How many TOTAL basses have you owned?

[Danny O Danny]

51+
In my defense, I've been playing bass for 40+ years, and I'm not one to get particularly attached to instruments.
I currently own 6 (with a 7th on order).

 

[bluesblaster]

same here, nearly 50 years in the low end business and I've lost track, quite a few is a the best I can come up with

 

[MD]

DB aside, 6 in 50 years of playing. Got rid of 2.

 

[GreyBeard]

I've been playing bass since 1968 and the best I can figure is 15 basses.

 

[JRA]

what is the average total number of basses that my Talkbass brethren have owned over their lives?

i don't know! i voted "21-30" but it could be a lot more...could be less i suppose. when i was playing full time = one ax! sometimes i had a backup available. since i retired (a decade ago) i've made/had a lot of parts basses.

 

[packhowitzer]

1. 92 Samick P bass copy - sold
2. 94 Samick Saturn 5 string - sold
3. 95 Washburn XB400 - sold
4. 98 EB Stingray
5. 83 G&L L-2000 - sold
6. 06 Fender Geddy Lee Jazz CIJ
7. 07 EB Stingray HH - sold
8. 08 Fender Highway One P
9. 11 Fender 70s Classic P CIJ
10. 15 NS Design CR5
11. 16 NS Design CR5 Fretless
12. ?? Kala U bass
13. 20 Palatino EUB

Owned 13, sold 5.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I'm a bit weird. I keep a spreadsheet that details every bass that I've ever owned. This list covers about 30 years. My 72nd bass was entered onto the sheet recently. Of course, through the three decades' worth of buying, selling, and trading; I have nowhere near that many basses currently (Actually, I have just four). But, it got me wondering, "what is the average total number of basses that my Talkbass brethren have owned over their lives?" Well, what say you?

8. I owned 5 by 1974. Since then, one I bought for my son that was given back to me, one cheap 5 string sold shortly thereafter, and a professional grade 5 string. For the last 6 years I’ve had only 2. In fact the most I’ve ever had at one time was two.

 

[roller]

I love how no one has responded with "1"... haha!!!

Yeah, that number's just flat-out laughable.

 

[Jackcrow]

I've owned 68, I also maintain a list of what I have owned. I've played bass for 17 years, owned a total of 10 up until 4 years ago, since then it has increased by 58. I joined TB in 2017.

 

[electricGstring]

I currently only have one, but have owned three in my life. A mid 70’s Fender P bass that I’d give anything to have back, some cheap 5 string that I don’t even remember the brand name of but after I got rid of it, I quit playing altogether for 30 plus years. Now I have my Squier and while I really like it, I’m already looking for it to have some company.

 

[Schonbrun]

I've only ever owned 1 playable bass, but I have 2 dismantled basses, so I answered 3.

 

[mellowgerman]

Not 100% sure. There are over 50 accounted for on my informal tally sheet, but I know there are a few that slipped through the cracks. So I'd say 60-65 in my 21 years of playing bass. Nowadays I always keep it under 8 and might consider 4 of those to be in regular rotation.

 

[BarfanyShart]

7: 2 DB, 1 EUB, 3 BG, 1 ABG.

 

[Acoop]

In the hay-day I bought and sold all the time, now days it's hard to find good basses in distress and priced so. ... I'm down to 10 that I'll hold on to till it's done. ... I've given my gal partner an understanding of their worth. ... Just so some 'AH' like me doesn't walk in and say, "Look at all this clutter, $3,000 cash and I'll take it off you hands. ... You'll get your second bedroom back." ...

 

[groovepump]

I've owned 12 that I can remember. 3 were upright DB, and I miss each of them very much. I also miss the G&L L2000 fretless I sold in a panic when I got laid-off. Big, big mistake. I also sold a very rare VOX bass that I could really kick myself for selling. Rats!!! Sold it years back to "upgrade " to the P-Bass that I later sold when I got married! DOUBLE rats (for selling the bass and getting married). Now I presently have 5 basses and may add a 5-string fretless to round-out 4 and 5 string fretted and fretless pairs in my collection.

 

[Spectrum]

4 total my whole life. The first one lasted a few months before being traded in to help pay for the second one, 35 years ago or so. The third and fourth came years later. I still have the last three.

The OP says he's owned 72, holy cow. I sometimes wonder if three is two too many.

 

[groovepump]

In the hay-day I bought and sold all the time, now days it's hard to find good basses in distress and priced so. ... I'm down to 10 that I'll hold on to till it's done. ... I've given my gal partner an understanding of their worth. ... Just so some 'AH' like me doesn't walk in and say, "Look at all this clutter, $3,000 cash and I'll take it off you hands. ... You'll get your second bedroom back." ...

HA! I did the same thing with my GF. I wrote-down the value of my hardware because she has no idea what she could sell it all for when I finally play my last gig.

 

[b_carville]

I checked 41-50 but it might be more. Been playing along time & in the 80's I kinda collected & flipped them.
Right now I have 6. 8 if I count the two uke basses.

 

[ToneMonkey]

8 basses in 55 years. 60+ guitars. More than one per year. Nearly as many amps.

 

[groovepump]

Lifetime count 16 (since 1981). Total at present: 9. Potential chopping block: 3. Really didn’t start buying them until 2007. That’s what a good paying job does to you.

Problem is not the basses; it’s the other stuff. The full vintage Slingerland kit. The acoustics. The lap steel. The mandolin. The four violins. You get the idea.

Sounds normal and healthy. You can never have too many string'd instruments. I'm a little disappointed though that you didn't list at least one cello in the collection.