

[gln1955]

How does a magazine know how many basses anyone needs?

I only need one rght now. I regularly play two and have a few more, just because.
Others will definitely need more to do the job.

 

[ONYX]

At least as many as this guy:

So far, I only have eight......

 

[Paula Warren]

as many as it takes.

Good point...thought about that to, but I can only play one at a time.

 

[btmpancake]

Depends on who you ask. Some may say as many as you can afford.

 

[Paula Warren]

At least as many as this guy:

So far, I only have eight......

I have two PBass full scale, getting a short scale. Do you take more than one to a gig?

 

[ONYX]

I have two PBass full scale, getting a short scale. Do you take more than one to a gig?

Usually not. I've never had any type of catastrophic bass failure on a gig in 30 years of gigging.

 

[nonohmic]

Right now I'm thinking one. And a GK MB112.

 

[mrcbass]

It depends. For me "need" = what do I need to gig + 1 backup for it. Form cover band stuff I have a couple of 5 string Ps. For my jazz/fusion thing, I have couple of 5 string fretless jazz clones. That's what I need. I have an acoustic that I love which I'll hang into just because I want to, but all of my other experiments are up for sale.

 

[BassGeekJack]

Need? One. Want? Probably around 200.

 

[MoeTown1986]

It all depends on what you're doing. I'm in a top 40 cover band in which I use two (1 E, 1 Eb) 5 string jazz basses. A lot of versatility offered there. I'm also in a country band in which I use two (1 E, 1 Eb) 4 string P basses. Straight forward P tone works perfect here. I'm also in an acoustic act in which I use two (1 E, 1 Eb) Epiphone Jack Casady's. So, to me, I "need" 6 basses. But, I own 12.

 

[lfmn16]

Saw this article/video in Bass Musician Magazine regarding how many basses one would need.

Need for what? Seriously. We don't all need the same number. Some people get by just fine with one. Others may need more. Do you play Mustang Sally in the local bar once every 6 months or do you have a dozen studio sessions each week covering a wide variety of genres? Two completely different answers.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

I only need one, but I own 4 as of right now.

2 Ps, a J, and an acoustic.

 

[micguy]

How many paintbrushes does an artist need?

 

[Bassbubble11]

As many as my wife will allow.

 

[Jon Moody]

To paint some really broad strokes, here's what I would need if I had to...

1. Traditional/Vintage bass (P, J, etc..)
2. Modern bass, preferably 5st at least
3. Fretless
4. Either an Upright or an Electric-Upright
5. A "character" instrument (i.e. something not the norm, like a Hofner or the like)

I've used variants of the first four in countless gigging situations, and it works great. The fifth is more for fun, or to grab "THAT" sound that nothing else will.

 

[Thumpin6string]

I only need 2, my fretted and my fretless.

 

[minddrain]

I have two. The Right handed 1979 Peavey that I bought when I was 16 and learning to play and the Left handed Ibanez that I bought last year (at 44) when I decided to play again. Getting a left handed bass showed me why I never played well right handed.